The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-06-23
Another Inisre sting Letter from Red
Rivsr...The Laaseh 6f the Aassa
NOVthrup.

on Red River first started 10 ST. Paul last
winter, and thus far carried on amid innu.
mersble difficulties and discoursgements has
at last been crowned with success. What
ever speculations or copjectures may have
bcen prelicatsd or surmised upon the posi-
bility Of the affair, the first question Of ." can
il be done ?" has been answered, and the next
query Of Will it pay" remains yet to be
disposed Of, aud your readers and patrons
may rest assured that the energy and enter
prise, which has been displayed in trans.
porting the machinery and the greatest part
Of the lumber one hundred and thirty miles
from the Mississippi river, for the purpose Of
opening To commercial enterprise this terra
ineognuI OF the Northwest, will not stop
until the feasibility Of opening new route
to the Pacific has been fully met and an
swered. The affair is in the hands Of men
who know h" no such word as fall and the
promises made 10 the Chamber Of Com
merce last January have been nobly per.
formed.
On Thursday, the 10th day Of May, just
seven weeks after the arrival OF Mr.. NORTH
Rup and the writer at the mouth Of the
Shcyenne river and little over three months
after the first inception OF the enterprise by
the citizens Of 81. Paul. the hull Of the first
steamboat to navigate these waters was
launched into the river. Owing TO the mar
rowness Of the river and stcepness Of the
banks, the boat was built parallel to the
current OF the stream, and consequently had
to be launched sideways instead OF the usual
mode. On the day previous, five long ways
reaching from the middle OF the keel were
made and firmly locked up and braced, form
ing an inclined plane some seventy feet in
length, with descent from the bottom Of the
keel 10 the surface of the water OF than
thirty feet. 30 steep an inclined plane caused
considerable danger to be apprehended less
the hull might gain 40 great velocity that
II might be eriously injured, but us it had
been thoroughly braced throughout, il was
thought best to risk it. by noon on the
10Th, all the preliminary preparations had
been Ode, the ways had been carefully
creased, and all the superhuous props had
been removed previous to sending her
adrit, and at the appointed signal given by
Mr.. MonsE, the last remaining props were
Knocked away and she shot like an arrow
into the river As is customary on such
occasions, the ceremony Of breaking bottle
OF water over the bow and pronouncing the
name she is henceforth to bear, was duly
performed by Mr.. NoarnRrr's son CHAR
LEY, who gave it the good old name It had
borne from st. Anthony to Pokegema Falls,
the Arson Northrup.' \ more appro-
pirate name than this could not have been
found, Tor whatever has been said about the
assistance he has derived from Others con
ncc,ed with him in this affair, there is no
one who has been intimately connected with
the history OF this enterprise, from the com
men1ment TO the present time. and has
seen the almost supcrhuman exertions he
has made and the exposures he has endured
under difficulties and discouragemen,s which
would have discoaragcf, and disheartened
any ordinary man, that is not ready to ac-
knowledge him a. III, only originator and
leader Of this enterprise.
To-day she makes her first trip to Fort
bcrcrombie and 1t is anticipated she will
meet with but lew INSTRUCTIONS during the
present stage Of high water, and ~ soon ~
she returns she will start down the river for
Sclairk Settlement and Fort Garry, which
will bc about ,hc first week in June, To
the Indians around Rcd Lake river and
Red Lake, the sound OF lis ,hrill whistle and
splash OF ito paddle wheels viii Announce
the unwecome intelligence that the days of
their supremacy over the woods and prai-
ries are numbered that the white man has
already drawn around them eoruon OF civ.
ilixation. and is rapidly depriviug them Of
the inheritance OF their fathers. while the
inhab tan,s OF rcmbna and Selkrk Settle
mcn,. who for the last few years have been
treated far worse than the natives OF India
by an unreentlng monopoly, will rejoice
that the light OF better days is at last break
ing in upon their secluded hamIe,,. aud that
the Injuries Of civilized life ars soon 10 Ne
brought 10 their doors.
|. What will bc the future SUCCESS OF this
enterprise remains ye, 10 he seen. II will
depend much upon the enterprise and energy
OF the citizens OF 81. Paul. by their united
aud steady eXcrtions, they may, in few
months, accomplish what neither Congress
nor the English goveramcn, have done. by
opening a water communication Ia the base
OF the Rocky Mountains. and be the first TO
reap the advantages which must necessarily
aow from IL.