St. Cloud visiter [sic]. [volume] (St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1857-1858, 1858-05-20
REPRESENTATIONS.
'T4ls town is situated on The siou

II|HlS town is situated on The Sioux
L Wood river, and is the Western te, mi
nus Of the Minnesota and Pacific rai'ro,G
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 liver is
about twenty miles wide on either side c: he
stream, and about FIVE hundred miles long
the surface is level and drained by numerous
streams which are skirted with elm, ash, bass
wood, white wood aud pine Of the largest
growth, the remainder of the valley is prairie,
composed of rich, black loan free from sand
barrens or swamps. Red river is q deep. slow
stream, has no islands, sand bars or snaas 70
obstruct navigation the banks are about Is
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 90 to 10 barley 40 to 80; oats
40 so ), and potatoes 200 to 500 bushels to the
acre. At Rembina, 1900 miles north Of Ereck-
enridge, ex-Gov. Ramsey says, "on The %
October, 1851, water melons and can. elopes
were served to US for dessert, and the ffss flos;
that occurred was ON the night of that dav':
see address before the Minnesota Agricui u
raj Society, Dec, 10Th, 1861 Two large SCI
Elements have long existed on Rec rive
Pembina anG Selkirk, both Of which yearly
raise large surplus Of the products .; the
farm the whole valley Of the Fed river is
rapidly filling up with an energetic aud incl
!igsent population; the country being exceed
ingly healthy, and should the indications of
iron and coal lead to the discovery OF hose
minerals as large as is anticipated, This valley
will soon be swarming with G. 2oIu!ai;cl en-
gagged in agriculture, mining and manufacirr-
ing, supplying eastern Minnesota. Wisconsin,
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 lis charter it must
be finished Fl ON Saltwater to S. Anthony with
in two years, and completed to Breckenridge
within ten years from the Sd Of Msrch, 1857,
or forfeit lis franchise as we'll as the lands do
mated 10 it.
Breckenridge is also at the poins- 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 Wi things Of Gov. Stevens, ex-Gov. Fam
say or the Congressional documents containing
the reports Of Maj. Long; 4nd Can. Pope, can
not f. il to convince that such is he geogr aph-
ica1 position Of Breckenridge Ia. M that
portion Of tie Territory Of the Uuiaes E.ates
which lays west Of the Mississippi ans 10, III
Of the head waters Of the Minnesota -iyers
must forever be tributary to chat ely and
that Breckenridge is to be moi only he COM
mercial centre for the northwest, but vii
forever be the gate city on the great northwest
highway Of nations.
Breckenridge is now being improved by the
Proprietors, who are erecting dwellings, for
themselves, Q hotel, grist mill, saw mill, a
shinsle and lath macaine. &c. S3sEs:.a Z
For further particulars en0aehe Of So
HFNEY T. WELLS. Minneapolis,