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 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 
 
WISCONSIN 
 
 AND 
 
 ITS HESOUECES; 
 
 WITH 
 
 LAKE SUPERIOR, 
 
 ITS COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION. 
 
 XNCLUDINO 
 
 A TRIP UP THE MISSISSIPPI, AND A CANOE VOYAGE 
 
 ON THE ST. CROIX AND BRULE RIVERS 
 
 TO LAKE SUPERIOR. 
 
 TO WHICH ARE APPENDED, 
 
 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE, WITH THE 
 
 ROUTES OF THE PRINCIPAL RAILROADS, 
 
 LIST OP POST-OFFICES, Etc. 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATONS AND AUTHENTIC MAPS OF WISCONSIN AND THE 
 REGION OF LAKE SUPERIOR, 
 
 BY 
 
 JAMES S. RITCHIE. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: ^1 
 
 CHARLES r>E SILVER, 
 
 No. 714 Chestnut Street. 
 
 KEEN & LEE, 
 
 148 LAKE STREET, CHICAGO. 
 
 • 1857. 
 
 
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the yeax 1857, by 
 CHARLES DESILVER, 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern 
 District of PennsylTania. 
 
 BIEBEOZYFED BT J. FAOAN, FHILAD£LFHIA. ^ 
 
TO THOSE 
 
 UPON WHOSE FUTURE EFFORTS 
 
 MUST DEPEND THE WELFARE OF THEIR STATE, 
 
 AND 
 
 HER POSITION AND INFLUENCE IN THIS GREAT CONFEDERACY, 
 
 THE YOUNG MEN OF WISCONSIN, 
 
 THIS EFFORT TO DEVELOP HER RESOURCES, 
 
 AND 
 'INCREASE HER POWER, 
 
 Ks a^csiJcctfulIj Knscrfbe"Q h^ tijeft' JfxttVLti, 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 (iii) 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The preparation of the following pages was under- 
 taken, in consequence of a strong impression left upon 
 the mind of the author, after several tours through 
 Wisconsin, that the advantages afforded by that ra- 
 pidly increasing State were very insufficiently known. 
 With a desire to afford correct information, much pains 
 have been taken to obtain, from undoubted authority, 
 those statistics which distlose the true character of her 
 soil, climate, and resources. He has endeavored to 
 bring within a moderate space, such a knowledge of 
 the advantages presented by Wisconsin, as should in- 
 duce the worthy and enterprising settler to find a 
 happy home within her borders. 
 
 For many of the statements made, the author is en- 
 abled to refer to the testimony of intelligent farmers 
 residing on the shores of Lake Superior and in other 
 sections of the country. He is also greatly indebted 
 to the press throughout the State, for the kind man- 
 ner in which his inquiries have been replied to. He 
 desires to acknowledge the favors received from Ly- 
 1* (v) 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 man C. Draper, Esq., Secretary of the Historical 
 Society, and returns his thanks to Andrew J. Aiken, 
 Esq., Secretary of the Board of Trade of Milwaukee, 
 for the assistance so kindly proffered. The value of 
 the work is much enhanced by the correct manner in 
 which the maps, accompanying it, have been engraved 
 by Mr. J. L. Hazzard, of Philadelphia, to whose intelli- 
 gence and skill the author feels greatly indebted. 
 That the work is free from errors can hardly be ex- 
 pected. The author can only say that he has earnestly 
 endeavored to make it so. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGB 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 The Early History of Wisconsin 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Face of the Country — Area — Character of the Settlers — Foreign 
 Immigration — Climate 24 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Agricultural Advantages — Soil, etc 33 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Geology of Wisconsin — Rocks — Lead — Copper — Zinc — Iron — 
 Building Stone — Earthwork Antiquities 48 
 
 CHAPTER v. 
 Lumber Regions — ^^Rivers — Lakes , 66 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 The Principal Towns — Milwaukee — Madison — Racine, &c 82 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 General Description of Counties — Census Report 124 
 
 CHAPTER Vm. 
 
 Grant of Lands by Congress — La Crosse and Milwaukee — Chi- 
 cago — St. Paul and Fond du Lac, and other Railroads 133 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 Public Lands — Pre-emption Law — Advice to Settlers — Extracts 
 from the Press — General Remarks 162 
 
 (vii) 
 
Viii CONTENTS. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 LAKE SUPERIOR, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAGB 
 
 Lake Superior — Pictured Rocks — Climate — Islands, &c 177 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Mineral Resources — Copper — Silver — Iron — Fisheries — Com- 
 merce — Sault Ste. Marie Canal — General Remarks 186 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 City of Superior — Its Situation — Harbor — Advantages — Rail- 
 roads — Rise and History — Progress — Agricultural Resources 
 of the Nemadji and St. Louis Rivers 224 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Principal Towns — Ontonagon — Marquette — Eagle River — Eagle 
 Harbor — Copper Harbor — Bayfield — Bay City and Ashland — 
 La Pointe, &c 256 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Early Settler of Lake Superior 262 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 A Tour — Milwaukee to St. Paul — Steamboat Life — Scenery on 
 the Upper Mississippi — Lake Pepin — Towns — St. Paul — Its 
 Improvement, &c. — Canoe Voyage on the St. Croix and Brul^ 
 Rivers to the City of Superior 267 
 
 PART III, 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Constitution of Wisconsin 277 
 
 State Government 803 
 
 List of Post Offices 304 
 
 List of Newspapers 311 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 "When tlie Israelites of old approached their promised Canaan, 
 ■with a laudable curiosity to know what kind of a territory had been 
 given to them for an inheritance, but for which they "were yet to 
 fight — they sent forth trusty men to spy out the land, and an- 
 xiously awaited their report. Had there been found on that side of 
 Jordan a book, which fully and truly described the plain and the 
 valley, the mountain and the high places of their future home, how 
 eagerly would they have perused its descriptions of grandeur, and 
 its scenes of peaceful repose ? 
 
 Every American settler has his Jordan to pass, and his land of 
 promise in the distance ; but with many advantages over those same 
 old Israelites — he does not go with an army with banners — he has 
 no Jebusite to drive away ; scarce a solitary red-skin is left to add 
 the picturesque to the landscape — all have disappeared before the 
 marvellous approach of the pale faces. He goes to enter upon a 
 peaceful heritage ; and he may carry in his hand, as he sits in the 
 rail car, or upon the lofty deck of the gallant steamer, a full and 
 perfect description of the very spot towards which he is making his 
 rapid journey. Is he a sturdy son of the soil, seeking for some fer- 
 tile region where, by the strength of his lusty arms, he intends to 
 compel the virgin earth, thus roughly wooed, to bring forth her first 
 fruits? He can at once learn, by what soft murmuring stream, 
 "whose banks are clad with verdure, he may, with the fairest pros- 
 pect of success, erect his simple cottage, soon with industry and 
 care, to become the extensive farm house, and the home of a pros- 
 pering and happy family. Where are those glorious prairies, whose 
 deep, dark mould, turned by the glittering ploughshare, in a single 
 year returns a harvest which repays both for outlay and for labor? 
 The description is before him, he has but to read and to rejoice. 
 
 Is the traveller one whose object is to delve into the bosom of the 
 earth in search of her more deeply hidden treasures? Inquirers 
 have preceded him also, and he may learn where have already been 
 discovered mines of mineral wealth, accessible, and wanting only 
 the spirit of enterprise for their full and rich development. Does 
 the merchant seek for a location where a prosperous business may 
 be rapidly concentrated. He, too, may read of the situations in- 
 viting trade and commerce, where the great inland sea bathes with 
 its swelling floods, site after site, upon which ere long must stand the 
 noble city, or where the Father of Waters sweeps by, bearing to the 
 distant sea port the gallant steamer, which conveys the products of 
 the land to exchange for those of other climes. 
 
 Nor will the adventurer, who desires to launch his bark on a rising 
 
X INTEODUCTION. 
 
 tide, and, by judicious investment in a growing country, to take ad- 
 vantage of all that energy and enterprise which point the road to 
 fortune, seek in vain. He also can discover, where are to be found 
 the new and growing village — the more ambitious city, where already 
 town lots have assumed a value foot per foot — or the region whose 
 rapidly increasing population is bringing the more distant farm land 
 into immediate agricultural demand. 
 
 All this has been done for neighboring States, why shall it not be 
 done for Wisconsin? Why shall her glorious situation be permitted 
 to remain unknown, until sought for with painful scrutiny upon per- 
 haps an inaccurate, certainly upon an antiquated map ? 
 
 Why should her climate, second to none, in healthfulness, and 
 already proved to be, along her northern shores, as pure as that of 
 Upper Egypt, not be mentioned to the invalid, to whose suffering 
 frame it would impart renewed health? Or her soil, whose depth 
 and richness are such as to encourage industry and enterprise, not be 
 brought to the attention of the agriculturist? 
 
 May not the strong impressions, left upon the mind, in repeated 
 journeys over the wide-spread commonwealth, be told for the bene- 
 fit of others ? 
 
 The position of Wisconsin, is certainly second to that of no State 
 in the American Union — of ample size, and embracing every variety 
 of surface ; her boundaries seem prescribed by nature, and are suited 
 to insure the most perfect development of her natural advantages. 
 On the east, the waters of Lake Michigan bound her shores for a 
 distance of nearly two hundred miles, affording many noble harbors, 
 from which a commerce, sustained from her vast internal resources, 
 must at no distant day be carried on. Lake Superior washes her 
 northern shores for one hundred and fifty miles; and there, enter- 
 prise has begun to lay out cities, and has already discovered rich 
 mines of mineral products, which, in quantity and quality, are un- 
 equalled in the world. This Inland Sea affords a commercial high 
 road to the Atlantic, which may yield competition, to the now rapidly 
 growing facilities of railroad transportation. 
 
 The Father of Waters rolls upon her western limits, giving a steam- 
 boat navigation for a distance of three hundred and fifty miles within 
 her borders. Has any other State, or any other country, a more ad- 
 tageous position ? To this belongs an interior of diversified cha- 
 racter, irrigated by numerous streams, which discharge their waters 
 on either side into the Mississippi or Lake Michigan, and studded 
 with lakes which add beauty, while they diffuse fertility around. 
 
 A noble, free Constitution, equal laws, and the general diffusion 
 of intelligence, afford to this favored State the brightest prospect 
 of an early and successful development. If, to this end, our efforts 
 shall, in any small degree, prove auxiliary, we shall feel fully paid for 
 our voluntary, but well-intended effort. 
 
 James S. Ritchie. 
 August 1, 1857. 
 
PART I. 
 
 WISCONSIN AND ITS RESOURCES. 
 
 (11) 
 
WISCONSIN AND ITS RESOURCES, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE EARLY HISTORY OF WISCONSIN, 
 
 That part of our country bordering on the Great Lakes 
 was partially explored by the French missionaries and 
 voyageurs from Canada several years before the English 
 cavaliers lauded on Virginia soil, and many years before 
 the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers on the rock at Ply- 
 mouth. It was not the thirst of sordid gain that influenced 
 the first white man who looked down into the clear waters 
 of Lake Superior, or who gazed with awe upon the mighty 
 Mississippi, rolling down its turbid flood from the unknown 
 wilds above. The spirit of religious enthusiasm explored 
 the basin of the great lakes and the valley of the 
 Mississippi. 
 
 To the Society of Jesus was given the task of civilizing 
 and christianizing the red men of the Northwest. Its 
 missionaries, inspired with a heroism that defied every 
 danger, and endured every toil, sacrificed country, wealth, 
 and-station to bear the cross to these unknown tribes. In 
 all history, ancient or modern, there is no Society that can 
 be compared with this in the devotedness of its members. 
 From Quebec they ascended the Ottawa, and, crossing the 
 chain of small lakes, they preached the word of God in the 
 2 (13) 
 
14 THE EARLY HISTORY 
 
 hovels of the Algonquins on the bays of Huron. They 
 sailed among the islands of the Manitouline Archipelago, 
 and at Sault Ste. Mary, at the outlet of Superior, they 
 proclaimed the gospel to the Chippewas ; entering that 
 vast inland sea, they penetrated to its farthest extremity, 
 where the St. Louis, white with the foam of its cataracts, 
 enters the lake amid groves of pine. 
 
 As early as 1624, Gabriel Sagard, a missionary, made 
 his way to the Huron tribes on the borders of the lake of 
 the same name. In 1634, the Jesuits Brebeuf and Daniel, 
 and several others of their Order, visited the Huron tribes. 
 On the 17th day of September, 1641, the Fathers Jogues 
 and Raymbault embarked in their frail birch-bark canoes 
 for the Sault Ste. Mary, They floated over the clear 
 waters, between the picturesque islands of Lake Huron, 
 and, after a voyage of seventeen days, arrived at the Falls 
 of St. Mary. Here they found a large assembly of Chip- 
 pewas. After numerous inquiries, they heard of the Na- 
 dowessies, the famed Sioux, who dwelt eighteen days' 
 journey further to the west, beyond the Great Lake. 
 Thus did the religious zeal of the French bear the cross to 
 the banks of the St. Mary and the confines of Lake Supe- 
 rior, and look wistfully towards the homes of the Sioux in 
 the valley of the Mississippi, five years before the New 
 England Eliot had addressed the tribe of Indians that 
 dwelt within six miles of Boston harbor.* 
 
 Two traders passed the winter of 1659 among the 
 Indians of Lake Superior ; and in the following summer 
 they arrived at Quebec with sixty canoes laden with furs, 
 and rowed by three hundred Algonquins. The narratives 
 of these men excited a spirit of emulation in the breast of 
 the Jesuits to bear the cross to the cabins of those distant 
 tribes. Father Mesnard, an aged missionary, was selected 
 
 * Bancroft. 
 
OF WISCONSIN. 15 
 
 to establish a station as a place of assembly for the sur- 
 rounding nations. He immediately set out, and on the 
 15th day of October, 1661, he reached the bay which he 
 called St. Theresa, and which may have been Keweenaw 
 Bay, on the northern part of the State of Michigan. Here 
 he resided more than eight months, surrounded by savages 
 and a few French voyageurs. Being solicited by the 
 Hurons, who had taken refuge in the Isle of St. Micliael, 
 to visit them, he departed with one attendant for the 
 Apostles' Isles. On his way he strayed from his attendant, 
 and was never seen again. Many years afterwards his 
 cassock and breviary were discovered in a Sioux lodge, 
 and kept as amulets by the possessors. 
 
 Undismayed by his sad fate, a successor arrived — Father 
 Claude Allouez — who embarked, in 1665, on a missionary 
 tour to the far west, and on the 1st of October arrived at 
 La Pointe, the great village of the Chippewas, in the Bay 
 of Che-goi-mei-gon, Wisconsin. Here he met deputations 
 from ten or twelve of the neighboring tribes, assembled 
 in council to concert measures against their enemies, the 
 Sioux. On being admitted to an audience, Allouez, in the 
 name of Louis XI Y., and as his viceroy, commanded 
 peace, and offered commerce and alliance with France. 
 His exhortations were received joyfully by the admiring 
 savages, and soon a chapel rose on the shores of this bay, 
 which attracted crowds of Indians, and the mission station 
 of the "Holy Spirit" was founded. 
 
 After residing about two years on the southern coast of 
 Lake Superior, and connecting his name imperishably with 
 the progress of discovery in the West, Allouez returned to 
 Quebec, and was succeeded by the distinguished James 
 Marquette in the charge of the mission of the " Holy 
 Spirit." For several succeeding years these pious mis- 
 sionaries were employed in converting the savage tribes, 
 
16 THE EARLY HISTORY 
 
 and confirming the influence of France from Green Bay to 
 the head of Lake Superior. 
 
 The country was made known by these enterprises, and, 
 in 16tl, Talon, the king's lieutenant of Canada, took mea- 
 sures to extend the power of France to the utmost limits 
 of the northwest. He selected Nicholas Perrot, a man 
 well suited to his purpose, supplied him with a sufficient 
 force, and sent him to the far west to propose a congress 
 of the various nations the following spring at the Sault 
 Ste. Mary. He visited all the northern tribes with whom 
 the French at that time had any trade, and also the Miamis 
 at the foot of Lake Michigan, where Chicago now stands. 
 
 At this congress nearly all the nations of the north were 
 present, by their delegates, and were met by the Sieur St. 
 Lusson on the part of France, who was charged to take 
 possession of all the country and receive them under the 
 protection of its king. After an address by Perrot, and 
 a declaration by St. Lusson of the act of taking posses- 
 sion, and of the protection of the king, a cross of cedar 
 was raised, and the " whole company of the French bowed 
 down before the emblem of man's redemption, and chaunted 
 to its glory a solemn hymn." Alongside of the cross a 
 cedar column was erected, marked with the lilies of the 
 Bourbons. Thus, says Bancroft, " were the authority and 
 the faith of France uplifted in the presence of the ancient 
 races of America, in the heart of our continent. Yet this 
 daring ambition of the servants of a military monarch was 
 doomed to leave no abiding monument — this echo of the 
 middle age to die away." 
 
