St. Cloud visiter [sic]. [volume] (St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1857-1858, 1858-05-27

SAINT CLOUD.
st. Cloud is the point ut which the Red Riv-
er trains cross the Mississippi on their way to
st. Paul, which proves it to be the natural
junction OF land travel between these two great
arteries Of trade. It is at the present head Of
steam navigation on the Mississippi. Boats
run regularly, during the Spring apd carly
Summer months, from St. Anthony to this
place. E
The map gives its position correctly with
reference to all the most important points in
the territory, but the peculiar beauty OF its
location, and fertility Of the surrounding coun-
try cannot be transcribed. Within fifteen
miles of St. Cloud, on opposite sides of the
river, and ut different points Of the compass
are eight lakes, varying in size from mile to
8 miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
tiful, exceedingly, three of them at least, deep
enough to float man-of-war. Wooded banks
clean pebbly shores plentifully mixed with
cornelian; and waters abundantly supplied
with fish.
When Gov. Stevens made his survey of a
northern railroad route to the pacific. in '53,
he camped ION the western side Of the Mis-
sissippi, below Sank Rapids" The place was
nameless-the present site Of St. Cloud; butts
is here his route leaves theriyer. In the sum-
mer OF so claim cabin was built on the spot
where we now write, good saw mill, the
frame Of large Hotel and eight other dwell
ings were put up that summer This last fall
there were three hundred and thirty 1.-TWO votes
polled in the precinct. Not the votes of Indi-
ans or Half Breeds, for there are none here.
majority Of the inhabitants of the county
are hardy Germans, with sturdy wives and
| children, cultivating the soil and working at
| mechanical employments.
! The subsoil is sand and although the soil is
| from one to three feet deep, rich black loan
| supporting rank vegetation, the drainage is
so perfect and the air SO pure, that breathing
is a perpetual pleasure. As yet, our physi-
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
the climate, 10 Indigenous complaint except
the minnesota Appellee which requires one-
fourth more treatment than modest Pennsyl-
| vania or Ohio attack Of s. corresponding dis
| ease.
ANY body who wants to drink whiskey in
peace had better not come here, for the treaty
by which the land was acquired from the Sioux,
forbids its introduction; and the Legislature
has passed law enforcing that provision; but
people Of moderate means and industrious hab-
| its who have children to educate, will find few
places where the opportunity for correct moral
training, healthy development Of muscle, and
the means Of pecuniary independence arc bet
ter combined.
| There are immense tracts Of pine lying above,
from which the mills at St. Paul, St. Anthony
and the Minnesota Valley are supplied. These
employ large and ever-incccasing force OF
men, horses and oxen, who are to be supplied
with provisions clothing and feed. The soil is
waiting for an opportunity to produce unlimit-
cd quantities of food, without troubling the far
nler crushing c!ods while the Mississippi from
St. Paul to Little Falls can afford to turn mill
at almost any point and has water power
enough to do the manufacturing for Cont
nent.
Our natural meadows produce a grass from
four to six feet high, and the beef killed eff Oh,
prairics is quite equal to any stall! fed we have
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, paltridges
ducks, &c., plenty Thousands of bushels O
scorns for the hogs that are not here to ca
| them. Fuel for the labor of cutting and haul
ing eff the ground; and there is no likelihood
! Of the supply running ont Soon, as :11e IBIS
Woods, extend from this place some twcnt,
miles CT more, down this side of the river. ant
from eight to twelve miles back. Our prairie
are all dotted with strips Of wood land, GOAL
Openings which just look like old orchards
dense thickets Of plum trees bearing delicious
fruit grape vines, doing likewise, thousands 0
acres Of hazel bushes and strawberry vines. en-
gagged in the same business; while some hun
bred acres are in the cranberry trade and turf
out all article, which for quantity and quslit.
cannot be excellcd. The blackberries, redrasp
berries and hops tack up their shingles in tn
woods; and seldom disappoint the most san
guine expectations of their customers. Their
is still land ten or fifteen miles back which set
tiers can get, at government price, by buildln:
a cabin and living on it until it comes int
market. Actual settlers can buy lots here a
from one to FIVE hundred dollars, and specula
tors can have the same lots at from five to ff
teen hundred.
In some of the river towns back, places tina
will be pleasant villages, lots can be had graft
by those who will build and live on them
This, in places where house can be built fo
fifty dollars, that would be palace compared
to the dens rented in large cities for and ;
dollars per month, while the lot, with only tn
aid of a grubbing hoe and few days labor
would bring vegetables to feed family. ant
every township has 600 acres appropriated t
the support of schools.
Seventy thousand acres are appropriated t.
4 State university. A fine building has alread.
been erected for the use of that institution. l
is situated at st. Anthony, built of stone on al
eminence commanding view Of the falls, an'
no State in the Union has better foundation
for good system of popular education. N
other prairie State is so we'll timbered as Min
nesota and no State more abundantly supplied
with clear water. In the country surrounding
St. Cloud and as far North and West we hav
any reliable account, settlers find no difficult.
in locating land on a running stream or trans
parent lake with plenty Of timber ct hand 70
building, fencing and fuel, and as the land o.
the West side of the Upper Mississippi is. onl..
open to pre-emption, there is little opportunit.
for spectators, and settlers have assurance o
neighbors and that rapid increase in the valu
of their lands and in social advantages whicl
arise from the system of land in limited guam
titles to actua! settlers. @
The country around St. Cloud, west of tn