St. Cloud visiter [sic]. [volume] (St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1857-1858, 1858-06-17
SAINT CLOUD.

SAINT CLOUD
St. Cloud is the point at which the Red Riv-
er trains cros1ae Mississippi on their way to
St. Paul, whicn proves it to be the natural
junction Of land travel between these two great
arteries of trade. 1t is ut 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.
The map gives its position correctly with
reference to all the most important points in
the territory, but the peculiar beauty of it's
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
miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
tiful, exceedingly, three of them at least, deep
enough to float man-of-war. Wooded banks,
clean pebb1y 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 SO,
he camped con the western side of the Mis-
sissippi, below Sank Rapids" The place was
naneless-the present site of St. Cloud; but it
is here his route leaves the river. In the sum-
mer Of IS a claim cabin was built on the spot
where we now write, 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 vot es
polled in the precinct. Not the votes of Indi-
ans or Half Breeds, for 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 employments.
The subsoil is sand and 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-
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
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 whiskey in
peace had better not come here, for the treaty
by which the land was acquired from the Sioux,
forbids its introduction; and the Legislature
has passed a law enforcing that provision; but
people of moderate means and industrious hab-
it's who have children to educate will find 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 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 an opportunity to produce unlimit-
ed quantities Of food, without troubling the far
mer crushing clods while the 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.
Our natural meadows produce grass from
four to six feet high, and the beef killed off our
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 of
acorns for the hogs that are not here to eat
them. Fuel for the labor of cutting and haul
ing OF the grOunu; lld there is 10 1iiAeli11cJu
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 orc hards.
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 hum
dred acres are i'll the cranberry trade and turn
out an article, which for quantity and quality
cannot be excelled. The blackberrics, 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, at government price, by building
a cabin and living on it until it comes into
market. Actual settlers can buy lots here ct
from enc to FIVE hundred dollars. and spccu}a-
tors can have the same lots at from five to IF
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 can be built for
fifty dollars, that would be 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 600 acres appropriated to
the support Of schools.
Seventy thousand acres are appropriated to
State university. A fine building has already
been erected for the use of that institution. It
is situated at St. Anthony, built of stone on an
eminence commanding view Of 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 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 difficulty
in locating land 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