St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-06-14
SAINTCI,oUD p.

or tr>l0s cross the Mississippi on their way to
81. Paul, which proves it to DO the natural
junction Of land travel between these two great
srtIies Of trade. It is at the present head Of
run regularly. during the Spring and early
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 aides OF tho
river. and at different points Of the compass
are eight lakes varying I'm size from mile to
b miles in circumference, oil, save one, beau
It'll, exceedingly, three OF them At least, deep
enough TO feat man-of-war. Wooded banks,
clean pebbly shores plentifally mixed with
sorAelisn; and waters abundantly supplied
With fish.
WheGn ev. Stevens made his survey Of q
northern railroad route TO tho Pacific in %,
he campcd ION the western side Of the Mis-
sissippi below Sauk Rapids" The place was
is here his route leaves the river. the sum-
mer Of IS claim cabin was built on The spot
where ~ now write, a good saw mill, the
frame Of u large Hotel and eight other dwell
ings were put up that summer. This last taIl
there were three hundred and thirty-two votes
polled in the precinct. Not the votes Of lndi-
ans or Half Breeds, for there are none here
A majority of the inhabitants of tho 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
90 perfect and the air so pure that breathiug
is q perpetual pleasure. As yet, our physl-
clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
the climate, no Indigenous complaint except
the ''A1innesota Appetite" which requires one
fourth moro treatment than modest Pennsyl-
vanis OF Ohio attack Of . corresponding dis
ease.
Any body who wants to drink whiskey in
peace had better not come here, Tor 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 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-increaeing force OF
u,en, horses snd oxen, who are 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 olods; while the Mississippi
from St. Paul to Little Falls can afford to turn
mill at almost any point and has water pow
OF enough to do the manufacturing for Con-
tiuent
Our natural meadows produce grass from
four to six feet high, and the beefkilled of 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
seorns 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 soon as the "blg
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 al dotted with strips Of wood land, Coax
Openings which just look like old orchards,
dense Tickets 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 hum
dred acres are in the cranberry trade and turn
out IN article, which for quantity and quality
connot be excelled. The blackberries red rasp-
berries and hops tack up their shingles in the
woods and seldom dissappoint the most SAN
IS still land ten or fifteen miles back which get
Tiers can get, at government price, by building
cabin and living on it until it comes into
market. Actual settlers can buy lots here 1t
from one to five hundred dollars, and spesule-
tors con have the same lots at from I'VE to hf-
cen hundred
In some Of the river towns back, places that
will be pleasant villages, lots can DO had gratis
BY those who will build and live on them
kNo nj
ffty dollars, that would be palace compared
to the dens rented in large cities for and
dollars per month, while the lot, with only the
aid of q erubbing hoe and a few days labor,
would bring vegetables to feed family, and
every township has 600 acres appropriated to
tho support Of schools.
Seventy thousand acres are appropriated to
State University. A fine building has already
been erected for the use Of that institution. 1t
situated . 81. Anthony, built Of stone on IN
eminence commanding view Of the falls, and
No State in tho Union has . better foundation
for good system Of popular education. No
other prairie State is 60 we'll timbered % Min
nesota and no State more abundantly supplied
with clear water. In the country surrounding
St. Cloud and rs far North and West - We have
any reliable account, settlers find no dificults
in locating land on . running stream or trany-
parent lake with plenty Of timber at hand fol
building, fencing and fuel, and % the land On
tha West side of the Upper Mississippi Is only
open to pre-emption, there il little opportunity
for spectators, and settlers have assurance Of
usighbors and that rapid increase in the value
Of their lands and in social advantages which
arise from the system Of land in limited guam
titles to actual settlers.
The country around 81. Cloud. west Of thu
Mississippi was purchased Of the Indians in q
treaty made with them by the Hon. Alexander
Ramsey and Luke Lea in 1852 and ratified By
the senate the same year. The Sioux had
owned the land from 1927 but had not occupied
il. and it was used as hunting ground by tn
Winnebagoes whose land reached within foul
miles north of St. Cloud. Their country Va
ceded 10 the United States by . treaty bega,
with Commissioners Manypeny and eonelndst