SUPERINTENDENT OF WAGON ROAD. NUMBER 16. For a superintendent of the road A MEMORIAL TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, ASKING Your memorialists, the Legislative Assembly of the Territo Cheyenne wagon ry of Dakota would most respectfully represent, that the increased travel from Dakota to Montana imperatively demands that the remainder of the appropriation to open a wagon road from the mouth of the Big Cheyenne river, to connect with the Niobrara and Montana wagon road, should be expended during the coming spring, and the road completed as provided by the act of Congress entitled an act to provide for the construction of a certain wagon road in the Territories of Idaho, Montana, Dakota and Nebraska, approved March 3d, 1865. Your memorialists would further recommend, that Hon. Horace J. Austin, of Vermillion, Dakota Territory, be appointed superintendent of said Big Cheyenne wagon road. Mr. Austin is a practical engineer and a thorough business man, honest and upright, served his country as a soldier for three years during the late rebellion and is most deserving of the position as well as being in every way well qualified to perform the duties of the office. Therefore, your memorialists most respectfully but earnestly ask for Mr. Austin's appointment to the position. Resolved, That a copy of this memorial be sent to Hon. O. H. Browning, and Hon. W. A. Burleigh. 18 SURVEY OF LANDS. NUMBER 17. A MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS RELATIVE TO THE SURVEY OE PUBLIC LANDS ON OR NEAR THE RED RIVER OF THE NORTH. To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled : Jands on Red Your memorialists, the Legislative Assembly of the Terris For a survey of tory of Dakota, would most respectively represent, that under River an appropriation of five thousand dollars, by the Thirty-ninth Congress, at the second session thereof, for the extension of the public surveys to the Pembina settlements of northeast Dakota, near the British boundary, it was found necessary by the Commissioner of the general land office, to direct the extension of the eleventh standard, and 7th guide meridian from the State of Minnesota, west and north-a distance of one hundred and forty miles, through the country on the Dakota side of the Red River of the North, ceded in 1863, by the Red Lake and Pembina bands of Chippewa Indians, in order to reach the said Pembina settlements. That by the extension of said eleventh standard, and seventh guide meridian, the appropriation was necessarily reduced about fifteen hundred dollars, leaving only three thousand five hundred dollars to be expended in the running of township and section lines in said Pembina settlements. That contrary to the expectation of the commissioner of the general land office, the fifteenth standard parallel fell nineteen and one-half miles south of the international boundary, wherefore it became necessary, under the instructions of the commissioner, to lay off nearly three hundred miles of base and township lines in order to reach the actual settlements along the Pembina river, thus reducing the appropriation to less than two For a survey of thousand dollars for subdivisional surveys, in consequence of which only about five townships were sectionized. lands on Red River That in addition to the said unfinished condition of the subdivisional surveys; that entire portion of the Red River valley through which said meridian is established, for a distance of over one hundred miles, is left without any connection, either by base, township or section lines. That within this intermediate of one hundred miles, said meridian crosses four streams of considerable size, viz : the Goose, Turtle, Salt and Park rivers, all fine streams, well wooded with oak, ash, clm and lynn, and watering one of the very best agricultural and grazing districts of the West. That by the extension of the thirteenth parallel, if no more, and the survey of townships along Turtle river and the extension of the twelfth and fourteenth standard, and the subdivision of a few townships along the above named streams at their confluence with the Red River, the new settlements would be accommodated; this with the subdivision of the townships. on and near the Pembina, could, we believe, be done at a cost of from ten to twelve thousand dollars. Your memorialists therefore pray, that a sum not less than ten thousand dollars be appropriated for the purposes above stated. And your memorialists, as in duty bound will ever pray. WAGON ROAD. NUMBER 18. A MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS PRAYING FOR AN APPROPRIATION 1 To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of the road on Red Your memorialists, the legislative assembly of the Territory of For a wagon Dakota, would most respectfully call your attention to the present River great and increasing need of a wagon road from Fort Abercrombie, in this Territory, down the Red River of the North, to the Dakota settlements on the Pembina river, and thence to parallel of latitude 49° north, in the direction of the "Selkirk," or Hudson Bay Coinpany's Red River settlements, Your memorialists would respectfully represent; 1. That according to the official reports of the collector of customs at the post of Pembina, that merchandise passing annually over this route is inspected at that post, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars, from which the United States government derives a large revenue. Besides supplies for the American settlements, (with a population of over two thousand) all the supplies for British settlements, containing a population of from twelve to fifteen thousand, as well as supplies for the Hudson Bay Company, and the numerous "Free Traders," are received at, or by way of the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, and pass over the route above mentioned. And all the vast amounts of furs, &c., imported from said British settle. ments for consumption, or in bond for transhipment, are freighted over said route; 2. That this great thoroughfare of about two hundred miles bes tween Fort Abercrombie and the Pembina settlements, crosses eight streams, varying from fifty to two hundred feet in width, over which the freighters have annually to throw temporary bridges, which are carried off by the first freshet, and hence the same stream is so bridged several times during one season, For awagon road on Red River 3. That the entire route passes over a level valley, and as nature has provided an excellent road, no appropriation will be required for any other purpose than to survey and locate the road, and bridge the streams. Your memorialists therefore, do most respectfully pray for an appropriation of a sum of money that you, in your wisdom, may deem sufficient to survey and locate a government wagon road from Fort Abercrombie in this Territory, down the valley of the Red River of the North, by the nearest and best route, to the settlements on the Pembina river, and thence to parallel of latitude 49° north, in the direction of the Hudson Bay Company's settlements, and to bridge the Cheyenne, Wild Rice, Elm, Goose, Turtle, Salt, Park and Pembina rivers, And your memorialists as in duty bound, will ever pray. |