St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-09-15

Ihls town is situated on the Sioux Wood river
and is the Western termination Of the Minncso-
ia and Pacific railroad; the point laid down by
Capt. Pope on his map astAe 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 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 loa1a 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, end not subject to overflow; many
OF the tributaries Of the Red river are strongly
impregnatcd with. salt, and Indications Of
iron and coai ere numerous in the vicinity
The farmers OF the valley Of the Red river
gave to-. Maj or Wood as the average of their
crops; wheat S0ts 40; barley 40 to 50; oats
40 SO; and potatoes 400 to go bushels to the
acre AT Pembina, Geo miles north of Brock
inridge,) ex-Gov. Ramsey says, son tie "a
October, 1851, water melons and c2ate]ones
were served to us for dessert, and the first fros:
that occurred was on the: night of that day.
lsee address before the Minnesota Agricultural
Society, Oct. 10th, 1861 Two large SET
Elements hays long existed Oh Rcd river
fembina and Selki.k, both Of which yearly
raise large surplus ;~of the products of the
farm the whole. valley Of the. Red river is
rapidly filling up with: an energetic and INTEL
Egent population !. the country being exceed
ingly healthy, and should the indications of
iron and coal lead to the discovery Of those
minerals as large Us is anticipated, this, valley
will soon be swarming with population en-
gagged in agriculture, mining and manufacture
ing, Simplifying eastern Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Iowa md Missouri with the products Of their
labor and skill the Minnesota and Pacific
Gailroad will be placed iimmediatsly under
contract. as by terms of its charter it. must
be finished from Saltwater to St. Anthony with
ingtwo years. and completed to Breckinridge
within Ten years from the Sd Of March, 1857,
or forfeit its franchise as well as the landt
donated to it. .t.:-, .g..e,1.:
Breckenridge is also atthe point where Coz:
Stevens survey Of q route for the Pacific rail
road crosses the Sioux. Wood river. al exa:ni
nation of the Western States, and a reference
to the writings Of Gov. Stevens es-Gov. Rem
say orethe Congressional doen,n e containing
the reports OF Maj long snd Gept. Pope can
not:fail TO convince that such5i the g6da2rh
ieal position Of Breckinridge; that all that
portion Of the: Territory Of the united States
which ysswestIo Of the Mississippi, And north
Of the head waters Of the Minnesota .riyen,
ny, Rsss fSseysr bstribptsry to that city, and
n q centre -. the ~: pNcrth;Xestt but NIL
forever ethe gate cityenthe sfeat aSfth- 1wst
highway Of nations. s:r T. -: IT. Z, 4
Rreekinri1xs is now being improved by the
preprietprs, who are erecting dwellings for
Themselves, . hotel, 'grist mill, saw mill, 4
shihgle and lash machine, &c. E2EtlH-1l
For further particulars enquire Of
@55!zs. HENRI Y. 81, 81 VIE Is Minneapolis
IL -f.nss@tzRh CHUTE, St. Anthony II