 M. Talon having been very active in extending the do- 
 minion of France over the nations in the north and west, 
 was anxious to discover the sources, direction, character, 
 and outlet of a great river, which had often been mentioned 
 to the French by the Indians, and which was supposed to 
 
OF WISCONSIN. It 
 
 reach the sea on the west, or fall into the Gulf of Mexico 
 on the south. The river was called by the Indians Massa- 
 sepo, or Missi-sipi, great river. For this purpose he sent 
 Father Marquette, a Jesuit, and Joliet, a citizen of Que- 
 bec, and several voyageurs, to ascertain the truth of these 
 representations. In 1673, Talon, at his own request, was 
 recalled, and was succeeded by Count de Frontenac, who 
 continued the discoveries commenced by his predecessor. 
 On the 10th day of June, of the same year, Marquette, 
 Joliet, and their voyageurs, lifting their two canoes on 
 their shoulders, walked across the narrow portage that 
 divides the Fox river from the Wisconsin. " The guides 
 returned," says the gentle Marquette, ''leaving us alone, 
 in this unknown land, in the hands of Providence. " Em- 
 barking on the broad Wisconsin, they sailed down the 
 stream, and on the llth day of June "they entered hap- 
 pily the Great River, with a joy that could not be ex- 
 pressed;" they descended the river about sixty leagues 
 below the mouth of the Wisconsin, and landed on the bor- 
 ders of a beautiful prairie, where they discovered foot- 
 prints ; leaving their canoes, they walked about six miles, 
 and found a village of Indians, who called themselves 
 Illinois. Thus Marquette and Joliet were the first white 
 men who trod the soil of Iowa. 
 
 In 166t, Robert Cavalier de La Salle, attracted by 
 these reports, embarked to seek his fortune in New France, 
 as this part of the country was then called. Encouraged 
 by the French government, in 1679 he started from the 
 vicinity of the Niagara river, with Father Louis Hennepin, 
 a Franciscan missionary, two other priests, and thirty men, 
 on board a small vessel of ten tons. "This vessel was 
 named the Grifi&n, in honor of the arms of Frontenac, 
 Governor of Canada," and was the first vessel of European 
 2* 
 
18 THE EARLY HISTORY 
 
 construction that had ever ploughed the waters of the great 
 inland seas of America. 
 
 The adventurers proceeded up Lakes Erie and Huron 
 into Lake Michigan. After pursuing the voyage as far as 
 Green Bay, La Salle sent the vessel back to Niagara with 
 a rich cargo of furs, while he and his associates proceeded 
 to the southern part of the lake to await her return. The 
 ship, however, foundered on the lake, and nothing was 
 afterwards heard of vessel or crew. 
 
 At tlie head of Lake Michigan and the mouth of St. 
 Joseph's river, "he constructed the trading house, with 
 palisades, known as the Fort of the Miamis." Despairing 
 of the return of his vessel, in 1680 he sent Father Hen- 
 nepin with two voyageurs on a tour of discovery to tlie 
 Upper ]\[ississippi. They descended the Illinois 4;o its 
 junction with this river, and ascended the mighty stream 
 far beyond the mouth of the Wisconsin. After a short 
 captivity among the Sioux, they returned by way of the 
 Wisconsin and Fox rivers, to the French mission of Green 
 Bay. 
 
 It is not within the scope of this work to relate the 
 events which led to the further discoveries of La Salle, 
 and to his taking possession of the country on the lower 
 Mississippi in the name of Louis XIY. After his voyage 
 down this river he returned to France, and, in 1684, sailed 
 from there with a large force to discover the mouth of the 
 Mississippi, but was unsuccessful in his designs. After 
 building two forts on the Gulf of Mexico, and garrisoning 
 them with some of his men, he departed from the Bay of 
 St. Louis, in the northwestern part of the Gulf, on a journey 
 overland to his fort on the Illinois river. Before reaching 
 this fort he was treacherously murdered by some of his 
 followers. 
 
 In the year letO, the Sieur de Luth, a friend and com- 
 
OP WISCONSIN. 19 
 
 panion of La Salle, appears to have been in the neighbor- 
 hood of Lake Superior, at Pigeon river, on the southern 
 extremity of the lake, where he built a fort and trading- 
 post, which is still maintained, under the name of Fort 
 Charlotte. 
 
 The efforts of these discoverers gave to the French the 
 control of the entire northwest. But this state of affairs 
 could not long continue. The fierce struggles between the 
 French and English for the mastery in Europe were carried 
 to America. The English colonists sided heartily with the 
 mother country. For years the war was confined, on this 
 continent, to predatory excursions : each party, connecting 
 themselves with the savage tribes, met with various success. 
 
 On the 13th day of September, 1758, the English army, 
 under General Wolfe, scaled the heights of Abraham, and 
 met the French, under the Marquis de Montcalm, before 
 Quebec. The struggle was well contested, but, as usual, 
 the indomitable bravery of the Anglo-Saxon race carried 
 the day. The French were totally routed. Quebec sur- 
 rendered, and with it the possessions of France in America 
 fell into the hands of the English. 
 
 A few years later the independence of the American 
 Colonies was acknowledged by England. After peace was 
 declared, that vast region we have described was included 
 in the boundaries of the present United States, and was 
 formed by the Ordinance of 118*7 into the Northwest Ter- 
 ritory. This territory embraced vast, uninhabited, and 
 almost unexplored regions, stretching far beyond the utmost 
 limit of civilization and government ; with the exception 
 of a few trading posts, its only inhabitants were the Indians 
 who roamed its wilds in pursuit of game, and who dis- 
 puted, step by step, the advance of the white man. 
 
 In 1830, the combined force of several tribes was met 
 by the Americans under General Atkinson at the Bad Axe 
 
20 THEEARLYHISTORY 
 
 river, and totally routed. This was the last struggle they 
 made on Wisconsin soil. Several treaties followed, by 
 which they ceded their lands to the United States. 
 
 In 1836, Michigan, until that time a part of the North- 
 west Territory, was formed into a sovereign State, and 
 admitted as one of the Union. A new territorial govern- 
 ment was, at the same time, organized over Wisconsin, 
 vrhich included the lands lying between Lake Michigan 
 and the Missouri river. 
 
 At this period commenced a new era in the progress of 
 the northwest. No sooner had a few daring pioneers set- 
 tled in the wilderness, than the eager spirit of trade, ever 
 on the watch for new fields of adventure, discovered the 
 rich promise of gain offered by a region so wide and 
 fertile. Commerce following the footsteps of the pioneers, 
 came with the advance of the army of population. 
 
 In 1838, a new territorial government was established 
 over that portion of Wisconsin lying west of the Missis- 
 sippi, called Iowa. The population of the two territories, 
 at this time, was about 38,000. Such, however, were the 
 inducements that the fertile lands and mineral resources of 
 the Territory of Wisconsin held out to emigrants, that, in 
 the year 1843, it is supposed that over 60,000 persons set- 
 tled within her limits ; and from that time to the preseu' 
 her increase has been without a parallel in the history ch 
 the United States. 
 
 In 1848, Wisconsin was, by an Act of Congress, ad 
 mitted into the Union, constituting the twenty-ninth State» 
 of the confederacy. Its limits were curtailed by making 
 the St. Croix river the northwestern boundary, and giving 
 that part of its land between this river and the Mississippi 
 to the Territory of Minnesota. 
 
 In regard to the origin of the name of the State, a 
 communication to the Historical Society says : — " Wis- 
 
OF WISCONSIN. 21 
 
 consin derives its name from the principal river which runs 
 centrally through it. The Chippewas on its head waters 
 call the river Wees-kon-san, which signifies ' g*athering of 
 the waters.' They gave it this name on account of its 
 numerous branches near its head concentrating into one 
 stream, which afterwards runs so great a distance with but 
 comparatively few tributaries to swell its current. The 
 French voyageur called it Ouisconsin, the first syllable of 
 which comes nearer to the sound of the Indian than does 
 Wis. An attempt was made, a few years since, to restore 
 the second syllable of this name to its original Indian sound 
 by substituting ^ for c ; but this would not restore either the 
 first or last. The attempt, however, was unpopular, and 
 the Legislature solemnly decreed that the name should be 
 spelled Wisconsin ; and this, probably, more from oppo- 
 sition to the individual who attempted the restoration, than 
 from correct literary taste, or any regard for the original 
 ■Indian name." 
 
 Before closing these remarks on the history of this State, 
 a short narrative of one of its earliest American settlers 
 may not be out of place. It was published by the Wis- 
 consin Historical Society. 
 
 " One of the earliest comers to the southwestern part of 
 the State was Ebenezer Brigham of Blue Mounds, the 
 oldest and undoubtedly the first permanent American 
 settler within the limits of Dane county. He journeyed 
 from Massachusetts to St. Louis in 1818 ; thence, in the 
 spring of 1828, he removed to Blue Mounds,, the most 
 advanced outpost in the mines, and has resided there ever 
 since, being, by four years at least, the oldest white settler 
 in the county. The isolated position he thus settled upon 
 will be apparent from the statement of a few facts. The 
 nearest settler was at what is now Dodgeville, about twenty 
 
22 THE EARLY HISTORY 
 
 miles distant. Mineral Point, and most of the other dig- 
 gings, where villages have since grown up, had not then 
 been discovered. On the southeast, the nearest house was 
 on the O'Plaine river, twelve miles west of Chicago. On 
 the east, Solomon Juneau was his nearest neighbor, at the 
 mouth of the Milwaukee river; and on the northeast, 
 Green Bay was the nearest settlement — Fort Winnebago 
 not then being projected. The country at this time was 
 part of Michigan Territory." In 1832, the Black Hawk 
 war broke out, and caused great trouble and loss to the 
 settlers. In 1836, the Territory of Wisconsin was or- 
 ganized, and settlers arrived in great numbers. 
 
 " In the twenty years' odd residence of Mr. Brigham in 
 this region, what wonderful changes have passed before 
 him I For several years after his coming the savages were 
 sole lords of the soil. A large Indian village stood near 
 the mouth of Token Creek ; another stood on the ridge 
 between the second and third lake, in plain view of our 
 present location ; ' and their wigwams were scattered all 
 along the streams, the remnants of their gardens, etc., 
 being still visible. Then there was not a civilized village 
 in the State of any considerable size. When the capital 
 was located here, he was the nearest settler to it — twenty- 
 four miles distant I He stood on this ground before its 
 selection as the seat of government was thought of, and 
 from the enchanting beauty of the spot, predicted that a 
 village would be built here. Fort Winnebago was com- 
 menced in 1828, under the superintendence of Major 
 Twiggs and Colonel Harney, and the protection it afforded 
 greatly promoted and extended immigration. The rolling 
 flood has now reached 700,000, hundreds of villages have 
 sprung up, and everything is changed. From being him- 
 
 1 City of Madison. 
 
OF WISCONSIN. 23 
 
 self the sole proprietor of Dane, he now counts but one 
 of some twenty thousand. Nothing remains of the In- 
 dians but their graves. He has seen a savage people 
 pass off the stage, and a civilized one come upon it, 
 and all with a rapidity which must appear to him like 
 a dream." 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 FACE OF THE COUNTRY — AREA — POPULATION — CHARACTER 
 OF THE SETTLERS — FOREIGN IMMIGRATION — CLIMATE. 
 
 The surface of the State of "Wisconsin is everywhere 
 undulating ; not hilly, much less mountainous. It may be 
 called a vast plain, elevated from 600 to 1500 feet above 
 the level of the ocean. The highest of the Blue Mounds, 
 on the line between the counties of Dane and Iowa, rises 
 ino feet above Lake Michigan, and is, perhaps, the most 
 elevated land in the State. Towards Lake Superior the 
 slope is very abrupt, and the rivers short, rapid, and bro- 
 ken with falls. 
 
 Such being a general description of its surface, the im- 
 migrant will not look for Alpine scenery, or the bolder and 
 subliraer features of the country of high mountain and 
 deep valley. But in all that constitutes the beauty of the 
 landscape, whether in the vestments of nature, or in those 
 of capabilities which cultivation can alone develop, Wis- 
 consin is without a rival. Among her ten thousand undu- 
 lations, there is scarcely one which lifts its crown above its 
 fellows, which does not disclose to the prophetic eye of 
 taste a possible Eden, a vision of loveliness, which time 
 and the hand of cultivation will not fail to realize and to 
 verify. 
 
 Wisconsin is situated between 42° 30' and 46° 58' north 
 latitude, and between 87° and 92° 30' west longitude ; it 
 is bounded on the north by Lake Superior, on the east by 
 Lake Michigan, on the west by the Mississippi and St. 
 
 (24) 
 
AREA AND POPULATION. 25 
 
 Croix rivers, while on the northeast the rivers Montreal 
 and Menomonee separate it from the State of Michigan. 
 It contains an area of 54,000 square miles, exclusive of the 
 waters of Lakes Michigan and Superior. 
 
 In 1840, its population was 30,945, and in 1850 it had 
 reached to 305,538 ; an increase at the rate of nearly 900 
 per cent, during ten years. In 1855, according to the 
 census reports, it was 552,109. The number of votes 
 polled at the late Presidential election, was, in round num- 
 bers, 120,000. With this basis for an estimate, the popu- 
 lation in 1856 would not be less than 900,000.' The 
 increase of the present year, up to July, 1857, and the 
 foreign immigration, moderately estimated, would swell the 
 present population to fully 1,000,000. The census of 1860 
 will astonish even the most sanguine — it will reach, if not 
 exceed, a population of a million and a half, without 
 attaining the standard of increase of the past two years ; 
 whereas, our immensely-increased railroad facilities, and 
 other public improvements, together with the flood-tide of 
 emigration, would naturally lead us to expect even a large 
 increase over the past two years. 
 
 Wisconsin has been greatly favored in the character and 
 
 1 In the first district, three years ago, the whole vote for Con- 
 gressman was 15,484. In 1856, the vote was 26,125 — an increase 
 of 12,641 over the vote of 1854. 
 
 In the second district, the whole vote, three years ago, was 
 19,903. In 1856 it was 42,337— an increase of 22,434 over the vote 
 of 1854. 
 
 In the third district, the whole vote, three years ago, was 23,880. 
 In 1856 it was 49,248— an increase of 25,368 over the vote of 1854. 
 
 Crawford, in the second district, received 8,259 votes more than 
 Hoyt did in 1854, and Washbnrne received 14,184 more than he did 
 in 1854. 
 
 These returns show an extraordinary increase in the number of 
 voters in Wisconsin during the past two years. 
 3 
 
26 CHARACTER OF THE SETTLERS. 
 
 enterprise of her first settlers. The intellect, education, 
 and integrity, as well as the wealth, enterprise, and skill 
 of the immigrants from the Middle States and from New 
 England, have laid the foundation of a social character 
 which will leave its impress on this commonwealth for 
 generations to come. After filling up the lower counties, 
 the tide of immigration is now setting strongly to the 
 fertile valleys of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, the shores 
 of the Mississippi, and Lake Superior. The newspapers 
 published in the towns on the route of travel are full of 
 accounts of the vast numbers of settlers going to the West 
 and Northwest ; a large proportion of them preferring our 
 favored State. " The cry is, still they come I" By rail- 
 ways and steamers, the immigrants are pouring in by hun- 
 dreds and thousands, from the Eastern, the Middle, and 
 the Southern States, bringing with them the qualities which 
 have made their native States the admiration of the world. 
 The liberal spirit of our constitution and laws invite them ; 
 here is the place for the young man just starting in life, for 
 the old man seeking to provide for his children, for "all 
 sorts of men," in search of fortune, fame or wealth ; there 
 is abundance of room, and to spare The day is not far 
 distant when our increase and natural advantages will place 
 us among the foremost States in the Union ! 
 
