St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-03-28

and pre.emp ption rates :; and his employees
transferring the title and receiving his wages.
The land was generally paid for in Land War
rants, which even Land offcera, although
strictly prohibited by law, buy at low figures
and sell to persons wishing to make claims.
So that while the settler was robbed Of many
of the best lands, the Government Treasury
was not replenished.
Those who tr,vel in summer for pleasure.
can find no more invigorating and healthful
trip than that on the Upper Mississippi
That river below the junction of the Missouri,
flows through precip1tous or ovcrhanging mud
banks, on the level top of which grow dense
young forests Of cottonwood, which are con-
stantly tumbling in by the ere; and while
travelling on its turbid, sullen waves one feels,
that if any accident happened the boat, sic
might as we'll stay in the middle Of the stream
as run ashore, for in most places it would be
you pass the mouth Of the Missouri, you are
on another river. The banks are rocky and
generally sloping. Tall trees cover the green
hill sides, rank after rank, those in the rear
ever nodding their plumed heads over those of
their neighbors a step in advance, until, the
last row stand, with their strong, gnarlcd
roots clasped around amongst tho cleft rock,
while they stoop and extend their frien ly
arms, down to the waters edge, as if to offer
the drowning mariner their aid and shelter.
All the way up, on both sides, stand the Bluffs.
which, if l lad not been otherwise informed,
should have taken for bold, grean bills
Many of them are round and smooth and bare
Of trees, covered only with a thick coat Of
grass; and looking as if they might yield rich
pasturage or golden grain from base to sum-
NIT. Others are abrupt, precipitous and
rocky, with trees springing out of their sides
and covering their SUBMITS. In many places
are striking resemblances TO old castles tur-
rets and towers; but as watched their un
broken ranks on either side, hundreds of
miles long, they came to remind me Of the
English soldiery in Cromwelrs time. There
were the round heads, plenty of them, looking
so meek and strong, so void of ornament,
and bent on utility; and there were the cava-
liers, with their towering grandeur and stare
y plumes, representing their ancestral palaces
in their flowing tresses and many colored
robes. The first time you 60 up the Upper
Mississippi just look for the Round Heads,
and Cavaliers as represented in the Bluffs; and
see if there is not something in the fancy.
On either side of Lake Pepin the scenery il
especially bold and grand Here stands tie
Maiden Rock, the prccipice from which Vino
No, an Indian girl, cast herself, in vindication
of woman's purest AMI holiest instincts. the
instinct which forbids her to be the wife Of
one she cannot love.
After steaming about one thousand miles
almost due North from St. Louis, we arrived
at st. Paul. 1t is like every other city which
is the capital Of State-has long streets
fenced in with tall houses, high steeples to.
catch the lightning, and Capitol building
which sets like brooding hen with two wings,
spread out, and tin wash basin turned down
ovci her head to keep off the rain. One leaves
the boat and..gocs few steps 10 the Merchant.
Hotel, where one begins to wonder about wigs
vans and border life, thinking it takes long
time to get to those novelties. Ground you.
are all the appliances Of first class eastern
hotel, smiling clerks, attentive walters, luxu-
rious rooms, and meals which would do Dell.
monica no disgaracc. You take the stage here
and 60 to St: Anthony and stop at the Wins.
low, where you are persuaded you must be
going in the wrong direction to End the from.
tier. The Winslow rivals the St. Nicholas for
splendor, and is a model Of elegance and QUIZ
etude, even when overAowing with guests
From-her tower you look down on the Fails Of
st. Anthony, on Spirit and Hennepin 1slande,
on'the foaming rapids over which the Indian
wife went, in her bark canoe, with her child
in her arms singing her death song. as thew
hurried to the fatal plunge. over the Falls, and
into the great hunting grounds. The lndiaaa
think she still lives and sings on spirit Island.
which thence derives its name. Mime. .ha II.
lies six miles to the west. The falls lave heen
shorn Of. much their beauty and set to grin.
ding grain OF sawin g lumber. Half the river
for . mile above the falls, = covered with nine
logs; ana tremendous machinery driven ty
tue oorreC;;, is converting them into boards.
"ssies, SC: You can look up and down the
track Of the Minnesota & Pacific R. R., which
IL graded from the Wisconsin line ON up sixtv
miles North Of st. Anthony: :: 1t is a rail- road;
all but the rails, for Minnesota has not one
mile Of completed railway. St. Anthony Is
we'll as St. Paul Sis' on the east Of the Missisl
sippi, and across from 1T lies Minneano1;.