The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-05-26

| ANErTb, ION THE IND hNhh'j
4 May 9th, 1859.
Tn. rjfct of building a steamboat on
Red Ris to navigate the waters OF North
Wes,erMinnesota and British America,
now b fair to come to a speedy and sue
cesstultermina,ion. Since its inception,
inuu Fable difficulties have been overcome
BY 4 almost Napoleonic energy OF the
couactors, and in spite of deep SHOWS
st Sms and woods, through which the
der and other machinery was carried,
Ary everything Of any essential import
nee has been safely conveyed to its desti-
sation, and only few loads of cabin furni-
Iture, &C., still remain on the east side Of
the Buffalo river. On the first day OF
April, the herculean task Of conveying the
boiler across the wilderness one hundred and
thirty miles, from Crow Wing, was com
pleted, and as the ponderous load slowly
passed over the prairie, drawn by seven or
eight yoke of cattle, and was placed on the
bank of the river, we felt that the most
difficult part of this enterprise was accom-
plished. and that its success was now mere.
" a matter Of time. Six weeks have now
elapsed, and during that time the cleared
space opposite to the Shayenne river has
suddenly been converted into ship yard,
and the sound of the blacksmiths hammer
and the caulking iron is now heard where
one year ago the buffalo were seen in large
numbers. and another chain in the link OF
inter-oceanic navigation will soon be welded.
The boat which ia now being built, and
is to be very appropriately named 4" The
Pioneer" is about ninety feet in length and
TWENTY in width. and is calculated 10 be Of
abou, one hundred and twenty tons burden,
and built quite as strong and durable as
any of the boats which ply on the Upper
NJ ssissippi and had it been known to the
owners that there was such an abundance Of
ash and oak Timber in this immediate vi
cinity. several hundred dollars would have
been sa ,ed by transporting portable steam
mill to this place and saving out the lum-
Der. instead Of bringing il from the vicinity
Of Crow Wing. The boat is already plank
ed, and nearly half caulked, and il no un.
foreseen difficulty arises, within week from
this time i, will be launched in the river
snd be ready to receive her machinery
This will take two or three weeks to &C.
compish, and, by the first or second week
in June, it will make It's first trip to Penn
bina and Selkirk Settlement, in order To
secure the transportation Of their goods to
st. Paul and open q trade with them IN
their own midst. II sufficient means are
pledged TO him to meet his expenses, be
proposes to make trip up the Saskatcbe.
wan for the purpose OF exploring that river
and testing lts capacity for navigation, and
if possible, demonstrate to the people OF this
continent that this is the most feasible route
7 10 the Pacific.
This enterprise IA now in the hands o
/ men who know " no such WORD ~ fail. an
however chimerical, usesess or difficult y
may have appeared 10 those who have failed
TO appreciate ia importance and It's future
| results. il will inaugurate u new era 10 tbs
/ commercial history OF this nation and th'
/ prusperity OF this State, and the euterpri
/ .ing citizeps OF Minnesota will be the frs
to reap the be0ehts. W.