St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-03-15
s SAINT CLOUD.

SAINT CLOUD.
St. Cloud is the point at which the Red Eiv-
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 the Mississippi. boats
rim regularly. during the Spring and carly
Summer months, from st Anthony to this
place.
The map gives its position correctly with
reference to all the most Important points in
the Territory, but the peculiar beauty of its
location, and fertility of the surrounding coun-
try can not be Transcribed. Within fifteen
mile Of St. Cloud, on opposite sides OF thu
river, and at different points OF the compass
arc eight lakes varying in size from l mile to
miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
till, exceedingly, three OF them Mt least, deep
enough to float a man-of-war. Wooded banks,
clcan pcbbly shores plentifully mixed with
cornelian and waters abundantly supplied
with fish.
When Gov. Stevens made his survey of a
northern railroad route to the Pacific i'll 90,
he campcd ..on the western side Of the Mis-
sissippi below Sank Rapids" The place was
namccss-the present site Of St. Cloud; but 1t
is here his route leaves the river. In the sum-
MGR of IS a claim cabin was built on the spot
where VIC now write, n good saw mill, the
frame Of large Hotel and eight OF err dwell
ings were put up that summer. This last fall
there were three hundred and thirty-two votes
piled in the precinct. Not the votes OF lndl-
ans or Half Breeds, for there are none here
a majority of the Inhabitants OF the country
are hardy Germans, with sturdy wives aud
children cultivating the soil and working at
mechanical employmcnts.
The subsoil is sandy and although the soil is
from one to three feet deep, rich black loan
supporting rank vegetation, the drainage IS
20 perfect and the air 50 pure that breathing
is a 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 q modest Pcnnsyl-
yania or Ohio attack of q corresponding dis
ease.
ANY body who wants to drink whiskey in
peace had better not come here, for the treaty
bv which the land was acquired from the Sioux
forbils it's introduction; and the Legislature
has passed Inv enforcing that provision; but
people of moderate means and Industrious haD-
e who have children to educate, will find few
places where the opportunity for correct moral
araiutag, healthy Development Of muscle, and
Ahe ',teans Of peouniary independence are bet
tsr ccu;,ined.
=
Il. III r!l;,i. Ike mills at st. Paul, St. Anthony,
an', ;ts ss=nesota Valley are supplied. These
employ s. Narke and ever-increasing force OF
men. horses :sad oxen, who are to be supplied
win nr.wssiohs, clothing and feed The soil is
waiting for az opportunity to produce unlimi-
ted quantities. Of food, without troubling the
sarmer crushing clods; while the Mississippi
from St. gesl "a Little Falls can afford to turn
mill at almost any point and has water pow
or enough ITO dc the manufacturing for Con-
aiMent
Our natural meadows produce grass from
four to six feet high, and the beefkilled off our
rrairics is quite equal to any stall fed we | ave
ever eaten Our venison is fine at ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, cartridges,
ducks, &C., plenty. Thousands Of bushels Of
aoorns for the hogs that are not here to eat
them. Fuel for the labor of cutting and haul
ing off tho ground; and there is no likelihood
of the supply running out soon as tho "Blg
Woods extend from this place some twenty
miles or more, down this side of the river and
from eight to twelve miles back Our prairics
IRE a dotted with strips of wood land, coax
Openings which just look like old orchards,
dense Tickets of plum trees bearing delicious
fruit, grape vines, doing likewise, thousands OF
acres Of hazel bushes and strawberry vines, en-
gagged in the same business; while some hum
dred acres arc in the cranberry trade and turn
ont an article, which for quantity and quality
connot be excelled. The blackberries red rasp-
berries and hops tack up their shingles in the
woods and seldom dissappoint the most SAN
guine expectations Of their customers. There
Is still land ten or fifteen miles back which set
tiers can get, at government price, by building
cabin and living on it until it comes into
market. Actual settlers can buy lots here at
from one to five hundred dollars and specula-
tors can have the same lots at 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 5
dollars per month, while the lot with only the
MD of Il grubbing hoe and a few days labor,
would bring vegetables to feed q family, and
every township has 600 acres appropriated to
the support of schools.
Seventy thousand acres are appropriated to
State University. A fine building has already
been erected for the use of that institution. It
8 situated ST. Anthony, built of stone on an
emnence commanding view of the falls, and
no State in the Union has better foundation
for good system Of popular education. No
other prairie State is 80 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 we have
ovv ro1;.H1o occounf Sott1ers find 6ificu0tv