 Besides the unparalleled increase in population from the 
 older States, Wisconsin has been equally fortunate in the 
 numbers, wealth, and material of her foreign immigration. 
 In the year 1856, over 10,000 emigrants arrived in New 
 York alone, on their way to settle in our State — showing 
 that we are well and favorably known abroad by those who 
 have means to come to America, and have knowledge 
 enough to guide them in making a selection before leaving 
 their European homes. If we estimate the value, skill, and 
 capital of each of these emigrants at $100, we have an 
 
FOREIGN IMMIGRATION. ' 2Y 
 
 augmentation to our wealth, in a single year, of $1,000,000: 
 When we reflect that the great majority of them are able- 
 bodied men and women, acenstomed to hard and perse- 
 vering labor, many to different branches of mechanics, etc., 
 and nearly all possessed of various amounts of capital, the 
 estimated value of each to our State, which we have given, 
 will appear far below the reality. If we estimate each one 
 at $500, we have the large amount of $5,000,000 added to 
 our wealth in a single year, from foreign immigration alone. 
 We must not forget that numbers of foreigners arrived by 
 way of New Orleans, and entered our State on the Mis- 
 sissippi border; besides, great numbers arrived at the lake 
 ports by way of Canada. From the quarterly reports, it 
 would appear that the number of emigrants arriving at 
 New York this year will equal, if not surpass, that of 
 1854. As we have now lines of steamboats, connecting 
 with the Liverpool steamships at Quebec, there will no 
 doubt be a very large increase this year from that source 
 also. 
 
 The following extract from the Report of the Railroad 
 Commissioners of the State of New York, to the Legis- 
 lature, is d propos : 
 
 "The husbandman of Germany may harvest one crop 
 on his native soil, migrate, plant and harvest another 
 within a year, from his prairie farm beyond the Mississippi, 
 meanwhile transferring himself and his family over one- 
 fourth of the circumference of the globe. 
 
 "The immigration has heretofore been mostly from the 
 crowded fields and cities of Western Europe. In addition 
 to this, we now have a massive migration of the Scandi- 
 navian race — not of the pauper and enfeebled classes, but 
 of almost entire communities — with vigor, wealth, and 
 intellect, and with peculiar susceptibilities for assimilation 
 with American habits, seeking a new home, where it can 
 
28 INHABITANTS, 
 
 reproduce its civilization. As the promised land to tbe 
 Israelite, so seems to them the boundless West, with its 
 genial climate^ its fertile soil, and its ready access to the 
 markets of the world." 
 
 There is no reason to suppose that the future census of 
 the now uninhabited portions of Wisconsin will not show 
 the same ratio of increase as its past settlement has ; and, 
 should such be the case, Wisconsin will, ten years hence, 
 contain a population of over 1,800,000. Its aggregate 
 increase of population, to the present time, from all 
 sources, shows a relative advance far greater than that of 
 any of the Western States. The statistics of emigration 
 show that persons migrating usually seek a similar climate 
 to the one they leave : hence it is that the population of 
 Wisconsin is chiefly composed of immigrants from New 
 England, New York, the northern portions of Pennsyl- 
 vania and Ohio, and from Great Britain, Germany, and 
 the northern States of Europe ; and it is but reasonable 
 to suppose that a large majority of the migrating popu- 
 lation of these States and countries will seek a home in 
 Wisconsin. 
 
 Should our railroad companies pursue the enlightened 
 and liberal policy of the Illinois Central Railroad, in the 
 management of the grant of public lands recently donated 
 to them by Congress, we shall see a rapid increase of set- 
 tlements and towms along their route in the northern part 
 of the State, hitherto unsettled and neglected. 
 
 But the number of inhabitants in Wisconsin does not 
 exhibit their relative strength and power. Our population 
 are nearly all in the prime of life. You rarely meet a 
 woman past fifty years of age ; still more rarely as old a 
 man ; and large numbers are too young to have had many 
 children. The Milwaukee American says: — "It is a 
 fact, noticed and remarked by nearly every Eastern visitor 
 
INHABITANTS. 29 
 
 to the West, that no small amount of the business of the 
 West and Northwest is conducted by young men. Go 
 where you will, in every city, town, and village, you will 
 find more youthful countenances, elongated with the cares 
 and anxieties of business pursuits, than those unacquainted 
 with the peculiar circumstances attaching to western life 
 and enterprise could be made to believe. Youth and 
 energy are found conducting and managing our railroads 
 and our banking institutions. Beardless youngsters are 
 seen behind the desks — their desks — of our counting 
 houses, and in our manufactories, mixed up with our com- 
 merce, and, in short, taking active parts in every field of 
 ])usiness enterprise. A year's experience as a clerk, or an 
 agent for others, gives him an insight into the modus 
 operandi of 'making money,' and his wits are set in mo- 
 tion, and his industrious ingenuity brought to bear in his 
 own behalf, and he desires to *go into business for him- 
 self.' Frequently with a small capital, oftener with none, 
 he engages in some branch of traffic, and in a few years is 
 ' well to do in the world. ' Such is the history of many of 
 the young merchants and business men in our State, and 
 we do not believe that a more enterprising, intelligent, and 
 thorough-going business community can be found than that 
 of Wisconsin. Youth, energy, and a laudable ambition to 
 rise in the world, are characteristic elements of the West : 
 they have made her what she now is, and give glorious 
 promise of her future." 
 
 In one of our village or town hotels, crowded with mo- 
 neyed boarders — the merchants, bankers, and chief me- 
 chanics of the place — two-thirds of them will be found to 
 be between twenty-five and thirty years of age ; their wives, 
 of course, still younger. Our population of 1,000,000 are 
 equal in industrial capacity to at least twice that number 
 either in Europe or in the Atlantic States. 
 3* 
 
30 CLIMATE. 
 
 The question is asked by thousands of persons in the 
 older States, What are the natural capabilities and advan- 
 tages of Wisconsin, which have swelled her population to 
 so large a number, and increased her resources at a rate so 
 far beyond those of any of the new States in so short a 
 time ? Our answers to all these inquiries will be arranged 
 under a variety of heads, and we will endeavor to satisfy 
 those desirous of emigrating to, or investing capital in, the 
 West, that the State of Wisconsin presents superior advan- 
 tages in climate, agriculture, commerce, and manufactures, 
 to those of any State in the Union. Here, no one in health, 
 who is willing to work, need be in want; if the means do 
 not present themselves in one section they do in another. 
 In fact, our wide domain is waiting for those who will 
 come and avail themselves of its proffered wealth and inde- 
 pendence. 
 
 The most important points in which the climate of Wis- 
 consin differs from that of the Atlantic States may be 
 briefly enumerated as follows : 
 
 1st. In its almost entire immunity from spring frosts and 
 summer droughts. 
 
 2d. In its salubrity and comparative dryness. 
 
 3d. In the uniformity of the temperature of its winters. 
 
 4th. In adaptation to the growth of all kinds of grain 
 and other crops. 
 
 Wisconsin is universally conceded to be the healthiest of 
 all the Western States. No consideration is, perhaps, 
 more important to those seeking a country suitable for 
 residence and enterprise, than the character of its climate. 
 Henlth is the first, and comfort the next great object, in 
 selecting a permanent abode. Tested by these qualities, 
 Wisconsin presents prominent inducements. Its atmo- 
 sphere is drier, more transparent and bracing than those 
 of the other States on the same parallel. Its whole area 
 
CLIMATE. 31 
 
 is remarkably free from fevers and ague, which are the 
 scourge of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and part of Iowa. 
 
 The latitude of the State is between 42° and 46° 58', 
 and thus, from geographical position, is not liable to objec- 
 tions existing either north or south. It is a settled fact, 
 that no nation has ever arrived at, or for any period main- 
 tained greatness or wealth, unless, in the changes of climate 
 in that nation, winter be found to exist. The latitude of 
 Philadelphia is about 40° north ; yet, from position, the 
 vicissitudes of climate are greater than with us. There the 
 winter is somewhat shorter, and apparently concentrated ; 
 yet its changes are destructive to comfort and health. New 
 York is liable to similar but greater objections. With 
 every change of wind there the temperature changes — this 
 arises from the contiguity and antagonism of large bodies 
 of land and water — and can never be averted. Our posi- 
 tion, approximating the centre of the continent, exempts 
 us from these changes ; and this blessing is manifested in 
 general good health and a corresponding physical deve- 
 lopment. We have no epidemics; no endemics; mias- 
 matic affections, with their countless ills, are unknown 
 here ; and the lustre of the languid eye is restored, and the 
 paleness of the faded cheek disappears when brought into 
 our midst. 
 
 In spring no late frosts occur ; the whole country is 
 clothed, as by magic, in robes of the greenest verdure, and 
 a thousand varieties of wild flowers enamel the hill-sides 
 and prairies. It is one of the loveliest sights in the world 
 to walk out on the prairie as the morning sun, rising behind 
 a distant swell of the plain, glitters upon myriads of dew 
 drops. All nature — 
 
 *' Glowing -with life, by breezes fann'd, 
 Luxuriant, lovely, as sbe came, 
 Fresh in her youth from God's own hand." 
 
32 CLIMATE. 
 
 The heat of the summer months is not excessive ; the 
 days are warm and bright, generally with a fine breeze at 
 all times, from the west, southwest, and south, and the 
 nights cool and pleasant. The temperature and duration 
 of this season is adapted to perfect all the products natural 
 to the latitude, and is not oppressive. 
 
 Autumn in Wisconsin is the most charming season of the 
 year. A soft haze rests on every object, mellowing the 
 distant landscape, dreamy in the lingering sunshine of the 
 dying year. 
 
 *' Her harvest yielded and her work all done, 
 Basking iu beauty 'neath the autumn sun." 
 
 In winter the weather is uniform, and free from those 
 sudden variations of temperature to which most other 
 latitudes are subject ; owing to the stillness of the air, and 
 the absence of moisture from the atmosphere, the cold is 
 less perceptible than in more moderate climes, where the 
 winds are high and the air raw and damp. Snow remains 
 on the ground till the thaws of spring, but never falls to as 
 great a depth as in the New England and Middle States. 
 Navigation of the rivers is usually suspended by the 1st 
 of December. The Mississippi closes by the middle of 
 this month, and opens the latter part of March. Lakes 
 Michigan and Superior generally close and open about 
 the same time. 
 
 From Mr. Seymour's work' we quote the following: 
 "It is, indeed, delightful in speculation to talk of con- 
 stant spring, of perpetual verdure, of flowers in bloom at 
 all seasons, of purling brooks never obstructed by ice. of 
 a mild climate, where Jack Frost never has the audacity 
 to pinch one's nasal proboscis or spread his w^hite drapery 
 
 1 The New England of the West. 
 
CLIMATE. 33 
 
 over the surface of the earth ; but it is a problem, not yet 
 fully solved, whether a tropical climate contributes more 
 to one's happiness than the varying seasons of a Northern 
 
 clime. 
 
 " Nay, whatever doubt there is on the subject predomi- 
 nates in favor of a Northern latitude. Industry, intelli- 
 gence, morality, and virtue, are exhibited more generally 
 among the inhabitants of Northern latitudes than those of 
 Southern. 
 
 "If one's physical enjoyment is equally promoted by 
 the bracing air of a cold climate, then, indeed, the argu- 
 ment is in favor of the latter, for vigor of body and purity 
 of mind are the most essential ingredients in the cup of 
 happiness. The air of our winters is dry and bracing. 
 When snow falls it usually remains on the ground several 
 months, forming an excellent road either for travelling, 
 business or pleasure. 
 
 "The rivers are securely wedged with ice, rendering 
 many portions of the country more accessible at that sea- 
 son than at any other. An excellent opportunity is af- 
 forded to the younger portion of the community for inno- 
 cent amusements— sleighing, sliding downhill, and skating 
 ^amusements highly exhilarating, and promotive alike of 
 health and happiness. These observations have been 
 made because a greater value is often set on a mild south- 
 ern climate, in reference to its capacity in affording the 
 means of happiness or of health, than it really possesses.'^ 
 
 We have always made it a point to inquire of new set- 
 tlers in Wisconsin how they liked the climate, and the 
 answer invariably was, that it was far superior to that of 
 the States they had left — whether Eastern, Middle or 
 Southern. One emigrant says: — "As the result of my 
 observations, I would state briefly — an^Z in this I do but 
 repeat a common sentiment — that I would much rather 
 
34 CLIMATE. 
 
 spend a winter in Wisconsin than in New York or Penn- 
 sylvania. True, the weather is cold ; but it is of that set- 
 tled, steady, clear character, which we here call ' bracing 
 iveatlier. ' No damp winds, no sloppy thaw, no uncom- 
 fortable rains, but day after day the same unbroken field 
 of snow, the same clear, bright sunshine, the same untrou- 
 bled air. Winter here holds undisputed sway ; it is not 
 a muddled mixture of all seasons, in which the breezy 
 spring, the clear autumn, the sunny summer and the rigor- 
 ous winter mingle and mix, and come and go together. 
 You will understand the force of this distinction when I 
 tell you that the first fall of snow in Wisconsin remains on 
 the ground during the whole winter without a crust ; so 
 free is the air from that dampness which, in other coun- 
 tries, produce it. Who among you has not noticed the 
 penetrating character of dampness in cold — its chilling, 
 searching qualities ; or who, on the other hand, has not 
 gone abroad on days of intense coldness, but when the air 
 was dry and pure, and felt elastic, buoyant, and comfort- 
 able. Such is a Wisconsin winter. I suffered less from 
 the cold while here, than I have many times in Pennsyl- 
 vania when the thermometer stood much higher. " 
 
 The general opinion of physicians is, that consumption, 
 that fearful scourge of the human race, which desolates so 
 many thousand happy homes yearly in the Atlantic States, 
 is not a disease of this climate ; where it occurs here, it 
 being almost universally in those who have brought it with 
 them, or in whom it is in a marked degree hereditary. It 
 is also a singular fact, that persons suffering from asthma, 
 or "phthisic," have been greatly relieved, or, in some in ■ 
 stances, permane!itly cured, by a residence in this climate. 
 
 From a table of the last United States census, (an im- 
 partial report, of course,) we obtain the following facts. 
 This table gives the relative health, increase and deaths 
 
CLIMATE. 35 
 
 among the inhabitants of the several States, and illustrates 
 that the number of deaths in ratio to the number of living 
 is : in the State of Maine, 1 to 77 ; Vermont, 1 to 100 ; 
 Connecticut, 1 to 64 ; Illinois, 1 to 13 ; Iowa, 1 to 94 ; 
 Wisconsin, 1 to 105; — and this is not only a fair com- 
 parison among the above-named States, but, proportionate 
 to the population, exhibits fewer deaths in Wisconsin than 
 in any State in the Union. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES, SOIL, ETC. 
 
 Wisconsin oflFcrs more and better inducements for agri- 
 culture than any other country can boast, and, owing to its 
 geological formations, presents a great variety of soils. By 
 the late census, and other data, it may be safe and fair to 
 calculate that there are about one and a half millions acres 
 of cultivated land in the State, which, as now occupied, 
 constitutes about 50,000 farms, more or less tilled. 
 
 Besides this one and a half millions acres of improved 
 land, there is, within the area of the State, above 
 30,000,000 acres of land, of which at least 20,000,000 is 
 suitable to be converted into productive and pleasant farms 
 — enough land to make two millions additional farms — 
 waiting for occupants, and may be purchased at low prices, 
 ranging from $1.25 to $60 per acre. 
 
 In regard to the value of improved lands in the new 
 States, the same report shows that the average value is : ia 
 Illinois, $7.99; in Iowa, $6.09; in Texas, $1.09; and la 
 Wisconsin it is $9.58 — a very fair show for a young State. 
 
 And by looking carefully through the tables, we find 
 that the average value of products per acre exceeds that 
 of the other States named, in about the same proportion 
 that the land exceeds theirs per acre in value. Draw a 
 line from Manitowoc to Portage, thence directly to the 
 Falls of St. Croix, the farming lands lying south of this 
 line, and comprising nearly one-half the State, are not 
 equalled, in all respects, as farming lands, in any State 
 
 (36) 
 
AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES. 37 
 
 of the Union ; on which an industrious farmer can raise 
 from 30 to 50 bushels of wheat, or from 50 to 80 bushels 
 of corn to the acre. Xorth of this, a belt of hard timber 
 extends east and west 150 miles on the latitude of Stevens 
 Point — from 50 to 100 miles in width. The soil of this 
 region is fertile, but the timber is its present wealth. Un- 
 like the prairies, building material for fences is convenient, 
 and no country produces better or more wheat — the staple 
 crop. The indigenous and cultivated grasses flourish ad- 
 mirably, and, combined with numerous streams, aiford the 
 best facility for grazing. This peculiarity (abundance of 
 water) pervades the entire State, and presents inducements 
 for cattle-growing not found in the other prairie countries, 
 where running water is found at distances too great for 
 cattle. 
 
