The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-08-15
SAINT CLOUD.
Situation, Growth, 81siness, Etc.

SAINT CLOUD.
situation, arewth, 81s1ness, Etc.
Ehaueling Correspondence St. Psxs 5osna,
Of Conmerce.
b. - 80 sr. CLOUD, Aug. l, 1879.
The Mississippi river 10 here spanned
by two bridges, one of which is worthy
OF notice. This is q truss bridge,
which has just been completed by the
Northern Pacific Railroad. It is
seven hundred feet long, and the track
which it carries n seventy feet above
the level Of the river. These figures
will give the spproximate breadth of
the river At this point, and the maxi.
mum elevation above the river Of the
plateau upon which st. Cloud is
located. The abutments Of this
bridge and the piers, three in number,
are Of granite, which xss quarried near
by on tho east side of the river. This
is the frst bridge which has been built
across the mississippi from western
granite. The same stsne was used in
building the custom house at St. Paul.
This granite rock I examined carefully
with my pen knife, and dug out Of it
mica and borublende. The stone Is
of 6ne grain, and very much resembles
Quincy granite. There are said to be
large quantities of it in this vicinity.
Along the bed of the river there are
certainly indications of an extensive
granite formation.
St. Cloud is located ia sections IL,
IL, 13, IA in township 124 Of range %
west of the meridisn line. The settle.
ment of the place commenced iu July,
1853, from which date the site of this
city was for two years held Is . farm
by J. L. Wilson. 1t was then IN Cass
County, which has since been divided.
Stearns County was organized in
1855, with Saint Cloud IS its county
seat. Until that date the site of
the present city was occupied By
Indians. A single frame house,
still visible, served as trading post,
hotel and general headquarters. Three
buildings we're put up IN the fall of
1855. In 1856 tradesmen and
mechanics of every craft came into
the place, and building was vigorous
ly continued. At the same time
the surrounding country began to be
filed with settlers.
A noticeable difference between
community like this and the newer
settlements on the frontier is that in
the former people live in homes and
families aud not at the hotel. Here
are the indicia of an older civilization.
Pianos are found in many Of the houses.
Residences are neatly painted and set
off with trees aud flowers. Good clothes
are worn, and children are no uncom-
mon occurrence. The people, indeed,
are excusable for not living at such an
hotel as this place affords. In other
public buildings, however, the city Is
veil supplied. Here also is a massive
foundation for the new Normal School
building. Work upon this structure has
been suspended for want Of IN .appro-
priation by the Legislature. The site
selected is in the most attractive part
Of tho city, aud is near the bank of the
river. The oak trees in this part of
the city have been left Standing and
constitute no Insignificant item of 1T.
tractlveness and beauty.
The dry goods establishments of
this city-eight OF ten in number
buy much in Chiesgo, some in New
York, Boston Philadelphia and Mil.
waukee, and some in St. Paul. The
grocery business, Of course, is with the
latter point, but 1 am surprised At the
limited amount Of trade which this
place has with St. Paul in other de.
partmerts. Hardware is bought in
Philadelphia, Chicago. Pittsburg, and
other points east. Ooly the filing up
is by St. Paul.
The principal manufacture Of this
place is lumber. There are two steam
saw mills at the lower end of the city,
one Of which has an engine manufact-
ured in Hartford, Conn, at = cost of
$4,000. The transportation aud erec.
ton must have cost nearly Is much
more. It's to be regretted that such
expenditures could not have been d.
| rected to the improvement Of the river,
thus to utilize the superior natural ad-
vantages here presented for the erec.
tlon of a water power. S.shes, blinds
and doors are shipped fer the Red Riv'
er, and other distant points. Wagons
are here built for the N. P. r. r.
Here too are a pottery aud m iron
foundry.
What the city needs most at the
present time is the development Of ita
manufacturing interests. Subsidiary
to this, the opening of the railroad be.
tween this place and Mankato will be
Of some importance. This city now
receives the advantage Of little foreign
capital; but in its natural beauty, and
in its needs, As we'll as in superior nat.
ural advantages for the creation OF vat
er power, here is standing invitation
for the investment of capital in mana.
featuring. The invitation has been ao'
cepted as to q site two miles above q,
Sauk Rapids. Of this hereafter.
The tax levied in 1870 Unon o;tu