Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-09-27
The Northern Pacific Railroad and
The Red River Country.

From private letter, dated Rich,iile. y. L..
Sept 9th, some extract, are handed % as lor pub
liciton relative tn that ntercs ling section OF the
country toward, which SO many are now turning
their attention.
GOV Smith and party amped Just above
here on tie Breckenridge side OF the Red river
Ia the morning went up 10 see Them. but found
they had gone. Vice President Colax and Carrie.
ton Of the Boston Journal were with the party.
The cars are expected to run to Breckenridge in
October, and hope you will come out here.
The VI. Paul and Pacific road has passed into
The hands Of the Northern Pacifs Company, and
both Of course will be under the control of tie
same corporation, Of which Gov Smith d vc.
mont is President Many think that junction
OF the 81. Paul and Pacific and the Northern Pa.
chic will be made ut breckenridge, and think
myself it will be at Breckenridge, or somewhere
in Dakotu.
Rchyille is opposite Breckenridge, and think
part Of that town will be on the Dakota side Of
the Red river. II must be, on account Of lis l1-
cation, one Of the mos, important towns on the
rlad. The Ottertail river rams into the Red river
here, and up the Ottertai i one of the largest
pine lumber regions in Minnesota. The river !. Of
sufficient depth to d rat il down 1t any season Of
the year, and in all probability it will he manu-
hctnred at It's mouth, thus securing large trade
At this point; and when the Northern Pacific road
is built across the Territory to the Missouri river
lumber will be furnished from this point to Ne
braska and the Southern part Of Dakota.
The now run on the St. Paul and Pacific
road To Morris, about forty miles from here, and
there are about one thousand teams now engaged
in fIeighting merchandise from that station down
INTO Dakota counted 10 one train one hundred
and fifty teams, loaded with merchandise going
% Pembina, near the British possessions, two
hundred miles from here.
Al this business will be transferred to Breck
enrdge as soon as the cars run here. We want
a land-Ollice here and must have it, for we are
now obliged to 60 to Pembiua, and an Office
here must do a large business, for in the valley
Of the Red River is the Garden Of Dakota
The general surface of the country west and
around here is beautiful rich prairie, free from
marsh, swamls or sloughs, trayersed by many
streams and dotted with innunerble lakes OF
various sizes, whose wooded margins, rocky
shores, and gravel b1ttoms afford tn the settler
the purest of water, and give to the scenery Of
the territory much Of its interest and beauty.
Tins part of the territory is the watershed Of
North America We find the sources Of tue
rivers running Numerically opposite-th those llw'
ing northward, reach a region of eternal Ice
while those wing southwark pass from regions
OF wild rice, through the cott0nlelds and sugar
plantations of the SJutherner, until their waters
are mingled with the waters Of the Gulf. TIE
climate and the soil necessary to produce most
the two great staples Of American
agriculture-corn and wheat, dakota possesses .,
The capacity of the territory for raising in
mense herds Of cattle, and for the production OF
large crops of corn, wheat, oats, barley potatoes
fruits and vegetables, demonstrates its ability to
sustain dense populations AMI venture the
prediction that the best wheat lands Of this con-
inent will yet be found in the valley OF tho
Red River. The day Is not distant when the
,ye which can now behold only the vast eSpansV
II prairie and the tall luxuriant grass waving
'eiore the wind, will rest content upon the l"fn
md the workshop. the schoohouse and 'n'
'hurch, We should bear in mind that WITHIN
he last thrty-ive years, nine great States nave
cen rescued from the possession OF the roan'ns
indian, and subdued to the usages OF ciVil'l''
nan.