St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1858-11-11
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CT trans cross tic A5issI9hlT ri on fhaN say |,
ST. IalI which proves it 10 be tho 1atural
Junction OF land travel between these two great
arteries Of trade. It is at 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 it's position correctly with
reference to Ill the most important points in
the territory, but the peculiar beauty Of its
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
arc 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 q man -otwar. Wooded banks,
clean pebbly shores plentifully mixed with
comedian; and waters abundantly supplied
with fish.
When Gov. Stevens made his survey of
northern railroad route to the pacific, in '533,
he camDed son the western side OF the Mis-
sissippi, below Sank Rapids" They place was
nameless--the present site of St. Cloud: but it
is here his route leaves theriycr In the sum
mer Of '55 ~ claim cabin was built on the spot
where we now write, q good saw mill, the
frame of a large Hotel and eight ether dwell
ings were put up that summer. This last fall
there we're three hundred and thirty-two votes
poled in the precinct. Not the votes Of Indi-
ans or Half Breeds, for there are none here
majority of the inhabitants Of the county
arc hardy Germans, with sturdy wives and
children, cultiyating 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 a perpetual pleasure. As yet, our physi-
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
the climate, no Indigenous complaint except
the "Al:nnesota Appetite which requires one
fourth more treatment than a modest pennsyl-
vania or Ohio attack Of L corresponding dis
case.
ANY body who wants to drink whiskey in
peace had better not come here, for the treaty
Ivy which the land was acquired from the Sioux,
fo:hitls its Introduction; and the Legislature
has passed a law enforcing that provision; but
people Of moderate means and industrious hab-
its 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 Va]leyare supplied. These
! employ o large and cvcr-increasng force of
men, horses and oxen, who arc to be suppiict,
with provisions clothing and feed. The soil Is
waiting for an opportunity to produce unlilnit-
cd quantities Of food, without troubling he far
mer crushing clods; while the MsSiSsinpi from
St. Paul to Little Falls afford 70 turn mil!
at almost any point and has wafer power
enough to DO the manufacturing for Cont
nent.
Our natural meadows produce a grass from,
four to SIX feet high, and the beef killed Of; eli,
prairics is quite equal to any stall fed We have
ever eaten. Our venison is fine at ten ccnts
per pound, rabbits, prairie lc@s. ,1artri!~as,
ducks, &c.. plenty. Thousands Of bushels OF
aco1'ns for the hogs that are not here to eat
them. Fuel for he labor o; c',t, Ding and haul
ing of the ground; and ii!erc is no likelihood
Of the supply running OFT loon, ac t!le gig
Woods" exc end from this place som, t,7cnt =
miles or more. down this side of the river. ana
from eight to twelve miles back. Cu.. l}-a:rics
arc all dotted with strips Of wood land. Coax
Openings which just look like old orchards
dense thicAe:* Of plrm trees bearing ticlic Gus
fruit, grape vines. doing likewise. thousands C:
acres Of hazel bushes and strawberry vines els-
gagged in the same business; while some hun.
d,el acres are in the cranberry trade sid t:lT-
ont an article. which for quantity and q,,;.];ty
cannot be cxccllcd. The blackbelries. rcdra&p
berries and hops tack ur their shingles in The
woods; and seldom di<appoint the most san.
guinc expectations of their customers. Theirs
is still land ten or fifteen miles back which set
tiers can GET at government price, by building
| Twin :. ;,,+c
market Actual settlers car buy lots here nj
from one TO fire hundred dollars, and spccula.
Tors can have the same lots at from five to fiji:
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 fo1
ifty dollars, that would be 4 palace compared
to The dcns rented in large cities for and {
dollars per month, while the lot, with only the
aid of a grabbing hoe and few days labor
would bring vegetables to feed a family. ant
every township has 600 acres appropriated t.
the support of schools.
Seventy thousand acres are appropriated t.
o State university. \ fine building has alread,
been erected for The use Of that institution. i
is situated al St. Anthony, built of stone on al
emincnce commanding view Of the falls, an(
no STATE in the Union has better foundation
for q good system Of popular education. NJ
other prairie State is so we'll timbercd as Min
nesota and nc State more abundantly supplied
with clear water. In the country surroundin!
St. Cloud and as far North and West as we hav,
any reliable account, settlers find no difficult,
in locating land on q running stream or trans
parent lake with plenty Of timber at hand fo
building, fencing and fuel and as the land OF
the West side Of the Upper Mississippi is onl,
open to presumption, there is little opportunit,
for spectators, and settlers have assurance 0
ncighbors and that rapid increase in the valu
Of their lands and in social advantages whicl
arise from the system of land in limited guam
titles to actual settlers.
The country around St. Cloud west of tn
Mississippi was purchased of the Indians in
treaty made with them by Hon. Alcxandc
Ramsey and Luke Lea in 1852 and ratified b,
the senate the same year. The Sioux hat
owned the land from 1927 but had not occupies
it, and it was used rs a hunting ground by TIL
Winnebagoes whose land reached within fou