St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-02-23
SAINT CLOUD.

er trains cross the Mississippi OH their way to
St. Paul, which proves it to be the natural
junction Of land travel between these two great
arteries of trade. 1t is at the present head Of
steam navigation on tho Mississippi. Boats
run regularly. during the Spring and early
Summer months, from st Anthony to this
place.
The map gives its position correctly with
reference to all the most important points in
location, and fertility of the surrounding coun-
try can not be transcribed. Within fifteen
mile Of st. Cloud, on opposite sides OF tho
river, and at different points Of the compass
arc eight lakes varying in size from mile to
5 miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
TIL, exceedingly, three OF them at least, deep
enough to float a nlan-of-war. Wooded banks,
clean pcbbly shores plentifully mixed with
comedian and waters abundantly supplied
with fish.
When Gov. Stevens made his survey OF a
northern railroad route to the Pacific IN 90,
he campcl ION the western side OF the Mis-
sissippi below Sank Rapids" The place was
namelcss-thc present site Of St. Cloud; but 1t
is here his route leaves the river. In the sum-
,ner Of So claim cabin was built on the spot
where we now write, q good saw mill, the
frame of 4 large Hotel and eight otter dwell.
ings were put up that summer. This last fall
there were three hundred and thirty-two votes
pulled in the precinct. Not the votes OF lndi-
nns or Half Breeds, for there are none hero
a majority Of the Inhabitants OF the country
arc hardy Germans, with sturdy wives aud
children cultiyating the soil and working at
mechanical employmcnts.
The subsoil is sandy and although the soil is
from one to three feet deep, q rich black loan
supporting Il rank vegetation, the drainage is
50 perfect and the air 50 pure that breathing
is perpetual pleasure. AS yet, our physl-
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
the climate, no indeg .nious complaint except
the minnesota Appetite" which requires one
fourth more treatment than a modest Pennsyl-
van;a or Ohio attack of q corresponding dis
case.
Any body who wants to drink whiskey in
peace had better not come here, Tor the treaty
by which the land was acquired from the Sioux
iorbils its introduction; and the Legislature
has passed y law enforcing that provisions; but
people of moderate means and industrious hab-
swl,o have children to educate, will find few
places where the opportunity for correct moral
training, healthy development Of muscle, and
the means of pccuniary independence are bet
ter combined.
There arc immensc tracts Of pine lying above,
from which the mills at st. Paul, st. Anthony,
and the Minnesota Valley arc supplied. These
employ a large and cvcr-increasing force Of
mon, horses snd oxen, who arc to be supplied
with provisions, clothing and feed. The soil is
waiting for an opportunity to produce unlimi-
ted quantities OF food, without troubling the
farmer crushing clods; while the Mississippi
from St. Paul to Little Falls can afford to turn
mill at almost any point and has water pow
or enough to do tho manufacturing for q Con-
tincnt
Our natural meadows produce grass from
four to six feet high, and the becfkilled off our
prairics is quite equal to any stall fed VIC ave
ever eaten Our venson is fine at ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, cartridges,
Iucks, &C., plenty. Thousands OF bushels OF
Acorns for the hogs that arc not here to cat
them Fuel for the labor of cutting and haul
ing off the ground; and there is no likelihood
Of the supply running out soon. as the "Blg
Woods'' extend from this place some twenty
from eight to twelve miles back Our prairics
arc a dotted with strips of wood land, coax
Openings which just look like old orchards,
dense thckets of plum trees bearing delicious
fr;,it, grape vines, doing likewise, thousands OF
acres Of hazel bushes and strawberry vines ,en-
gagged in the same business; while some hun
bred acres are in the cranberry trade and turn
out an article, which for quantity and quality
connot be cxcelled. The blackberries red rasp-
berries and hops tack up their shingles in the
woods and seldom dissappoint the most SAN
guinc expectation of their customers. There
is still land ten or fifteen miles back which set
tiers get, ut government price, ny building
cabin aud living on it until it comes into
Market Actual settlers can buy lots here at
from one to five hundred dollars, and spccula-
tors can have the same lots al from five to fif-
cen hundred
In some Of the river towns back, places that
will be pleasant villages, lots can be had gratis
by those who will build and live on them
This, in places where house can be built for
fifty dollars that would be palace compared
to the dens rented in large cities for and S
dollars per month, while the lot, with only the
aid Of a grubbing hoe and a few days labor,
weuld bring vegetables to feed a family, and
every township has 600 acres appropriated to
the support OF schools.
Seventy thousand acres are appropriated to
q State University. "A fine building has already
been erected for the use Of that institution. 1t
situated I St. Anthony, built of stone on an
cmincnce commanding a view of the falls, and
no State in the Union has better foundation
for a good system Of popular education. No
other prairie State is so we'll timbered as Min
nesota and no State more abundantly supplied
with clear water. In the country surrounding
st. Cloud and as far North and West as VIC have
any reliable account, settlers fnd no difficulty
in locating land on a running stream or trans
parent lake with plenty of timber at hand for
building, fencing and fuel, and as the land on
the West sid, OF the Upper Mississippi is only
open to pre- cmption, there is little opportunity
for specu! .tors, and settlers have assurance Of
neghbors and that rapid increase in the value
Of their lands and in social advantages which
arise from the system Of land in limited auan-
titles to actual settlers.
The country around S. Cloud, west of the
Mississippi waslpurchased Of the Indians in
treaty made with them by the Hon. Alexander
Ralniey and Luke Lea in 1852 and ratified by
the senate the same year. The Sioux had
owned the land from 1927 but had not occupied
Winncbagoes whose land reached within four
miles north Of St. Cloud. Their country was