The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-04-28

rHR MINNESOTA RIVER TRADE.
The summer OF 1850 witnessed the com
mencement OF navigation on this stream
In June 1850. the Anthony Wayne made q
trip. aud another in July, going nearly to
Mankato. The water was very high that
year, and invited boats Of larger dimensions
to the experiment. The Wayne" was
followed by the Nominee and the Yankee.
the latter going up nearly TO the mouth OF
the Cottonwood river.
10 1851, three boats went up the river.
In 1882, the trade was sufficient to main
tain one boat regularly. The Sioux pur.
chase then opening the country to settle
meut, the business has rapidly increased.
In 1858, the arrivals IRON the Minnesota
we're llD--in 1857, 292, and last year, 1903.
The navigation Of The Upper Miussippi
and Red River, being now in i,s infancy
and intimately connected with the prospec.
tive deveiopcment Of the Northwest, will
be refer ed TO under another heading.
LOCAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS ov ST. PAU.
It's General Geography-Saint Paul 10
situated 10 latitude A deg. 81 min. IS sec,
at the commercial bead Of navigation on tho
Mississippi FIVE miles below the mouth OF
the Minnesota river, niue miles below the
Pals Of ST. Anthony by land, and about
fourteen by the winnings OF the river. Ac-
cordng TO Nicollet, il Is 1888 miles from
the mouth Of the Mississippi, 10 the gulf Of
Mexico, and 708 miles from its source 10
Northern Minnesota.
COMMERCE ov rHg MINNESOTA VALLEY.
It is the situation Of Saint Paul. N CON.
handing the mouth OF the Minnesota river
which fixes It's local predominance as the
! commercial terminus Of continuous naviga-
ton on the Mississippi.
Boats may ascend few miles higher, and
| in high stages Of water IT 10 possible fg
steamboats, OF light dranght 70 reach within
a mile or two Of the Falls oil ~. Anthony,
but the navigation above Fort Smelling u
precarious and uncertain, and below that
point, the shore line presents no other situa-
ton than st. Paul which combines the nd.
vantage OF commanding the outlet Of the
Minnesota, With the shortest land commun-
cation with the Upper Mississippi. II ].
not then from any accident that SAINT Paul
is the hxed limit OF steamboat communica-
ton with the south.
The outlet Of the Minnesota Valley !, Of
itself a striking commercial position. The
| Minnesota river drains one N the most fer.
tile sections " Minnerota, embracing twenty
Eve counties which contain ope-tbird Of the
whole population OF the State. The river
in good stages Of water, presents an iupinter-
rup,ed navigation for boats Of three or -four
hundred tons 10 Psttersou's Rapids, dis-
tapce Of over 300 miles. 10 low stages 8
narrow ledge Of sand stone, Sme forty Eve
| miles above ls mouth obstruc.s navigation.
An expenditure of ten THOUSAND dollar,
would remove every obstacle 70 navigation
in the Miuue-otA 10 the lowest stage. of wa
ter. for a d's.ncs Of 800 miles. Before
| 1850 10 steamboat hal ever sscende,l the
Minnesota. when lis navigability for bos's
Of the largest sire was demonstrated by >.
| H. Yankee ane OtbsrA
The rapid increase Of the steamboat trade
| Of the Minnesota river since 1851, shows
more than anything else, the value Of the
Miunesota river a. an adjunct Of the con-
meree n 81 PaaL In 1881 tbree boAts
ven, up the river; 10 1852 the trs,Is sss
| sufkcient 10 MAINTAIN Oos boat regularly 70
/ 1855 the arrivals from The MinbssD,a rVsr
a, SAINT Pad we're il9 IN 1857, ~ "a
| 1855. 293
The NinDessts river hJ~isg into the Jap
q astt Pau, With tbs tibs,sry volsms
q trad. may ~ REGARDED a. ne len avn d
on, commercial position Al pressbi ooo-
.dsrably more 1sn oae.haf u tbs ShOIs-