 The prairies of Wisconsin are not as extensive as those 
 of Illinois, Iowa or Minnesota, but, as they are skirted and 
 belted by timber, are adapted to immediate and profitable 
 occupation. The soil of the prairies is a rich, dark vege- 
 table mould, varying from two to eight feet in depth, ca- 
 pable of producing, in the greatest profusion, anything 
 which will grow in these latitudes, and inexhaustible in its 
 fertility. For centuries, the successive natural crops, un- 
 touched by the scythe, have accumulated matter on the 
 surface-soil to such an extent, that a long succession, 
 even of exhausting crops, will not materially impoverish 
 the land. Dr. Owen says : " The dark mould which pre- 
 vails over a large proportion of Wisconsin, so rich in 
 genie, has proved itself an excellent and productive soil, 
 especially adapted to the culture of every species of culi- 
 nary vegetables and small grain, and producing, probably, 
 as good Indian corn as the State of New York, or any 
 other State of the same latitude. 
 
 '' The power of absorption of these lands is generally in 
 4 
 
38 AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES. 
 
 proportion to their amount of genie and the lightness of 
 the soil. In general, the more finely the parts of a soil are 
 divided, the better they absorb water. 
 
 "This is an important item to the cultivator. Lands 
 possessing this power in a considerable degree, readily 
 absorb the dew in dry weather ; and in wet weather do not 
 suffer the superfluous rain to accumulate on the surface. 
 
 "A striking feature in the character of the Wisconsin 
 soils, as an analysis shows, is the entire absence, in most 
 of the specimens, of clay, and the large proportion of silex. 
 This silex, however, does not commonly show itself here in 
 its usual form — that of a quartzose sand. It appears as a 
 fine, almost impalpable, siliceous powder, frequently oc- 
 curring in concreted lumps that resemble clay ; and, in- 
 deed, it was often reported to me incorrectly as clay — an 
 error ultimately detected by analysis. 
 
 "This alm<5st impalpable powder, the chief constituent 
 and almost sole residuum of the Wisconsin soils, is so highly 
 comminuted that, when examined under the microscope, 
 for the most part its atoms present no crystalline or even 
 granular appearance. 
 
 '' This fine siliceous residuum, after being boiled with 
 strong aqua regia, lost but ten per cent., of which but five 
 per cent, was alumina. 
 
 " This absence of any material per centage of clay in the 
 soils under consideration, prevents the rolling lands from 
 washing away ; and it imparts to the streams a crystal 
 clearness, which even after heavy rains is hardly disturbed. 
 The appearance of these transparent rivulets, flowing over 
 a soil which, when moistened by rain, is often of an inky 
 blackness, arrests by its singularity, the eye of a stranger. 
 
 "Whether the lack of clay in the Wisconsin soils will 
 render them less durable may be doubted. A coarse sandy 
 soil, the open pores of which suffer the rain to percolate, 
 
AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES. 39 
 
 carrying with it the nutritive genie from the surface, re- 
 quires an admixture of clay before it can become rich and 
 durable ; but the minute-grained siliceous powder of this 
 district forms a species of soil entirely different from the 
 above — one which, without any such admixture, retains 
 moisture and genie in much perfection. 
 
 " I believe it to be peculiarly adapted to the growth of 
 the sugar beet, which flourishes best in a loose, fertile 
 mould, and which has of late become, in some European 
 countries, an important article of commerce. It is esti- 
 mated that the amount of beet sugar manufactured in 
 France during the year 1840 was 100,000,000 pounds, and 
 in Prussia and Germany 30,000,000 pounds. In the west- 
 ern part of Michigan, in as northern a latitude, and in a 
 climate similar to that of Wisconsin, 240,000 pounds are 
 reported by the papers of that State (how accurately I 
 know not) to have been manufactured the same year." 
 
 In regard to the soil of the mineral regions, Dr Owens 
 also says: — "It is a common, and usually a correct re- 
 mark, that mineral regions are barren and unproductive. 
 'If a stranger,' as Buckland has well expressed it in the 
 opening of his Bridgewater Treatise, ' if a stranger, land- 
 ing at the extremity of England, were to traverse the whole 
 of Cornwall and the north of Devonshire, and, crossing to 
 St. David's, should make the tour of all North Wales, and 
 passing thence through Cumberland, by the Isle of Man, 
 to the southwestern shore of Scotland, should proceed 
 either by the hilly region of the border counties, or along 
 the Grampians, to the German Ocean, he would conclude, 
 from such a journey of many hundred miles, that Britain 
 was a thinly-peopled, sterile region, whose principal inha- 
 bitants were miners and mountaineers. ' 
 
 "Not so the traveller through the mining districts of 
 Wisconsin. These afford promise of liberal reward, no 
 
40 AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES. 
 
 less to the husbandman than to the miner ; and a chemical 
 examination of the soils gives assurance that the promise 
 will be amply fulfilled. 
 
 "I may add, that I know of no country in the world, 
 with similar mineral resources, which can lay claim to a 
 soil as fertile and as well adapted to the essential purposes 
 of agriculture."' 
 
 In this work, the writer wishes more particularly to 
 call the attention of settlers to the northern part of Wis- 
 consin. For years, valuable lands in this part of the State 
 were offered for sale at the Government price ($1.25 per 
 acre), but with very rare exceptions, here and there, they 
 remained without purchasers. This neglected region con- 
 tains some of our most valuable agricultural lands, and now 
 offers greater inducements to settlers than any other part. 
 The new railroads, already commenced from Milwaukee, 
 through our eastern and western borders, to Lake Supe- 
 rior, have received from Government over 2,000,000 acres 
 of these lands to aid in their construction, and while they 
 open the country to agriculturists, will doubtless follow the 
 example of the Illinois Central Railroad, in offering their 
 lands, on easy terms and on long credits, to actual settlers. 
 Let it he remembered, that there are several millions of 
 acres in this part of the State open to pre-emption. 
 
 A great mistake prevails in the Northern and Eastern 
 States among those who are preparing to come to Wis- 
 consin. Congress granted a large amount of lands to rail- 
 roads, and all the Land Offices have been closed, so that 
 no lands can be sold ; and, therefore, settlers abroad infer 
 that they cannot get land, except what they purchase at 
 second-hand of those who secured their land before the 
 closing of the Offices. 
 
 1st. We wish to inform every one, that the closing of 
 ^ Geological Explorations in Wisconsin. 
 
AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES. 41 
 
 the Land Offices does not prejudice the rights of per- 
 emption in the least. 
 
 2d. The Railroad Grant, in its terms, respects all pre- 
 emptlions made, up to the time the roads are actually 
 LOCATED. After the location, pre-empters are excluded 
 from pre-empting odd-numbered sections only, within 
 six miles of either side of the roads as located. 
 
 Sd. The closing of the Land Offices operates as a 
 benefit to the poor man; for it extends the time icithin 
 which he is required to j^rove up and ^y ay for his land. 
 
 4th. The closing of the Land Offices was intended to 
 operate in those districts only where large bodies of public 
 lands luere subject to private entry. It was done to pre- 
 vent speculators from taking up all the public lands along 
 the line of the proposed roads, to the exclusion of the 
 actual settler. We repeat, the right of pre-emption is not 
 thereby affected until the roads are actually located. 
 
 The Act of Congress says, that the railroads sliall have 
 every alternate section of an odd number ; that is, Nos. 
 1, 3, 5, 7, &c., for six miles each side of their tracks, of 
 the land not sold. Therefore, all the sections of an even 
 number are virtually open to actual settlers, because settlers 
 are perfectly safe ; and at the land sales no speculator or 
 other person will bid against a settler, and he can get his 
 land at Government prices ; but the Government price for 
 all lands within six miles of the railroads will be $2.50 per 
 acre. If they wish to go farther off than six miles from 
 the proposed railroad lines, then the price of the lands will 
 be $1.25 per acre. 
 
 How soon the railroad companies will get through 
 
 selecting their lands, and the offices again be open, no one 
 
 can tell — possibly not before the close of the summer. The 
 
 Government will give at least two months' public notice 
 
 of the time of sale. There is not the least doubt but that 
 4 * 
 
42 AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES. 
 
 now is the best opportunity that will ever offer itself in the 
 West to the laboring man of small means, taking into con- 
 sideration timber, climate, and soil. 
 
 We would again say to those who wish to actually locate 
 upon and improve the soil, Noiv is the time to make a 
 '' claim. ''^ Do not be induced to delay settling here until 
 a few hundred dollars have been added to your earnings, 
 with the belief that it will give you a better start. You 
 can do better now with two hundred dollars than you will 
 be able to do, two years hence, with one thousand. These 
 land^; are daily increasing in value, and those who would 
 advance with them should embrace this '' golden oppor- 
 tunity." 
 
 The following description of the lands in the valley of 
 the Chippewa river, is from the pen of an intelligent and 
 observing traveller, who recently made a personal exami- 
 nation of that country. These lands are open to settlers 
 at Government price ; in fact, all lands lying in the northern 
 part of the State. 
 
 "The soil, for the most part, is a deep rich sand loam, 
 and the face of the country very much as we have pictured 
 the Hunting Parks of Old England. About every three 
 miles, there is a succession of small streams starting from 
 the ridges, half a dozen miles back, and making straight- 
 way to the Chippewa. The ground between is nearly 
 level, and interspersed with ' gems of prairie, ' * oak open- 
 ings,' and timber, with here and there specks of hay marsh, 
 just enough to meet the wants of new settlers. In short, 
 the country is about as near right as any jolly husbandman 
 could ask from the hands of Nature. There is no fact 
 which gives more value to these lands, than the general 
 healthfulness of that portion of the country in which they 
 are situated. Well watered, possessing a pure and dry 
 atmosphere, with no local causes to produce fever, ague, 
 
AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES. 43 
 
 or sickness, in any of the numerous forms often exhibited 
 in the more southerly parts of the Mississippi valley, it is 
 undoubtedly as healthy a region as can be found on the 
 continent. It may be supposed, by some, that these lands 
 are too far north to be well adapted to agricultural pur- 
 suits. The supposition is entirely erroneous. None of the 
 lands are farther north than the northern parts of the 
 States of Vermont and New York, nor as far as a large 
 part of Maine, New Hampshire, and nearly the whole of 
 Canada, while the more southerly portions of them are in 
 the latitude of the southern part of Vermont and central 
 New York. But it is well known that latitude is not alone 
 the index of climate. London is in latitude 51° 30', the 
 same as the latitude of the upper or southern end of Hud- 
 son's Bay, and of Queen Charlotte's Sound, on the Pacific. 
 Paris is in the latitude of the north shore of Lake Superior 
 and of the Pembina settlement. Florence, where it is 
 almost perpetual summer, is in the latitude of Sheboygan 
 and of Portland, Maine, while Berlin is further north than 
 a large portion of the coast of Labrador. But, on the 
 American continent, it is well known that the climate on 
 the Pacific coast is several degrees milder than on the At- 
 lantic, The same causes operate to produce the same 
 result as we recede from the Atlantic and approach the 
 Pacific. The isothennal line is continually bearing north 
 of latitudinal lines ; and it is well known that the climate 
 of St. Paul, in Minnesota, in about latitude 45°, is as mild 
 during the winter months as that of Massachusetts and 
 central New York. St. Paul and Buffalo, Hudson and 
 Albany, Chippewa Falls and Rochester, are isothermal." 
 
 All the arable lands in the area above described will be 
 intersected by the St. Croix and Lake Superior Railroad, 
 and are peculiarly adapted to the growth of wheat, oats, 
 barley, buckwheat, potatoes, and all other esculent roots. 
 
44 AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES. 
 
 Indian corn, also — especially of the yellow flint variety — 
 is produced in great perfection. The whole country is 
 excellently adapted to grazing. It is well watered by nu- 
 merous springs and small creeks, of pure limpid water; 
 and small transparent lakes, with picturesque shores, are 
 found in many places, which, as well as the creeks, abound 
 with fish. The raising of cattle and sheep in this region 
 will prove to the farmer a profitable business, and, if viewed 
 solely with reference to its advantages for agricultural pur- 
 suits, there can be no reason why, when it shall be supplied 
 with railroad facilities, it will not become as densely peo- 
 pled as any part of the State.' 
 
 Every description of husbandry suitable to the latitude 
 may be successfully prosecuted. The difficulties experi- 
 enced in the Eastern, or in Western timbered States, in 
 bringing lands under cultivation, are unknown here ; the 
 soil is easily turned over, at the rate of two acres to two 
 and a half a day, by a heavy team of horses, or two yoke 
 of oxen, or it may be contracted to be worked, at from $2 
 to $3 per acre ; and an active practical man can readily 
 cultivate ten acres here as easily as one in the Eastern or 
 Middle States, taking them as they run, while the yield per 
 acre will be infinitely greater. 
 
 Wisconsin is one of the largest grain-producing States 
 of the Union. As an example, the statistics of the follow- 
 ing counties, for the year 1850, may be cited. 
 
 Population. No. Acres cleared. No. Farms. Bush .Wheat. 
 
 Milwaukee 39,077 32,623 985 60,096 
 
 AVaukeslia 19,174 104,439 1,703 331,156 
 
 Racine 14,973 64,338 971 281,149 
 
 Kenosha 10,732 60,938 914 318,051 
 
 These four counties, with a population of 83,956, had 
 1 Report of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad Co. 
 
AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES. 45 
 
 for exportation not less than 500,000 bushels of wheat, 
 which, at 50 cents per bushel, would be $250,000. Be- 
 sides, there were large quantities of Indian corn, oats and 
 barley raised. Considerable attention has been lately at- 
 tracted to flax, and the quantity raised the same year, iu 
 these counties, was 58,304 pounds. 
 
 It must not be supposed that the farmers of Wisconsin 
 have been turning their attention exclusively to grain ; they 
 have also engaged in the business of stock raising, of the 
 dairy, and of wool growing. In the above-mentioned 
 counties, the quantity of sheep and wool raised, as reported 
 in the census, was as follows : 
 
 Sheep. Lbs. of Wool. 
 
 Milwaukee 4,356 8,330 
 
 Waukesha 12,430 26,042 
 
 Racine 10,093 20,223 
 
 Kenosha 12,767 33,439 
 
 A large number of sheep were brought into Wisconsin 
 during the year 1851, from Ohio and Michigan.. The 
 produce of wool for the year 1853 may safely be estimated 
 at 175,000 pounds, and in 1857 the united products of 
 these four counties will not be less than 700,000 pounds. 
 
 These counties may be taken as a fair basis, in order to 
 form an estimate for the balance of the State. If we take 
 the estimate of the census of 1850 — 20,000 farms as un- 
 der cultivation, the amount realized by farmers on wool and 
 wheat alone would be, at present prices, nearly $3,000,000. 
 But when we consider that the population then was 
 305,538, and now it is about 1,000,000, it is manifest that 
 no correct estimate can be made, further than that the 
 agricultural products have increased in the same ratio as 
 the population. 
 
 The steady and exclusive prosecution of agriculture on 
 
46 AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES. 
 
 the fertile soil of the mineral districts, has the advantage 
 of an active home market and ready pay. There are large 
 tracts of the very finest lands in these districts which have 
 been neglected, from the absorbing nature of the mining 
 business, and may be purchased at very low rates. In 
 proportion to the growth of the towns and villages, the 
 demand for the products of the soil increases, presenting a 
 remunerative home market to the farmer. The surplus of 
 his corn, wheat, oats, &c., command fair rates at the near- 
 est railroad depot, as soon as delivered. On some of these 
 lands it is not uncommon to raise from 80 to 100 bushels 
 of corn to the acre, of wheat 40 to 60 bushels, and every 
 kind of vegetables in the greatest abundance. The price 
 of wheat during the year 1856, was, on an average, $1.25 
 per bushel. At these prices, is it any wonder that the far- 
 mers in Wisconsin are so rapidly accumulating wealth ; or 
 that, with such inducements to agriculture, so many are 
 flocking here every year ? 
 
 Let every farmer who has to tug and toil on the sterile 
 and rocky soil of New England, and some of the worn out 
 Southern States, to support his family, judge for himself, 
 whether it is better to emigrate to Wisconsin, or stay where 
 he is ; whether it is better to struggle for existence, and 
 feel the cold grasp of poverty, or roll in plenty and live at 
 ease. 
 
 Let those who reside in cities, and cannot find profitable 
 employment, come here, and raise their food out of the 
 bosom of the earth. Thousands have made the experi- 
 ment, and to-day are among the wealthiest and most re- 
 spected of our citizens. 
 
 We might present to our readers the testimony of hun- 
 dreds of farmers, in regard to their experience, the capa- 
 bility of the soil, and the amount raised to the acre, but 
 our limited space forbids. In the second part of this work, 
 
AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES. 4t 
 
 on Lake Superior, will be found some interesting reports 
 from farmers in the northern part of the State, bordering 
 on the lake. 
 
