The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-22
yap .u,vxu sYsfrx or pn.rsa orsrnAL AMERICA,

TuE nIvse SYSTEM BRITISH CENTRAL AMERICA
9ea,n1het Memoir If the Aavqatie areas Of he Basin q
LAKE Wianyey and 9 he arms d'1ace1 70 aianesoEd.
lseport Of a committee appointed by the Saint Paul
Anncsota) Chamber Of Commerce january ~, iSo?.l
The committee appointc, by the Chamber Of Commerce
o5 the eity of Saint Paul upon the subject of steamboat
nayipation on the Red River Of the North have consd
cred that the occasion will Justify them in presenting 20
the citizens Of Minnesota and to n Interested IN the
rroeress the territory northwest OF Minnesota sum
anary Of facts fully ascertained, in regard to the
liver systcn with which the of the Mississippi
and 4he Saint Lawrence inerlock.
AS incidental to such design especially IN connexion
with the subject Of steamboat navigation, some deserp-
op of the areas which waercd by the rivers hence
forth proposed be Included within the internal COM
nerce of the continent will also be attempted
The committee impressed with the belief that no
interest hitherto expressed in community upon this
subIect is commensurate with its Importance We have
spoken with reserve while intelligent writers IN England
and in eastern cities have east brilliant horoscope ior
our city and State in regard to these northwestern COM
tnuncations Take instance, partly 10 inspire coni-
deaco among ourselves, and also TO justify any manifesto
tion4 OF enthusiasm the progress Of the present Discus
sion IH December, 1885, document appeared irom the
Chamber q. Commerce OF the city Of New York Canal
Navigation by Stean containing, with report an ad-
dress by Hon f. A. Consling OF the New York legisa
turo, in which occurs the following paragraph:
'.With the valley Of the Mississippi and st. Lawrence
rivers have been accustomed to regard the area OF
the northern and central portions of continent avail
able for agriculture exhausted We limited our viB-
ion to the ground stood upon But no sooner have
filled up grand division than another opens before
u.s. There is in the heart of North America distinct sub
division Of which Lake Winnipeg may be regarded as the
centre This subdivision like the valley of the Assis-
ipp is distinguished for the fertility of it's soil and for
The exat and gentle slope of its great plains, watefed
by rivers OF great extent AMI admirably adapted for
steam navigation 1t has climate not exceeding in Sc
ve,ity that of many portions of Canada and the eastern
States 1t will in All respects compare flyorably with
of the most densey Peoed portions OF the continent
IL lutitu he
come the seat OF n numerous, hardy, and prosperous
eosnunty II has equal to eight or ten OF our
frss tass States Its great river, the Saskatchewan,
carries navigabe water line to the very base 81 the
Rocky Mountains. IL is not at all improbable that the
valley of this river may yet offer the beat route for rail
roa the Pacific The nayigabe waters Of this great
subdgsion nteilock with those OF the Mississippi The
Red River Of the North in cospexon with Lake Winni-
peg into which it falls forms naviga!. water line ex-
tesdiag directly north and south nearly 500 nii,s The
Red river is Of the beat adapted to the use OF steai'
in the world having om twelve to fifteen feet OF water
fr nearly its entire course, sope fsJ miles IL waters
pf the finest prairie regions on the Continent Be
tween se highest point at which IL is paygqble and ST.
Paul, tbs bead of navigation the Mississippi rail
soad Is in Jfocess of construction sixty mas of Which
win be completed the comiag year. The entire distance
10 be built only 200 miles When this road shall be
completed another grand division Of the continent com
prisiDg bali million square nes, WILL as before stated
be open ~ settlement, in which communities Will spring
up with the rapidy which has marked the maryeIloos
growth of own country possessing all the eehisnts
of prosperity and ii qp extensive commerce.
.. No continent can show parallel, as none can show
such supenous works for The fertilization OF commerce
by people in the griste, and MOI y ripened into the
bone of maaiiood "
Sustained BY testimony impressive to the ftpre
eornmeroi impmk4ace of the basin of Lake Wnnepcg,
the committee proceed Ia particular description Of the
aayigabe rivers which diversity the map OF North Amer
aca over tao area in question
RED RIVER or TnE NORTH
We have the authority of Captain John Pope who as
oeatsa the Red River of the North from Pembna To Otter
Aal lake n la49, that there is depth OF five feet at
she mouth Of Sioux Wood river and Of six feet twenty
snilcs north, at the site Of military post proposed Iy
Aor 3 Wood of 9th Infantry, in 1s4g and occupied in
aSos as Fort Ahercrombie thence TO Siayen,c the
river d six feet deep from Sbayepne 10 Goose river
n'ne faets but with an intervening rapid opa mile long
with dlfh Of five feet from Goose river 10 Rad Lake
river twelve feet, and from Red Lake river TO Pembna
e@d Lake Wnnepsg, sixteen feet AT the head of steam
boat naSigation, Ia about 46o 2y Of north Iatul, the
stream cnts deeply into The clay which forms its channel
rendering the waters turd The current OF the vor IL
todssate, not more than two mites 40 hour with hume.
rous AeEds
The shsysnne, tributary from The west has the same
charaoteristics and Is probably nayigable hundred
ssnes OF Its course marrow, deep aud oircuitous The
assnih"in, another tributary within the British terri
tory has greater volume OF than the Slayennc
and can douticss be assembled y steamers I, listnc
oi two bnndrcl miles. The Red Lake riy,, IL /, Mime
sofa stecas3 flowing from the prominent ko so called
and falling ioto the Red River near latitude 4so Its
volume of water considerable exceeding thai d, the
Shayense, but It's navigation Is said 10 be oattced hv
rapids
Mr. Eilis Smith Intelligent engineer ap, a ,,e,.ler
OF an overland party from 50 Paul 10 Fraser River tiohl
Mines has reported that the Red river Is nayigable