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

i Wood river, and is the Western termi-
nus Of the Minnesota aud Pacific railroad {;
the point laid down by Capt. Pope OH his
map as the head Of steam navigation on the
Red river; the Valley Of the led river is
about twenty miles wide OF either side Of the
stream, and about five hundred miles long :;
the surface j. level and drained by numerous
streams which are skirted with elm, ash, bass
woed, white. wood and pine Of the largest
growth, the remainder Of the valley is prairie,
composed of rich. black loam free from sand
barrens or swamps. Red river is a deep, slow
stream, has no islands, sand bars or snags to
obstruct navigation; the banks are about 25
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 30 to. 40: barley 40 to 80; oats
40 so; and potatoes 200 TO 900 bushels TO the
acre. AT Pcmbina, 200 miles north Of Brock
enridge, ex-Gov. Ramsey says, con The I'd
were served to us for dessert, and The first frost
that occurred was on the ,nig Oh. OF that day."
[see address before the Minnesota Agricultu-
raj Society, Oct, 10th, 1861 Two large set
Elements have long existed on Red river
Pembina and Selkirl, both Of which yearly
raise a large surplus Of the products Of the
farm ; the whole valley of the Red river is
rapidly filling up with an energetic and intel
ligcnt population the country being exceed
ingly healthy, and should the indications of
iron aud coal lead to the discovery Of those
minerals as large as is anticipated, this valley
will soon be swarming with a population en-.
gagged in agriculture, mining and manufacture
ing, supplying eastern Minnesota, Wisconsin,
T.. -: IL o>E% 1,ns~
labor and skill;~ the Minnesota and Pacific
contract as by the terms oft charter it must
be finished from Saltwater to 81 Anthony with
in two years, and completed TO Breckenridge
within ten years from the Sd of March, 1857,
or forfeit it's franchise as we'll as The lands do
mated to it,. Or, 4 ,~s:ae =. --.>.-, 6
Breckenridge is also at The point where Gov
Stevens survey Of route for the Pacific rail.
road crosses the Sioux Wood river, an exami-'
nation of the Western States, and reference
to the writings Of. Coy: Stevens, ex-Gov. Ram
say or the Congressional documents containing
the reports Of Aisj Long and Capt. Pope, can
e. FL s eoesigie t1e sss r. gssgsfRh
port iQnso fya he sEerrito,y of the, Tinted States
which lays. west. & the Mississippi and north
Of. the head Waters of5th1 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 ate-city on the great northwest
highway Of nations. . q ,r,,f,
Breckenridge is now being improved by the
Proprietors, who are erecting dwellings for
themselves, q hotel grist mill, saw mill, q
shingle and lath machine, SC. ~. 4 :
For further particulars enquire of: rs =
e, -, IL HENRY 7. WELLS, Minneapolis,
~ :, ~. r CHUTE, st. Anthony,
.sf SO :i'' 49, CHAS. N. MKUBBIN st, Paul,
Es3, - ~ III = f2sla Executive Committee,
7. Or to, GEO. F. BRoTT, Breckenridge. =
May 10, 1858. I'll IT, I'd IN. .cf- <, =.