St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-09-15


o. various kinds, executed On short notice. :,
r . w n s
SAINT CLOUD.
St. Cloud is the point at which the Rcd Eiv-
o. trains cross the Mississippi on their way to
St. Paul, which proves it to be the natural
junction Of land travel between these two great
arteries Of trade. It is At the present head Of
steam navigation on the Mississippi. Boats
run regularly. during the Spring and early
Summer months from Ct Anthony to this
place. a 49,
The map gives its position correctly with
reference to all the most important points in
the Territory, but the peculiar beauty Of its
location, and fertility of the surrounding coun-
try cannot be transcribed. Within fifteen
nhls Of St. Clsud, OH opposite sides Of the
river, and at different points Of the compass
are eight lakes varying in siza from l mile to
miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
It'll, exceedingly, three OF them at least, deep
enough to float man ~of-war. Wooded banks,
Gle ~ pebbly shores beautifully mixed with
s7cnelian and waters abundantly supplied
With fish.
When Gov. Stevens made his survey Of a
,srth era railroad route to the Pacific in '53,
he camped ION the western side Of the Mis-
sissippi below Sank Rapids" The place was
n.mcless--tAc present site Of St. Cloud {; but it
is here his route leaves the river. In the sum-
ner Of IS claim cabin was built on the spo:
where We now write, a good saw mil, the
frame Of large Hotel and eight OF er dwell
ings were put up that summer. This last fall
there were three hundred and thirty-two votes
polled in tho precinct. Not the votes Of Indi-
ans or Half Breeds, for there are none here
A majority Of the inhabitants Of tho country
are hardy Germans, with sturdy wives aud
ehildres, cui:;yating the soil and working at
mechaaical employments.
The subsoii is sandy and although the soil is
from enc to three feet deep, rich black loan
supporting f. rank vegetation, the drainage is
is perpetual pleasure. AS yet, our: physi-
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
the climate, NO indeg NOUS complaint except
the ''Minnesota Appetite which requires one
fourth more treatment than modest Pennsyl-
vania or Ohio attack Of = corresponding dis
ease. &,
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
ferbids its Introduction; and the Legislature
has passed q law enforcing that provisions; but
people of moderate means and Industrious hab-
its who have children to educate, will find few
pisces where the, opportunity for correct moral
training, healthy development of muscle, and
The means Of pccaniary independence are bet
tor combined.
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 e.er-increasing force Of
men, horses sud oxen, who are to be supplied
with provisions, clothing and feed The soil is
Waiting for an opportunity to produce unliz,i-
ted quantities of food, without troubling the
farmer crushing clods; while the Mississippi
from st. Paul to Little Falls can afford to turn
mill at almost any point and has water pow
OF enough to do the manufacturing for Con-
Gnent. YT~E SO %E
Our natural meadows produce grass from
four to six feet high, and the beefklled off our
prairics is quite equal to any stall fed we ave
over eaten Our venison is fine ut ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, partridges,
dncks, &C., plenty. Thousands OF bushels Of
~serns 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 no likelihood
Of the supply running out soon, as the ssBig
Woods" extend from this place some twenty
miles or more, dcwn this side Of the river and
from eight 70 twelve miles back Our prairics
are al detted with strips Of wood land, coax
Openings which just look like old orchards,
dense tilickets Of plum trees bearing delicious
fruit, grape vines, doing likewise, thousands Of
acres Of hazel bushes and strawberry vines ,en.
gagged in the same business; whils SOME hun
dred acres are in the cranberry trade and turn
out an article, which for quantity and quality
eonnot be excelled. The blackberries red rasp-
berries and hops tack up their shingles in the
woods; and seldom dissappoint the most SAN
guine expectations Of their customers. There
IL still land ten or fifteen miles back which set
Tiers can get, at gorcrn:n ent price, by building
ecabin and living on it until it comes into
market. Actual settlers can buy lots here at
from one to FIVE hundred dollars and specula-
tsrs can have the same lots atfrom FIRE to ff-
cen hundred.
Il Some Of iihs river towns o.; back places that
will DO pleasant villages, lots can be had gratis
BY those who will build and live on them.--
This, in places where house can be built for
fifty dollars, that would be palace compared
10 the dens rented In large cities for and
dollars per month, while the lot, with only the
aid Of q grubbing hoe and a few days labor, |
would bring vegetables to feed q family, and
every township has 900 acres appropriated to !
the support of Schools 1850 -I@I':2$-
Seventy thousand acres are appropriated toll
a. State University. A fine building hasalready
been erected for the use of that institution. It
/, situated : St. Anthony, built Of stone on an
sninencs con1mandinga view Of the falls, and
~ State in ths Union hasa better foundation !
fo,aa good system of popular edpcation.T No
ether prairie Stateis so well tipbecad % Min
Ecsota and no State more aSundantly supplied 4
with clear water In the country surrounding |
1t. Cloud, and as far North and West as we haye
any reliable account, settlers find no difficulty
II locating land on q running stream or trans
parent lake with plenty Of timber at hand FOR
building, fencing and fuel, and as the land on
the est side of tho Upper Mississippi is only
open to presumption, there is little opportunity
G.1ff? how