St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1866-01-11
RlG1oRANT, NAIL AND PASSENGER
ROUTE TO MONTANA.

p11llll1s
migrant, NAIL AND PASSENGER
ROUTE TO MONTANA.
The question Of permanent route to
The new territory Of Montana is just begin
ming to dawn upon our people with some
thing like its proper magnitude, and move
ments are now being made to secure the
aid Of Government in affording protection
u smigrants and transportation trains
passing from one to the other. Not only
10 . route which shall be permanent and
we'll protected demanded for those who are
going from this and the States further east
in tho hope Of lettering their fortunes in
the mines Of that territory. but the trade
that leg,timately belongs TO this State from
that country is already immense and is
yearly increasing. To secure this, regu-
lar thoroughfare is indispensable. Other
States; with greater difficulties to overcome,
IRE striking toward this market where their
supplies are demanded. in order to reap the
harvest. The mines must be furnished
With -four, beef and pork-of all Of which
Minnesota has an overlooking surplus
Montana no more needs our produce than
w do the market which it affords-and
the gold which will be received in return.
=, The next question is, What shall be the
course Of this route? A single glance at
the map indicates ST.. CLOUD as the natural
starting point. Emigrants leaving this place
proceed over an excellent route to Fl. Aber-
crombie, which is northwest; continuing
north-west to Devils Lake; from thence
the course is due west to Fort Union keep
ing north of the Missouri river, Fort Ben
ton lies almost directly west From Fort
Benton to Helena City, the raliating point
for the different mines, the distance is but
one hundred and thirty-6ve miles. IT. the
entire distance it is not necessary by this
route to cross the Missouri river.
A large oumber Of teams are now engag-
I'd il transportation from Helena to the
mouth Of Milk River, where it empties into
che Missouri, about two hundred miles this
side Of Fort Benton.
Gentlemen personally acquainted with
the country, assure us that the above route
Is the best and most feasible that could be
selected. The character OF the intermedi-
ate country is favorable for emigrants and
teams, while the entire distance from this
place to Helena is but eight hundred miles.
T.. 4 correspondent Of the Press, writing
OF this matter, suggests Big Stsue Lake J.!
a. rendezvous for emigrants for Montana!
This is too ri iculcus to be even scoutt d
It! If "Board Of Trade had an interest
In paper town-site At Big Stone Lake
there might be key to this suggestion, but
without that We and all practical people are
ct loss for motive. The proper place
for rendezvous Is always at some town or
place where supplies can be obtained
Past experience has shown that there il
very considerable delay, after the tine ap
pointed, in getting these expeditions moved {;
and it would be folly to collect large body
Of men at point where they would be con-
Stunning what they could not there replace.
The extreme frontier town, Of sufficient i'm
portance, on the route is the only suitable
place Of rendezvous was the, case with
Capt. Fisk's expedition last season-and
that point is St. Cloud :.Es..* .,'Ess- ,<.fats' .
This correspondent gives the following
account Of Montana: ,..,. ,,,, .........,
The population of Montana is rapidly ap-
iproAching land We are not certain but ii
quite reaches) . hundred thousand souls;
who are engaged chiefly in mining. In
Wow Of, the unparalleled richness of the
mines. very few il any, content themselves
with farming hence they are obliged tc
import by such circaitous inlets rs they
have, everything they use and consume
As An item, they pay an average Of $50 pei
hundred weight for: -four, and probably
consume: not less. thar 2OO, 900 seeks an
aually, every ounce Of which we can an(
ought to furnish them out Of our surplus
product. - lEi.s;;4rTE =" rs +atG stss .,.s.;
al Wsceuld do this at least, $40 or $12
YoS uuAuAeU Vueup0I tu1u tuCy OA0 INV
supplied, and give . much better article
than they generally get, it We had n high
oway opened for the emigrant and freigh' s
There are. many articles Of merchandise
and home manufacture Which We could cup.
ply on the ssne basis Of estimate sand y la
could enrich as more directly than suchfa
trade74 a trade that reaches we'll Into the
millions Of dollars 'annualiy-s trade that
rightfnliy snd.natdrafly belongs to us. but
Of which We are solely deprived from want
,ofpublic spirit and enterprise: Other sec.
@tionsof the country, comparatively remote
from these auriferous' cgions, are, and have
beer from the first,' fat.ening on the legiti.
mate profits from this trade: s't's: ~. Z-ss
But tho immigration and going out trade
would net, be- the only source Of revenue
there would be the daily arrival Of the
mail and passenger coaches, and shipments
OF treasure from. the mines, Is we'll as The
columns Of srsturning emigrants, many O
whom, having prospered in their adventu
~rous tolls, would make homes among ns.. !
A eali for : meeting for . conside ratior
e these matters appearsin smother column
Let thsrs be . full attendance, and let en-.
sergetis action BE taken for carrying Til,
nfihieef into eject Bsss.' :, 99'Zofass13.s tesE: