Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-06-04
ST.. CLOUD, Nav 9th, 1859.

.rown her labor. y. u.
ST. CLOUD, May 9th, 1859.
gladly confess to much disappointment in
finding what do here. The hard times eve
rywhere since 1857, the general blight Of the
West last year, and the grasshopper blight OF
all this region for the two previous years, had
me to look for asqualid place, strug-
Cling under too heavy burthen, and showing
more signs of diapidation than progress; but
instead, find brisk, busy village, showing
unmistakable signs of prosperity and advance
ment.
The banks of the river here are higher than
at anv point remember seeing this side OF
St. Anthony; they are, say, some thirty
feet above the water, in the highest place,
with bold, grassy declivity to the rivers
edge; and the tables extending back are level
dry, and exceedingly beautiful-that on the
St. Cloud side extending back two or three
miles, and up and down the river as far, and
even farther. A lovlier site is not often
found.
SAINT CLOUD is on the southwest side OF
the river, and consists of Upper-Town, Mid
dle-Town, and Lower-Town. The river makes
long bend northward, from upper-town to
lower-town, the circumference forming the
segment of large circle. The landing at up
per-town is mile distant from that at lower
town. They are both good landings, with
easy inclined grades to reach them, from the
plateau or table above, but the shore between
is bold, handsome declivity, the whole way.
A little ravine, deep but narrow, and not affec-
ting the beauty of the plat. divides upper and
lower town, and enters the river midway be-
tween them. The ravine is flinged with trees,
belt of the table, next the river, is covered
with groves, and at the extremities of upper
and lower towns, are very pretty groves oi
, timber, while the remainder of the table is
clear, level prairie.
The heaviest present settlement and i'm
provements are on the table between the ra-
vine and the upper town, called by distinc.
ton ,niddle-toaon. Mr.. JOHN L. WILSON told
| me he bought the claim of Norwegian in
1853; plated it for village in 1855; but
only two or three small buildings were put uE
that year. But the next year, in the Spring
of 1856, three gears ago this Spring, the im
provements commenced in earnest. Gen
Lowery plated the upper town, and Mr.
| kho
not inquired when these plattings were made
but presume they were nearly simultaneou
with Mr.. Wilson's. And now, only three
years after, Notwithstanding the first tw'
years the grasshoppers destroyed the entir
crops of the whole county, and notwithstand
ing the general depression in business every
where since 1857, and that it is a hundred
miles above St. Paul, there are one hundret
store and d,oelling buildings above the ravine
and seuenty below it. 1 counted no barns
sheds, nor shanties, nothing but dwellings ant
places of business, nor any one that coult
have cost less than three hundred to five hun
dred dollars, and most of them costing from
one thousand to seven thousand dollars.
am really surprised to see Improvements of 81
good character in SO new place, and so fa1
above what have been considered bushes!
centres. 1t seems like removing, bodily, al
old, wealthy village of the East, and dropping
it down upon some beautiful, wild spot in thu
West.
1t is the County Seat of Stearns County, l.
situated in town one hundred twenty four
range twenty seven, of the survey west of TIN
Mississippi, one hundred and forty-fve mile
north of the south line of the State, one hun
dred miles northwest of St. Paul by river
seventy five miles by stage road, seventy mile
by road, on the southwest side, above Mime
apolis, thirty miles above Monticello, and twelv
to fifteen miles above Clear Water, and on
hundred and thirty miles, by road, south-eas
of Breckenridge, on the Red River, thirty-fv
miles below Little Falls, on the Mississippi, an
sixty miles below Grow Wing
did not count them, but as memory run
over them as saw in passing, there are tel
stores in the village. There are two excellen
hotels, the STEARNs HOUSE and the WILL
HOUSE. The Stearns House is in lower tow
, and is kept by C. 7. Stearns, who gave nam
to this County, an old resident Of the State
| and who will be long remembered by the oil
politicians as the only Whig member {
the Legislative Council, in which he represent
ed St. Anthony, in 1915, and whom tn
Democrats complimented by making him TEN
porary President of that body, till they coul
settle among themselves who should have tn
= post He is an exceedingly pleasant, affable
: hospitable gentleman, and makes his hous
; really home to all his guests. He permit
no intoxicating drinks about the premises, an
keeps house that will warrant earnest re
; commendation. 1t is large, four-story build
, ing, we'll fitted and furnished, and is a credi
to the place. The WILLIS House is in middl
town, and Judging by the crowd saw ther
at dinner, and the business it was doing, an
what it's friends said, it vii! take rank wit
, the good hotels of the country. have no
, enjoyed its hospitality, but its proprietor, Nj
Willis, ordered The DAILY MINNEsorIAN
and directed me herewith to send his card 70
insertion in its advertising columns, and
t lively energy and prompt attention indicate
good host, he deserves the reputation. Tn
U. S. Land Office for this District is in uppe
town. In lower town there are a good steam
saw mill, steam sash, door, and blind factory
steam Touring mill, and furniture factory
f Upon the outskirts of the village, in lower
town, is a small marsh of ten to fifteen acres
belonging to Mr.. n. N. Smith. Observing up
on its edge some white dirt, thrown up b,
} gophers, Mr.. Smith examined It, end found
to be pure lime. He built large bricl