St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-05-31
The Acknowledged Importance
: of St. Cloud as THE Point.

The Acknowledged Importance
b. of St. Cloud as THE Point.
Correspondence Of the Glencoe Register.
r. FOREST City, April 25th, 1860.
y Although the citizens and press of St.
Paul may sreer at the idea of the Capital
being removed to our abroad prairies,'
which are not only "b}ossoming as the
rose" but. yielding haryests of almost fab
ulous abundance; the fertile region west
of the Big Woods, Mcleod, Meeker, Moa.
ongalia and Kandiyohi counties, has gain
ed a reputation which cannot be lost not
withstanding the dispasagems.as which
the settlers have encountered by the stu
dious efforts and silence of the leading
sttizenssof ST Psuf 10 keepz knnoiS1lJafS
Of our fertile. soil from simnigrutiouS :
We have the remedy in the exhaustIees
resources of our soil for our personal in
conveniences, and the meaDs. ofeopeniDg
up a thcropghfare' Into ON. very midst arss
already within our. reach---for ust as cers,
tain as effect follows cause, just 20 sure one
or two more fertile harvests will demand
a railroad to our fertile prairics:~ When
ever and wherever a railroad is needed,
there is always capital enough to build it.
And our farmers must so cultivate their
fields that; capitalists may see that their
surplus products will cause their cars to
groan with the enormous freights which
our fields, with energy and labor, are Co.
pablo Of producing. Plow, SOW and har-
vest, and capitalists will not be slow in
ascertaining our wants.
And while St. Paul is so vigilaDt in
watching her interests, i am astonished at
her ignorance Of the geography of the,
State: We have begged aud suppfeated
with them to open a communication with,
us, promising to pour into their mart .
trade which should repay them hundred,
fold, and they have derided. Now when
they begin to see the importance Of the
trade Of the Interior, which is being ,di.
| verified from them, We will ''laush at their
calamity, and mock when their fear con,
eth" 1900 I
Our natural outlet to tie eastern mar
ket is at Superior, via ST. CEOUD 81
Clear Water, and to the southern market,
at Winona, via st. Peter, Mankato, or
some Of the Minnesota river towns Those
outlets arc but little farther, and are as
easy of access as St. Paul. 1t will be
hard to induce the people here to haul
their freiShts one hundred miles further
in order that their freight may gotlrrough
that place. Railroad companies are too
sharp to add a hundred miles to their lines, >
and theirSpatrcns too economical to pay
the increase Of freight on that distance,
to build up any town or city. The grain
on our prairie, where it grows, isznearer to
Superior and Winona than when it ge,ss
to St. Paul, yet would not so tar take
advantage of the Ignorance of the city
press and politicians, Of our geographical
position, as to leave them utcarcd a,rl un-
provided for When the path of iron is
laid, and the scream Of the locomotive
shall announce that the "iron horse il
painting with lis rich burthcns< from j tie
Grow river and Saukriver valleys, ths
steamer I: Enterprise, which makes scum
weekly trips from St. Cloud to the Falls Of
St. Anthony, will afford them amrlc nieauss
for all their legitimate commerce to reach
a railroad
n railroad west Of the Big Woods fron,
Winona to Superior IS OIL asxork ottstii,se,G
Don't let us wait for the, iron to get. byt,
but let us make it hot by striking it.
When we sufficiently develop The resou1~
ces Of our country, We shall have "a. raft
road and in a-ycar or two more, at most,
the uqtiring perseverance and unyie1din;s:
envrgy of our go-aheada farmers will *selvto,
that question - 80.