St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-05-31

AH1AsoDAAe MAJ SASt lSN'
Vol, q No. ~.
80 - s... j. I. e: !. ~. =.
10 w MS.
SAINT CLoU =.
st. Cloud ia the point 1t which the ROD Riv-
q trains crosz the Mississippi on their way to
81. Paul. which prove. it 70 be tho natural
arteries Of trade. It is at the present head Of
stsau navigation on the Mississippi. Boats
enn regularly. during The Spring aud early
eumnsr months, from St Anthony 70 this
Place .,-.
The map gives it, position correctly with
reference to al the most important points in
the Territory, but the peculiar beauty Of its
location, and fertility Of the surrounding eoun-
Try can not be transcribed. Within fifteen
nile Of st. Cloud, on opposite sides Of ths
river. snd at different points Of tho compass
are eight lakes varying in size from l mile to
miles in circumference, all, save one, Seau-
dfl, exceedingly, three CT them At least. deep
enough to Aoa, a man-of.war. Wooded banks,
clean pebbly shores plentifal!y mixed with
soraeliaa; a2a waters ahundaatly supplied
y IA ish.
whsGn ~. Stevens made his survey Of :
aorthern railroad route to tho Pacific in '6;,
Ia camped "oa the western side Of the Mis-
si.s;ppi below Sank Rapids" The place was
nausless-.he present site of st. Cloud; but 1t
is here his route leaves the river. In the sun
e,cr OF '55 q claim cabin was built on the spot
where nc now write, good saw mill, the
frame Of large Hotel and eight OF er dwell
ings we're put up tia. summer. This last fall
there were three hundred and thirty-two votes
poll.d in the precinct. Not the votes Of 1ndi-
ans Or Half Breeds, for there arc none here
A majority OF tho inhabitants Of the country
are hardy Germans, with sturdy wives aud
children cultiva,irg the soil and working at
:uechanical enployments.
The subsoil is sandy and although tho soil Is
from one to three fee: deep, a rich black loan
Importing rank vegetation. tho drainage is
Q, perfect and the air 60 pure that breathing
- \ perpetual pleasure. As yet. our physi-
oians have discovered no diseases peculiar to
she climate, no indeg NOUS complaint except
.hs minnesota Appetite which requires one
Fourth more treatment than n modest iennsyl-
wants or Okio ottack Of corresponding dis
Ease.
ANY body who wants 70 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 70 educate, will find few
pisces where the opportunity for correct moral
training, healthy development Of muscle, and
she means Of pecuaiary independence are bet
ter combined.
There are immense tracts Of pine lying sbovs,
.-sm which the mills ct st. Paul, St. Anthony,
aa,l tho Minnesota Valley sro supplied. These
employ large md 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 unlini-
ted quantities OF food, without troubling the
farmer crushing clods; while the Mississippi
from St. Paul to Little Falls can .ford to turn
mill at almost any point and has water pow
q enough to do the manufacturing for Con-
tinen.
Our natural meadows produce grass from
6ou. 10 six feet high, and the beefkilled of our
prairies is quite equal to any stall fed We ave
4er eaten Our venison is fae at ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, cartridges,
ducks, &c., plenty. Thousands OF bushels OF
,scorns for the hogs that arc not here to est
them. Fuel for the labor Of cutting and haul
snx Of the ground; and there il no likelihood
Of The supply running out soon a. the "Big
Woods' extend from this place some twenty
miles or moro, down this side of the river and
from eight to twelve miles back Our prairics
ore dotted with strips of wood land, ''Oak
Openings which just look like old orchards,
dense .h:ckets OF plum trees bearing delicious
fruit, grape vines, doing likewise, thousands Of
acres Of hazel bushes and strawberry vines, EN-
Rs.sd in the same business; while some hun
dred acres are in tao cranberry trade and turn
out an article, which for quantity and quality
comet be excellcd. Tho blackbcr7ics red rasp-
berries and hops tack up their shingles in the
4s,ok hA
suine expectations Of their customers. There
Is still la1d ten or fifteen miles back which set
tiers can get, At govern rent price, by building
cabin and living on it until it comes into
asarks. Actual settlers can buy lots here at
from one to FIVE hundred dollars, and speeula-
tore con have the same lots at from I'VE to IT.
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
70 tho tens rented in large cities for and S
dollars ser month, while the lot, with only the
aid oc = erubbing hoe and few days labor,
would bring vegetables to feed q family, and
avery township has $40 aeres appropriated to
she support Of schools.
seventy thousand acres are appropriated to
i State University. A fine building has already
been erected for the use Of that institution. 1t
. situated 81. Anthony, built Of stone on An
ominencs commanding = view Of the falls, and
no State in tho Union has bstter foundation
for good system of popular education. No
other prairie State is 50 we'll timbered a. Min
.esets and no State more abundsntly supplied
With clear water. In the country surrounding
1t. Cloud and a. far North and West ss We have
any reliable account, settlers find no dif6cults
In locating land on running stream or trany-
parent lake with plenty Of timber at hand for
building, fencing and fuel. and as the land on
IA XAat aida Of fha Inner Missi6sinni in only