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

Climate.
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 snov 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 al 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 5th Of June. June, July and August
averaged some two degrees warmer tllan
st Harrisburg, during the day; but our
nights are always cool ond comfortable
September and October we're rem markably
pleasant, and November thus far, he's been
cool, comfortable and bracing. Our first
frost occurred On the 28th of August, sew
eral days after Pennsylvania and most Of
the Eastern States had received siraiiar
visitation. So far as we are advised, it
injured nothing here, except the late buck
wheat and the seed Of the sugar can,;-
Tie thermometer indicates that o2lr win
ters are several degrees colder than yours,
but owing to the absence of r;li2 and
moisture, We do not suffer so much as our
eastern friends
Health.
Owing to the pure bracing atmosphere,
and superior quality Of our drinking wa
ter, this is one Of the healthiest districts
in the Union. Consumption, chil]s 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.
Investments. .---~..s
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 Of
their property, or to borro>4 money at a
high rate Of interest. You can the refore
purchase lands from two to ten dollar 3 per
acre that must, in our opinion, double in
value i'll 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 G ent
per month, is the customary rate for s}cor:
loans upon endorsed negotiable paper
Game, Wood, Lumber.
Game and fish abound in our neigh|'or
hood Prairie chickens, pheasants, Zig
cons, raccooas, foxes, deer and bear, 'sr(
found in their season in quantities thai
crafty the hunter, and supply our tables
Elk and buffalo are still killed about ons
hundred miles west OF this place. There
is a suficiency of wood and rail timber il
our county for many years to come, and
our old western settlers inform us that st
soon as the country generally becomes oc
cupied, and the prairie fires cease th<
praries will be covered with aspontaneouE
growth Of timber. We t:aye an mex
haustible supply Of superior pine, com
mencin; some fifty miles . bove US; from
whence logs are hoated to and past us, b.
the million
St. Cloud and Vicinity.
St. Cloud is located seventy-fye mile
above St. Eaul, upon the west bank of th'
Mississippi It lays upon beautiful
level Prairie about sixty feet above higl
water mark, and has fine steamhoa
landing at either end of the town. Th,
Northern Pacific Railroad is graded tro"l
St. Paul to within some twenty n,ilcs OF
u.s. 1t is to crcss the river at this point
by bridge, and is being pushe< with
great vigor by the contractor, hir Cham
berIain; ssnd we have every assurance
that within twelve months weEhall bea5ie
10 CTaVea from Mere 10 11afIY.ul oy ."io'
Behind us lays Maine Pptr'e and Sauk
Valley, both Of which ye rapidly filing
up with citizens of Ney England and Ger
many. We speak a9hs sdly when we say
that for one hundred miles (and probably
for hundreds ia,th hor) the fertility and
productivcness of the soil, is uneqnalled
this side Of California.
Modes Of Gommuni cation.
We have now t|]ine of small steamboats,
from St. Antony to this point, and dai-
ly line of mA coaches from St. Paul via !:
superior government road.
! Railroads.
Asdearly as we 8 can ascertain, there is is
nowsome four or five hundred miles Of
railroad under contract, which is being
T. I,