The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-07-27
Local A fairs.

HE Trade OF THE NoRrHwEsr-THE
ANsoN N0RTHRUP-FoURrH OF July. ETC.
BY the politeness Of Mr.. Wilder, of the
firm Of Burbank & Co., we have had the
privilege Of perusipg some of the letters ad.
dressed to that firm by their agents and the
merchants on the Red River, and have
CLEANED some information of interest to the
public.
The complete success of the means of
transportation provided by Burbank & Co.
has given an impetus towards st. Paul of
the trade of that vast region, that has more
than met the most sapguine anticipations,
but the evidence is abundant that the trade
this year is but the opening experiment of
what will eventually prove Of magnitude
beyond our present conception. The people
of that region have the reputation of being
cautious, and even timorously prudent, in
commercial affairs, and confidence is of
slower growth among them than with US,
but when once established, is not very
easily shaken. They have not yet come to
realize their nearness to US.
Mr.. Bryant encloses orders for various
descriptions of goods, and among them, arti-
cles Of machinery for flour mill complete
He says "To be delivered this summer, or
no sale. The people are hardly yet satisfied
that they can order goods at this time of
the year and receive them this fall. They
are careful to state that they don't want
them unless they are delivered this season.
If everything ordered this season comes
right, you may look for any amount of orders
in the spring. am fully satisfied that this
years business is but the opening of an i'm
mense trade" The -four mill is on its way,
and the gentleman ordering it will doubtless
be surprised at its speedy reception.
There is another feature in the Red River
trade that betokens the healthy financial
condition of the mercantile community.
Without the pale of inquisitorial "mercan.
tile agencies" it is gratifying to be assured
that in no other part of the country is there
more commercial honor. "Good for all he
Tor they) may order" is the usual endorse
ment on letters received by our merchants.
1t is more than probable that in another
year, the long trains of rude carts, and oxen
and horses, and wild looking, sun-burned
drivers, that have been such objects of Gu
riosity to our citizens and strangers, since
the trade from whence they came was first
attracted to St. Paul, will be put to other
uses at home, and become still greater curl
osities from their rarity among us.
In addition to the legitimate commerce
springing up between st. Paul and the vast
country to the Northwest, in their respec-
tive products and manufactures, by the en-
terprise of Burbank & Co., this city will
become the entrepot of foreign exchanges.
Arrangements have been made by the above
firm to contract for and transport goods, in
bond, between the Territory of the Hudson
Bay Company and England, and otLer ma
tions on the continent of Europe. All these
are yet in their infancy, but are worthy of
notice, in view of the important results
which few years may establish.
On the last trip of the Arson Northrup
Of which we have the particulars, she ar.
arrived at Fort Garry about two o'clock,
on the Fourth of July. Capt. Painter, and
Mr.. Byrant, and the attaches of the boat,
made no attempt to restrain their patriotic
feelings, although they were on foreign
ground, but ushered in the day with salute
of thirteen guns, and took on board an ex.
cursion party, consisting of Gov. McTavish
and lady, Capt. Sharpe and lady, and other
distinguished people, and made a trip to
the Stone Fort, about fifty miles below.
They took on board at that place, over three
hundred bales buffalo robes, and left the
Chief Factor, Mr.. Christy there, waiting for
the balance of about eight hundred pack
ages, to arrive from Fort Edmonton. Mr..
Christy had one hundred and fifty men there
belonging to his boats, to await the return
of the boat to that place.
Gov. McTavish receipted for 58,O55 lbs
of goods, and the receipts for the trip were
1856. There is an abundance of water in
the river for steamboating although it is
slowly falling.