Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-06-04
SrEARNs' HOUSE, ST. CLOUD,
May Goth, 1859.

We arrived at this place Tuesday evening,
but have been so busy, and so well enter
tained by the good friends here, that have
not found it convenient to write till to-day.
shall try to make amends for this tardiness.
This has been decidedly rainy day. 1t
commenced at four o'clock this morning, and
has continued, aoitlaout one minutes cessation,
up to the present, and it is now eight o'clock
in the evening 1t has not rained hard, but
the wind has blown severely, and great deal
of water must have fallen. The river is rising
here, and is now, l am told, several inches
higher than it has been before this year. If
this rain extends to the heads of the river and
it's tributaries, the rise must continue, and the
high water last long time.
We left St. Anthony Monday, at II o'clock,
with good load of freight, and some twenty
passengers, and came up to some point below
Monticello, when Capt. Young landed for the
night, as It was too dark to run. Owing to
some little fixing required upon the machine
ry, we did not get started till late next morn
ing, and arrived here the same evening at dark
had no opportunity tolook over the villages
on the way up, but we had delightful time
admring the lovely scenery all along the river.
Unlike the State below the Falls, from st. An
thony here there are no bluffs, so to speak.
The shores on each side are SO low THAT only
at exceptional places team can be driven to
the waters edge, yet nowhere are there any
marshes, or low ground unfit for the plow ;
and the beautiful lawns, on both sides, sweep
ing down to the very brink, with the grass
growing clear into the water, and the long,
wide, level plateaur, from five to ten feetabove
the water, makes it indeed lovely. Besides,
the numerous islands, many of large size,
which profusely abound, dry, and level, and
thickly covered with forests of elm, linden,
iron-wood, and the like, give an additional
charm. The northeast side, (the course is
northwest and south-easD shows an alternate
country of prairie and openings the entire dis,
tance, generally level, dry and beautiful. The
southwest side is more varied. The soil is a
little darker, and apparently the richer, and
sometimes the lawns and plateaur appearing
even mere beautiful, but they are interspersed
with belts Of heavy forests of oak, sugar-maple
linden, elm, hickory, iron-wood, &c. Alto
gether, the whole country is one of surprising
splenlor and tourists, or even those on bu
siness, instead of pleasure, will do well to make
the trip by boat All the beauty of Missis
sipp scenery is not seen till one has ascended
this part of the upper country. The steam
boat Enterprise is comfortably arranged, and
Mr.. Stans6eld, the steward, does his part ir
satisfactory manner, so that no one need
forego this pleasure for fear of want of com
fort.
This village of St. Cloud is exceedingly
prettily situated, and the high prices for pro
duce has given it brisk, lively appearance
but as shall make it the subject of anothe,
letter, will herein pass it by.
| learn from Mr.. Stearns, who keeps the
SrEARNs' HOUSE, of this place, who has beer
honored by giving his name to Stearns county
that Major Patten, of the U. S. army, ,encamped
about three miles from here, on Tuesday eve
ming. He is with company of infantry
which he is taking from Fort Abercrombie, to
Fort Ripley. The Major received an order te
proceed to Fort Ripley, and to leave Fort Alb
ercrombie in command of Capt. Davis. But
the order was countermanded, and a messen
: ger sent with new order for him to remain al
Fort Abercrombie, and for Capt. Davis to pro.
ceed to Fort Ridgely. But before the mes.
senger arrived, Major Patten had started for
Fort Ripley, in obedience to his first order
and the messenger did not overtake him till
near this place. The Major says he is out Of
provisions, his teams and wagons diiapidated,
so that he shall have to proceed to Fort Rip
ley.
; He represents the way to Breckenridge to
be quite feasible, and that he has left very
passable road behind him. His company cut
and made the road on the surveyed route, six
miles through the big timber; and Mr.. Stearns
intimates that if Uncle Sam would keep his