St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1865-01-12

I
me"ts requisite for the Development o.
our resources. Thus far the FIRST nam,
ed object has been neglected, no eff.
c'ent steps having been taken to pro.
vide a suitable home for the insane iJi.
otic. deaf, dumb and blind in on,
midst. -.
! A million and half Of acres OF
swamp lands have been granted TO rail
road companies upon liberal conditions
but not si"glc acre has been apprcpri
ated tor the erection Of asylums or the
endowment of our literary institutions
Railroads are indeed indispensable t.
our prosperity, and th,ir construction
s6ould he aided and encouraged in ev.
cry proper manner; but the higher Oh.
legations of humanity. should first be
consulted, BY the application of d por.
t'o" of our means to the building Of
suitable cdi6ccs for the classes irdica-
ted, without any unnecessary delay. y
prompt and judicious selection and
sale ola few hundred thousand acres of
these lands would furnish an ample
fund to bc specifically expended for
that purpose, and for the three Normal
Schools contemplated in the State.
The money for such objects canno,
oe raised by taxation without opprcss-
ing the people, already suffering under
the burdens incident to the prosecution
of gigantic wa~ aud l am convinced
that the policy recommended will NEE,
the approval Of every citizen who feels
a proper concern for the reputation Of
the State. Asylums for the helpless
portion of the community mentioned,
and institutions Of learning are justly
regarded as among the first eviuenccs
Of an advanced civilization, and the
neglect OF refusal upon the part of the
authorities ola State in the American
Union to make provision for their es-
tablishment and support, would be a
sad commentary upon the virtue and in-
tellissncc Of the people.
In an able communication from Pro-
fessor Il. j. Patterson, Superintendent
OF the Iowa Hospital for the Insane.
he states it as his opinion, that it will
be impossible for that Institution to
Il INIT patients who are not citizeus o,
Iowa, after Decent er l, 1867. H.
furnishes many valuable suggestions
having reference to suitable building
for the Insane Of Minnesota, ard urges
the necessity Of commencing its tree
tion as early next spring as p,ac,ica-
bic.
RAILROADS..
The difficulties of navigation and the
scarcity of labor have seriously delay
ed the construction of our railroads,
during the year which has just closed.
Notwithstanding these i,npediments
the respective companies now have
completed within the State, about one
hundred miles of railroad, and nearly
two hundred additional miles # road
arc graded, and will be finished as soon
as the iron, which is purchased, can be
transported.
The Winona end St. Peter Railroad
is in successful operation from Winona
to Rochester, distance of fifty miles,
including all the heaviest grading be-
tween the Mississippi and Minnesota
rivers, and is taxed to its utmost ca
":city, i" conveying to market the va
rious products Of that wealthy portion
of the State.
eThe rapidity with which the coun-
ties in the vicinity Of the route are be-
ing settled and developed, will secure
the early continuation of the road to
the Minnesota River.
The Southern Minnesoa a kailroad
Company have secured the necessary
irou for the completion Of ten miles of
that importsnt communication with our
tier Of productive southern counties,
and no doubts are entertained Of the
ultimate success of the enterprise.
Tie Minnesota Central Company
have nearly completed the grading Of
the line from Minneapolis to Fari';ault,
and eight or Zen miles Of the route are
ready for the cars The bridges across
the Mississippi and the mouth Of the
Minnesota rivers, together with the
road from St. Paul and Minneapolis to
Owatonna, or other point Of junction"
with the Winona and St. Peter Rail
road, will probably be ready for the
passage Of cars during the present year.
The Minnesota Valley Railroad has
received new impetus, at the hands Of
its present enterprising prcprietors.