The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-01-06
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT

Now we are assured by intelligent ard
responsible gentlemen, that weekly ser
vice on the Northern route will be under
taken for the same compensation allowed Tor
service on the Southern route. with this dit
ference in favor Of the northern route, that
they will make the schedule time eighteen
days, or about twenty per cent saving OF
time 10 the government ard the public,
Surely these facts ought TO arrest the atien-
ton Of Congress and secure favorable action
iu rega,d 10 our route.
Mr.. NJ, when first spoken 10 in regard TO
this meeting, had doubted he expectancy OF
il, believing that the Northern route could
not o tain Just consideration at the hands
Of the Post Master General or Congress
but, upon reflection, had concluded that the
meeting was expedlent, and that its results
would well repay the time and effort. lie
was happy 10 say tonight that the numbers,
character, and evident earnest purpose OF
the meeting. sustained this conclusion.
lie feared that the citizens OF ST. Paul.
her business men, did not always realize the
responsibility that rests upon them. Our
city occupies tine geographical position OF
standing iarthest i'll advance Of the CONNER
cal centers Of the Northwest---the outpost
and head OF commerce in the Nor,hwes'.
This position, as the head OF that column OF
commerce which, advancing from the At
laulc seaboard 10 the great Lakes and
westward, rested, but a few years ago, ut
Buffalo, aud successfully at Detroit and
Chicago. now rests here ut the head OF nav
iga,ion Of the great Father of Waters.
The responsibility Of pushing that column
on until il shall meet the rciluent tide OF
commerce IRON the Pacific coast, rests upon
us, and he Hoped that tonight We should
meet that responsibility III earnest aud
effective words.
Lieut.. Gov. HoLcoMBs followed-ilc
spoke OF the responsibility resting on MS as
citizens. 1t rested enlIrcly with ourselves
whether we would have the first railroad 10
the Pacific The explorations Of STEVENS
and others, and the collateral facts oi climate
familiar TO US all, have demonstrated that we
have 10y lar the most feasible route to the
Pacific. The route travcrses Il country as
well adapted to railroads, in the character
OF its surface forms, in fertility O! soil ind
abundance of water, as any OF our north
western Stats where railroads cost less
than anywhere else in the world bespoke
OF peculiar advantage OF this route ~ be-
ing accessible by water, near where It strikes
the Missouri tiye hundred miles west Of lis
terminus on the Mississippi at ST. Paul.
For twenty years, he stated, steamboats, had
annually ascendcd TO the mouth 81 the ltl-
low Stone. Nothing is wanting TO secure
the asccndency Of this route but promptness
aud energy in the initiative. The least we
can or ough, to do at the threshhold OF this
movement is, to ask for a weekly service. and
propor,ionate subsidy from Government.
Before we have obtained it, the time will
have arrived when We will need it, We are
always too slow 10 our calculations. Modern
Progress constantly onts,rips orr most san
guine predictions Of the future. II was pro
phesicd about ten years ago by WM. IL.
OGDEN, in the ardor Of an imagination
cap,iyated by the s,atlst ca OF railroads, and
the results OF the United States census, that
in the next ten years Chicago would attain
population of 20 900 souls The ten years
have passed, and Chicago conttius 10 day
population Of nearly five times twenty ,hous-
and II is thus that the little hamlet which
marks the extreme verge Of our western
frontier. will have leaped in the mex. decade
TO the position Of a populous city, and the
almost unknown wilderness Of which but
lew here TO nigh. know the geography, will
become covered with settlements, and bios.
SONS with villages and cities
Governor RAMSEY, Chairman OF tie
Committee before mentioned, hcreupon pre-
seutcd memorial 10 Congress on the sub
jects submitted, drafted by JAS. W. TAy.
LoR, and which, upon request, was rad by
that gentleman also, a ssrifa 81 resolutions
81 orqered The following are the memo.
rial and resolutions forming the report d