St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-08-16

L D w" N s.. .:--.
SAINT CL0O ..
St. Cloud il tho point at which the RED Riv-
Ct. 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
1team navigation on the Mississippi. Boats
run regularly. during the Spring and early
Summer months, from st Anthony to this
place.
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 fst. Cloud, on opposite side" Of thu
river, and at different points Of the compass
arc 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
ccrnelian; and waters abundantly supplied
with fish.
When Gsv Stevens made his survey Of =
northern railroad route to the Pacific in '53,
hs eamped ION the western side Of the Mis-
sissippi below Sank Rapids" The place was
uameless the present site OF St. Cloud; but 1t
IA here his route leaves the river. In the sum-
mer Of IS claim cabin was built on the spot
where We now write, q. good saw mill. the
frame Of a large Hotel and eight OF :er dwell
inas 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-
ana 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.
from one to three feet deep, Q rich black loan
supporting rank vegetation. the drainage is
20 perfect and the air 80 pure that breatkiug
is . perpetual pleasure. As yet, our physi-
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
the climate, no indeg NOUS complaint except
tho minnesota Appetite which requires one
fourth more treatment than q modest Pennsyl-
vsnia or Ohio attack of q 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
forhids 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
tor combined. 1885,. ,-.
There areimmense 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-increasing force OF
men, horses and 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
mill at almost any point aud has water pow
or enough 70 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, partridges,
dicks, &c., plenty. Thousands of bushels of
ssorns for the hogs that are not here to eat
them. Fuel for the labor Of cutting and haul
ing Of 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 / 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
ragged in the same business; while some hun
dred acres are in the cranberry trade and turn
ont an article, which for quantity and quality
connot be excelled. The blsckberries red rasp
berries and hops tack up their shingles in the
woods; and seldom dissappoint the most san
guine expectations Of their customers. There
10 still land ten or fifteen miles back which set
~ a. nj v II
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 if
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 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 600 acres appropriated to
the support Of schools.
Seventy thousand acres are appropriated to
. State University. A fine building has already
been ereotedforgthsus use Of thatinstitution. It
situiteda St: anthony. built Of stone on IN
eminenos comma nding eaviewof the falls, and
no Stat6sln Me VM0n mas NetteE 1oundatl0n
for good system 81 popular aeducation. No
other prairie State is so we'll timbered Is Min
uesota.and posstate more abunthntly supplied
With olssr water.Ff n In the country surrounding
1t. Cloud and % far North and West as;we have
any reliable account, settlers ind no difhcults
In locatin9.h nd on q running stream Or trany-
parent LAKE With plenty of timber q hand for
building, fencing and fuel, and as the land on
tho West:side Of ths Upper Mississippi is only
openAo lrs-emption, there 10 1ittaedppottunit
for spscd1ators, and settlers hays assursi1ee Of
neighbors snd that rapid inersascin thssvalue
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