St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-09-22
BRECk-INRIDGE

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 level and drained by numers
GUS streams which are skirted with elm, ash.
bass wood, white wood and pine of the largest
growth, the remainder of tho valley is prairie,
composed of rich, black loan free from sand.
barrens or swamps. Red river is deep, slow
stream, has no islands, sand bars or snaes to
obstruct navigation; the banks are about rs
feet high, and not subject to overflow many
OF the tributaries Of the Red river are strongly
lmpregnated with salt, and indications of
iron and coal are numerous in the vicinity.
The farmers of the valley of the Red river
gave to Majer Wood as the average Of their
crops; wheat 30 to 40; barley 40 to 80; oats
40 so; and potatoes 200 to 800 bushels to the
acre. At Pembina, 600 miles north of Breck-
inridge,) ex-Gov. Ramsey says, con the I'd
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, 1861 Two large Set
Elements have long existed on Rcd river
Pembina and Selkirk, 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
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 q 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 it's 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, 1857,
or forfeit it's franchise as well as the lands
donated TO- it: = ~ = ~. :,r,< $3.50. II ...-,.;
Breckenridge is. also qt the point where Gov.
Stevens survey Of q route for the Pacific rail
road crosses the Sioux Wood river nm exami
nation of the Western States, and q reference
to the writings Of Gov, Stevens, ex-Gov. Ram
soy Or the Congressional documents containing
the reports Of Maj Long and Capt. Pope, can
not. fail to convince that such is. the geograph
ical position of Breckenridge; that all that
portion. Of the Territory Of the United States
which lays vest Of the Mississippi and north
of the head waters of the Minnesota rivers
must forever gbe tributary to- that city, and
that breckenridge IL TO- be not only the com
mercial. centre for the northwest but will
forever be the gategcity onthe great northwest
highway Of nations. ~ f--z ,.-,- az>. 81
Disadvantage now being improved by the
Proprietors, who are erecting dwellings for
themselves, hotel, grist mill, saw mill, .
single and lath machine, &C..
For further particulars enquire Of ;. i :.
HENRY T: WELLS, Minneapolis,
s..sa R CHUTE, 81 Anthony ~ 1
~ >,s a.y. CHAS. N.tM'KUBBIN, st. Paul.
=: z.ss.s ..ssss}s.k Executive Committee;
Or, TO GEO. F. BROTT,t Breckenridge. n .
May 10th, 1853 1!tfs53f li5>a as'fI