St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-08-25
BRE1CKINRIDGE

This town is situated on the Sioux Wood river,
and 10 the Western termination Of the Minheso-
to and Pacific railroad the point laid down by
Capt. Pope on his map as the head Of steam
navigation on the Red river; the valley Of the
Red river is about twenty miles wide on either
side of the stream, and about five hundred niles
long, the surface is level and drained by numer
Gus streams which are skirtcd 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,
bsrrens or swamps. Red river is = deep, slow
stream, has no islands, sand bars or salags to
obstruct navigation the banks AIS about Is
feet high, and not subject to overflow many
Of the tributaries Of the Red river are strongly
impregnated with salt, and indications Of
iron and coal are numerous in the vicinity.
The farmers Of the valley Of the Red river
gave to Major Wood as the average of their
crops; wheat 80 to 40; barley 40 to 80; oats
40 SO; and potatoes 200 to 800 bushels to the
acre. At Pembina, Goo miles north of Brock
October, 1851, water melons and cantelopss
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, 1861 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 IS is anticipated, this valley
will soon be swarming with = population en-
gagged in agriculture, mining and manufactur
~
Iowa and Missouri with the products of their
labor and skill the Minnesota and Pacific
railroad will be placed Immediately under
contract Is by terms Of its charter it must
be 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 % well as the lands
donated to it. *@'% 70 ES4a
Breckinridge il also At the point where Gov
Stevens survey Of route for the Pacific rail
road crosses the Sioux Wood river, IN exami
nation Of the Western States, and reference
to tho 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 Breckenridge that al that
which lays west Of the mississippi and north
Of the head waters of the Minnesota rivers
must forever be tributary to that city, and
that Breckenridge 10 to b not only the com
mercial centre for the northwest, but will
forever be the gate city on the great northwest
highway Of nations. tt 4r..-. 5'
Breckenridge is now being improved by the
Proprietors, who are erecting dwellings for
themselves, hotel, grist mill, saw mill, =
shingle and lath machine, 20.
Fer further particulars enquire of
HENRY T. WELLS, Minneapolis,
a.. r CHUTE, st. Anthony 10
...--....-...- .- CHAS. N. M'KUBBIN, st. Paul,
49, M 81 Executive Committee !;
Or, to GEO. F. BRoTT, Breckinridge. !,
5zss May 10th. 1853 n If II