St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1858-10-14
s. AIN'I CT CLOUD

SAINT CLOUD
st. Cloud is the point at which the Red Kiv-
er trains cross the Mississippi OH their way to
ST. Paul, which proves 1t to be the natural
junction Of land travel between these two great
arteries Of trade. 1t is at the present head Of
steam navigation on the Mississippi. Boats
run regularly, during the Spring and early
Summer months, from st. Anthony to this
place.
B. 4Fhe 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 at different points Of the compass
are eight lakes, varying in size from mile to
S miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
titul, exceedingly, three Of them at least, deep
enough to float Il man of-war. Wooded banks,
clean pebbly shores plentifully mixed with
comedian; and waters abundantly supplied
with fish.
When Gov. Stevens made his survey Of a
northern railroad route TO the pacific, in '53,
lie camped con the western side of the Mis-
sissippi, below Sank Rapids The place was
namelcss--the present site Of St. Cloud but it
is here his route leaves theriver. In the sum-
mer Of '55 claim cabin was built on the spot
where we now write, q good saw mill, the
frame Of a large Hotel and eight other dwell
ings were put up that summer. This last fall
there were three hundred and thirty two votes
polled in the precinct. Not the votes Of Indi-
ans or Half Breeds, for there are none here
A ma ority 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, a rich black loan
supporting Il rank vegetation, the drainage is
SO perfect and the air SO pure, that breathing
is perpetual pleasure. AS yet, our physi-
! clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
| the climate, no Indigenous complaint except
the ''Minnesota Appetite" which requires one,
| fourth more treatment than q modest Pennsyl.
! vania OF Ohio attack Of corresponding dis.
| ease.
| Amy body who wants to drink wl,iskey in
peace had better not come here, for the treaty
by which the land was acquired from the Sioux
forbids its introduction; and tho Legislature
has passed q law enforcing that provision; bu,
people of moderate means and Industrious hab-
its who have children to educate, will find few
| places where the opportunity for correct mora
training, healthy development Of muscle, anc
the means of pecuniary independence are bet.
! ter combined.
| There arc 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 eycr-increasing force o.
men, horses and oxen, whI are to be supplied
with provisions clothing and feed. The soil il
waiting for an opportunity to produce unlinlit
ed quantities of food, without troubling the far
mer crushing clods; while the Mississippi from
St. Paul to Little Falls can afford to turn a mil
at almost any point and has water powe,
enough to do the manufacturing for Cont
nent.
! Our natural meadows produce grass frou
four to six feet hign and the beef killed off GU,
prairies is quite equal to any stall fed we have
ever eaten. Our venison is fine at ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, cartridges
ducks, &C., plenty. Thousands Of bushels O.
acorns for the hogs that are not here to ca
them. Fuel for the labor Of cutting and haul
ing off the ground; and there is no likelihood
Of the supply running out soon, as the :'Di{
Woods extend from this place some twenty
miles or more, down this side Of the river, ant
from eight to twelve miles back. Our prairies
are all dotted with strips of wood land, coal
Openings which just look like old orchards
dense thickcts Of plum trees bearing delicious
fruit, grape vines, doing likewise, thousands o
acres of hazel bushes and strawberry vines, en-
gagged in the same business; while some hun
dred acres are in the cranberry trade and turn
out an article, which for quantity and quality
cannot be excelled. The blackberries, redrasp.
berries and hops tack up their shingles in the
woods; and seldom disappoint the most san
guine expectations Of their customers. There
is still land ten or fifteen miles back which set.
tiers can get, at government price, by building
a cabin and living on it until it comes into
market. Actual settlers cor buy lots here al
from one to FIVE hundred dollars, and specula.
tors can have the same lots at from five to fit:
teen hundred.
| In some of the river towns back, places that
will be pleasant villages, lots can be had gratis
by those who will build and live on them
This, in places where house con be built fol
fifty dollars, that would be a palace compared
to the dens rented in large cities for and
dollars per month, while the lot, with only the
aid Of a grubbing hoe and a few days labor
would bring vegetables to feed a family, and
every township has GOO acres appropriated tt
the support Of schools.
| Seventy thousand acres are appropriated tc
q State university. A fine building has already
| Deen erecteu IOr the use OF IlaG 1nSl1LUtlOn. IL
is situated at St. Anthony, built of stone on ar
eminence commanding view Of the falls, ane
no State in the Union has better foundation
for 81 good system of popular education. NJ
other prairie State is 50 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 as we have
any reliable account, settlers find no difficult,
| in locating land on 4 running stream or trans
parent lake with plenty Of timber at hand fol
building, fencing and fuel, and as the land OF
the West side Of the Upper Mississippi is only
open to presumption, there is little opportunity
| for spectators, and settlers have assurance O
neighbors and that rapid increase in the valu,
Of their lands and in socia! advantages which
arise from the system Of land in limited guam
titles to actual settlers. 49, Il
The country around st. Cloud, west Of tn
Mississippi was purchased of the Indians in
treaty made with them by Hon. Alexande
Ramsey and Luke Lea in 1852 and ratified b,
the senate the same year The Sioux hat
y oS,r,,