St. Cloud visiter [sic]. [volume] (St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1857-1858, 1858-07-22

SAINT CLOUD.
81. Cloud is the point at which the Red Riv-
er trains CROSS tho ssippi onstheir way to
st. Paul, which proves Il TO DO the natural
arteries Of trade. II ia at the present head of
steam navigation on the Mississippi Boats
run regn|a11f during the. Spring and early
SUNNI rom St. Anthony to this
3. position correctly with
re1 le most important points in
the t. Ilt the pcculia: beauty Of it's
location, Fertility OF the surrounding coun-
try. cannot be transcribed. Within. fifteen
miles Of St. Cloud, OF. opposite sides Of the
river, and sat different points of the compass
are eight lakes. varying in size from, mile to
miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
tifnl, exceedingly, three OF them at least, deep
enough to float mall-of-war. Wooded banks,
clean pebbly shores .plentifully mixed with
comedian; and waters abundantly supplied
with fish II 2 a5ssx =.
When Coy. Stevens matte his survey of a
northern railroad route to the pacitic, in '53,
he cnntped con tho western side of the Mis-
sios;pri, below Sank Rapids The place was
nalnelcss-the present site Of St. Cloud butt
is here his route leaves theriver. In the sum-
mer Of '05 a claim cabin was built on the spot
where we now write, q good saw mill, the
frame Of large Hotel and eight other dwell
iMgs 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 OF Half Breeds, foy there are none here,
A majority of the Inhabitants Of the county
are hardy Germans. with sturdy wives and
children, -cultivating the soil and working at
mechanical employmcnts. Sc, ~.y....
= The subsoil is sand aud 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 perpetual pleasure. AS yet, our physi-
the climate no Indigenous complaint except
the minnesota Appetite which requires one
fourth more treatment than modest Pennsyl-
vania or Ohio attack of corresponding dis
case. -
Any body who wants to drink whi>key in
peace had better not come here. for the treaty
by which the land was acquired from, the Sioux,
forbids it's introduction and the Legislature
has passed q law enforcing that provision: but
people Of moderate means and industrious hab-
it's who have children to educate, will ind few
places where the opportunity for correct moral
training, healthy, development Of muscle, and
the means of pecuniary independence are 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 a large and ever-increasing force Of
men, horses and oxen, who are to be supplied
with provisions clothing and feed. The soil is
waiting for al. opportunity to produce nnlimit-
ed quantities Of food: without troubling the far
mer crushing cloas: Will: Inc 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. - "a A..
Our natural meadows produce grass from
four to six feet high and the beef killed off oul
prairies is quite equal to any stall fed We have
ever eaten. Our venison is fine at ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, partridges,
ducks, &C., plenty. Thousands of bushels OF
acorns for the hogs that are not here to cal
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 ':Big
Woods extend from this place some twenty
miles or more, down this side Of the river, and
from eight to twelve miles back. Our prairies
are all dotted with strips of wood land, coax
Openings" which just look like old orchards,
dense thickets Of plum trees bearing delicious
fruit, grape vines, doing likewise, thousands OF
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
o,.tsan article, which for quantity and quality
cannot be exce]led. The blackberries, red rasp-
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, ut government price, by building
cabin and living on it until it comes into
market. Actual settlers can buy lots here at
from one to five hundred dollars, and specula-
tors can have the same lots at from five to fif-
teen hundred. - ..
In some of the river. towns back, places that
wilsbe pleasant villages, lots can be had gratis
BY those who will build and live on them
This, ineplaces where house can be built for
fifty dollars, that would be palace compared
to the dens rented in large cities for 4 and
dollars per month; while the lot, with only the
aid Of a grabbing hoe and few dayslabor,
would bring. vegetables TO feed family, and
every township has 600 acres appropriated to
the support of schools. -.
Seventy thousand acres are appropriated to
q State university. fine building has already
been erected for the use of that institution. 1t
is situated at St. Anthony, built Of stone on an
eminenoe commanding viewIof the falls, and
no State in the Union has better foundation
for good system Of popular education. No
other prairie State is so we'll timbered as Min
nesota and no State more :abundant1y supplied
with clear water. In the country surrounding
St. Cloud and as far North and West as we have
any reliable account, settlers find nc. difficulty
in locating land on q running stream or trans
parent lake with plenty Of timber at hand for
building; fencing and fuel, and as the land on
the West side Of the Upper Mississippi is only
open to presumption, there is little opportunity
for spectators, and settlers have assurance Of
neighbors and that rapid increase in the value
of their lands and in social advantages which
arise from the system Of land in limited guam
titles to actual settlers.
The country around St. Cloud, west Of the
Mississippi was purchased Of the Indians in a
treaty made with them by Hon. Alexander