The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-12
rxk3 i fs5f 49,. Leg a
lpnes0la Railway and other Mat.
80 - ~-7s'@s - TIERS.

Mr.. BRoss, one of the proprietors of the
Chicago Tribune was in St. Paul last week,
and on his way down the river dates let
ter to the journal with which he is con-
nected, giving some of the incidents OF his
trip, and observations on what he saw and
heard. We make few extracts:
In order to appreciate the astonishing
growth OF the West, it is necessary to contrast
particular section of the country with its con-
oltlon at some former period. Thirteen years
ago the writer hereof made his first trip to st.
~! naui. Only at q few points atove Dubuque,
the green slopes and the beautiful valleys. cut
down between the towering cliffs on either side
OF tne mississippi were dotted with the cabin
OF the settler. At La Crosse we took on board
inc iast remnant of the Winnebaeoes. then
ABOUT 10 De removed from Wisconsin to their
reservation on the Crow Wing, and the beau
tiful city OF st. Paul, now the centre of n large
and lucrative commerce, was a small eo11ec'
ton OF shanties. The growth of the country
bordering on the Mississippi since 1S5O is trniy
amazing. To attempt to specify all the thriy,
ing towns along the river, and the facts indi-
eating the general progress of the country.
were indeed hopeless task. Some faint idea,
may be formed of the improvements made bu
what is hereafter detailed in this letter.
The amount OF business the La Crosse Road
Is doing will be matter of much interest to
our commercial readers. 1t has eighteen steam
ers running in connection with it on the Mis-
sissippi Minnesota, st. Croix and Chippewa
reaching Mankato, Chippewa Falls and all i'm
portant points above La Crosse. OF course the
larger portion of the business goes to Milwau
kee, but the day we arrived TWENTY-FIVE thou
sand bushels of wheat-equal to some seventy
Car loads had arrived from Chicago and from
sixty to a hundred car loads of freight are sent
from the La Crosse Depot to Chicago, via the
northwestern Railway every week. The
freight on bushel of wheat from anv point on
MISSISSIPPI to Milwaukee or Chicago is eigh-
teen cents. From the above facts it will be
seen that while this road belongs to Milwau-
kce what we have always claimed is true that
IL Is OF immense advantage to Chicago Our
merchants should take more pains to avail
themselves OF It's advantages, to secure a much
larger share OF the vast and rapidly increasing
trade OF the Upper Mississippi
lime has now abundantly proved that Min
nesota is not only rich in all the elements that
make great and prosperous State, but it is
one OF the most healthy and inviting portions
OF the continent. The climate is delightful.
steadily but not too severely cold in the winter.
warm and invigorating in the summer and not
subject to those tittul changes so dangerous in
more southern ATTITUDES. With little atten-
ton, in training and protecting the trees in
winter, nearly all the fruits can be raised in
Simonds and f. H. Masterson, Esq attorney
for the st. Paul and Pacific Railway. to whom
we are deeply indebted for many polite atten-
tons, pear and peach trees, filled with young
fruit, and they raise an abundance of grapes.
Minnesota still offers the most controlling adj
Vantages to the settler. The SOIL in a large
portion of the State, is exceedingly rich and
productive, and, for healthfuness of climate. it
probably has not an equal upon the American
continent
We must not forget to mention that the st.
Paul and Pacific railroad is finished from st.
Paul to several miles beyond ST. Anthony, and
some seventy miles more are to be completed
mp the Mississippi during the present year. Mr.
lice, the President, and Mr.. Litchtied the
contractor, are now in Europe making arrange
ments to have it extended to the head of navi-
CATION on the Red River of the North at an
early day. BY the courtesy of Mr.. Litchfield.
superintendent, and Mr.. Masterson, attorney
Tor the road, and in company with Captain
Hendricks, of the Chicago and Northwestern
railway, we had our first ride on railroad in
Minnesota. 1t is a part of the line of the great
North Pacific railroad, on which we hope to
live to ride to the western shores of the con-
tinent