St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1858-11-25
BRICK FNR,TDGF;

f / Wood river, and is the Western termi-
nus Of he Minnesota. and Pacific railroad :;
the point laid down by Capt. Pope on his
map as the head Of steam navigation on the
Red river; the Valley of the Red river is
/ about twenty miles wide on either side Of the
stream, and about Ave hundred miles long :;
the surface is level and drained by numerous
streams which are skirted with elm, ash, bass
wood, white wood and pine of the largest
growth, the remainder Of the valley is prairie,
composed Of rich, black loan free from sand
stream, has no islands, sand bars Or snags to
obstruct navigation; the banks are about rs
feet high, and not subject to overflow many
Of the tributaries Of the Red river are strong
ly impregnated with salt, and indications Of
iron and coal are numerous in the vicinity.
The farmers Of the valley of the Red river
gave to Major Wood as the average Of their
crops; wheat 80 to 40; barley 40 to 80; oats
40 so; and potatoes 200 to 800 bushels to the
acre. At Pembina, ZOO miles north CT Breck-
enridge, ex-Gov. Ramsey says, son the "a
October, 1851, water melons and cantelnpes
were served to us for dessert, and the Irst frost
that occurred was on the night Of that day
see address before the Minnesota Agricultn-
raj Society, Oct, 10th, 1856. Il Two large set
Elements have long existed on Bed river
Pembina and Selkirk, both of which Yearly
raise large surplus Of the products Of the
farm !; the whole valley of the Red river is
rapidly filing up with an energetic and intel
igent population the country being execed-
ingly healthy, and should the Indications oG
iron and coal lead to the discovery Of those
minerals as large as is anticipated, this valley
will soon be swarming with population en-
gagged in agriculture, mining and manufacture
-,
Iowa and Missouri with the products Of their
labor and skill; the Minnesota and Pacific
railroad will be placed Immediately under
contract as by the terms of its charter It must
be finished from Saltwater toSt Anthony with
in two years, and completed to Breckenridge
within ten years from the Sd of March, 1857,
or forfeit its franchise as well as the lands de-
mated to it. ~"
Breckenridge is also at the point where Gov
oSteven's survey of q route for the Pacific raiI
road crosses the Sioux Wood river, an exami-
nation of the Western States, and reference
o the writings Of Gov Stevens, ex-Goy. Ram.
! say or the CONFESSIONS documents containing
the reports Of Maj. Long and Capt. Pope, cam
not fail to convince that such is the geograph-
ical position Of Breckenridge; that all that
portion of the Territory of the United States
which lays west of the Mississippi and north
Of the head waters Of the Minnesota rivers
must forever be tributary to that city, and
that Breckenridge is to be not only the COM
mercial centre for the northwest, but will
forever be the gate city on the great northwest
highway of nations. ,a a... 4s
Breckenridge is now being improved by the
Proprietors, who are erecting dwellings for
themselves, a hotel, grist mill, saw mill, q
single and lath machine, &c.
For further particulars enquire of .as
HENRY T. WELLS. Minneapolis,
R. CHUTE. st. Anthony,
| CHAs. N. M'KUBBIN.. st. Paul,
Executive Committee,
Or to. GEO. F. BRoTT, Beeckinridge.
May 10, 1858. If