Beyond, and on the line of the St. Paul and Pacific Branch Railroad—­now owned and operated by the Northern Pacific Railroad—­the towns of Anoka and St. Cloud, both on the banks of the “great river,” are either more desirable for invalids than most other points in the State within our knowledge, so far as location is concerned.  They are high and dry above the river, and possess a soil in and around them of a loose sandy character, for the most part every way favorable to good drainage and dryness.  The towns themselves are quite small, yet accommodations might be found for a large number in the aggregate.  The hotels offer no special temptation to guests beyond those of the ordinary private family in the way of home comforts and conveniences.  The people are kind, intelligent, and obliging to strangers; as, indeed, they are elsewhere in the State.  Yet there is always a more hearty and cordial salutation among the inhabitants of towns who are anxious to secure good reputations and thereby enlarge their borders.

There is some hunting and fishing near both of these places, as, indeed, there is at most all points in the interior.

Near St. Cloud are Pleasant, Grand, Briggs, and Rice’s Lakes, where fishing and rowing may be had, while the country eastward of the town affords fair hunting.

It is quite an advantage to any place, from an invalid standpoint, that the surrounding country affords them abundant means whereby the mind may be occupied and kept from crooning over the memories of loved ones far away, or brooding upon their own misfortunes.

On the St. Paul and Pacific Main Line—­also controlled and owned by the Northern Pacific Road—­are a number of attractive and healthful places, where ample accommodations may be had for the invalid, and where those who come to construct new homes will find cheap lands and good society.

The chief points are, after passing Minneapolis, Lake Minnetonka, Dassel, Smith Lake, Litchfield, and Wilmar.  At the latter place there is a very pretty lake close to the village, with numerous others within a circuit of ten miles, and all are well stocked with fish; and in the spring and fall wild-fowl—­ducks, geese, swans, and all our migrating birds, frequent them in great numbers.  Moose are occasionally seen a few miles west of the town,—­between it and the Chippewa River in considerable droves.  There is a very nice hotel at this point, kept by an obliging host.

At Litchfield, good society and a somewhat larger village is encountered, but with less of sporting and outdoor amusements.  Near this place resides the invalid son of Senator Howard of Michigan.  He came to the State a confirmed consumptive, having hemorrhages and in that state of “general debility” incident to this disease, but is now in good health, the result of the climate and out-of-door exercise in which he has freely indulged, having taken a farm and rolled up his sleeves, determined to save himself—­as he has.