St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1858-12-09
Climate.

! "a. 5g5y Climate. .-s@..s '.l..'
The writer arrived here in the begin
ming Of last April, and our Junior more
than two years since, SO that we are pre-
pared to speak somewhat from observation.
The greatest quantity of level snow upon
the ground at any one time during the
past winter, was about twelve inches, and
in the winter of 1857, it reached twenty
four inches, which was the deepest ever
known in the country. Owing to the
dryness Of the atmosphere, we have prob
ably about half the suow that falls IN the
East, but all that reaches us usually re-
mains. until spring. The ice broke up on
the Mississippi last spring about the mid
die Of March, from which time to the
middle Of May, We had much raw wet
weather, with occasional warm and pleas
ant days. Seeding was completed about
the 9th Of June. June, July and August
averaged some two degrees warmer than
at Harrisburg, during the day; but our
nights are always cool ond comfortable
September aud October we're rem arkably
pleasant, and November thus far, hes been
cool, comfortable and bracing. Oar first
frost occurred on the 18th of August, sew
era} days after Pennsylvania and most OF
the Eastern States had received siroilar
visitation. So far as we are advised, it
injured nothing here, except the late buck
wheat and the seed of the sugar can,,.-
The thermometer indicates that our win
tiers are several degrees colder THAI, yours,
but owing to the absence of rain and
moisture, we do not suffer so much. as our
eastern friends.
Health.
Owing to the pure braclng atmosphere,
and superior quality of our drinking wa
ter, this is one of the healthiest districts
in the Union. Consumption, chills and
fever, have never been known to originate
in the country. The only sickness that
we have heard of, as originating here, du-
ring the past summer among a population
Of one thousand, was some two or three
cases Of typhoid fever, and four or FIVE Of
dysentary. g.;
Investments. ,..es,t..z :. !:
Nearly the entire population purchased
real estate beyond their means, previous
to the late crisis; and are conset, uently
compelled either to sacrifice a port ion o.
their property, or to borro, money at q
high rate Of interest. You can the refore
purchase lands from two to ten dollars pei
acre that must, in our opinion, double in
value in from twelve to twenty NC nths
and town lots. upon equally favorable
terms; OR money can be loaned upon un
doubted Mortgage security at two PEI
cent. per month: Three to four per cent
per month, is the customary rate for slror
loans upon endorsed negotiable paper.
Game, Wood, Lumber.
Game and FISH abound in our neighkor
hood. Prairie chickens, pheasants, zig
cons, raocoons, foxes, deer and bear, art
found in their season in quantities tl1a
crafty the hunter, and supply our tables
Elk and buffalo are still killed about on.
hundred miles west Of this place. There
is sufliciency of wood and rail timber il
our county for many years to come, and
our old western settlers inform us that 81
soon as the country generally becomes oc
cupied, and the prairie fires cease tht
prairies will be covered with aspontaneou'
growth Of timber. We have an mex
haustible supply Of superior pine, com
mencins, some fifty miles bove US; from
whence logs are foated to and past us, b.
the million. "
St, Cloud and Vicinity.
St. Cloud is located seventy-6ye mile
above St. E'aul, upon the west bank Of tn
Mississippi. It lays upon a beautiful
level Prairie about sixty feet above higl
water mark, and has fine steamboat
landing at either end of the town Thy
Northern Pacific Railroad is graded froM
St. Paul to within some twenty n,iley OF
us. It is to cross the river at this point
by bridge, and is being pushe< with
great vigor by the contractor, Ny Cham
berlain; and we have everY/assurance
that within twelve months weAhall beabie
to travel from here to Harrlburg by cars.
Behind us lays Maine Prlrle and Sauk
| Valley, both Of which ae rapidly filling
up with citizens of NeyI England and Ger
many. We speak aahs eddy when we say
that for one hundred miies (and probably
for hundreds fa1tbcr) the fertility and
productiyeness Of the soil, is uneqnalled
this side Of California.
Modes Of Gommuni cation.
We have now fine of small steamboats,
from St. Antony to this point, and dai-
ly line of M coaches from ST. Paul via j
superior government road: