St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-09-06

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,SAINTCLoUD p.
~ St. Cloud is tho point at:whioh the RED Riv
or trains cross the Mississippi on their way to
St. Paul, which proves it to be the natural
'unction Of land travel between these two great
arteries Of trade It is at tho present, head of
steam navigation, on the Mississippi. Boats,
run regularly, during the Spring aud early
Summer months, from St Anthony to this
place. ..o'>
The map gives its position correctly with
referenceto all the most important points in
the Territory, but the peculiar beauty of its
location, and fertility Of the surrounding coun-
try Gun not be transcribed. Within fifteen
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, all, save one, beau
It'll, exceedingly, three OF them at least, deep
enough to float aman-of-war. Wooded banks,
cornelian; and waters abundantly supplied
with fish. 80 .>v!a
; When Gov. Stevens made his survey Of q
northern railroad route to the Pacific in '53,
he camped 'on 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
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 1ndi
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, a rich black loan
80 perfect anl the air 80 pure that breathing
is perpetual pleasure. As yet, our physi-
clans have discovered 10 diseases peculiar to
the climate, no indeg ,nious complaint except
the ''NIinnesota Appetite" which requires one
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
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
training, healthy development Of muscle, and
the means Of pecuniary Independence are bet
ter combined. ...
There are immenae 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-increaeing force OF
men, horses snd oxen, who are to be supplied
with provisions, clothing and feed. The soil is
waiting for on opportunity to produce unlimi-
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 ~ .5Szr..,s.s=. zzl.@=.%$$
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, partridges,
ducks, &c., plenty. Thousands Of bushels Of
aeorns 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 the f'big
Woods" extend from this place some twenty
miles or more, down this side fthe river and
from eight to twelve miles back Our prairics
are al 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
ovuuot De exceiied. The blackberries red rasp-
berries and hopstack 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, ut 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 q 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 few days labor,
would bring vegetables to feed family, and
every township has 600 acres appropriated to
the support of schools.
Seventy thousand acres are appropriated to
State University. A fna building has already
been erected for the use of that institution. It
s situ.Aed e. st.: Anthony, built Of stene on an
eminence commanding q, view OF the falls, and
for good syssen of popular. education. No
other prairies State is soawell ambered as Min
uesota and NO State more abundantly supplied
with clear water. In the country surrounding
st. Cloud and as for North and West % we have
any reliable account, settlers find no dithcults
in locating land on q running stream or trany-
1arcnt lake with plenty oftimber at hand for
building, fencing and fuel, and IS the land on
the Westsside of the Upper Mississippi is only
open topre- emptio q ere u little opportunity
for5specnlators, and settlers have assurance Of
Of their lands and il social Advantages which