St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-01-17
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SAINT CLOU y.

CT Trains cross the Mississippi Oh theU way w
st. Paul, which proves it TO be the natural
arteries Of trade 1t is ct the present head of
steam navigation on the Mississippi. Boats
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 mot be transcribed. Within fifteen
mile of St. Cloud, on opposite sides of the
river, and at different points Of the compass
are eight lakes varying in size from mile TO
miles in circumference, all, save one, beau
tifl, exceedingly, three OF them at least, deep
enough to float man-of-war. Wooded banks,
clean pebbly shores plentifully mixed with
cornelian; and waters abundantly supplied
" it'll fish,
When Gov. Stevens made his survey of a
northern railroad route to the Pacific In 90,
he camped ''on the western side OF the Mis-
sissippi below Sank Rapids" The place was
nameless- present site Of st. Cloud; but 1t
is hore his route leaves the river. In the sum-
mer of '55 claim cabin was built on the spot
where we now write, q good saw mill, tho
frame of Il large Hotel and eight other dwell
ings wcro put up that summer. This last fall
there were three hundred and thirty-two votes
pollcd in the precinct. Not the votes OF lndl-
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
SO perfect and the air 50 pure that breathing
is perpetual pleasure. AS yet, our physi-
| clans have discovered no diseases peculiar to
| the climate, no indeg .nious complaint except
| the s.Minnesota Appetite which requires one
fourth more treatment than modest pennsyl-
vania or Ohio attack of q 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
| forhds 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 a large and ever-increasing force of
men, horses snd oxen, who are to be supplied
with provisions, clothing and feed. The soil is
waiting for an opportunity to produce unlimi-
ted quantities of food, without troubling the
farmer crushing clods; while the Mississippi
rom 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-
| inent
Our natural meadows produce grass from
four to six feet high and the beefkilled off our
! srSD ,Ao10 Ed
| ever eaten Our venison is me az ten cents
per pound, rabbits, prairie hens, cartridges,
ducks, &c., plenty. Thousands OF bushels OF
aoorns 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 ofthe river ana
| from eight to twelve miles back. Our pralrlos
are all 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-.
raged in the some 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 blackberries red rasp
berries and hops tack up their shingles in the
woods; and seldom dissapp0int the most san
cuine expectations of their customers. There
IS still land ten or fifteen miles back which set
tiers can get, at 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 tf-
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
~, bo hill Fo,,
fifty 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 grubbing hoe and q few days labor,
would bring vegetables to feed a family, and
every township has 600 acres appropriated to
the support of schools.
Seventy thousand acres arc appropriated to
q State University. A fine building has already
been erected for the use of that institution. 1t
s situated ST. Anthony, built of stone on an
eminence commanding view Of the falls, and
no State in the Union has better foundation
for a good system Of popular education. No
other prairie State is so we'll timbered as Min
nesota and 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 dificults
in locating land on q running stream or trany-
parent lake with plenty Of timber at hand for
building, fencing and fuel, and as the land on
the West side Of the Upper Mississippi is only
open to presumption, there is little opportunity
for Spectators, and settlers have assurance of
neighbors and that rapid increase in tho 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 ST. Cloud, west of the
Mississippi was purchased Of the Indians in q
treaty. made with them bv 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
it, and it was used as hunting ground by the
Winnebagoes whose land reached within four
miles north of st. Cloud. Their country was
coded to the United States by treaty began
with Commissioner Manypeny and concluded
OF Washington in Feb 1855 and ratified by the
Senate March Sd of the same year. In NAV