St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-11-10

~
: This town is situated on the Sioux Wood river,
and il the Western termination Of the Minneso-
t. and Pacific railroad the point laid down by
Capt. Pope on his map Is the head of steam
navigation Oh tho Red river; the valley Of the
Red river is about twenty miles wide on either
side of the stream, and about five hundred miles
long; the surface is level and drained by numerzz
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 deep, slow
stream, has no islands, sand bars or snags to
obstruct navigation the banks are about Is
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 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 Pembins, GOO miles north Of Breck-
inridge,) ex-Gov. Ramsey says, ION tho %
October, 1851, water melons and cantelopes
were served to us for dessert, and tho first frost
that occurred was on the night Of that day."
(see address before the Minnesota Agricultural
Society, Oct. 10th, 1869 Two large set
Elements have long existed on Rcd river
Pembina and Selkirk, both Of which yearly
raise largo 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 swarming with . population en-
gagged In agriculture, mining and manufactur
ing, supplying eastern Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Iowa and Missouri with tho products Of their
labor and skill; the Minnesota and Pacific
railroad will be placed Immediately under
contract - by terms Of its charter it must
be finished from Saltwater to St. Anthony with
in two years, and completed to Breckinridge
within ten years from the Sd Of March, 1857,
or forfeit its. franchise 90 we'll 40 the lands
donated to it. re-: r.a.- -
Breckinridge is also At the point where Gov.
Stevens survey Of route for the Pacific rail
road crosses the Sioux Wood river, IN exsmi
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 aud Capt. Pope, can
not fail to convince that such 10 the geoRraph
ical position of Breckenridge; that ali 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 thst city, and
that Breckinridge 10 to b not only tho com
mereial centre for the northwest, but will
forever b the gate city on the great northwest
highway Of nations. 49, . S,nb ga 3 s:y~
Breckinridge 10 now being improved by the
Prepristors, who are erecting dwellings for
themselves. hotel, grist mill, ssw mill, .
single and lath machine, &c.
Fer further particulars enquire Of rs.@
r.. E+a HENRY T.%WELLS, Minneapolis,
h CHUTE, St. Anthony
CHA8. N. M'KUBBIN, St. Paul,
~ ~. . Executive Committee
Or, to GEO. F. BROTT, Breckinridse.
SIS Nay 10th, 1868 II .5,r l.s.1G..>. f.