St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-10-11
SAINT CLOUD .

St. Cloud is the point o. which the Req Riv-
Or trains cross the Mississippi on their way to
H., 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
run regularly. during The Spring and early
Summer months, from st Anthony TO this
place. 49, ~ ~.'.5 -. s@- -~.~.
The map gives it, position correctly. with
reference to all the most important points In
the Territory, but tho peculiar beauty Of ito
location, and fertility Of the surrounding eoun-
try can not be transcribed. Within fifteen
mile Of St. Cloud, on opposite sides Of the
river, and at different points Of tho compass
are eight lakes varying in size from mile to
miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
it'll, exceedingly, three Of them at least, deep
enough to float man-of-war. Wooded banks,
clean pebbly shores plentifully mixed with
eoraelian; and waters abundantly supplied
\ It'll fish.
When Gov. Stevens made his survey Of
northern railroad route to the Pacific in SO,
be camped ION the western side Of the Mis-
sissippi below Sank Rapids" The place was
namsless-the present site Of St. Cloud; but 1t
il here his route leaves the river. In the sum-
mer of IS claim cabin was built on the spot
where we now write, good saw mill, the
franc Of a large Hotel and eight other 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 Indi-
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 ct
mechanical employments.
The subsoil is sandy and although the soil is
from one to three feet deep, rich black loan
supporting . rank vegetation, the drainage is
50 perfect and the air 50 pure that breathing
is perpetual pleasure. As yet, our physi-
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
the climate, no indeg .nious complaint except
fourth more treatment than q modest Pennsyl-
vania or Ohio attack Of a corresponding dis
ease. ''''',
Any body who wants to drink whiskey in
peace had better not come here, for the treaty
by which the land was acquired from the Sioux
1orbids its introduction; and the Legislature
has passed law enforcing that provision; but
people Of moderate means and Industrious hab-
who have children to educate, will find few.
places where the opportunity for correct moral
training, healthy development Of muscle. and
the means of pecuniary Independence are bet
ter combined. -
There are immense tracts Of pine lying above,
from which the mills at St. Paul, St. Anthony,
and the Minnesota Valley are supplied. These
employ large and ever=ihcreasing force of
men, horses snd oxen, who are to be supplied
with provisions, clothing and feed. The soil is
waiting for an opportunity to produce unlizi-
ted quantities Of food; without troubling the
farmer crushing clods; while the Mississippi
from St. Paul to Little Falls can afford to turn
mill ct almost any point and has water pow
OF enough to dothe manufacturing fora Con-
tincnt 1888 ss.:54s -. <,~~~-.-e, J: =
Our natural meadows produce . grass from
four to six feet high, and the beefkilled off our
prairies is quite equal to any Stalled we / ave
ever eaten Our venison is ine at ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, cartridges,
ducks, &c., plenty Thousands of bushels Of
saarns for the hogs that are not here to eat
them.~ Fuel for tho labor Of cutting and haul >
ing OF the ground; and there is no~ikelihood
of the supply running out soon as the '"Big
Woods" extend from this place some twenty
miles or more, down this side ofthe river and
! from eight to twelve miles back Our lprsirics
are dotted with strips Of wood land, soak
Openings which, just look like old orchards,
dense thickets 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
drel acres are in the cranberry trade and turn
eonnot be excelled. The blackberries red rasp
berries and hops tack up their shingles in the
woods and seldom dissappoint the most san
Ruine expectations Of their customers. There
Is still land ten or fifteen miles back which set
tiers can get, at govern nent price, by building
cabin and living on it until it comes into
market. Actual settlers can buy lots here at
from one to Eve hundred dollars, and specula-
tors can have the same lots At from i've to if
cen hundred s2Zm - l.,
In some Of tho river towns back, places that
ho nj vii AZ no hQ1 ~rn
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 grubbing hoe and . few days labor,
would bring vegetables'to feed family, and
every township has 900 sacres appropriated to
the support Of schools. .,..y.~.. p.
Seventy thousand acres are appropriated to
State University. A fine building has already
been erected for the use of that institution. It
situated St.. Anthony, built Of stone on an
eminence commanding view Of the falls, and
no State in the Union has q better, foundation
for 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 We have
any reliable account, settlers find no dif6cults
Indicating land on running stream or trany-.
rAront lake with plenty Of timber ct hand for
building, fencing and fuel, and IS the land on
the West side Of the Upper Mississippi is only
open to pre- emption, there is little opportunity
for Spectators, and settlers have assurance Of
neighbors and that rapid increase in the value
Of their lands and in social advantages which
arise from the system Of land in limited guam
titles to actual settlers.
The country around Sc. Cloud, west Of the