St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-05-19
BRECKINR,IDG-E

Ihls town is situated ON the Sioux w God river,
and is the Western termination of the Minneso-
ia and Pacific railroad; the point laid down by
Capt. Pope on his map as the head of steam
navigation Oh the Red river; the valley Of the
Red rive: is about twenty miles wide on either
side Of the stream and about dv G hundred miles
Iong;ethe surface is level and drained BY numer-
Gus Streams which are skrted 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
barrcns or swamps. Red river is a deep, slow
stream, has no islands, sand bars or snags to
obstruct navigation the. banks are about 25
feet high, and not subject to overflow many
Of the tributaries Of the Red river are strongly
~mpregnated With salt, and Indications OF
iron and coal are numerous in thc vicinity.
The farmers of the, valley Of the Red river
gave to Major Wood as the average of their
crops wheat 30 to 40; barley 40 to 80; oats
10 so; and potatoes 200 to 800 bushels to the
inridge,) ex-Gov. Ramsey says, :. on the I'd
October, 1851, water melons and.cantelopes
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, 1867 Two large set
Elements have long existed on Rcd river
Pembina and Selkirk, both Of which yearly
raise large surplus Of the products Of the
farm the whole valley, of the Red river is
rapidly filing up with an energetic and intel
ligent 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 swarring with 4 population en-
gagged in agriculture, mining and manufacture
ing, Simplifying, eastern Minnesota WISCONSIN,,
(nu o~I tl,o
labor and skill the MINES. ia and Pacific
railroad viii be placed Immediately under
contract as by terms Of its charter it must
be finished from Saltwater to St. Anthony with
-inltwo years. and completed to Breckinridce
wit hin ten years from the Sd Of March, 1857,
or forfeit its franchise as well 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
the reports Of Maj: Long and Capt Pope, can,
not fail to convince that such is the geograph
ical position of Breckinridge that all that
portion Of the Territory Of the United States
which lays west of the Mississippi and north
Of tlsa head waters Of tho N1innesots rivers
must forever be tributary to that city, and
that Breckenridge is to be not only the com
mercial centre for the northwest, but will
forever be the gate city O.. the great north west
highway of nations. ~ it.ss. = .&*s
Breckenridge IS now being improved By. the
Proprietors, who are1 erecting dwellings, for
themselves i. hotel, grist mill, saw mill, Q
shingletandt lath machine. &c. &. .Ss 6 81 !.
For further particulars enquire Of
Z ;%5@sfi 81 HENRY II. WELLS, Minneapolis, Il
IA %4s4r csl