St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-02-09

1 D w n S.
SAINT CLOUD
ST. Cloud is the point at which 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. 1t is at the present head OF
steam navigation on the Mississippi. Boats
run regularly, during the Spring and carly
Summer months, from St. Anthony to this
place.
The map gives its position correctly with
refercace 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 tbs
river, and at different points of the compass
arc cir ht lakes varying in size from mile to
5 miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
tiff, exceedingly, three OF them at least, deep
enough to float 4 man-of-war. Wooded banks,
Gle IN pcbbly shores plentifully mixed with
cornclian; and waters abundantly supplied
with fish.
When Gov Stevens made his survey of
northern railroad route to the Pacific in 90,
he camped son the western side OF the Mis-
sissippi below Sank Rapids" The place was
nameless present site Of St. Cloud; but 1t
is here his route leaves the river. In the sum-
mer Of '55 claim cabin was built on the spot
where VIC now write, Il good saw mill, the
frame of u large Hotel and eight OF err dwell.
ines were put up that summer. This last fall
there were three hundred and thirty-two votes
p,lled in the precinct. Not the votes OF lndl-
ans or Half Breeds, for there are none here
\ majority of the inhabitants Of the country
are hardy Germans, with sturdy wives aud
children cultivating the soil and working at
mechanical cmploymcnts.
The subsoil is sandy and although the soil is
from one to three feet deep, a rich black loam
supporting a 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 ssNlinncsota Appetite" which requires one
fourth more treatment than modest iennsyl-
vania or Ohio attack of 4 corresponding dis
case.
Any body who wants to drink whiskey in
peace had better not come here, for the treaty
by which the land was acquiredfrom the Sioux
forbids its introduction; and the Legislature
has passed law enforcing that provisions; but
people of moderate means and industrious hab-
swho 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 arc bet
ter combined.
There areimmense tracts of pine lying above,
from which the mills at st. Paul, st. Anthony,
and the Minnesota Valley arc supplied. These
employ a 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 unllml-
ted quantities of food, without troubling the
no
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 ted we ave
ever eaten Our venison is fine at ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, cartridges,
ducks. &c., plenty. Thousands OF bushels OF
.ocrns 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 "Big
Woods" extend from this place some twenty
mites or more, down this side of the river and
from eight to twelve miles back Our prairics
arc q dotted with strips of wood land, COAX
Openings which just look like old orchards,
'ense Tickets of plum trees bearing delicious
uit. grape vines, doing likewise, thousands of
cres Of hazel bushes and strawberry vines, EN-
aged in the same business; while some hun
lred acres are in the cranberry trade and turn
out an article, which for quantity and quality
:onnot be excelled. The blackberries red rasp-
,crries and hops tack up their shingles in the
woods and seldom dissappoint the most SAN
,;uine expectations of their customers. There
/, still land ten or fifteen miles back which set
tlcrs can get at government price, ny building
1sxvsv Mi I'M IN
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 fer 4 ahd' $:
dollars per month, while the lot, with only lite:
aid of a grubbing hoe and a few days labor,
would bring vegetables to feed a family, and
every township has 600 acres appropriated to
the support of schools.
Seventy thousand acres arc appropriated to
State University. a fine building has already
been erected for the use of that institution. It
8 situated ST. Anthony, built Of stone on an
cmincnce commanding view of the falls, and
no State in the Union has /, better foundation
for good system of popular education. No
other prairie State is so we'll timbercd as Min
ncsota 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 a 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
neighbors and that rapid increase in the value
Of their lands and in social advantages which
arise from the system of land in limited auan-
titles to actual settlers.
The country around ST. Cloud, west of the
Mississippi was purchased of the Indians in
treaty made with them by the Hon. Alexander
Ramcau and Luke Len in 1852 and. ratified hu