New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-17
THE NORTHWEST.
BY BAYARD TAYLOR.
THE RED RIVER or THE NORTIi-FoRr ABhk-
CROMBIE-THE FERTILITY OF THE NORTH

WESTERN PIAINs-h CAMP or GAMBLERS
DOWN THE RED RIvER-FoRT PEMBiSA.
RED RIVER or THE NORTH, IN MANITOBA,
July Our first acquaintance, at Fort AbercromDe'
with this only American river highway to the North
correspondent venture TO say, with tho Expectations "
no one OF our party. Tho picture in my own hinu Wa
broad shallow stream with nearly perpendicular oiuhS
hut found Sd swift river about 10 feet wide' WIND
inc between sopng banks OF verdure and Gins no oiu
and spreadIng that their branches almost meet aoo'o
the water As we Otered down TO che Ferry past nc"
saloons and migratory shantios. was reminded Oh '"
fornia then the low, plain buildings OF the ior' On ~
Dakota side suggested Mexico. The scene was aoeIHn
yet II was difficult to say why. The stars ana otpos
foated from the flag staff; Gen. Hunt Col inman' ana
other officers greeted us with national heartiness and
letters and harmonsed, as they always DO pracu
cally however the systems may DO opposed STILL we
had a curious feeling OF being on partially allen SOIL
This fort In 1885, with garrison OF about 100 men, wos
beseged by TOO 800 Sioux for three weeks part Oh
its force absent securing the western palms. but
there is no probability that Its stockades Will ever be
needed TO repel second SIEGE We were recalled 10 our
camp In the fading twilight finding the tents TO our
great 10y free from musketoes and well supplied with
soft silky hay Mr. Nolan with assistants, presently
appeared dragging thrcefeet tube OF Red River lee
which was 10 DO our provision for the night Luxury IL
relative term after all and doubt whether carved
oak bodsteads, velvet farpets lavender linen, ana
possetOups with all spices Of the East could have gwen
us such OF pure luxurious enjoyment as that great
crystal mass, dmly flashing in the moonlight IL was
merry camp that night two Governors sang marching
Through Georgia." an editor punned us into mental eh
haustion correspondent chanted for us the mellow
music Of Lyeidas and TihonuS, Others smoked meer-
schaums or INDUCED in other pecuartes of frontier
life until sleep equazed the chaotic elements Of culture
and barbarism.
But we mounted our stage-coaches In the morning,
fresh for another monotonous day-ss 1t proved 10 De-
An endless level with tortuous belt OF trees on the lef
sharply trimmed prairie horizon on the right blue SKY
above quivering heat and dust like lamp-black all
around-such was our journey. We drove 70 miles
through the forenoon without changing horses aud then
halted for lunch at the house of Norwegian on the
banks OF the river. Under the groves OF elm, ash ana
boxeder found quantities OF wild black currants with
ripe fruit The settler has just built large log addition
his original cabin. He has lnd in good stock OF prai
hay for the Winter but his agriculture is still scanty
came to the place between two and three years ago.
with go his pocket and has already been offered ~
for his property Like every scandinavian whom have
met in this region he perfectly contened and prefers
the new home TO the old.
The great plain over which iOurneyed ia as fertile
any region in the world Some tell us that the lack OF
water will be serious drawback to settlement; that
wells have been sunk 80 feet through sodmass OF clay
without any result; hut this is by no means demon
Il
gion wateress Thirty miles to the eastward there is
a splendid lake country, with oak openings, which is
filing up with wonderful rspidity am positively as
sred that 10000 emgrants already settled between
the Red River and Bralnerd. where the North Pacific
Road the Mississippi gentleman reports hav-
ing met I2OO in days travel all bound for
the country about Detroit and Oak Lakes Col Johnson
and Dr. white Of Boston, who accompanied us rs far IA
Georgetown seeking suitable place for large col
ony OF Massachusetts soldiers There seems to be no
doubt that all this northern portion OF Minnesota VIII
soon be taken up by the best class of immigrants
After is miles OF afternoon heat and dust we reached
Oak Port, temporary camp OF gamblers and Anony-
mas whose tents and shantes only anchored there
until they ascertain the precise point where the North
Pacific Road will the Red River. Then they intend
to found town. Faropols Kenopolis- flourish
on vice until sterner civilization drives them away
Our drivers got their revolvers In readiness before
reaching the place. and Of our party did the same
had none and moreover, knew from experience that
the class not very dangerous In fact had scarcely
stepped within the circle of curious and suspicious co
.tenances than recognized by the keeper Of sa-
loon, and received present OF cigars. one OF the
OF the place had his ear fastened to his head
with ourtplasterprobably the antagonist OF the man
whom we had in Macaulayville, with similar ear
This barbarous biting and chewing OF the features be-
longs only to the Angosaxon savage who is far more
brutal than the Indian he curses.
The North Pacific Road will reach Red River before the
close OF this year, and from this time on it will hardly
be able to Outrun settlement. After its first hundred
miles Of forest and swamp it passes through region
wholly beautiful and fertile and climate constantly
in temperature. The ST. Paul and Pacific
Road will also reach Breckenridge in September and
may be extended within two three years to Pembina
and Fort Garry For hundred Of miles, both to the
westward and northward there is greater difficulty OF
construction than in the Platte and Humboldt Valleys.
Ten miles more OF travel that day, and we reached
GEORGETOWN on the Red River. There four houses
two Of which belong the Hudson Bay Company seated
on the crest of q lateral bluff We had good bath in
the river supper OF prairie chicken and early betook
ourselves to the hay and blankets certain OF such
disturbance at Pomme de Terre. 1t still 80 miles
to Frog Point the head OF steamboat navigation the
river at the present low stage OF water Georgetown
is the last sign OF a village going northward yet all the
land on both Sides up 10 the boundary line has already
been claimed The fertility Of the country although I'M
expected Surprises less than the rapdty with which
it has been taken up by coming settlers.
We rose at O'Clock for the remainder OF the stage
Journey and hurried forward hating only for lunch
the banks OF small sream-one OF the very few Amer
can aiuents OF Red River-until noon when the chin
news of the high-pressure, natbOttOmed sern-wheel
steamer selkrk rose out Of the deep bushy channel
through which the river flows. There is barely room
for the steamer to turn and barely water enough
to float her. though drawing with co tuns OF freight only
little over two feet Those OF our friends who had been
most enthusiastic in preaching prvations rough fare
and frontier ways of life generally could not repress an
expansive smile Of content descending from their
cramped seats and climbing spacious quarters on the
upper deck. Steam already up, for we had been
waited for and In a few minutes the empty stages. the
freghters camp the piles boxes along the dusty bank
had all disappeared and we were sliding down the river
highway to Lake Winnipeg.
1 think we were all most amazed at the tropical
luxurance of the vegetation. An unbroken mantle OF
willow and hazel knoted together with wild conyolvuus
and ivy, enveloped both banks down to the water be-
hind this foliage stood large scattering elms, ash and
boxelder and all mixed together in such tangle
OF riotous growth that could well have believed the
stream TO be the Red River Of Louisiana. The current
was so swift and the bends so sharp and frequent that