St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-01-20


speed as, strollh Ee:cl~osdinsk to Chctah. |
800 miles, in tor:1y-tive hours, and from
lrkoutsk to kiachta, S67 miles, in forty
eight hours. But he mentions another
fact more significant still. On this dis
lance of 5 ,426 miles, between the paral-
lels Of tifty-two and fifty eight degrees, the
the thermometer on a large portion Of it
through the winter being below zero, he
found five hundred cities, towns and vii
lagos, showing conclusively, that the ex-
IRENE cold presented no difficulty in the
way of the occupation Of the country.
In the face OF such statement, will
Congress hesitate to establish across the
American continent, a postal communion
ton in the temperate climate of the forty
seventh parallel Of latitudc-a parallel, if
extended across the Atlantic, which ira
verses southern France, northern Italy land
the Crimca. and if extended beyond the
Pacific, which is central to the japanese
empire and the magnificent valley Of the
Amor? Such girdle of the globe is
south not north Of the heart Of Christcn-
dom and Civilization.
The memorials close with the express
sion Of their confidence that there will be
no denial OF delay by Congress, in making
provision for Semi Weekly Overland
Mail Service from the North Western
States to the Valley Of the Columbia and
the shores of Puget Sound.
Gov. Ramsey then read the following
resolutions as the remainder of the report
Of the Committe:
Resolvcd, That the distribution of pop
ulation, and the development Of commerce
in the zone bounded on the North by the
international line of As deg. and on the
South by the 43d parallel Of lat. embrac.
ing as well the valleys Of the Great Lakes,
the upper Mississippi and the transmon-
tame slopes Of Washington and Oregon,
reaching to the Pacific Ocean and Puget
Sound, creates necessity for immediate
action by the national Government, to op-
en- postal communication, at least semi
weekly, through this immense region; the
necessity being the more immediate and
pressing, inasmuch as British enterprise
through the aid Of its government, is a.
bout to establish northern communica-
ton with the Pacific and make our people
dependent upon them for the mail facili-
ties they are entitled to at the hands Of
their government, government which
has already manifested its iberality to-
ward such enterprises by the annual ex-
penditure of a million and half of dol
lars for the extension Of postal facilities
between the Mississippi and the Pacific
South Of the 10th deg. of North latitude.
Resolved, That we, the people Of Min
nesota, many Of us long resident in this
region Of country, and entirely familiar
with it, hereby bear our testimony to the
fact that a Northern stage route to Puget
Sound, conveying passengers and the
United States mail, is eminently practi-
cable, and would not be interrupted by
winters cold or depth Of snow, nor by
any difficulty incident to climate or lati-
tude.
RESOLVED, That we hereby tender the
thanks Of the people Of Minnesota to
Senator Rice and the Hon. 4. 3. G.
Washburn, Of Illinois, for their prompt
tude in calling the attention of Congress
to this important enterprise, and we ask
the friends Of Minnesota, and the North
west, and especially our Senators and
Representatives in Congress, to aid us in
the construction Of this great work so
essential to the growth and commerce OF
the country between the Lakes and the
Pacific.
Resolved, : hat as the best means Of
carrying out the purpose Of this meeting,
we respectfully urge upon the Board Of
Trade to take charge Of this work, and
invite the cooperation Of other similar
bodies to secure its early consulnation.
Resolred, That committee OF seven
be appointed by the Chair to take charge
OF the enterprise, and solicit the attention
OF Congress and arouse the country gencr-
ally, to its importance.
Resolved, That the papers of this city
and Of the State, be requested to publish
the proceedings, and that copies be for
warded to each Of our Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress, and to the Presi-
dent and the Post Master General.