Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-04-16
Sioux Gitg 8tgisttr
THE ST. PAUL AND FORT THOMP.
son IDAHO ROUTE. -

THE ST. PAUL AND roar TaoMP-
SON IDAHO ROUTE. -
We make the following extrac, from the
leader Of the Central Republican,, one Of
the principal papers published in Minne-
sofa. The subject Of the article - the
proposed new route to Idaho from St. Paul
ria Fort Thompson. After giving St.
Paul, its Press aud Cbambe. of Commerce
= pretty severe rub, and showing up in no
very favorable light its spectators, and
apt coadjutor in the preson Of U. s.
Senator from that State, the editor goes
on to say:
The proposed route, via St. Paul and
Fort Thompson, thence up the Missouri
to the mouth Of the Sheyene, thence up
the Sheyere to its head waters in the
Black Hills, is claimed to be the shortest
and most direct route for all emigrauts
from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan,
Wisconsin and all other States East. Now
let US take Chicago ~ starting point,
and trace the new route on the map TO the
Black Hills. Chicago is situated on about
Al degrees Of North latitude thence, to
St. Paul, the hub Of the universe, aud
which must be made . point in the route
by every man who ever expects to get
through. You travel in northwesterly
direction to the 45th parallel of latitude !;
from thence up the Minnesota to Fort
Ridgely, in southwestern direction to the
44,h parallel. Fort Thompson is on abou,
the same parallel Of latitude out to Sc.
cure wood aud water, it is necessary to
diverge from a direct line between those
points, nearly "a far south as the Iowa
State line, in lat. Az, and then back again
From Fort Thompson it is proposed to 20
up the Missouri, northwesterly. nearly or
quite 100 miles, to the mouth Of the Shey-
enne, in latitude about 45o; thence south.
west up that river TO its source in the
Black Hills, in About 430 Of la.i,ude.-
Any msn who will take the trouble Of
tracing this route on . good map will sp.
preciate its directness.. Nothing more
nearly represents it than an old Virginia
wormtence and only advensurers from
the extreme northern portion of Wiscon.
sin or 81. Paul should think Of taking that
route. ANY emigrants from Wisconsin,
Illinois or any other State east, Who de.
oI'e " ~ ~ Ao""O ~ WY VI AoomPsoH
Fort, can cave At least 200 miles, BY leav.
ing the Mississippi at La Crosse or Winona,
ard passing directly wes. through the
southern counties Of this State, For.
Thompson lying almost due west from
Winona, instead Of going round the pivot
upon which the universe rsvolyes, St.
Paul. But even that is not the most di.
rect route for eastern emigrants 10 Idaho;
nor 10 it the best. It is good route, much
better than by way Of St. Paul, till you
pass tho head waters of the Cotton rood,
Watowsn and Dss Moiues river; from
thence to the Sioux river wood aud water
are scarce; from the crossing Of the Sioux
to tho James river, and from the James
TO the Missouri at Fort Thompson there
is the same difficulty. We should certainly
ing in strange road, for man to mis-
direct us and send " BY some circuitous
route out Of our way because BY 80 doing,
some friendly tavern keeper Of the man
who misinformed us might be benefited;
and this is just what is being done BY the
advocates OF this Fort Thompson route.
This selection Of Fort Thompson vas
m imposition upon the Government, be.
cause Of its barrenness and un6tness for
the purpose, and discredilable 10 the char.
acter Of the Government for justice and
honorable dealing with Indians. Aud
this attempt to misdirecs emigranta and
induce the Government to expend money
to establish this route, 10 not only an i'm.
position upon the Government-an at.
tempt to play moan trick on emigrants
for the benefit Of Government contractore,
wooden gensrsls and hangers on generally
but 10 m insult to the common sense Of
the people Of the country. And il Secre.
tary Stanton will examine the latest and
best authenticated maps, he will 6nd Chi
cago near the 42d parallel Of latitude, Du.
buque All, Sioux City the sane; head
waters Of the Niobrara, or Running Water
river nearly the same. By this route the
traveller will end over ono hundred miles
Of railroad west Of Dubuque; thence TO
Sioux City, thence up the Missouri to the
mouth Of Running Water river, and thence
up that TO ito head, within 80 or 20 miles
Of the Black Hills, with plenty Of wood
wafer And grass for teams the whole route,
and not varying from direct line TO q.
ceed ha.f ) parallel Of latitude, Till hs
reaches the head Of the RunninR Water
river. W. hope before hs consents to
this useless expenditure Of public funds
and foolish uss Of : military force 90 much
needed elsewhere, for the benefit Of ths
ST. Paul Cbamber Of Contractors. Senator
Ramsey and Clark Thompson, Secretary
Stanton will spend few monsnts 10 ex.
amining the maps.
We regard the foregoing - ! very can.
did and correct expositicn of the merits
Of the various routes 70 the new gold
mines Of Idaho, and eminating, - il docs,
from source, which, II il has any preju~
dicea Or prsdilsctions they would not b st
| all iksly 10 lean 10 the direction Of the
Dsboqus and Sioux City route, should
havs gssat weight is detsrmininE ths
choice Of those wbo srs undetermined, 81
what route they will travel.