The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-02
Interesting Red River News.

Interesting Red River News.
We have received the second and third
numbers of the Nor. Wester published at SEX
kirk settlement, B. A. Messrs. BUcK1Nc~
HAM & CoLDwELL have succeeded in getting
up paper. at that far distant point, which
would reflect credit upon many older and
more wealthy communities. We quote some
interesting items, from the two numbers Of
the paper:
BUSINESS FOR ST. PAUL MERCHANTS.
The Red River of them orth, we will anti.
cipate, present and unwonted and interesting
spectacle this year. The note of prepare.
ton has been sounded, and from all quarters
we hear of arrangements being made for an
active business campaign in the ensuing
spring. Some of our merchants have even
determined to anticipate the steamers--for
this year we are, it appears, to have two,
the Anson Northrup and the Freighter
The former vessel, at least, will be ready to
commence her trips soon after the opening
of navigation but in order to shave the
start" OF the steamer, the merchants alluded
to, intend proceeding to st. Paul during the
winter to purchase their goods. These will
be hauled by land portion of the distance,
when fiat bottomed boats will be built and
launched Immediately after the breaking up
of the Red River and in this way they ex-
pect to land their goods in the settlement in
advance of any others.
THE ANsoN NoRTHRUP AND THE FREIGHTER.
The Arson Northrup steaming up the
river last year and waking the echoes with
the first steam whistle created no slight
sensation. At that time, however, great
effort was being made to launch another
steamer, the Freighter, on Red River. In
this attempt the rocks, rapids, and other OBJ
stacles in upper Minnesota were successfully
overcome until within about eight miles of
Big Stone Lake, where she struck fast. Her
hull has been very much shattered, and should
it not be found worth repair, she will be
taken to pieces, and her machinery used in
building new steamer for Red River.
The Arson Northrup is now lying at
Cooks Greek, near the Indian Settlement,
undergoing series of repairs which will
add much to her safety and comfortable &C.
commodation, and improve her appearance.
For some time past carpenter has been
busily engaged fitting her out with a new
fore and aft lower deck, and will proceed
with the finishing of the cabin aud making
of an upper deck, as quickly as possible.
Her machinery has been examined by an
engineer from St. Paul, who took out both
the fue sheets with the intention of putting
in new ones. He also found that the fire.
box needed repairs. On his return last
week, he took with him patterns of the fues,
and patches required for the fre-box and
expects to return in about eight weeks hence,
with all the necessary new castings.
Messrs. Burbank & Co., of st. Paul, have,
we understand purchased the Freighter, with
the intention of using her, or some steamer
built out of her materials, in conjunction
with the Arson Northrup, to convey the
goods of the Hudson Bay Company to the
settlement, from Georgetown, their new sta.
ton, at the mouth Of the Buffalo River.
PLEASANT WEATHER.
The unusually fine, mild weather noticed
in our last issue, has continued with but
little variation during the fortnight. Cold
weather has, indeed become so rare of late,
that one might almost fancy the long icy
winters of these northern ATTITUDES had we'll
nigh passed over. On but four out of the
d last fourteen days has the thermometer fallen
below zero. These were the 10th, 18th,
25th and Goth, when Is degrees below indi-
Gated the greatest cold experienced. The
other ten days were warm and pleasant, the
glass being usually from 20 to 80 above, in
the morning, and still higher at noon.--
Nor Wester Jan. %.
POST OFFICE STATISTICS
The Nor. Wester gives the following stat
istics of the business at the post Office, at
Selkirk since 1858:
During the year 1854, there were only
few dozen of letters and papers. In 1855,
the monthly average was $50 papers and 40
letters coming in, and about 80 letters going
out. In 1856, 280 papers and $50 letters
were the incoming monthly average, and
200 letters went out. In 1857, there were
800 papers and $50 letters coming in, and
230 letters going out.
The year 1853 witnessed new feature
in the postal arrangements of the country.
In that year, the Canadian Government au.
luoTiAeu tne conveyance VI HAL W anu lr0Hl
the Settlement, Ola Fort Wi lillian. Since that
time, therefore, and up to the beginning of
the present winter we have had two lines of
mail commuuication--one through Ameri>
can and one through British Territory. The
former has hitherto on the whole given great
satisfaction and we doubt not the latter will
also give satisfaction, after some more expe-
rience.of the route and its requirements. In
June, 1859, the two lines together brought
in 7l3 papers and 400 letters besides a
number of magazines and reviews. The
last mail, which arrived on the evening of
18th instant, brought in $50 newspapers and
2l0 letters. This is the largest number of
papers ever brought in by single mail.
The outgoing mail of the % ult., conveyed
$50 letters and large number of newspa-
pers. As that was the first instance of
newspapers being sent abroad from this
Settlement, it will mark an important era
in the history of the Red River Post Office.
KILLED AND RuRNT ON SUSPICION.