St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-09-20

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SAINT CLoUBy
St. Cloud is the point at which the RED Riy-
er trains cross the Mississippi on their way to
St. Paul, which proves it to b. th6YAatural
junction Of land travel betwsenst4ses twogreat
arteries of trade It is At the pfSselt head of
steam navigation on the *sMississippi.' Boats
ran'regolarly. during the Spring and early
Summer months, from St Anthony to this
place. 80 @Es'.fA+
4 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 the
river, and at different points Of the scampass
are eight lakes varying in size from ! mile to
Smiles in circumference, all, save one, beau
it'll, exceedingly, three OF them at least, deep
enough to float a man-of-war. Wooded banks,
clean pebbly shores beautifully mixed with
comedian; and waters abundantly supplied
With fish.
When Gov. Stevens made his survey Of a
northern railroad route to the PACIFIC ~ 1853,
he camped 'on the western side '-of*: Mis-
sissipPi below:Sa,ik Rapids" Tie Place was
nameless-thc present site Of St. Cloud; but it
is here his route leaves the river. In the sum-
mer Of '55 claim cabin was built on the spot
where we now write, a good saw mill, the
frame Of u large Hotel and eight ot:er dwell
incs 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
A11nsiority of the inhabitants Of the country
are hardy Germans, with sturdy wives aud
children cultivating the soil and working at
mechanical employnents.
The subsoil is sandy and although the soil is
from one to three feet deep, a rich black loan
supporting rank vegetation. the drainage is
so perfect ahs} the air so pure that breathing
is a:pcrpctua1 pleasure. AS yet, our physi-
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
the climate no indeg .nious complaint, except
the s: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. a 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. --.~a
There are immense tracts of pine lyingabove,
from which the mills at St. Paul, St. Anthony,
and the Minnesota Valley are supplied. These
employ large and eyer-increasing force Of
men, horses snd oxen, who are to be supplied
with provisions, c1nthing and feed. -Fhssoil is
10 ,~os
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
er enough to do the manufacturing for Con-
tinent
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 venison is fine at ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, cartridges,
ducks, &c., plenty. Thousands OF bushels Of
uoorns 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 "Big
Woods" extend from this place some twenty
miles or more, down this side ofthe 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 Tickets Of plum trees bearing delicious
fruit, grape vines, doing likewise, thousands of
acres Of hazel bushes and strawberry vines, en.
raged in the same business; while some hun
lred 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
puine expectations Of their customers. There
is still land ten or fifteen miles back which set
tiers can get, at govcrnDent 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
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
aid of grubbing hoe and a few days labor,
would bring vegetables to feed family, and
every township has 800 acres appropriated to
the support Of schools.
Seventy thousand acres are appropriated to
a State University. A fine building has already
been erected for the use Of that institution. It
situated St: Anthony, built Of stone on an
eminencs comm anding . view ofthe falls, and
no Stats lathe Union hasa better foundation
for a good system Of popular education. No
other prairis Stats iyso wd1timberedas Min
nesota anu no State more abundant1y supplied
with clear water::.. In the countryvur nding
st. Cloud and as far N orth and West as;we have
any reliable account, settlers find no aificults
in locating land on 4 running stream or trany
1.arcnt lake with plenty Of timber at hand for
building, fenciug and fuel, and as the land on
the West side of TIE Upper Mississippi is only
open to presumption, there Is little opportunity
neighbors and that rapid increase 81 he Yalue
of their lands and in social sdvantsges which
arise from the system Of land in limited guam
titles to actual settlers. -s~''- -
The country around ST. Cloud, west Of the
Mississippi was purchased Of the Indians in a
k..oI. ~ocIo xw;%h &haun hv Tho Hon A1ov ondar