 Persons desirous of settling here should not form their 
 opinions of the capability of Wisconsin, in an agricultural 
 point of view, upon the figures given in the census reports 
 of 1850, as if they furnished a fair criterion by which to 
 judge. It must be borne in mind, that since those statis- 
 tics were made up, nearly five hundred miles of railroad 
 have been built in the State ; that its population has in- 
 creased from 305,538, to at least 1,000,000 ; that the num- 
 ber of acres now under cultivation is at least double that 
 of 1850 ; that all the recent improvements in agricultural 
 implements are in general use ; and farmers stimulated to 
 industry by the late unprecedented high prices. They 
 also must not forget that, with all this increase of popula- 
 tion, hardly one-fourth of the arable lands of the State are 
 under cultivation. The conclusions drawn from the census 
 reports of 1850, would be of the most fallacious character, 
 and do great injustice to the resources of our noble State. 
 
CHAPTER lY. 
 
 GEOLOGY OF WISCONSIN — ROCKS — LEAD — COPPER — ZINC — 
 IRON — BUILDING STONE — ANTIQUITIES. 
 
 The greatest source of wealth of the State of Wisconsin 
 is iindonbtedly its vast mineral possessions. The mines on 
 the south shore of Lake Superior are believed to be equal 
 in richness and extent to those of Michigan, which pro- 
 duced, in 1856, upwards of ten million pounds of copper, 
 and twenty thousand tons of iron. Part of this region 
 has been recently explored, and the most incredible quan- 
 tities of copper, mixed with silver, have been found ; also 
 zinc, in vast deposits, among the copper. Wisconsin is 
 equally rich in iron ; but, like the zinc, it is a mere drug. 
 Indeed, for some unaccountable reason, it is thought better 
 to import from England into this country millions of dol- 
 lars' worth yearly, when we have literally mountains of it 
 here in every direction, and of a much superior quality. 
 As the northern part, bordering on the lake, is now being 
 rapidly settled, new discoveries are made daily, and it is a 
 matter of great importance that the State should order a 
 new Geological Survey, to determine the extent of its min- 
 eral wealth, for the benefit of the agricultural interests, by 
 disclosing the different characters of the soil, and their 
 adaptability to certain crops The lead region of Wis- 
 consin contains mines which are supposed to be inex- 
 haustible, and decidedly the richest in the known world ; 
 it is confined principally to the southwestern part of the 
 State. Many other minerals are also found, and good 
 
 (48) 
 
ROCKS. 49 
 
 marble and building stone are abundant in almost every 
 part. 
 
 The mineral treasures that underlie our soil are, as yet, 
 but in the infancy of their development ; we are situated 
 at the head of the two great natural channels of internal 
 
 navigation, which penetrate to the heart of the continent 
 
 the Mississippi on the one hand, connecting us with the 
 Gulf of Mexico ; and the Lakes upon the other, leading to 
 the Atlantic. By each of these routes, the greater portion 
 of the produce of our mineral districts finds its way to 
 market. 
 
 There are several very accurate and complete descrip- 
 tions of the geology of Wisconsin, and, instead of attempt- 
 ing to give an account of it, I will embody, in this part of 
 my work, the official reports of Dr. Owen, already pub- 
 lished, which include a large part of the State. My own 
 observations of the country, geologically, being very cur- 
 sory and partial, and the survey of Dr. Owen, under the 
 orders of Government, furnishing a very satisfactory de- 
 scription of the country, I subjoin it entire. 
 
 " Throughout the Western States, generally, the second- 
 ary formation prevails, covered up in various locations, 
 sometimes to a considerable depth, by recent alluvial and 
 diluvial deposits. 
 
 " This secondary series of rocks comprehends various sub- 
 divisions of distinct character, and invariable succession, 
 which, in their turn, have been again subdivided. 
 
 " Of these groups, the mountain limestone particularly 
 claims our attention, as almost all the rocks of Wisconsin 
 are referable to that division. 
 
 " In this State these subdivisions generally vary in thick- 
 ness from one hundred to one thousand feet, with the ex- 
 ception of the cliff limestone, which, in some districts, is 
 5 
 
60 GEOLOGY OF WISCONSIN. 
 
 hardly distinguishable, and, in general, does not exceed 
 one hundred feet in thickness. 
 
 " Now, this cliflf limestone, so sparingly developed else- 
 where, swells, in the Wisconsin lead region, into the most 
 remarkable, most important, and most bulky member of 
 the group. It attains to a thickness of upward of five 
 hundred and fifty feet, while the underlying blue limestone 
 (which, in Ohio, is usually from eight hundred to one thou- 
 sand feet in thickness) shrinks, in many places, to less than 
 one hundred feet, and, in others, seems wholly wanting ; 
 while, at the same time, the black slate, commonly found 
 above the cliff limestone, seems also deficient. 
 
 ' ' The general geological character of the country ex- 
 plored may, then, be thus briefly summed up. It belongs 
 to that class of rocks called, by recent geologists, secondary, 
 and, by others, occasionally included in the transition 
 series. It belongs, further, to a division of the class of 
 rocks described, in Europe, as the mountain limestone, or, 
 sometimes, as the carboniferous, metalliferous, or encrin- 
 ital limestone. And it belongs, yet more especially, to a 
 subdivision of this group, known popularly, where it oc- 
 curs in the West, as the cliflf limestone. 
 
 ** This last is the rock formation in which the lead, cop- 
 per, iron, and zinc, of the region under consideration, are 
 almost exclusively found ; and its unusual development, 
 doubtless, much conduces to the extraordinary mineral 
 riches of this favored State. 
 
 ** In the northern portion of the district surveyed, an 
 interesting and somewhat uncommon feature in the geology 
 of Western America presents itself. I refer to the strata 
 (of considerable depth) which crop out along a narrow 
 strip of the northern boundary-line of thi.s district, and 
 which are chiefly observable in the bluffs on both sides of 
 
LEAD. 51 
 
 the Wisconsin river, whence (Schoolcraft and others say) 
 they extend north even to the Falls of St. Anthony. 
 
 "The actual dip of the rocks throughout the district, 
 according to the observations made by Dr. Locke, is from 
 nine to ten feet per mile, but it is occasionally much 
 greater. 
 
 '' The importance of observations on the dip of the rocks, 
 forming, as they do, the materials to calculate the thickness 
 of each stratum at any given spot, is very great. Indeed, 
 such observations are indispensable, before an accurate esti- 
 mate can be formed of the value and extent of a mineral 
 tract. They indicate, with much fidelity, the depth to 
 which, at different points, a productive vein of ore is likely 
 to extend. 
 
 *'lead mines. 
 
 "The lead region lies, as will be remarked, chiefly in 
 Wisconsin, including, however, a strip of about eight town- 
 ships of land in Iowa ; and including, also, about ten 
 townships in the northwestern corner of Illinois. The 
 portion of this lead region in Wisconsin includes about 
 sixty-two townships. 
 
 *' This lead region is, in general, well watered ; namely, 
 by the Peccatonica, Apple, Fever, Platte and Grand 
 rivers, the head waters of Blue river and Sugar creek : all 
 these streams being tributaries of the Mississippi. 
 
 " The northern boundary of the Wisconsin lead region 
 is nearly coincident with the southern boundary-line of the 
 blue limestone, where it fairly emerges to the surface. No 
 discoveries of any importance have been made after reach- 
 ing that formation ; and when a mine is sunk through the 
 cliff limestone to the blue limestone beneath, the lodes of 
 lead shrink into insignificance, and no longer return to the 
 miner a profitable reward for his labor. 
 
52 GEOLOGY OF WISCONSIN. 
 
 "It will also be remarked, that the designated lead 
 region is almost exclusively confined to the northern half 
 of the cliff limestone formation of Wisconsin, which por- 
 tion is occupied by its middle and lower beds. The upper 
 beds (lying in the southern portion of the district) do not, 
 as already intimated, furnish productive veins of lead ore. 
 The crevices in these upper strata seem to be less numer- 
 ous, and either empty, or filled with iron ore (hydrated 
 brown oxide), or calcareous spar (crystallized carbonate 
 of lime), to the almost entire exclusion of veins of lead. 
 
 "All the valuable deposits of lead ore, which have as 
 yet been discovered, occur either in fissures or rents in the 
 cliff rock, or else are found imbedded in the recent depo- 
 sits which overlie these rocks. These fissures vary in 
 thickness from a wafer to even fifty feet ; and many of 
 them extend to a very great, and at present unknown 
 depth. 
 
 "Upon the whole, a review of the resources and capa- 
 bilities of this lead region, taken in connection with its 
 statistics (in so far as it was possible to collect these), in- 
 duces me to say, with confidence, that ten thousand miners 
 could find profitable employment within its confines. 
 
 " If we suppose each of these to raise daily one hundred 
 and fifty pounds of ore, during six months of each year 
 only, they would produce annually upwards of one hundred 
 and fifty million pounds of lead — more than is now fur- 
 nished by the entire mines of Europe, those of Great 
 Britain included. 
 
 " This estimate, founded (as those who have perused the 
 foregoing pages will hardly deny) upon reasonable data, 
 presents, in a striking point of view, the intrinsic value and 
 commercial importance of the country upon which I am 
 reporting — emphatically the lead region of Northern 
 America. 
 
COPPER. 53 
 
 " It is, so far as my reading or experience extend, deci- 
 dedly the richest in the known world. 
 
 "copper ore. 
 
 "The copper ore of Wisconsin forms an item in its 
 mineral wealth, which would be considered of great im- 
 portance, and would attract much attention, but for the 
 superior richness and value of the lead, the great staple 
 of the State. 
 
 "This ore occupies, in the district under examination, 
 the same geological position as the lead ore ; originating 
 in the fissures of the cliff limestone. Discoveries of cop- 
 per ore have, indeed, been made on a sloping hill-side near 
 Mineral Point, within three or four feet of the surface ; and 
 was there found disseminated and imbedded in an ochreous 
 earth.' But, on following this deposit to the opposite side 
 of the ravine (on section twenty-two, township five, range 
 three east of the fourth principal meridian), the copper ore 
 was traced into a crevice, and a regular vein has there been 
 worked, to the depth of thirty or forty feet. The pieces 
 of copper ore raised on this spot commonly weighed from 
 a few ounces to ten or twelve pounds ; and one mass thencQ 
 procured was estimated at five hundred weight. 
 
 "The course of this copper vein is from southeast to 
 northwest ; and if this line be continued either way, from 
 the discoveries at Mineral Point, it will strike, almost ex- 
 actly, the discoveries of copper ore northwest on Blue 
 river, and southeast on the Peccatonica — a proof that the 
 copper ore is not a superficial and vagrant deposit, but 
 
 1 This earth frequently contains particles, more or less numerous, 
 of copper ore, which is then popularly termed "gozzin," and em- 
 ployed as a flux in the copper furnaces. The gozzin of Wisconsin 
 yields, by analysis, from six to nine per cent, of pure copper — a 
 large per centage for such ore. 
 5* 
 
64 GEOLOGY OF WISCONSIN. 
 
 exists in veins of uniform bearing ; and that these veins 
 are continuous, and, in all probability, extensive. 
 
 " The copper ore of this region compares very favorably 
 with that of Cornwall. An analysis of a selected specimen 
 of the best working ore of these mines, and of three aver- 
 age specimens of Wisconsin ore, showed that the latter 
 contains from a fifteenth to a third more of copper than the 
 former. 
 
 " The Wisconsin copper veins may rank among the most 
 important that have yet been discovered in the limestone 
 formation. 
 
 " Finally, the Wisconsin copper ore derives additional 
 value in consequence of being found in the vicinity of, and 
 often in the same mine as, productive veins of zinc ore." 
 
 The richest deposits of copper as yet discovered, are in 
 the northern part of the State ; a much fuller description 
 of them will be found in the second part of this work, on 
 Lake Superior. 
 
 It may be added, as an additional fact, whereby to esti- 
 mate the value of the Wisconsin copper, that, in some of 
 the European mines, "the ore does not contain above three 
 per cent, of pure copper, and yet it pays for working;" 
 also, some of the Cornwall mines are worked profitably, at 
 a depth of more than two thousand feet "from the grass,'* 
 as the phrase there is. What a contrast these mines pre- 
 sent to those of Wisconsin, many of which lie between fifty 
 and one hundred feet from the surface. Here we have 
 inexhaustible beds of the finest ore in the world, which 
 have been proved, on analysis, to be superior to the English 
 copper; besides, the miners say "they can afford to raise 
 copper ore at the same price as lead, namely, from one and 
 a half to two cents a pound;" but as it requires much 
 more capital and skill than to smelt lead, they have hith- 
 erto been prevented. In the means of transportation we 
 
ZINC. 55 
 
 are not surpassed by any in the world ; a short distance of 
 from five to ten miles will convey the ore to the shipping 
 port. It is a burning disgrace to our country that so 
 many thousand pounds of copper are yeai^ly imported 
 from England, and other parts of Europe, when we have 
 such unlimited quantities at our own doors. There is 
 copper enough in Wisconsin to supply the United States 
 for years to come, and to spare. All that is icanting is 
 capital and men to develop its rich resources. 
 
 **ZINC ORE. 
 
 *'This ore, found in Wisconsin, usually occurs in the 
 same fissures with the lead. It is chiefly the electric cala- 
 mine — the carbonate of zinc of the mineralogist. Though 
 a solid ore, it has an ochreous, earthy aspect, often resem- 
 bling the cellular substance of the bone : hence it is fami- 
 liarly known among the miners by the name of ' dry bones.' 
 
 "At some of the 'diggins' large quantities of this car- 
 bonate of zinc can be procured. Thousands of tons are 
 now lying in various locations on the surface, rejected as 
 worthless ; indeed, as a nuisance. It is known to but a 
 few of the miners as a zinc ore at all. An analysis of this 
 ore proves it to be a true carbonate of zinc, containing 
 forty-five per cent, of the pure metal. 
 
 " Sulphuret of zinc (sometimes called blende, and, by 
 the English miner, 'black-jack') is also abundant iu the 
 Wisconsin mines. It contains from fifty-five to sixty-five 
 per cent, of zinc, but is more difficult of reduction than the 
 calamine. 
 
 " Sheet zinc is becoming an article of considerable de- 
 mand in the market, for culinary purposes, and as a cover- 
 ing for valuable buildings, instead of lead. But the chief 
 consumption of this metal is in making brass, well known 
 to be a compound of copper and zinc. 
 
56 GEOIOGY OF WISCONSIN. 
 
 ' ' Large quantities, both of copper and zinc, are now 
 imported from Europe into the United States, to supply 
 the continually increasing demand for brass. It is not im- 
 probable that the district now under consideration might 
 furnish of both metals a sufficient amount, at least for 
 many years to come, to supply the entire United States 
 with brass of home produce and manufacture. 
 
 " Of zinc, at least, there is assuredly a sufficient supply, 
 not only for that purpose, but also for exportation. All 
 the zinc now produced in Great Britain is trifling in quan- 
 tity, and quite insufficient for the demand : so that a large 
 quantity is imported annually into that island, chiefly from 
 Germany and Belgium. The importation of zinc into 
 England, in the year 1833, exceeded six millions and a 
 half of pounds ; a fact which may give us an idea of the 
 importance of this metal as an article of commerce. 
 Among the productive mineral resources of Wisconsin, the, 
 at present despised, zinc ore may claim no contemptible 
 rank. 
 
 "iron ore. 
 
 " The iron ore of Wisconsin is of excellent quality, and 
 in unlimited abundance. I explored, a few years since, in 
 company with Professor Troost, Geologist of Tennessee, 
 the iron mines of that State, which already furnish iron to 
 a considerable portion of the Western States. And though 
 I have seen no proof that iron exists in Wisconsin in de- 
 posits as extensive as in Tennessee, yet the locations of 
 iron ore are numerous, and the quality of it, in general, is 
 as good. 
 
