The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1857-07-04

st. Cloud, May ~, 1897.
ST. Cloud is on the western bank of the Mississippi
river the second head of steamboat navigation. Twt
steamers running regularly with full compile
ment Of freight and passengers from the fall Of St
Anthony to this place. and third building for the
route. After you pass the Sauk rapids, Immediately
above us, you enter the upper Mississippi navigation
which am informed by those who are familiar with th'
country furnishes four hundred miles that may be
ersed with the greatest safety by light draft steamers
As settlers hitherto have been few and far between
that region the wants of the community have not required
the introduction of boats emgrans by the hundred
passing daily with their teams and families ant
year or two more will introduce the steamer to thu
northern part Of the Territory. isae ~
St Cloud is located on beautiful prairie, fronting
about one and half miles upon the river and extending
back into the country some five miles There are good
steamboat landings at the upper and lower end Of The
townthe remainder Of the site laying about thirty
forty feet above high water mark There certainly could
be prettier situation for city and the facilities fol
making it such within the reach Of the citizens and
proprc'ms. Congress has made it point in the grea
net work Of Minnesota railroads which it is lberal
provided for by the appropriation of public lands during
its late session. bridge can be constructed The
Mississippi for thirty thousand dollars and it il to bt
hoped will be completed during the present year The
country for many miles in the interior either side
the river is unsurpassed for fertility and convenience
being made Of small prairies and oak openings and
tev miles above commences the great pine region o
paet this plpce o. yesterday IdroVe fifteen
westxerd Of the city through Sapk river valley
and found the land all prvsssp4ad by industrious and
iatsigent settlers No garden could exceed the soil
richness and the country contains fresh water
lakes from hafa mile to three miles in length abounding
with fish, and sending out beautiful mill streams to the
Sauk river MIR. Mitchell, merchant in this place,
and brother to the worthy Prothonotary Of Dauphin
county, speared two hundred and fifty pounds Of pike
pckerel, &c. in two hours, of these lakes few
evening since. And yesterday took by the hand
Mr.. Moore, residing the bank of one Of them, who
frequently brings to this place thousand pounds Of
fish at time, taken in net in the small stream through
which the lake discharges into the Sauk river. He
ordinarily obtains six to eight cents per pound for the
but short time since he overstocked the market the
price declined suddenly three cents and he has laid
out his net to dry until he shall have finished planting
corn. He last year commenced planting his corn on
the FIRST Of June, and finished the 18th. He broke
up prairie sod, hole for each hill with old axe
dropped in the corn and rampcd upon let it take care
Of itself until the first Of September, when he onnd it
ripe and gathered forty bushels per Such is the
country by which St. Cloud surrounded and the great
railroad from Lake Superior the Pacific pass
through very to the town. apprehend but one
drawback to the place. and that that too much reliance
may be placed upon the natural advantages to which
have referred Nature must be assisted by the con-
structon Of manufactures and bridges, &C., and that
done, no place above the falls of St. Anthony can
compete with st. Cloud in the future for wealth. posi-
ton, prosperity, and true greatness
The great drawback to western cities is that too many
speculate and too few improve. ST. Cloud contains at
present 1000 lots 100 dwellings, II or Is stores doing
good business, weekly paper, and two hotels This
for city one year old is considered going ahead in
the far west house and some thirty new dwell
lings, stores, &C., are being constructed Lots
rapidly ON the rise, last year my partner residing here
purchased at 6fy to two hundred and City dollars per
lot, they range from hundred to thousand
for corresponding lots. sao E
Every indication at present shows that Minnesota will
be the most profitable country upon the globe to the
farmer Land be had If the best quality according
to location at from ten shillings 10 hundred dollars
and prices OF produce &c, range about Us follows:
Corr, wheat and oats the same price, dollar and
fifty per bushel. Potatoes two dollars per busheL
Hay, forty dollars per tan Mich City to seventy
Eve dollars per head Work oxen one to two hundred
dollars per pair-Mules four to eight hundred dollars
per pair Butter IS cents per pound so cents in the
winter, and have not seen good mouthful in the
Territory, since left Harrisburg. Eggs Is cents
per dozen, SO cents in the winter &c., &c. Potatoes,
corn and spring wheatar considered crop
here in the eastern States fall wheat is ~ vet an
experimeAt, but little has been sown, have failed
while other have succeeded, finely, and give at as
their opinion that where failure occurs, it is at
tributsble to ste sowing Cr.hberries. good wild
plumbs and grapes may be had in abundancc at the
proper time for thsagathering. Fruit trees have been
planted here but gcars not long enough to say
how they will succeed in bearing. Whether they
will yield to the lengthy nters or like the corn, &C.,
start late and bring their t to rapid maturity will b
known within year or no. Let hope for the
better. The water throu2e the Territory as far
as have had opportunity it. is Of the very best
quality. The atmosphere full charged with electricity
is pure and bracng and ag0 and consumption unless
they be imported unknown. am informed that
the physician Of this city who ends to circuit Of
twenty miles in extent aoa TO keep horse, and
has entered upon claim in Uncle Sans farm" But
it is evening, and the chorus Of the pgs and whppoor
wills in the grove beyond the city limits reminds oi
my childhood home in old Pennsylvania loved oaea
dead and Of loved living that far awsy-aothat
cannot continue my chat with your readers m my
next you shall hear of the drawbacks and dicultieaa
presented BY her-friends. A s &.
St. Cloud, May %, 1857 1ss
now propose TO furnish your readers with some a.
ledged difficulties and disadvantages Of Minnesota
we'll as the explanations of said diculties BY i friends
and, first, the eodness Of tho climate and the length
Jg4i sSsG l.gil lt,t