The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-11-15
The Extinction Of Indian Title In the
Red River Valley.


least within the State limits of Minnesota.
The west bank OF the Red River, included
in the Territory of Dakotah, might remain
nits present situation; but we need not re-
mind our Congressional delegation, and the
Interior Department, that most important
interests are now identified with the secure
navigation of the Red River, and the exten-
sion of American settlements from George.
town, at the mouth of Buffalo River, to
Saint Vincent, opposite the memorable
Pembina, OF the international frontier. A
simple enumeration OF these interests will
suffice:
l. The depot at Georgetown, for the
transportation, by steam navigation, to the
Red River settlements, requires capital of
$l50,000; including the steamer Pioneer,
now at winter moorings, and new steamer
which will be furnished fer next years
trade.
II. A tri-monthly mail now follows the
course Of the Red River to Fort Garry, and
since the suspension of the Canadian mail
westward of Lake Superior, has become the
sole postal resource, not only of the commu.
nifty of ten thousand inhabitants at Selkirk,
but OF the officers and men at more than fifty
interior posts, scattered atevery point avail
able for tie trade in furs, between Lake
Winnepeg and the Rocky Mountains, and
from the American boundary, on latitude
490, to the remote stations Oh the Macken-
zie River, within the polar circle. Our
readers will be astonished by statistics,
which we hope shortly to present, of the ex
tent and value of this mail arrangement.
Ill. With the enlargement OF steamboat
transportation from Saint Anthony 10 Saint
Cloud, the improvement Of roads aud brid-
ges between Saint Cloud and Georgetown
and the permanent and successful naviga~
tion of the Fed River by steamboats--al
of which are facts accomplished during the
twelve months just closed---it is no longer
doubtful that the trade with Central Brit
ish America, already twice as extensive as
in 1859, will reach an aggregate, during
1862, of 1000 tons OF merchandise exported
from the United Ssates, and, if the war con.
tinues, OF another 1000 tons Of imports from
the posts of the Hudson Bay Company.
". We may be asked how the war can
affect our imports by the Red RIVER system
of communications The answer is obvi-
Gus. The single article OF buffalo robes is
found indispensable to the American army.
AS in the Crimean campaign, the dividends
of the Hudson Bay Company were im-
mensely increased by the demand OF these
skins for the British camp, so we are in
formed by j. &. BURBANK & Co, OF this
city, the agents Of the Company, that the
best market for this great staple Of the fur
trade. is the supply OF the army of the Amer
lean Union. Instead OF Montreal ard Lon.
don, New York is rapidly becoming the
destination and depot Of buff AlO robes, pay
ing tie duties under our American tariff,
while in transit thther from the hunters
end packers of the Saskatchewan.
We might extend this enumeration, but
it is unnecessary. Even on SO partial an
exhibit, the National Government should
hasten to remove the risk and obstruction,
! which the Red Lake Indians are causing to
the navigation of the Red River, and the
pass ge Of the Government mails One
I fourth of the area of Minnesota is held by
these idle and thieviDg savages, who, driven
/ by the pro:pect CT starvation, now threaten,
we understand, to burn the steamers and
sack the warehouses at Georgetown. OF
course, by doing so, they will bring upon
themselves q severe chastiSemeDt but that
will be 70 compensation for the public mis-
fortunes, resulting from the interruption of
our commerce and communications with
Selkirk and the valley Of the Saskatche~
| wan.
We hope to hear that the Governor of
c4iuuSSOtt LIDS tdhSu WudtSNCE
may be requisite, to check any foray oi the
Indians against the American settlements
on Red River Fort Garry and vicinity,
over the line, can amply protect them~
selves )-and that the Indian Bureau at
Washington, through the efficient interven.
tion of our delegation in Congress, will i'm.
mediately take steps to remove the cause OF
these alarms and annoyances, by bringing
the Chippewa and Red Lake bands within
the restraint and protection of treaty.
They may require to be fed this winter, as
an act OF humanity, no less than OF public
discretion; but nothing should longer post
pone the extinction of Indian title, and the
consequent extension OF civilized settlements
along the important channel of the Red
River of the North.
Losses Both Sides
The aggregate losses OF the Federals and
COntaderatpa in all the battles ekirmiobec