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

western Railroad Company, hold chacter
and grant Of land for Railroad through
Minnesota from St. Paul to Lake Superior,
but the affairs Of the company have been
involved in law suit and their operations
have been pos tponed till fnal decision
be rendered.
This road connects the Mississippi with
the navigation Of the lakes by road Of 100
miles, while roads running eastward and
and south. eastward across Wisconsin and
Illinois to Lake Michigan, are from 200 to
$50 miles further. 10 the navigable season
then, which does not terminate till q month
or six weeks after harvest, the Minnesota
valley and the Upper Mississippi will seek
at least q partial outlet via st. Paul,
through Lake Superior.
! 4, The Minnesota and Pacific main and
branch lines, with their common terminus at
st. Paul, diverging from st. Anthony to
the west and northwest, the main line
running for 2l2 miles on the west side OF
the Mississippi to the extreme head OF navi-
cation at Breckenridge on the Red River
the branch line 400 miles long, following the
east bank northwest to Grow Wing; and
thence to Pembina, in the direction of the
proposed British Pacific Railway, and i'm
pnging upon the fertile plains OF the Sas.
katchewan.
The aggregate length Of the Land Grant
roads which concentrate upon ST. Paul, as
their Mississippi terminus, is 1927 miles,
endo we'd with about 1000 900 acres Of land
including the northwestern grant, or 1885,
600 acres without that, and stimulated to
immediate construction by the conditions Of
a loan of State bonds, of which they receive
$3.50, 1000, and OF this amount Of railroad
running into st. Paul, 44S miles must be
completed before January LIST, 1866. BY
that time st. Paul will have direct rail
road communication via the Milwaukee and
st. Croix Land Grant road, with Lake
Michigan and the eastern systems Of rail-
roads.
RxrRRIoR COMMERCIAL RELATIONS OF SAINT
| PAuL-THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
We opened our review Of Minnesota with
a description Of the commanding geograph.
cal position Of the State, at the exact cen
tire OF North America, at the core OF Mau-
rvs Northern agricultural and commercial
zone, and the Autographed heart from
which pusate oil the great commercial ar
teries Of the continent. The accompanying
map represents the position Of Minnesota
relative to the navigsble water systems Of
the continent, and illustrates the relation Of
st. Paul to the adjacent group OF marine
termni. 1t indicates the local lines Of
railroad in process OF construction to but
ton these continental water systems upon
the sleeve of Saint Paul. 1t shows also the
proposed Pacific Railroad routes, the lower
line representing Gov. Stevens route, and
the upper line the more favorable scheme
through the level plains Of the Saskatche-
wan and Psliser's pass to Puget Sound.
Saint Paul standing at the summit Of navi-
CATION on the Mississippi, with its feet in
the Gulf of Mexico, and its Brisrean arms
Of iron grasping the commerce OF the ada.
cent river systems, sits upon the throne OF
the internal commerce Of the continent
One hundred and twenty miles Of railroad
will connect it with the head OF navigation
on the st. Lawrence chain OF Lake expan-
sion, with an outlet for the wheat and corn
Of Minnesota, without breaking bulk, upon
the harbors OF Europe.
Two hundred and twenty miles more o
Railroad now in course OF construction will
Connect the head Of navigation on the Mis-
sissppi with the head Of navigation on the
Il d River, with chain OF internal naviga-
ton reaching thence to the base Of the su
rilerous Serras Of the Pacific 400 miles of
Railroad more terminating at the inierua-
tional boundary on the Red River, and now
constructing, forms the first link OF Pacific
Railroad, which British capital, j, is believ-
ed, will at an early day complete TO Puget
Sound. On the south east the Mississippi
bs,hes the feet Of the young giant with four
thousand miles Of nav cation Including trb
utaries) flowing southwark through fifteen
degrees Of latitude, and a'ording with sue
cessive transitions Of climate and productions,
from the upper temperate to the torrld zone,
oil the conditions OF an active commercial
interchange; the southern states receiving
our lumber and potatoes and other northern
staples 10 exchange for their sugars. and
supplying Us from their cotton fields with the
raw material OF manufactures. for which "a.
,uIe has afforded every facility in the aban
dance Of our water power. On the south west
the Minnesota river, eolcurrenty with
another line OF Railroad, poors ito risingg
commerce into our lap. Thus with navigA
be waters or railroads both on the north
east. on the north west. and west, and south
west and south aud south east, and before
long on the east TO Green Ray ST Pagl
boxes the compass with lines OF e1ternA
communication reaching 10 the exireniiies
OF the globe.
Ten ycars ago sam, Paul ~as az obscure
Indian trading 90, poe, Of The ultra i7cn,ler
Noi 90 the frontier bg, hundreds OF miles
b,yoai 4. or The utmost ambllOu u sttle