St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-10-27
BRECKIERIDGF

O1jCEA-1-N EGll)(IE.
This town is situated on the Sioux Wood river,
and is the Western termination Of the Minneso-
ia and Pacific railroad the point laid down by
Capt. Pope on his map as the head of steam
navigation OH the 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 lev and drained by numerss
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 a deep, slow
stream, has no islands, sand bars or snags to
obstruct navigation the banks are about rs
feet high, and not subject to overflow many
of the tributaries Of the Red river ore strongly
:impregnated with salt, and indications Of
iron and coal are numerous in the vicinity.
The farmers Of the valley Of the Red river
gaveto Majer 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
inridge,) ex-Gov. Ramsey says, g on the I'd
October, 1851, water melons and cantelopes
were served to us for dessert, and the first frost
that occurred was on tho night Of that day."
(see address before the Minnesota Agricultural
Society, Oct. 10th, 1867 Two largo set
Elements have long existed on Rcd river
Pembina and selkirk, both Of which yearly
farm the whole valley Of the Red river is
rapidly filing up with on 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 the products Of their
labor md skill; the Minnesota and Pacific
railroad will be placed Immediately under
contract as 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, 1867,
OF forfeit it,. franchise IS well as the lands
donated to it.. s..=
Breckinridge is also at the point where Gov.
Stevens survey Of route for the Pacific rail
| road crosses the Sioux Wood river, an exami
nation Of the Western States; and a reference
to the writings Of Gov. Stevens, ex-Gov. Ran
say or the. Congressional documents containing
the reports of Maj Long and Capt. Pope, ea1
not fail to convince that such is the geograpl
/ ical position Of Breckenridge; that all tina
portion Of the Territory Of the United State
i which lays west Of the Mississippi and nortl
Of the head waters Of the Minnesota river
must forever be tributary to that city, an
that Breckinridge 10 to be not only the COZ
mercial centre for the north-west, but vii
! forever DO the gate city on The great north-we.
Highway Of nations. s s.$ ss.SIS
Breckinridge 10 now being improved BY III
4 Preprietors, Who are erecting dwellings 70
B themselves, hotel, grist mill, saw, mill,
| lshingle and 18th machine, 90. IS
HENRY +. WELLS, Minneapolis,
81 81 3 CHUTK, 81. Anthony .
- CHAS. N. M'KUBBIN, Sc. Paul,
$50 s. a,s g Executive COMMITTEES
/, Of, d GEO. r. BROrr, BIZ c;lkihfftike 8 {
Nay 10th, 1853 ss ] '.'s..s 9.
kHroN CoUnr,l.Yl.--.-g;ii ives Z majjor.