St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-06-02
BRECKINRIDGE

This town is situated on the Sioux " God river
and is the Western termination Of the Minncso-
Ia and Pacific railroad; tue point laid down by
Capt. Pope on his map as the head Of steam
navigation Oh the Red river; the valley OF the
Red ,iyes is about twenty miles wide Oh either
side Of tie stream, and about fivS hundred miles
long; the surface is level and drained by nu,ncr-
GUS streams which are skirted with elm, ash,
bass wood, white wood and pine Of the largest
growth, the remainder Of the valley is prairie,
composed Of rich, black loan free from sand,
barrens or swamps. Red river is a deep, slow
stream, has no islands, sand bars or snags to
obs!ruct navigation the banks are about IS
feet high, and not subject to overflow many
Of the tributaries OF the Red river are strongly
appropriated with salt, and indications Of
iron and coal are numerous in the vicinity.
The farmers Of the valley OF the Red river
gave to NIajsr Wood as the average of their
crops; wheat 80 to 40; barley, 10 to 50; oats
40 50; and potatoes 200 to 500 bushels to the
acre. a. Pemb:na, GOO miles north of Breck-
inridge,) cx~iov. Ramsey says, con the I'd
October, 1851, water melons and cantelopcs
were served to us FOR dessert, and the first frost
that occurred was on the night Of that day."
(see address before the Minnesota Agricultural
Society, Oct. 10th, 1860 Two large set
Elements have. long existed on Rcd river
Pen.biua and Se:kirk, both Of which yearly
rs;se large surplus Of the products OF the
firm the whole valley Of the Fed river is
rapidly hlli29 up With i'm energetic and intel
lgent population; the country being exceed
ingly healthy, and should the indications OF
iron and coal lead to the discovery of those
minerals as large as is anticipated, this valley
will soon be swarming with apopulation en-
gagged in agriculture, mining and manutactur
ing, supplying eastern Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Iowa and Missouri with the products Of their
labor and skill; the Minnes.ta and Pacific
railroad will be placed Immediately under
contract rs by terms Of its charter it must
DO finished from saltwater to St. Anthony with,
in two years, and completed to Breckenridge
within ten years from the Sd of March, 1857,
or forfeit its franchise as we'll as the lands
donated to it..
Breckenridge is also at the point where Gov.
Stevens survey of route for the Pacific rail
road crosses the Sioux Wood river, an exami
nation OF the Western States, and a reference
to the writings Of Gov. Stevens, ex-Gov. Ram
say or the Congressional documents containing
tile reports Of Maj. Long and Capt. Pope, can
not fail to convince that such is the geograph
zeal position Of Breckenridge: that all that
portion of the Territory of the United States
which lays west of the Mississippi and north
of the head waters Of the Minnesota rivers
must forever be tributary to that city, and
thai Breckenridge Is to be not only the com
rercial centre for the northwest, but will
forever be the gate city on the great northwest
highway of nations. 80 /.
Breckinridgeis now being improved by the
Proprictors, who are erecting dwellings for
themselves, 4 hotel, grist mill, saw mill, q
shingle and lath achine, &C.. q -.gt:s 4
For further particulars enquire Of s@@a
- IT 81. r. r. HENRY Z. WELLS. Minneapolis,
..,.,sT 49, r. CHUTE, ST.. Anthony 4a 8.
80 '>~ CHAS. N. M'KUBBIN, St. Paul, 4
.s-sgr a.. aes.z :.sr 9,$ Executive Committee ;;
Or, to GEO.. T, BROTT, breckenridge.
May 10th, 1858 If &.,'> ~