St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-03-03
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ST. Cloud ii tie point 81 which the Red Riy-
#er trains cross tho Mississippi on ihcirwaysto
st. Paul, which proves it to be the natural
junction Of land travel between tleaetwo great
arteries Of trade. It IS at the present head OF
steam nayigation on the Mississippi Boats
run regularly, during the Spring and early
Summer months, from St. Anthony 70 this
place. . rs !. - s=s -.-
The map gives. its position, correctly with
reference to all thesmost important points in
the territory, but the peculiar beauty Of its
location, and fertility Of the surrounding coun-
try ccannot be transcribed, Within .-ft ftecn
miles Of st. Cloud, on opposite sides Of the
rivef,and qt different points of the compass
are eight lakes, varying in size from lmilc TO
miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
tifnl, exceedingly, three Of them at least, deep
enough to float a man of-war. Wooded banks,
clean pebbly shores plentifully mixed with
lcorneiian; and waters abundantly supplied
| with fish. .@s4s - .3 II
When Gov. Stevens made his survey Of O
northern railroad route to the pacific, in '53,
he campcd con the western side of the Mis-
sissippi, below Sank Rapids The place was
nameless--the present site of St. Cloud; but it
is here his route leaves theriyer. In thesum
mer Of 55 q claim cabin was built on the spot
where VIC now write, good saw MILL the
frame of q large Hotel and eight other dwell
ings were put up that summer. This last fall
there were three hundred and thirty two votes
! polled in the precinct. Not the votes of Indi-
ans or Half Breeds, srvr there IRE none here
A majority Of the inhabitants Of the county
are hardy Germans, with sturdy wives and
children, cultiyating the soil and working at
mechanical employments.
| The su5soil is sand and although the soil is
| from one to three feet deep, rich black loan
supporting a. rank vegetation, the drainage is
so perfect and the air 50 pure, that breathing
is perpetual pleasure. AS yet, our physi-
| clans have discovered no diseases rhcuiiar to
the climate, no Indigenous complaint exac;pt
the minnesota Appetite which requires one
fourth more treat-.nent than modest Pennsyl-
yania or e..,io attack Of a corresponding dis
eas'c,.. ..sa .s,....%.. SIS
| 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 q 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. '-9TN'i' EE ,'i2. SS# -
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
enouE! to do the manufacturing for Cont
nent. 80
Our natural mcadotfs produce a grass from
four to six feet high, and the beef killed off our
prairies is quite equal to any stall Tod wo have
ever eaten. Oar veaison is Emo at ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens. partridges,
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 off the ground; and there is nc likelihood
Of the supply running out soon, as ,he Zig
miles or more, down this side Of the river ana
| from eight to twelve 'n;es back. Cur pcairjes
| are all dotted with strips Of wnoa land, 'CaE
Openings Which just look like old orchards,
dense thickets OF plum trees beAring delicious
fruit, grape vines, doing likewise, thousands CT
| acres CT hazel pushes and strawberry vines, en-
gagged in the same business; while some hun
dred acres axe in the cranberry trade and turn
out an article, which for quantity and quality
| cannot be excelled. The blackberries, red rasp-
berries and hops tack up their shingles, in the
| woods; and seldom disappont the most san
guine expectations of their customers There
&c cttn 1n~.I no,
| tiers can get. at government price, by building
IL cabin ard Irving on it until it comes into
market Actual settlers can buy lots here az
| from one to FIVE hundred dollars and speculsl-
tors can have the same lots at from FIVE to if
! teen hundred. ,y.. 60 -g25r.sEf
| In some of the river town oack, places that
will be pleasant villages, lots can be had gratis
by those who will build and live on them
This, in places where q house can be built for
| fifty dollars, that would be a palace compared
| to the dens rented in large cities for and 5
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. S~zt
| Seventy thousand acres are appropriated to
\ State university. A fine building has already
been erected for the use Of that institution. 1t
is situated at St. Anthony, built Of stone on an
eminence commanding a view Of the falls, and
no State in the Union has a better foundation
for a good system Of popular education. No
other prairie State is 50 we'll timbercd 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 on 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. ssz; "a; a. =ss = Ia
The country around St. Cloud, west Of the
Mississippi was purchased Of the Indians in a
treaty made with them by Hon. Alexander
Ramsey and Luke Lea in 1852 md ratified by
tho aonAfA fhn aNrno vn0r Tho - 4