St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-03-08

=. II OWN S.. :: -. ....
SAINT CLOUD.
St. Cloud is the point at which the Red Riv-
cr 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
rim regularly. during the Spring aud carly
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 Of St. Cloud, on opposite sides OF tha
river, and at different points OF the compass
arc eight lakes varying in size from mile to
8 miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
uil, exceedingly, three OF them at least, deep
enough to float IL nlan-of-war. Wooded banks,
clean pebbly shores plentifully mixed with
cornclian; and waters abundantly supplied
with fish,
When Gov. Stevens made his survey OF a
northern railroad route to the Pacific III ,53,
he campc,l s'on the western side of the Mis-
namcless-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 VIC now write, q good saw mill, the
frame of q large Hotel and eight OF :er 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 lndl-
ans or Half Breeds, for there arc none here
A majority of the inhabitants Of the country
81, lua vrySvo md
children cultiva'ing the soil and working at
mechanical cmploymcnts. =;
The subsoil is sandy and although the soil is
from one to three feet deep, rich black loan
supporting a rank vegetation, the drainage is
so perfect and the air so pure that breathing
is perpetual pleasure. AS yet, our physl-
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
the climate, no indeg .nious complaint except
the ''Alnnesota Appetite" which requires one
fourth more treatment than q modest Pennsyl-
yania or Ohio attack Of . corresponding dis
case. T..
ANY body who wants to drink wlliskey in
peace had better not come here, for the treaty
by which the land was acquired from the Sioux
forbids it's introduction; and the Legislature
has passed a law enforcing that provision; but
people of moderate means and Industrious hab-
ewho 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 are immense 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 snd oxen, who arc to be supplied
with provisions, clothing and feed. The soil is
waiting for an opportunity to produce un]ini-
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
CT enough to do the manufacturing for . Con-
tinent
Our natural meadows produce grass from
four to six feet high, and the beefkilled off our
prairics is quite equal to- any stall fed we ave
ever eaten Our venison is fine at ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, partridges,
drcks, &C., plenty. Thousands. of bushels OF
Aoorns for the hogs that are not here to eat
them. Fael for the labor of cutting and haul
ing off the ground; and there is no likelihood
Of tho supply running out soon. as the "Big
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 Ike 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
drcl acres are in the cranberry trade and turn
out an article, which for quantity and quality
connot be cxcelled. 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 nent price, Ivy 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.-I
This, in places where o 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 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 are appropriated to
u State University. A fine building has already
been erected for the use of that institution. 1t
situated St. Anthony, built of stone on an
cmincnce commanding a view Of the falls, and
no State in the Union has a better foundation
for good system of popular education. No
other prairie State is so we'll timbered as Min
nesota 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 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- -cmption, there is little opportunity
tor 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 9uan-
titles to actual settlers.
The country around ST Cloud, west of the
A;aa;ss;nni w "A nlrchased Of the lnilinns in n