 " In some of the townships, on the Wisconsin river, iron 
 ore was found scattered in innumerable fragments over the 
 entire surface, and of a quality so rich as to be crystallized 
 in much perfection. The reports and specimens from that 
 
IRON. 5T 
 
 portion of the district induce me to believe that iron ore 
 can be found there, on the surface alone, sufficient to sup- 
 ply several iron furnaces for years to come."' In relation 
 to the Magnetic Iron Beds of the Penokie Range, border- 
 ing on Lake Superior, he says: "The most easterly ap- 
 pearance of magnetic iron which I observed, was in fissile 
 black slate, about four miles west of the Montreal Trail, 
 along which the Section No. 4. W. is made. About four 
 miles along the strike of the beds, southwest by west, the 
 bed was seen by Mr. Randall, in 1848, in the Fourth Prin- 
 cipal Meridian, Township 44^ north, eighteen miles from 
 the lake. We may with confidence pronounce it to be a 
 continuous bed from the meridian westward to Lac des 
 Anglais. Its thickness, richness, and value, vary very 
 much ; but we found it more or less developed, whenever 
 we crossed the range, and could get a view of tlie rock. 
 The bed of magnetic iron ore south of Lac des Anglais is 
 of extraordinary thickness — twenty-five to sixty feet. The 
 proportion of iron and quartz is very variable, but the 
 separation of them by mechanical means would, in gen.eral, 
 not be difficult. There are many places in the mountain, 
 west of Bad river, which present more than fifty feet of 
 quartz and iron, in about equal proportions. It should, 
 however, be borne in mind, that the whole region is not 
 only covered so thickly with timber that no distant views 
 can be had without climbing trees, but the drift often con- 
 ceals the rocks, over a large proportion, even of the ele- 
 vated ridges. Where the west branch of Tyler's Pork 
 crosses the chain, Mr. Beesley found the southerly face of 
 the uplifts well charged with a rich, heavy ore, showing 
 thirty, fifty, and seventy feet, with iron predominating over 
 quartz. All the specimens we saw were of the black mag- 
 netic oxide, without any of the red. The productive yield 
 
 1 These ores of iron yield from 40 to 60 per cent, of the metal. 
 
58 * GEOLOGY OF WISCONSIN. 
 
 of such an ore can only be determined by trial, in properly 
 constructed furnaces; but judging of our specimens - by 
 weight, they will afford fifty to sixty per cent, of the metal. 
 The analysis of one specimen yielded over sixty-six per 
 cent. For present use a supply of ore may be obtained 
 from the rubbish, at the foot of the uplifts, in blocks and 
 pieces, already detached from the cliff, and the accompa- 
 nying quartz. Where it is not dislodged, it will be neces- 
 sary to break the whole, and then assort it. There are 
 cases where numerous particles of the oxides, both red and 
 black (the protoxide and the peroxide), are disseminated 
 through the quartz rock, above and below the regular 
 beds. This might be separated by bruising and stamping 
 — a process which the whole must undergo, in order to be 
 ^irofitably wrought in the forges. 
 
 *' There is no limestone yet known in the region to be 
 used as a flux ; but there is an abundance of timber and 
 water-power. There are certain proportions of iron and 
 silex, and of silex and magnesia, that are easily fused. If 
 the silex of this ore is not so excessive as to make it 
 refractory — or, if in practice, that difficulty can be reme- 
 died by the use of magnesian slates, which are abundant — 
 these mines may be wrought hereafter at a profit, and rival 
 the works of Northern Europe. The magnetic ores of the 
 northern part of the State of New York, that have pro- 
 duced iron famous for its strength, are also siliceous. The 
 magnetic iron-ore is freed of a portion of its silex, at little 
 expense, after being bruised, by the application of magnets 
 acting on a large scale upon the magnetic particles. The 
 part which enters chemically into the ore, forming a sili- 
 cate, is not wholly cleared by working, but gives a very 
 fine-grained metal, that is peculiarly good for steel. The 
 famous Swedish iron is from beds of magnetic ore, embraced 
 
IRON. 59 
 
 in hornblende rocks, doubtless metamorphic, and analogous 
 to those of Bad River. 
 
 "The extensive mines, or rather mountains, of iron-ore 
 in Michigan, are also magnetic, and associated with meta- 
 morphic slates. These ores are, in some cases, more 
 inclined to the peroxide than the Bad River beds ; but 
 specimens from the two regions are often so similar, that 
 no one would be able to separate them, by the texture, 
 color, or weight. The geological associMions are precisely 
 alike. In Michigan, as in Wisconsin, the mountains com- 
 posed of tilted magnesian, hornblende, and siliceous slates, 
 enclose beds of ore. There, as here, on each side of the 
 metamorphic range, are igneous rocks, of various ages and 
 composition — quartzose, granitic, syenitic, and trappous. 
 The ores of that region have attracted attention, and one 
 establishment for making blooms, direct from the ore, has 
 been in operation more than a year. The iron is remark- 
 able for its solidity and toughness, keeping its place better 
 than Swedish, and is no more brittle. It possesses the 
 quality of being worked into fine cold-drawn wire, and has 
 been sought after by an establishment for manufacturing 
 wire in Massachusetts. 
 
 " The Iron Ridge, and Ore Beds of Dodge County, have 
 attracted much notice of late years, partly on account of 
 the interesting and anomalous character of the ore, and 
 partly because of the great practical value of a bed thus 
 situated. The 'Wisconsin Iron Company' has the credit 
 of making the first experiment upon this ore, and, in fact, 
 of erecting the first stack furnace in Wisconsin. Their 
 works at Maysville, in Dodge County, are driven by water, 
 and consume the ore of the ' Iron Ridge,' which is hauled 
 on sleds, in winter, about four and a half miles. The 
 analysis of the ore taken from Mr. Theodore B. Sterling's 
 saw-mill, Section 13, T. 11, north range, 16° east of the 
 
60 GEOLOGY OF WISCONSIN. 
 
 4th Principal Meridian, the course being east and west, 
 as given by Professor Cassels, of the Medical College at 
 Cleveland, Ohio, indicates over 53 per cent, of iron." 
 
 The richness of the iron veins in this district, and along 
 the Lake Superior shores, cannot be correctly known, until 
 more mines are opened. But more encouraging and 
 numerous surface-indications of an abundant supply of this 
 useful metal can hardly offer themselves to the notice of the 
 geologist. In a country more thickly settled, and with 
 skill and capital to spare, these would speedily cause and 
 justify the employment of whole villages of workmen. To 
 incidental causes alone, and not to any natural deficiency 
 of material, must be attributed the custom of importing 
 annually from England, into this country, millions of dollars' 
 worth of iron for railroads and other purposes. Enormous 
 as is the produce of Great Britain's iron-furnaces, we 
 might rival it in America. How little, here in the West at 
 least, w^e have hitherto improved our natural resources in 
 this branch of commerce, is proved by the thousands of 
 tons of rich iron-ore which lie unappropriated and uselessly 
 scattered over the State of Wisconsin. 
 
 But this is not only the worst feature of neglect. Strange 
 as it may seem, the iron rails laid upon the road to Fond 
 du Lac, (the nearest route to these mines,) were brought 
 from England, not only across the Atlantic, but twelve 
 hundred miles into the interior, and within two hundred 
 miles from these rich iron mines, — mines as rich, as pro- 
 ductive, and as easily worked, as those in England, from 
 which these rails are manufactured and shipped so far, and 
 at such enormous and unnecessary expense, and this, too, 
 besides the government duties paid. This is infinitely 
 more absurd than the importing of bricks from Holland, 
 by the early settlers of New York and Albany, and more 
 than it would be to bring lumber from Europe to build 
 
BUILDING-STONE. 61 
 
 houses in the very shadows of the extensive "Wisconsin 
 pineries. This iron is of a superior quality, and can be 
 worked and furnished along the railway lines at one-half 
 the cost of foreign iron. The ore is unsurpassed in rich- 
 ness and purity, and can be transported wherever there is 
 coal, and there manufactured.^ 
 
 Facts, such as these, call loudly upon Government for 
 additional acts of legislation. If English iron of an infe- 
 rior quality is allowed to enter our country, and success- 
 fully compete with the products of our own mines, sufficient 
 duties should be levied upon it to protect us from ruinous 
 competition with their large capitalists, who, by the low 
 wages they allow their half-starved workmen, can afford to 
 sell their iron, even with the present low duties, at the same 
 rates as ours can be afforded at the mines. 
 
 In relation to building-stone, Dr. Owen remarks: "I 
 was, for a time, in doubt in regard to the value of the 
 Wisconsin limestone as a building material. Much of the 
 limestone that is taken from the 'diggins' crumbles, also, 
 on being exposed to the weather; yet a portion of the 
 formation will yield some of the best quarries in the world, 
 and several excellent ones are already opened. For 
 example, on the Sinsinnewa Mound, at Mineral Point, at 
 the Four Lakes, and (but not so good,) on the Peccatonica. 
 This excellent building-stone chiefly occurs in the lower 
 portion of the upper beds of the cliff limestone, and also 
 in the lower beds of the ' Missouri limestone.' It is of a 
 beautiful, uniform, light-yellow color — compact, fine- 
 grained, sharp-angled, capable of receiving a handsome 
 finish, and, if well selected, calculated to endure for ages 
 uninjured. It is very readily quarried in square blocks, 
 from six inches to a foot in thickness ; can be obtained, 
 however, doule or treble that thickness, and of any required 
 
 ^ Report of Committee on Public Lands, May, 1856. 
 6 
 
62 EARTHWORK ANTIQUITIES. 
 
 horizontal extent. The labor of quarrying is light, in 
 consequence of the rock being exposed in cliffs, so as to 
 preclude the necessity of excavation. 
 
 " The Magnesian limestone of Yorkshire, England, 
 selected by some of the most experienced geologists in the 
 world as the best building-stone in England, is, if not the 
 equivalent of the cliff limestone of Wisconsin, a rock very 
 closely resembling it. The inference is, that some of the 
 strata of the cliff limestone of Wisconsin may be expected 
 to furnish building materials of a quality the most superior. " 
 
 In many parts of the State, more recent explorations 
 have been made, and quarries of various kinds of marble 
 discovered, which promise to be abundant and valuable. 
 According to Messrs. Foster and Whitney's report, they 
 are found on the Michigamig and Mennomonee Rivers, and 
 afford beautiful varieties, whose prevailing color is light 
 pink, traversed by veins or seams of deep red. Others are 
 blue and dove-colored, beautifully veined. They are sus- 
 ceptible of a fine polish, and some on the Mennomonee are 
 within navigable distance of New York. 
 
 EARTHWORK ANTIQUITIES. 
 
 Several very singular monuments, or collections of monu- 
 ments, are to be seen a few miles from Madison, the capital 
 of Wisconsin. These are conical elevations of earth, standing 
 on the prairies, or sometimes covered by a grove, of very 
 regular shape, usually from five to ten feet in height, and 
 from thirty to fifty in diameter, having a circular base. 
 They are generally in groups, or collective ranges, some 
 half dozen or more being placed in line, in contact or con- 
 tiguity at the bases, extending usually from east to west. 
 By what people discovered, at what time, or with what 
 design, is still involved in doubt. It seems, however, that 
 they must have been intended for receptacles for the dead. 
 
EARTHWORK ANTIQUITIES. 63 
 
 The perfect regularity of shape and direction, forbid the 
 idea of a natural formation. The Indians know nothing 
 of them, have no traditions, and therefore the inference is 
 drawn that they were the work of another race, before the 
 tribes now here possessed the country. To our mind, 
 however, the inference is not a legitimate one. The Indian 
 traditions are of the creation, the deluge, the first appear- 
 ance of man and woman upon the earth, great events con- 
 nected with the formation and peopling of the \vorld, and 
 kindred to them ; but of the extinction of tribes or nations 
 by war, pestilence, and the inhumation of bodies slain by 
 disease or battle, they transmit, we believe, no story. Had 
 these mounds been constructed but a few centuries ago, the 
 present descendants of the people who reared them, might 
 be now informed of their date or object. 
 
 These mounds were examined by Mr. Locke, who was 
 astonished to find that some well-informed persons, in their 
 neighborhood, should pretend to dispute their artificial 
 origin. He remarks:' ''The same ambition to exercise 
 an independent judgment might lead these individuals to 
 dispute that the ruins of Herculaneum are artificial ; the 
 same argument might be used, that ' they just come so in 
 the earth.' I am convinced of the correctness of Mr. 
 Taylor's account,^ in which he describes them as being ' in 
 the form of animals' effigies.' 
 
 " There is another group of works about eight miles east 
 of the Blue Mounds. They are on the great road from 
 Prairie du Chien, through Madison, to Lake Michigan — 
 a road so decidedly marked by nature, that I presume it 
 has been the thoroughfare, 'the trail,' the great 'war-path,' 
 erer since the region in the vicinity has been inhabited by 
 migrating man, and will continue to be his pathway until 
 
 1 In his report to Dr. Owen. 
 
 2 Silliman's Journal, 34 vol. 
 
64 EARTHWORK ANTIQUITIES. 
 
 the hills and the rivers exchange their places. " In examin- 
 ing some of these works, I did not discover a ditch or 
 cavity from which the earth to construct them had been 
 taken. They occupy commanding hill-tops and the gentle 
 slopes into the valleys, being uniformly raised from a 
 smooth and well-formed surface, always above inundation, 
 and well guarded from the little temporary currents pro- 
 duced from showers. 
 
 "If these figures were originally intended to represent 
 animals, they might have been much more distinct and specific 
 than they now are. It is obvious that any minute delinea- 
 tions must soon be obliterated by the agency of the weather. 
 Most of them have the upper part of the head, the ears, or 
 antlers, apparently too large — at least it appears so in the 
 drawings. They are the favorite resort of badgers, which, 
 finding them raised and dry, have selected them for bur- 
 rowing ; and it is wonderful that they retain their outline 
 so perfectly. But above all the creatures, civilized man 
 will obliterate them the most speedily ; and it is much to 
 be regretted that the multitude of extraordinary figures, 
 raised like embossed ornaments over the whole part of this 
 country, could not be accurately measured and delineated 
 before they shall be obliterated for ever. I had other 
 duties to perform, and was enabled to take these measure- 
 ments by an enthusiasm which awoke me in my tent at 
 midnight, and assisted me to prepare my breakfast before 
 day, and sent me into the cold bleak fields on a November 
 morning, to finish the admeasurements of a whole group 
 of figures before the usual time of commencing the labors 
 of the day. Mr. Taylor has represented the efGgies of 
 birds, and one of the human figure, as occurring here ; and 
 I am happy, with a full conviction of the general accuracy 
 of his representations, to call the reader's attention to his 
 interesting paper. 
 
EARTHWORK ANTIQUITIES. 65 
 
 *' On one of the hills I saw an embankment exactly in 
 the form of the cross, as it is usually represented as the 
 emblem of Christianity. Some of the surveyors brought in 
 sketches of works in the form of birds, with wings expanded, 
 and I heard of others in the form of lizards and tortoises. 
 From what I have seen, I should think it very probable 
 that these forms are to be found. But in order that their 
 existence should excite in the public that interest which, 
 as relics of ancient history, they really possess, they should 
 be so exactly surveyed and depicted that their representa- 
 tions can be relied upon with confidence. I object to the 
 very careless and imperfect manner in which most of our 
 antiquities have been examined, by which they have been 
 rather guessed at, than surveyed." 
 
 Other earthworks have been found scattered over differ- 
 ent parts of the State. At Aztalan, in Jefferson County, 
 there is an ancient fortification, 550 yards long, 275 yards 
 wide, with walls four or five feet high, and more than 
 twenty feet thick at the base. Another work, resembling 
 a man in a recumbent position, 120 feet long, and 30 across 
 the trunk, is to be seen near the Blue Mounds ; and one 
 resembling a turtle, 56 feet in length, at Prairieville. 
 These artificial works are generally without order, but 
 sometimes have a systematic arrangement, with fragments 
 of pottery often scattered around. Some are so defaced 
 as to make it dif&cult to trace the animal resemblance 
 referred to, while others are distinctly visible. One is said 
 to have been discovered near Cassville, resembling the 
 extinct Mastodon. 
 
 6* 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 LUMBER REGIONS OF WISCONSIN — RIVERS — LAKES, ETC. 
 
 Wisconsin possesses peculiar advantages as a lumbering 
 country. There are vast pine forests on the Upper Wis- 
 consin and its tributaries, the Wolf river, the St. Croix, 
 many branches of the Mississippi, and on Lake Superior. 
 The other forest trees are spruce, tamarac, cedar, oaks of 
 different species, birch, aspen, basswood, hickory, elm, ash, 
 hemlock, poplar, sycamore, and sugar maple. The oak 
 openings form a pleasing feature in the landscape, and 
 comprise a large portion of the finest lands of the State. 
 They owe their present condition to the action of the an- 
 nual fires, which have kept under all forest growth, except 
 the varieties of oak which can withstand the sweep of that 
 element. 
 
 A few years since the lumber of Western New York, 
 and Pennsylvania, had undisputed possession of the market 
 of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, above New Orleans. 
 The course of this trade may now be considered as perma- 
 nently changed. The extensive and valuable pineries of 
 Wisconsin control, and will soon have entire possession of 
 these markets, and also supply, to a considerable extent, 
 the country on the lakes. 
 
