St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-08-09

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9th, 1860
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SA-INT~CLoU:sD.
lsSt. Cloud is the point st4whioh the Red 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. It 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. g "
The map gives its position correctly with
reference to ell the most important points in
the Territory, but the peculiar beauty of its
location, and fertility Of the surrounding coun-
try cannot Be transcribed. Within fifteen
mile Of St. Cloud, on opposite sides Of tho
river: and at different points OF the compass
are eight lakes varying in sizo from mile to
6smiles 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
cornelian; and waters abundantlys supplied
with fish. ..+ -,'-.
. When Gev. Stevens made his survey of q
northern railroad route to the Pacific in '53,
he camped con the western side Of the Mis-
sissippi below Sank Rapids" The place was
nameless-the present site of St. Cloud ; but it
is here his route leaves the river. In the sum-
mer Of IS claim cabin was built on the spot
where we now write, a good saw mill, the
frame 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 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 at
mechanical employments.
The subsoil is sandy and although the soil is
from one to three feet deep, rich black loan
supporting q rank vegetation, the drainage is
50 perfect and the air so pure that breathing
is perpetual pleasure. As yet, our physi-
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
the climate, no indeg .nious complaint except
the ''Minnesota Appetite" which requires one
fourth more treatment than . modest Pennsyl-
vania or Ohio attack of 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
forbids 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
the means of pecuniary independence are bet
ter combined. = ":'...
=! There areimmense tracts Of pine lying above,
from which the mills at St. Paul, st. Anthony,
and the Minnesota Valley are supplied. These
employ a large and ever-increasing 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 unlini-
ted quantities Of food, without troubling the
farmer crushing clods; while the Mississippi
from St. Paul to Little Falls can afford to turn
or enough to do the manufacturing for Con-
tinent 81. 49, s As.s2
Our natural meadows produce grass from
four to six feet high, and 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, So, 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 the ground; and there is no likelihood
of the supply running out soon as the ttBig
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 a 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 hun
dred acres are 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 govern ment 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 ff-
cen hundred 49, =:
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 q grubbing hoe and few days labor,
would bring vegetables to feed family, and
every township has 600 acres appropriated to
tho 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
situated s.. -Aathpny, built Of stone on an
emin O. conn, anding view ofthxs{alls, and
no StSt n the Vnionshss i better. Foundation
for a xsodsystepo f popular eda1ehtion. No
other Sairieaet e1s ss.Ren imberad as Min
nesota IN no:Stase mors 'abundanntly supplied
withla8r wster,, In the country surrounding
st. Cloud end 8 FIR Mort hand West s. NE have
in hcatipg land q run, running stream s.. trany~
rafcnf 1akA with plenty ~ RI, KaR u .rd ~