The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-10-14
NORTHWEST AMERICA.
w.

Correspondence Of the Pioneer and Democrat.
Allow me, Messrs. Editors, to resume the
observations, commenced in July, and styled
as above.
shall leave, as hitherto, to the graphic
narration of your associate, the details Of
description. Mr.. w. is now at Selkirk,
and will furnish the bulk of your cores
pOndence from that settlement.
These papers are intended only as a sup
plement involving few topics on which l
desire to confer with the people of Mime
sofa, in relation to North Western Anne.
RIGA.
We have not appreciated the value of
the Saline Springs which abound in so many
localities. / believe Gov. SIBLEY made up
the complement to which the State OF Min
nesota was entitled by Congressional Grant,
but it is on the Dakotah plain of the Red
River, that Salt Springs become promin-
ent feature of the country. Thence north
west to the Mountains, the Salines will
suffice for the manufacture and consumption
Of salt, however dense the future population.
There are two points, one on Park river in
DakOtah, and another near the mouth of
Two Rivers in Minnesota, (both in about
latitude As deg.,) where the Hudson Bay
Company, some time since, obtained their
annual supplies of salt. Indeed, the sol !. of
the Red River country contains so much
of this remarkable ingredient, without i'm
pairing its fertility, that domestic cattle
never require to be sailed.
This formation has an important bearing
upon another point vital to the nomadic
population of the Northwestern frontier-I
refer to the movement of buffalo. was a
witness to the slaughter of this noble game
within twenty-five miles of the mouth of
Sheyenne river, a point to which weekly
stages from Saint Paul have been running
this summer, and am informed that in the
same locality 1.-THE plains dividing the waters
of Shayenne and Goose rivers), a considera
BILE herd of buffalo were seen in last Janu-
airy. They are attracted by salt ticks. to use
familiar Western phrase, as we'll as by the
luXuriant heritage. The animal is expert in
roofing and paving away the snow and the
dried grass thus obtained, is so nutritious,
of the buffalo, killed in midwinter, is al.
ways in excellent condition. If so, what
prevents regular winter supply of prairie
beef for the st. Paul market?
1t may be owing to the prevalence of
salt in soil, heritage and water, that the
people of the Plains, when RECALLING on buf.
falo rumpribs and De Po,es IA delicate
morse thanking the back-bone) find their
roasts sufficiently seasoned with it nor is
the condiment ever used in preparing penn
mcan.
At the present time, no salt is manufac-
tured in Minnesota or Dakotah, but the
principal supply of the Selkirk Settlements
is obtained from Manitoba Lake, about sixty
miles northwest of Fort Garry. The price
is thirteen shillings sterling per bushel.
With the application of modern improve
ments in its manufacture, have no doubt
that salt will be considerable staple of
commerce between the northwestern States
and Central British America.
A few words in my next communication
upon the valley of the Pembina river, Of
which the fertility and importance in other
respects, does not appear to have been fully
understood. J.w.T.