The Weekly Minnesotian

Mail Between St. Anthony and Puget Sound.

"14047.-From St. Anthony, by Fort Union, to Puget Sound, in Washington Territory, 2000 miles and back, once a month; leave St. Anthony the 1st day of each month at 8 a. M.; arrive at Puget Sound the 30th day thereafter by 6 p. M. ; leave Puget Sound the 1st day of each month at 8 A. M.; arrive at St. Anthony the 30th day thereafter by 6 P. M."

The above is an extract from "Proposals for Mail Service in Minnesota," which we find published in the advertising columns of the Pioneer and Democrat. We are pleased to find that the Postmaster General has at last realized the fact, that there is another practicable mail and railroad route to the Pacific, aside from the one through the South Pass. The mails have been regularly carried across the continent by the central route, so called, for the past two years- Now, it appears that the Northern line is to have that equal advantage which should have been awarded it immediately after the completion of Gov. Stevens' survey in 1853.

We have never asked anything but an equal chance for the Northern Pacific Railroad route. We only want the General Government, the friends of the great enterprise, and the men who are to furnish the means to connect the two oceans with iron rail, to not be prejudiced against our route, until they know more of the character of the country and the climate through which it passes. We want it generally understood and believed--which it must be eventually-- that there has been no exaggeration in regard to the fertility of soil; the abundance of water almost every mile; the continuous tracts of timber land, and the entire absence of deep snows in winter, from one end of this Northern line to the other. When these facts become generally understood-- and they are gaining credence every day-- we can count with certainty the fulfilment of our prediction, long since made, that the Northern route was the route over which the first Railroad would be constructed.

We hear that bids for supplying this mail service will be made by citizens of Minnesota--perhaps of St. Paul. At all events, we have no doubt some one will get the contract, and that the service will be performed.