St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-01-20
SAINT CLOUD.

! st. Cloud is the point at which the Red Riv-
or 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 st. Anthony to this
place.
The map gives it's position correctly with
reference to all the most important points in
the territory, but the peculiar beauty Of its
location, and fertility of tho surrounding coun-
try cannot be transcribed. Within fifteen
miles Of St. Cloud, on opposite sides of the
river, and at different points of the compass
arc eight lakes, varying in size from mile to
miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
tiful, exceedingly, three of them at least, deep
enough to float anan-of-war. Wooded banks,
clean pebbly shores plentifully mixed with
cornelian; and waters abundantly supplied
with fish.
When Gov. Stevens made his survey of q
northern railroad route to the pacific, in SO,
he camped con the western side of the Mis-
sissippi: below Sank HapiLs.' The place was
namelcss-the present site st. Cloud; but it
is here his route leaves the river. In the sum-
mer of 50 d claim cabin was built on the spot
where we now write, good saw mill, the
frame Of Il large Hotel and eight other dwell
lngs were put up that summer. This last fall
there were three hundred and thirty-two votes
polled i'll the precinct. Not the votes OF lndi-
ans or Half Breeds, for there arc none here
\ majority Of the inhabitants Of the county
are hardy Germans, with sturdy wives and
children, cultivating the soil and working Ill
mechanical employmcnts.
The subsoil is sand and although the soil is
from o,.e to three feet deep. a rcl, black loan
sOppcrtinga rank vegetation, the drainage is
SO perfect and the air so pure, that breathing
is q perpetual pleasure. As yet, our physi-
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
the climate, no Indigenous complaint except
the minnesota Appetite' which requires one
fourth more treatment than modest Ionnsyl-
yania or Ohio attack Of q corresponding dis
case.
Any body who wants 10 drink Whiskcy in
peace had better not come here, for the treaty
by which the land was acquired from the Sioux,
forbids its introduction and the Legislature
has passed law enforcing that proyision; bat
people Of moderate means and industriou Eab-
its who have children to educate, will find few
places where the opportunity for correct moral
training, healthy development Of muscle, and
the means Of pecuniary independence are bet
ter 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 ever-increasrg force of
men, horses and oxen, who are to be supplied
with provisions clothing and feed. The soil is
waiting for an opportunity to produce unlimit-
ed quantities Of food without troubling the far
mer crushing clods while tho Mississippi from
St. Paul to Little Falls can afffort, to turn mill
at almost any point and has water power
enough to do the manufacturing for a CONT
ncnt.
Our natural meadows produce grass from
four to six feet high, and the beef killed off our
prairies is quite equal to any stall fed we have
ever eaten. Our vcnison is fine at ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, partridges,
ducks, &c., plenty. Thousands of bushels or
acorns for the hogs that are not here to cat
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 "Dig
Woods extend from this place some twenty
miles or more, down this side Of the river, and
from eight to twelve miles back Our prai,'jes
are all dotted with strips Of wood land, Goal;
Opcnings' which just look like old orchards
dense thickets Of plum trees bearing delicious
fruit, grape vines, doing likewise, thousands OF
acres Of hazel bushes and strawberry vines, ell
gagged in the same business; while some lun-
drcd acres are in the cranberry trade and turn
out an article which for quantity and quality
cannot be excellel. The blackberries redrasp-
berries and hops tack up their shingles in the
! woods; and seldom disappoint the most SAN
guine expectations Of their customers. There
is still land ten or fifteen miles back which set
tiers can get, at government price, by building
a cabin and living on it until it comes into
market. Actual settlers car buy lots here at
from one to five hundred dollars, and spccIla-
tors can have the same lots at from five to ff-
: teen hundred.
In some Of the river town oack, places that
will be pleasant villages, lots can be had gratis
by those who will build and live on them
This, in places where bodse can be built for
fifty dollars, that would be a palace compared
to tho dcns rented in large cities for and
dollars per month, while the lot, with only the
: aid Of a grubbing hoe and few days labor,
would bring vegetables to feed family, and
every township has 800 acres appropriated to
the support of schools.
Seventy thousand acres are appropriated to
a State university. a fine building has already
been erected for the use Of that institution Ii
is situated at St. Anthony, built OF stone on an
cminence commanding a view Of the falls, and
no State in the Union has better foundation
for good system Of popular education. No
other prairie State is so we'll timbered as Min
nesota and no State abundantly supplied
with clear water In the country surrounding
St. Cloud and as far North and West as we have
any reliable account, settlers find no difficulty
in locating land on a running stream or trans
parent lake with plenty Of timber at hand for
building, fencing and fuel, and as the land on
the West side Of the Upper Mississippi is only
10 n
for spectators, and settlers have assurance of
neighbors and that rapid increase in the value
, of their lands and in social advantages which
. arise from the system of land in limited guam
titles to actual settlers
The country around St. Cloud, west Of the
Mississippi was purchased Of the Indians in a
treaty made with them by Hon. Alexander
Ramsey and Luke Lea in 1852 and ratified by
the senate the same year. The Sioux had