St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-09-08
BRECKINRIDGE

and is the Western termination of the Minneao-
tn and Pacific railroad ;Sthe point laid down by
Capt. Pope on his map as the head Of steam
navigation on the RedIriyer tho valley Of tho
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 numer
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
obatruct navigation the banks are about Is
feet high, and not subject to overflow; many
Of the tribntaries 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 Breck-5
inridge,) ex-Goy. Ramsey says, son the %
October, 1851, water melons and cantelopes
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, 1859 Two large 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 an energetic and intel
igent population; the country being exceed
ingly healthy, and should tho 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, and 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
within ten years from the Sd Of March, 1857,
or forfeit its franchise Is well as the lands
donated to it, E = = WA
Breckenridge is also 1t the point where Gov:
Stevens survey Of = route for the Pacific rail
road crosses the Sioux Wood river, m exami
nation Of the Western States, and reference
to the writings Of Gov. Stevens, sex-Gov. Ram
say or the Congressional documents containing
the reports ofsMd, Long and Capt. Pope, can
not fail to convince that such il the geograph
ieal position Of Bfeckinridge; that al that
portion Of the Territory Of thu United States
which lays west Of the Mississippi and north
Of the head waters Of the Minnesota rivers
must forever be tributary to that city, and
mereial4centrs for the northwest, but will
forever be the gate city on the great northwest
highway Of nations. s.. -
Breckenridge is now being improved by the
Proprietors, who are erecting dwellings for
themselves, . hotel, grist mill, saw mill, :
shipgle and latht machine, &c. 4
For further particulars enquire Of !.
HENRY T. WELLS, Minneapolis.
tAsli s1 CHUTE,I St. Anthony ~
u seffs CHAB II. MKUBBTN, st. Paul,
AZ. Il Ss NM Is. s. Executive Committee
Or, to GEO. F. BROTT, Breckinridgs.
Nay 16tK, 1853 & II f-