22 



RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



The dividing ridge between the Embarras Eiver, a tri- 

 butary of the St. Louis Eiver, and Vermilion Eiver, 

 which flows into the valley of Eainy Lake, is about 48 

 miles in an air line from the north-west coast of Lake 

 Superior. On the Pigeon Eiver, which forms the boun- 

 dary between the United States and Canada, the dividing 

 ridge separating the St. Lawrence from the Winnipeg 

 basin is only 28 miles in an air line from the north-west 

 coast of the same great water level, but by the canoe 

 route on Pigeon Eiver, the height of land is 53 miles 

 from the coast. 



Within the territory of the United States, the country 

 between Lake Superior and the valley of the Mississippi 

 presents no difficulties for the construction of a railroad. 

 The valley of the Mississippi is in direct communication 

 with that of the Eed Eiver of the north by traveled 

 roads, so that the approach to the valley of Lake Win- 

 nipeg from the head of Lake Superior is only a question 

 of time, and will not involve any considerable outlay 

 when the necessities of the country, or of commerce, 

 render the opening of this line of communication de- 

 sirable. 



Kettle Eiver, flowing into the St. Croix, a tributary of 

 the Mississippi, issues from a small lake not 20 miles 

 from Lake Superior, and the distance of the navigable 

 portion of the Mississippi, adjoining Sandy Lake, is 

 scarcely 45 miles from Pond du Lac. The Mississippi 

 is said to be navigable for steamers of light draught from 

 Crow Wing to beyond this point, and Crow Wing is 130 

 miles from St. Paul by the traveled road, and less than 

 120 miles in an air line from Superior City. 



St. Paul and Crow Wing will soon be connected by a 

 railway. A large portion of the heavy work on this line 

 is completed, and if no unforeseen events occur, the con- 



