St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1858-09-23
a.sluics to lift up or shut down. These
form pen, through which water constant.
" runs, and whichs;s partly covered over
with brush. From cne lake fish throw

Ily runs, and which IS partly covered over
with brush. From cne lake fish throw
themsaTes over the dam, from the other
they cdne under the sluice or food gate.
The pe:s is constantly full Of large sun fish
and xss Il is only thirty or forty rods
from ehe houses; and when it is time to
cook }hesfsh weShaye only to go down and
dress sshera. So many get into the pen it
! is necessary to throw a part back into the
lake ddhhsnee ddhhse Of twice day. ! have seen
many ankce. contiiyances, but the contri-
yeis az tsis are from the south Of Mason
and Dixon's line. ~ Ns.r> a# ,
= We went out this forenoon two miles
north of the settlement to Long Prairie
river. HALF mile Of ous way was through
/ a st'ip Of timber, consisting principally Of
large sugar Cor rocky maple and Eastwood.
:Gho rest Of the way was over. prairie Gov,
cred with luxuriant rass. This river is a
clear and swift stream. Where we reached
it commences the lake Of the same name.
1t is eight miles long and the river flows
throughit. Around the shcre Of the lake:
we found some very large and delicious
high bush blueberries; and we had found
nice raspberries just before coming to it.
On first getting to the river two Of the par
ty shot some ducks. The Indians. very
well know the abundance Of game in this
region, and on account Of good water COM
munication sometimes come here. Near
the bank Of the river we to-day saw the
remains IF fire, the bones Of game, and
turtle shells, which indicated that a large
party Of Indians had lately feasted there
The river empties into the Grow Wing,
several miles north, and in boat one may
20 from whore We were to St.. Cloud,
though The distance would be nearly 200
miles. .1a... .s~. :: 4
T.. This region, remote as it is and Wild as
/ it u.s.. seems cheerful and delightful
When tanned down by the hand Of indus
try and turned into harvest fields, it will
be yet more attractive 1t is uncommonly
well divided into prairie and timber; and
the fertility Of the soil and general beauty
Of the country cannot be over stated. A
preemption right here will well reward one
for the toll and seclusion which for the
first two or three years are necessary in SO
new settlement to insure thrift and sue
cess. The prairie country towards the
east is here danked by belt of timber
five or six miles in breadth. To the north
east it is about twenty-five miles to Long
Prairie, the former home of the W inneba-
goes, but which is now considerably settled.
10 the south and west is a succession Of
verdant undulatirg prairies and stately
groves. However pleasant to the sig ght it
is to traverse and survey this ample do
main, the greatest Joy which one feels
arises from anticipating the benefits which
would accrue to the public wealth and
prosperity when it shall become settled and
cultivated: am quite sure it would be
much mose for the interest Of the United
States to reserve these lands for actual set
tiers than 10 sell them off hasty to specu-
lators, even at a high price. i >.-.
July Z3--Lett Alexandria at six this
morning. Our party is reduced to three,
two having been tempted to remain at AL
exandiia till our rett:..r from the Red River,
when they propose to rejoin us at White
Bear Lake. We proceed in south west
erly direction over trackless but waving
Eexpanse. Belts Of timber were within a
mile Of US on either side till we came il
Sight Of Little White Bear Lake. As We
Iapproach'it our view to the southeast be-
Ecotaes very extensive, taking in a vast
stretch Of land. It was twelve miles to
/ the lake, and then we continued along its
eastern shore for. some six miles. (We
took this course intending to strike the
old Red River trail because strip Of tim
Der asmile in width west Of Alexandra
intercepted our route on the newly survey
ed road A little before noon heavy
thunder shower comes up throwing dark
shade upon the lake; but the most Of it
passes off to the northwest. On the south
shore Of the lake we saw a solitary and
apparently snoccupied house which We
understood to be the .stown of Reno" and
we proposed to get to that "town" to take
Il vfs4s ~ 80 , 2 ~.