 The whole region between the Wisconsin and St. Croix 
 rivers is interspersed with thick groves of large white pines, 
 which are not excelled in quality by those of Maine, New 
 Brunswick, the Alleghany or Susquehanna rivers, or of any 
 other part of the world. While some of this pine timber 
 
 (66) 
 
LUMBER REGIONS. 6Y 
 
 is found in low or marshy places, the largest portion is 
 upon dry ground, which, when the timber is removed, is 
 well adapted to cultivation. No accurate estimate has 
 been made of the quantity of these pine lands. Upon the 
 Wisconsin, the Black, and the Chippewa rivers, as well as 
 their tributaries, are numerous lumbering establishments, 
 the annual product of which exceeds three hundred million 
 feet ; while, in addition, saw logs are rafted and run from 
 these rivers to the cities and villages on the Mississippi, to 
 be there manufactured into lumber, amountino* to about 
 half the same quantity. The value of the lumber products 
 of the forest, in that portion of the country drained by 
 these four large rivers, already amounts to a sum varying 
 from five to eight millions of dollars (though lumbering is 
 yet in its infancy). This article is gradually increasing in 
 value, and must continue to increase, as the demand in the 
 Mississippi valley is, and ever will be, greater than the 
 supply. The latter is limited ; the former can have no 
 assignable limit. 
 
 The completion of the St. Croix and Lake Superior 
 Kailroad will open this valuable region to the settler, 
 affording him an opportunity of supplying a large market 
 in the southern part of this State, and in Illinois, Iowa, 
 and Missouri. Thousands of acres of these valuable tim- 
 ber lands are waiting for settlers to occupy them, at 
 Government price — $1 . 25 per acre. 
 
 Proprietors of extensive pine lands have usually adopted 
 the policy of selling to lumbermen the right of cutting the 
 timber, receiving a certain stipulated price for what is 
 called the "stumpage," and afterwards selling the soil to 
 the farmer. The "stumpage" upon the Penobscot, the 
 Kennebec, and the Androscoggin, in Maine, the St. John's 
 in New Brunswick, and upon the Alleghany and the Sus- 
 quehanna, is from $5 to $8 per thousand feet. The price, 
 
68 LUMBER REGIONS. 
 
 of course, is regulated very much by the market value of 
 lumber and the supply of pine timber. Upon these lands 
 it would be worth now from $2 to $5 per thousand feet, 
 depending very much upon the distance it required to be 
 hauled. It is safe to estimate the "stumpage" at the 
 average price of $2 per thousand. Ordinary pine trees 
 will yield at least one thousand feet each, and it ought 
 hardly to be called timbered land that will not average 
 twenty-five trees to an acre ; so that, upon this calculation, 
 the stumpage of these lands would be $50 per acre, which, 
 extravagant as it may appear, we believe is quite within 
 bounds. 
 
 The river St. Croix, separating the State of Wisconsin 
 from Minnesota, is celebrated for its pineries. It is esti- 
 mated, that in the year 1855 there was sent to market, 
 sawed and in the log, 300,000,000 feet. Estimating the 
 average value of this lumber "afloat," at $10 per thou- 
 sand feet, the value of the trade for that year would be 
 $3,000,000. 
 
 " The lumbermen of the St. Croix, during the sessions 
 of the Wisconsin and Minnesota Legislatures of 1850-1, 
 procured the incorporation of the ' St. Croix Boom Com- 
 pany,' with a capital of $10,000. This work was consi- 
 dered absolutely necessary, to facilitate the business of dri- 
 ving, assorting, and rafting logs. The stock was speedily 
 taken ; and by the following season the boom was built and 
 ready for service. The work is substantial and permanent. 
 Piers of immense size are sunk at proper distances, from 
 the Minnesota shore to the foot of a large island near the 
 centre of the stream, and again from the head of the island 
 to the Wisconsin shore. The boom timbers are hung from 
 pier to pier, and the whole river is entirely commanded, 
 with no possibility of scarcely a single log escaping. The 
 charter of the Company compels them, however, to give 
 
LUMBER REGIONS. 69 
 
 free passage to all boats, rafts, &c., ascending or descend- 
 ing the river. This duty is rather difficult to perform at 
 certain times, particularly when the logs are running into 
 the boom briskly, and hands are not to be had to raft and 
 run thera out. This was the case once this season. The 
 Asia came up with a heavy freight, which she had signed 
 to deliver at Taylor's Falls. When she reached the boom 
 a barrier of three or four miles of logs compactly inter- 
 vened upon the water's surface, and forbade her further 
 progress. The Company had been unable to procure la- 
 borers to clear out the logs, but were nevertheless clearly 
 liable to damages for obstructing navigation. They chose 
 the only remedy at hand, which was to receive the freight, 
 and pay its transportation up to the Falls in Mackinaw 
 boats. With a full complement of men the boom can 
 always be kept clear at the point where it crosses the maia 
 channel of the river. 
 
 *' The importance of the lumber business of the St. Croix 
 river would hardly be estimated by a stranger. Larp-e 
 quantities are floated down the Mississippi to St. Louis. 
 The business of getting out the timber is carried on in the 
 winter, and affords employment to large numbers of young 
 men. The price of timber, as quoted in St. Paul market, 
 is, for the best, $30 per M. ; for common, $20." 
 
 The country lying between Green Bay and the Wolf 
 river, as far north as the State line of Michigan, is slightly 
 rolling, with a general depressive inclination southerly ; 
 generally the soil is rich and productive, and extensively 
 covered with a heavy growth of timber, viz : white and 
 Norway pine, hemlock, rock maple, birch, cedar, tamarac, 
 and some other varieties in smaller quantities. Pine lands, 
 15 miles north of Fond du Lac, without any commercial 
 facilities, except being near some navigable stream, are now 
 worth from ten to twenty dollars per acre. Chicao-o fur- 
 
*IQ LUMBER REGIONS. 
 
 nishes, to St. Louis, as a regular business, large quantities 
 of manufactured lumber from that section of country ; and 
 such is the profit derived from this branch of trade to all 
 concerned in it, that along the streams of Northern Wis- 
 consin, navigable for lumber, nearly all the Government 
 pine lands, for a distance of 15 miles north of Fond du 
 Lac, have been taken up. Near the Michigan line and 
 north of it, large quantities of the most beautiful and valu- 
 able curl and bird's eye maple abound. 
 
 The rapids of the streams flowing through this part of 
 the country furnish abundant water-power for the manufac- 
 ture of lumber ; and on the annual spring rise, and occa- 
 sional freshets at other seasons of the year, the yield of the 
 mills is floated from the Wolf into Lake Winnebago and 
 the Lower Fox. Large quantities besides are floated into 
 Green Bay. It is difficult to estimate the amount of lum- 
 ber produced yearly in the region under consideration. 
 The pine trees from which it is made are nearly all taken 
 from the public lands. From reports to Government, it 
 is calculated that the timber on the Oconto and Wolf 
 rivers, and on the head waters of other streams, will afford 
 sufficient supplies for thirty years, although becoming less 
 accessible every year. 
 
 Lumber from Wisconsin now passes in considerable 
 quantities through the Illinois Canal to the Mississippi, 
 and the towns on the Illinois river. 
 
 The produce of the Wolf river pineries, although but 
 lately noticed, has hitherto been underrated. It has been 
 estimated, by persons w^ell acquainted with the business, 
 that in logs and lumber an amount equal to not less than 
 seventy-five millions of feet of pine lumber passed down 
 the Wolf river last year, and will not be less the present 
 year. The business is increasing, and employs a great 
 many men and teams. It is estimated that the work of 
 
LUMBER REGIONS. 71 
 
 each ox team, and the number of hands employing it, will 
 clear from five to seven hundred dollars in a season over 
 expenses ; although there are instances in which nearly 
 double that amount has been made. Most of those en- 
 gaged in the lumber business of Wolf river are from Maine, 
 and state the facility for getting logs out and running them 
 to be superior to anything in their experience. The oppor- 
 tunities for going into business have been very favorable 
 to poor men, and at the present time there is no class of 
 people in a more thriving condition than the lumbermen. 
 Pine lands are now held at from five to ten dollars per 
 acre, and, in some instances, as high as twenty for choice 
 tracts. 
 
 The quantity of lumber manufactured from the various 
 regions or lumbering points in 1854, was estimated as 
 follows ; 
 
 Black River 48,000,000 
 
 Chippewa 60,000,000 
 
 Green Bay and Oconto 100,000,000 
 
 Manitowoc 85,000,000 
 
 St. Croix 70,000,000 
 
 Red Cedar River 20,000,000 
 
 Wisconsin 125,000,000 
 
 Wolf River 40,000,000 
 
 Total 498,000,000 
 
 There are also numerous mills scattered throughout 
 other sections in the State, from which no statistics have 
 been obtained, which, in all, would lead us to estimate the 
 manufacture in the State as high as five hundred and fifty 
 millions of feet in 1854, since which time the business has 
 increased at least 50 per cent. 
 
 The Chicago, St. Paul and Fond du Lac Railroad, by 
 affording an easy communication to a portion of this 
 
*12 LUMBER REGIONS. 
 
 region, will render it more advantageous to the settler. 
 This Company lately received over a million of acres, being 
 a part of the lands donated to the State by the U. S. 
 Government for railroad purposes. 
 
 The Milwaukee and Horicon Railroad Company, from 
 Milwaukee to the City of Superior, is about purchasing 
 from Government a strip of land, equal to a million of 
 acres, which they will select partly from timber lauds. This 
 road, when completed, will also open a vast section of 
 country to improvement 
 
 Persons desirous of settling in Wisconsin should re- 
 member that thousands of acres of fine lands, thichly 
 covered with timber, are yet open to pre-emption, along 
 the routes of these railroads. Although it is at first 
 tedious, and more difficult to bring the soil under cultiva- 
 tion than on the prairie, yet it is generally conceded that, 
 in the end, a farm in the woodland will be the most desi- 
 rable ; the soil is thought to be stronger, and better adapted 
 to wheat, fruit, etc. Emigrants from timbered countries 
 generally select these lands, while those from the prairie 
 regions of Illinois and Iowa settle on the prairies here. 
 The first crop is put in on the sod, and is generally very 
 good. 
 
 Eastern capitalists are greatly needed to develop the 
 unrivalled water-power of the rivers we have mentioned, 
 as yet but partially used. The immense pineries at their 
 sources are convenient to their several falls ; besides, the 
 growing demand for lumber in the adjoining States (with- 
 out any competition in the Mississippi valley), presents 
 opportunities for the investment of their capital rarely 
 offered. Most of these rivers empty into the Mississippi, 
 and are navigable for rafts and boats of large size. 
 
RIVERS. t3 
 
 RIVERS. 
 
 Wisconsin is more bountifully supplied with water com- 
 municatioQ than any other State in the Union. On its 
 western border flows the mighty Mississippi, while its inte- 
 rior is traversed in every direction by navigable streams, 
 flowing generally in a southwestern direction, and dis- 
 charging their waters into this great river. 
 
 The Mississippi rises far in the regions of the northwest, 
 and flows but a short distance before it becomes a broad 
 stream. Sometimes, in its beginnings, it moves, a wide 
 expanse of waters, with a current scarcely perceptible, 
 along a marshy bed. At other times it is compressed to a 
 narrow and rapid current, between ancient and hoary lime- 
 stone bluffs. No thinking mind can contemplate this 
 mighty and resistless stream, sweeping ever onward from 
 point to point, through dark forests, and cultivated lands, 
 without a feeling of awe. 
 
 After a course of about two hundred miles from its 
 source, it bends towards the east, and approaches within 
 forty miles of the Bay of St. Louis, the head of ocean 
 steam navigation of Lake Superior. From the earliest 
 accounts we have qf this route from the lake to the river, 
 it has been more generally traversed than any other in the 
 northwest. Large quantities of furs have been sent from 
 the northern part of Wisconsin in bark canoes up the St. 
 Louis river, thence carried across the portage to Sandy 
 Lake, and re-embarked there for the Mississippi. This 
 trip has frequently been taken by tourists, and by many of 
 the first settlers of the City of Superior. 
 
 On the bosom of the "Mighty Father of Waters," the 
 agricultural and mineral productions of our State find their 
 way to St. Louis, New Orleans, and the Gulf of Mexico. 
 
•y^ RIVERS. 
 
 Immense rafts of lumber are constantly seen floating down 
 its current, consigned to Yarious ports on its banks. 
 
 The lands bordering on this river are of incomparable 
 fertility, equally adapted to the growth of wheat or the 
 rearing of cattle, and afford a large surplus for exportation. 
 The immigration to this favored region is great. Tillages 
 and towns are rapidly springing up, on sites which, a few 
 years ago, were the hunting grounds of various savage 
 tribes. The daily travel on steamboats up this river is 
 enormous, and increasing at such a rapid rate, that in a 
 few years the valley of the Upper Mississippi will contain 
 a dense population. 
 
 The Wisconsin is the largest river that intersects the 
 State. It rises near the northern boundary, and flows 
 southward to the Winnebago Portage, in Columbia county ; 
 thence it pursues a southwesterly direction until it enters 
 the Mississippi, four miles below Prairie du Chien. The 
 whole length is estimated at 600 miles. In the upper part 
 of its course it is bordered by extensive forests of pine 
 timber, of which large quantities are sent to market. It 
 is navigable for steamboats to Portage City, about two 
 hundred miles, and a canal is in process of construction 
 from this point to the Nenah or Fox river, a distance of a 
 mile and a half. Once completed, heavy freight between 
 the Eastern markets and St. Louis will seek this channel, 
 in preference to that of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, 
 as now it seeks the latter in preference to other routes. 
 
 The St. Croix river has its extreme source in Lake St. 
 Croix and several other lakes that lie near the west end of 
 Lake Superior. It is but a short distance (four miles, we 
 believe), between this and Burnt Wood river, which flows 
 into that lake. Across the narrow portage which sepa- 
 rates their waters, large quantities of furs, merchandise, 
 etc. , have been transported on the shoulders of voyageurs, 
 
RIVERS. "75 
 
 and re-shipped in bark canoes for the Mississippi. The 
 St. Croix river pursues a southwestern course from its 
 source, until it reaches the east line of Minnesota. From 
 this point it flows southward, forming the boundary be- 
 tween that State and Wisconsin, until it empties its waters 
 into the "Great River." The whole length is about two 
 hundred miles. Large quantities of lumber are cut from 
 the extensive pine forests bordering on its banks, and 
 floated down to the Mississippi. 
 
 The Bad Axe, Black, and Chippewa rivers, are im^ 
 portant channels for floating timber to market from the 
 pine regions in the northwestern part of the State. 
 
 The Menomonee, emptying into Green Bay, and the 
 Montreal, into Lake Superior, are rapid streams, which 
 are valuable for mill-sites. They form part of the north- 
 eastern boundary. The Menomonee has a descent of 1049 
 feet. There are numerous saw-mills in operation on its 
 waters, turning out large quantities of lumber yearly, 
 which are floated into Green Bay. 
 
 The St. Louis river, considered as the primary source 
 of the St. Lawrence, flows some thirty miles along the 
 northwestern part of the State ; it is navigable a short 
 distance from its mouth, and will be more fully described 
 in Part 11. of this work. 
 
 The Fox River, or, as it is called by the Indians, Neenah, 
 is one of the most important rivers in the State. It rises 
 in Marquette County, and flows nearly south-west, towards 
 the Wisconsin ; when within one and a half miles of that 
 river, it changes its direction to the north ; after flowing a 
 few miles, it passes through Lake Winnebago, and falls 
 into Green Bay. Its whole length is estimated at two 
 hundred miles. 
 
 The Fox River Improvement is designed to enable boats 
 to pass from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi. 
 
T6 RIVERS. 
 
 The whole length of canal necessary to secure a steam- 
 boat communication from Green Bay to Lake Winnebago, 
 is about five miles. It is 100 feet wide on the bottom, and 
 120 at the top (two feet wider than the famous Welland 
 Canal). The locks are 40 feet wide, by 160 long, and 
 "built in the most permanent manner, of solid stone masonry, 
 and in a style that will not suffer in comparison with any 
 similar work in the Eastern States. It is calculated that, 
 with the improved manner of working these locks, a steamer 
 can pass each in the short space of three minutes. This 
 will afford a rapid transit for the vast amount of freight 
 that must and will seek an outlet through this thoroughfare 
 to an Eastern market. The capacity of the river for all 
 purposes of navigation is undoubted ; at no season of the 
 year can there be any failure of water. 
 
