St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-03-22


VOL, . - NO. S 4
I D w N S.
s. Amt CLoU ..
St. Cloud is the point at which the 1sca Riv-
er 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
run regularly. during the Spring and early
Summer mouths, 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 tbs
river, and at different points Of the compass
are eight lakes varying in size from mile to
miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
cll exceedingly, three OF them at least deep
enough to float man of-war. Wooded banks,
Gle an pebbly shores plentifully mixed with
cornelian; and waters abundantly supplied
with Ssh.
When Gov. Stevens made his survey OF
northern railroad Route to the Pacific in So,
he eamped ION 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 a claim cabin was built on the spot
where VIC now write, a good saw mill, the
frame Of q large Hotel and eight other 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 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, rich black loan
supporting rank vegetation, the drainage is
so perfect and the air so pure that breathing
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
the climate, no indeg nious complaint except
the "Minnesota Appetite" which requires one
fourth more treatment than modest Pennsyl-
vania or Ohio attack Of 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 a 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 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 snd oxen, who are to be supplied
with provisions, clothing and feed. The soil is
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
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, cartridges,
ducks, &c., plenty. Thousands Of bushels Of
soorns for the hogs that are not here to eat
them. Fuel for the labor Of cutting and haul
ing off the ground; and there is no likelihood
of the supply running out soons as the *sBig
Woods extend from this place some twenty
miles or more, down this side Of the river and
rem eight to twelve miles back Our prairics
are all dotted with strips Of wood land, SOAK
Openings which just look like old orchards,
dense thiokets 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
connot be excelled. The blackbcrries red rasp-
berries and hops tack up their shingles in the
woods and seldom dissappoint the most san
zuine 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 - r.,
In some of the river towns back, places that
will DO 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, will: only the
aid Of grubbing hoe and a few days labor,
would bring vegetables to feed q family, and
every township has 900 acres appropriated to
the support Of schools. -
:. Seventy thousand acres are appropriated to
State University. A fine building has already
been erected for the use of that institution. It
situated 81. Anthony, built of stone on an
eminencs 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 well timbered as Min
.nesota aud 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 70:
building, fencing and fuel, and as the land OF.
the West side Of the Upper Mississippi is cn'y
open to presumption, there is little opportunity