St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-03-29

= TOW. Ms, ''''
SAINTCLoU ..
. St. Cloud is the point at which the Rca Riv-
Or trains cross the Mississippi on 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
run regularly. during the Spring and early
Summer months, from St Anthony to this
place. y S' ,&ft@< u
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-
mile Of st. Cloud, on opposite sides Of the
river, and at different points of the compass
are eight lakes varying in size from mile to
miles in circumference, oil, save one, beau
TIL, exceedin gly, three OF them at least, deep
enough to float a man-of-war. Wooded banks,
Gle All pebbly shores plcntifully mixed with
sornelian ;!and waters abundantly supplied
y til fish, -,.-r
When Gov. Stevens made his survey Of a
northern railroad route to the Pacific IN 90,
he camped ''on the western side Of the Mis-
oASoIVPi UCAVN OituA NdpAuo. AAS PAes~o "ss'
uanae!ess-the present site of St. Cloud; but it
Is hero his route leaves the river. In the SUM
mer Of '55 claim cabin was built on the spot
where We now write, q good saw mill, the
fame Of large Hotel and eight other dwell
ings were put up that summer. This last fall
there were three hundred and thirty-two votes
polled in the precinct. Not the votes of lndi-
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. 49, y
The subsoil Is sandy and although the soil is
from ono to three feet deep, rich black loan
supporting rank vegetation, the drainage is
30 perfect and the air so pure that breathing
il . perpetual pleasure. As yet, our physi-
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
the climate, no lindcg enious complaint except
the minnesota Appetite" which requires one
fourth more treatment than o modest Pennsyl-
vapia or Ohio attack Of a corresponding dis
ease. 49,
Any body who wants to drink whiskey III
peace had better not come here, for the treaty
by which the land was acquired from the Sioux
forbids it's 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 correctm moral
training, healthy development Of muscle, and
the means of pccuniary independence are bet
ter combined. .sp..~'
There areimmensc tracts Of pine lying above,
from which the mills ut St. Paul, St. Anthony,
and the Minnesota Valley are supplied. These
employ q large and ever-increasing force Of
men, horses snd oxen, who arc to be supplied
with provisions, clothing and feed. The soil is
waiting for an opportunity to produce unlimi-
<nJ - f.
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
sr enough to do tho manufacturing for Con-
1inent -
Our natural meadows produce grass from
four to xix feet high, AMI the beefkilled off our
prairies is quite equal to any stall fed we ave
ever eaten Our yenison is fine at ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, cartridges,
ducks, &C., plenty. Thousands Of bushels of
aoorns for tho 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 the 'sBig
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
are all dotted with strips of wood land, coax
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
dred acres arc in the cranberry trade and turn
out 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 governments 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 -. - =. T.. .:; = T. ..-' -ss3
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
fifty dollars: that would be o palace compared
TO tho dens rented in large cities for and S
dollars per month, while the lot, with only the
aid Of 3 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. 1t
sminence commanding q view of the falls and
no State in the Union has better foundation
for good system of popular. education: No
other prairie State is 50 well timbered as Min
uezota 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 difficulty
in locating land on running stream or trans
parent lake with plenty Of timber at hand for
building, fencing and fuel, and as 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
nsighbors and that rapid increase in the value