 Twelve miles above Oshkosh, westward, is the mouth of 
 the Wolf River, a tributary of the Fox, and navigable for 
 steamers for one hundred and fifty miles. Forty miles 
 above the mouth of the Wolf River is the town of Berlin ; 
 sixty miles further is Portage City and the town of Fort 
 Winnebago ; above which places, for sixty miles, and below 
 for one hundred and thirty-five miles, the Wisconsin is now 
 Davigable for steamers. 
 
 Through these, a ready communication will be secured 
 with the Mississippi and its tributaries ; and it is confidently 
 calculated that, at no distant day, steam tugs, with between 
 200 and 500 tons burthen in tow, each, from St. Peter's 
 River, from St. Paul, and other places in that direction, 
 will land their cargoes at Green Bay, to be shipped to an 
 Eastern market. The objection to be urged to this route, 
 from so remote a locality, is, that it will take too long to 
 make the transit. To this we have to reply, that it is esti- 
 mated by those who know better than we, that this great 
 distance can and will be overcome by just these kinds of 
 
LAKES. tT 
 
 crafts in from four to six days, and by passenger boats in 
 much less time. 
 
 This improvement will open about 1000 miles to steam 
 navigation, between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi 
 River, including the navigable streams in the interior of 
 Northern Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. 
 
 This stupendous work, when completed, will do far more 
 for the prosperity and advancement of the vast regions, 
 opened to the advantages of connection with the Atlantic 
 market, than any other improvement contemplated. 
 
 LAKES. 
 
 Lake Michigan. — This, which is second of the great 
 lakes in size, is, in situation, soil, and climate, in many 
 respects, preferable to them all. It is tlie largest lake that 
 is wholly included within the United States. Its length, 
 following the curve, is 360 miles ; its greatest breadth, 
 about 90 miles; contains 16,981 square miles, and has a 
 mean depth of 900 feet. Its surface is about 600 feet above 
 the level of the sea. On its western shore is the great 
 indentation of Green Bay, itself equal to the largest 
 European lakes, being a hundred miles in length, by thirty 
 in width, well sheltered at its mouth by the Traverse 
 Islands, and having for its principal affluent the outlet of 
 Lake Winnebago and the Fox River. No lake in the 
 world is surrounded by so rich an agricultural country as 
 Lake Michigan. On its western shore is Wisconsin, with 
 its productive grain and grazing lands, and its immensely 
 valuable lumber region ; on the north-west and north is 
 that vast region of mineral wealth of part of the State of 
 Michigan ; on its eastern border is the Michigan Peninsula, 
 yielding its vast supplies of cereals, especially wheat and 
 maize ; and on the south and south-west lie Indiana and 
 
"78 LAKES. 
 
 Illinois, whose inexhaustible stores of agricultural products 
 amaze the world.' 
 
 On the Wisconsin side, several large cities have sprung 
 - up, which are rapidly increasing in commerce and wealth. 
 
 The total amount of the trade of Lake Michigan for the 
 year 1851, was estimated at $58,468,029. In 1856, the 
 imports and exports of Milwaukee alone, one of its most 
 important ports, reached the sum of $48,000,000. The 
 entire commerce of the Lake for that year amounted to over 
 $3^5,000,000. 
 
 Besides the great lakes which border its northern and 
 eastern shores, Wisconsin has a number of smaller ones, 
 varying from one to thirty-eight miles in extent. These 
 lakes are often surrounded by the most beautiful scenery, 
 and abound in various kinds of fish, while on their shores 
 are found fine specimens of agate, cornelian, and other 
 precious stones. Large quantities of wild rice grow in the 
 shallow waters on the margins of some of them, and attract 
 immense flocks of water-fowl to these localities. 
 
 Lake Winnebago, in the eastern part of the State, is the 
 largest of its inland lakes. It is about twenty-eight miles 
 long and ten wide, with an area of about two hundred and 
 twelve miles, and communicates with Green Bay through 
 the Fox or Neenah River. Its depth is unequal, but amply 
 sufficient for purposes of navigation. 
 
 " Four Lakes" is a name given to a chain of beautiful 
 lakes in Dane County, extending in a line from northwest 
 to southeast, and emptying their w^aters into Catfish River. 
 They are very transparent, and of sufficient depth in most 
 places for navigation. The country surrounding them is 
 undulating, and consists mostly of prairies and "oak 
 openings," which, in the opinion of many, bear a great 
 
 } Andrews' Report. 
 
LAKES. 19 
 
 resemblance to English Park scenery. It is truly the 
 "garden spot" of Wisconsin. 
 
 First Lake, the lowest of the chain, is three miles and 
 one-eighth in length, by two in width, covering about five 
 square miles. It is situated a short distance above Dun- 
 kirk Falls, near the southern line of the county. 
 
 Second Lake, the next in order, is three and a half miles 
 long, and nearly two wide ; and, like First, has an average 
 depth of twelve feet. 
 
 Third Lake is next above, at a distance of seven-eighths 
 of a mile. It is about six and a half miles in length, by 
 two in width. Madison, the capital of the State, is located 
 on the north shore of this lake, on the strip of land between 
 it and the next, about one mile across. 
 
 Fourth Lake. — This beautiful expanse is the uppermost, 
 and by far the largest of the chain — being six miles long, 
 about four wide, and from fifty to seventy feet deep — 
 covering an area of sixteen square miles. It is navigable 
 for small steamboats. 
 
 The land around this lake rises gradually from its mar- 
 gin, and forms, in the distance, the most beautiful eleva- 
 tions, the slopes of which are studded with clumps of 
 woods, and groves of trees, forming the most charming 
 natural scenery. The greatest variety of fish is to be ob- 
 tained in this beautiful lake ; and it is believed, that for 
 salubrity and fertility, this entire region will compare with 
 any portion of the State. 
 
 " The water of all these lakes, coming from springs, is 
 cold and clear to a remarkable degree. For the most part, 
 their shores are made of a fine gravel shingle ; and their 
 bottoms, which are visible at a great depth, are composed 
 of white sand, interspersed with granite boulders. Their 
 banks, with few exceptions, are bold. A jaunt around 
 them affords almost every variety of scenery — bold escarp- 
 
80 maiden's rock. 
 
 ments and overhanging bluffs, elevated peaks, and gently 
 sloping shores, with graceful swells or intervals, affording 
 magnificent views of the distant prairies and openings ; 
 they abound in fish of a great variety, and innumerable 
 water-fowl sport upon the surface. Persons desiring to 
 settle in pleasant locations, with magnificent water-views 
 and woodland scenery, may find hundreds of unoccupied 
 places of unsurpassed beauty upon and near their margins." 
 
 Lake Pepin is an expansion of the Mississippi River, 
 west of Wisconsin. In some places it is three miles wide, 
 but generally averaging about two and a half, filling the 
 whole space from bluff to bluff, except at two points, where 
 small meadows appear, and extending in length twenty- 
 five miles upon the river. It is destitute of islands. All 
 along its shores, majestic bluffs of limestone stretch with 
 more regularity, and rise to a height more nearly uniform, 
 than in other parts of the river. At the entrance of the 
 lake, high above all the rest, towers the " Maiden's Rock," 
 some two hundred feet above the water, grand in nature, 
 and associated with one of the most touching and romantic 
 of Indian legends — the oft-repeated story of Winona. As 
 each passer-by always relates it, we will not be an excep- 
 tion — it is an " ower-true" tale of Indian fidelity and 
 affection : — 
 
 Winona was the daughter of a celebrated chief, who had 
 betrothed her to a favorite warrior ; but her heart had 
 been pledged to another, not less noble, but more youthful 
 brave. She resisted for some time the wishes of her father, 
 but at last he vowed that she must accept the object of his 
 choice. The wedding-day was appointed, and the chief 
 had proclaimed a feast. Among the delicacies to be pro- 
 vided for this occasion, was a certain berry that was found 
 in great perfection upon this bluff. It was on a pleasant 
 summer's evening, and all the female friends of Winona, 
 
MAIDEN^S ROCK. 81 
 
 accompanied by herself, were picking the desired berries. 
 Carelessly did the " dark-haired maidens" wander on ; all 
 at once, a low plaintive song fell upon their ears, and lo I 
 upon the very edge of the frightful precipice stood the 
 hapless Winona. Her song was death-like — she motioned 
 them to keep back — then, one moment more, and Winona, 
 the pride of her tribe, was buried in the clear, cold bosom 
 of Lake Pepin. 
 
 Pure woman's lore, mysterious power, 
 From gentlest breast dispels its fear — 
 
 "Winona, in her darkest hour, 
 
 Nought but its whisperings can hear. 
 
 O'er that tall rock, her death-song floats, 
 Deep and despairing love its theme, 
 
 TJntutor'd nature swells its notes, 
 
 Closing life's sweet, but mad'ning dream. 
 
 Pepin ! thy waters long shall lave, 
 
 With swelling stream, yon rock's rude breast ; 
 
 It marks the Indian maiden's grave. 
 Where one pure heart has sunk to rest. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE PRINCIPAL CITIES — MILWAUKEE — MADISON 
 
 BACINE, ETC. 
 
 Milwaukee," the largest and most important city in the 
 State, and, after Chicago, the most flourishing on the 
 lakes, is situated on the west shore of Lake Michigan, and 
 on both sides of the Milwaukee river. It is pleasantly 
 located, partly on the flats bordering the river, and on the 
 bluflfs rising abruptly from the lake to the height of some 
 100 feet. The river, running nearly parallel to the lake in 
 a southerly direction, is navigable for the largest steam- 
 boats over two miles from its mouth. 
 
 As the commercial capital of Wisconsin, its situation de- 
 mands particular attention. The laws which govern trade 
 and travel are, by the improvements and spirit of the age, 
 reduced to two : — 1st. The shortest route to market ; 2d. 
 The quickest and cheapest mode of transportation. The 
 products of the Northwest seek a market upon the Atlantic 
 coast. Heretofore, New York and Boston have monopo- 
 lized the trade of this region. They will always retain a 
 large share of it; but the recent improvements in the 
 Canadas, and those projected, are rapidly diverting trade 
 to the valley of the St. Lawrence. Business relations are 
 being established between the cities of Quebec, Montreal^ 
 
 1 For the facts and statistics in this article, "we are indebted to 
 the Report of the Board of Trade, prepared by its Secretary, An- 
 drew J. Aikens, Esq. 
 
 (82) 
 
ADVANTAGES OF MILWAUKEE. 83 
 
 Toronto, and Hamilton, on the one hand, and the Western 
 Lake ports on the other. As regards New York and 
 Boston, Milwaukee holds the most favorable position of 
 any port on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Taking 
 Buffalo as a common point on all the lines of trade be- 
 tween these ports and those markets, it will be seen : 1st. 
 That Milwaukee, by water communication, has the advan- 
 tage in time and distance over any places at the south. 
 2d. For the most direct route to Buffalo, either by land 
 or water carriage, Milwaukee (so soon as the direct com- 
 munication by the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad is 
 opened) presents the most natural centre for all the trade 
 and travel between the Northwest and the East. 
 
 It may be remarked here, that this direct route, including, 
 as it does, 81 miles of ferriage, from Milwaukee to Grand 
 Haven, is considered by some as of doubtful practical 
 utility, as a reliable and safe means of communication at 
 all seasons. Let it be borne in mind, however, that ice 
 never forms in Lake Michigan, owing to its great depth, 
 and that the two termini of the ferry, viz : Milwaukee and 
 Grand Haven harbors, would be kept open by the semi- 
 daily boats, if not by the direct action of the waves of the 
 lake. The only severe storms to be feared being from the 
 N. N. E., would not, even in the worst cases, prevent 
 good staunch boats making their regular trips, as in leaving 
 Milwaukee harbor they would be constantly making a wind- 
 ward shore and smooth sea, and in leaving Grand Haven, 
 although approaching a lee shore and rough water, would 
 have an easy and safe access to a secure river harbor. The 
 only days on which regular trips could not be made would 
 be those when the cold was so intense that ice would form 
 rapidly on the running and steering machinery of the boats. 
 This would not be, according to observations made for a 
 series of years, more than five days in the year. Even the 
 
84 MILWAUKEE. 
 
 present winter, with thirty days of cold weather, the harbor 
 remained open. 
 
 As the general direction of Northwestern trade and 
 travel is coincident with the parallels of latitude instead of 
 those of longitude, and as Milwaukee is in the same degree 
 as the great Eastern markets, it can be easily seen that all 
 the contemplated and progressing improvements must make 
 it the natural centre or most available common point in 
 the Northwest, whether by the semi-inland route, through 
 Michigan and Canada, or around the Lakes. The advan- 
 tages of this position will be very strongly developed, so 
 soon as the direct route east, via Grand Haven and De- 
 troit or Port Huron, is opened, and our system of railroads 
 to the Mississippi completed. Its business radius will then 
 extend from below Savanna, 111., in the Mississippi valley, 
 to the extreme Northwest, sweeping in the trade of North- 
 western Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska, in addition to that 
 of our own State. 
 
 The harbor of Milwaukee is one of the best on the Great 
 Lakes. The river widens at its mouth into a semi-circular 
 bay, 6/5 miles from point to point, and Sg^^ miles across. 
 At the point of approach to the lake, an artificial ^channel 
 is in progress of construction. 
 
 This new harbor entrance is 260 feet in width, and will 
 soon be excavated to a sufficient depth to accommodate the 
 heaviest tonnage of the Lakes, and, when completed, will 
 make it the most accessible and capacious on Lake Mich- 
 igan. The facilities presented by the old harbor — in im- 
 proving which the United States expended, in 1844-5, 
 $50,000 — will still be preserved. For over five-eighths of 
 a mile between these two entrances, the river is both wide 
 and deep. Nothing but the grossest and most ruinous 
 Deglect, on the part of the city and of the U. S. Government, 
 will ever permit this old harbor to fill up or become useless. 
 
EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES. 85 
 
 EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES — HEALTHFULNESS OF LOCATION 
 
 Milwaukee, unlike many other cities of the West, com- 
 bines the advantages of trade with equal advantages of 
 education and health. 
 
 The system of Free Schools was early established in 
 Wisconsin, by the appropriation of the sixteenth section 
 of every township in the State for the support and mainte- 
 nance of common schools. From the proceeds of the sec- 
 tional and overflowed lands, donated to the State, it is 
 estimated that the School Fund will amount to $5,000,000. 
 The avails of this permanent fund are set apart for the 
 purposes of education. 
 
 There are, in the City of Milwaukee, seven public 
 schools. Each school has a primary, intermediate, and 
 grammar department, and each department two or three 
 teachers. The amount expended for educational purposes 
 during the past year (aside from school-house repairs), was 
 about $15,000. Of this sum, nearly $8000 accrues from 
 the State Fund. 
 
 Besides the public schools, the city has a University, in- 
 corporated with full powers, and in successful operation, 
 not inferior to any institution of the kind in the West. It 
 has, also, a Female College in flourishing condition. In 
 addition to these, there are several private schools of cha- 
 racter and reputation, and a fully-organized Commercial 
 College, all of which are well patronized and sustained. 
 
 Built upon the high bluffs of Lake Michigan, and the 
 picturesque slopes of the Milwaukee river, this city is un- 
 rivalled in beauty of location by any other in the North- 
 west. It is a rare circumstance to hear of a person of 
 delicate health leaving it on account of difficulty of accli- 
 mation. On the other hand, instances are numerous of 
 8 
 
S6 
 
 MILWAUKEE. 
 
 people coming here with tendency to diseases of various 
 kinds, who have, after a few years' residence, entirely re- 
 covered. In summer it is not subject to the excessively hot 
 and sultry weather of low towns, and in winter there is not 
 the same intensity of cold — the lake being colder than the 
 atmosphere in summer and warmer in winter. We estimate 
 the mortality for the past year at two per cent., being less 
 than the average of Boston or Buffalo for the past five 
 years. 
 
 POPULATION. 
 
 The rise, history, and growth of the City of Milwaukee, 
 is one of the wonders of a marvellous age and region. A 
 few years ago the present site was a solitary waste, or field 
 of savage warfare. In 1834 it contained only two log 
 houses. The following table will show its rapid Increase, 
 np to the present date. 
 
 1838 700 
 
 1840 1,751 
 
 1842 2,700 
 
 1846 9,655 
 
 1847 14,061 
 
 1850 20,000 
 
 1853 25,000 
 
 1855 32,000 
 
 1857 45,000 
 
 1860 estimated 60,000 
 
 This increase has not been spasmodic or forced, but has 
 followed the growth of the country tributary to it. 
 
 VALUATION. 
 
 The following table will show the assessed valuation of 
 the real and personal property of the city. The prepon- 
 derance in favor of the Third Ward is owing to the fact 
 that the heaviest part of the mercantile wealth is located 
 here, and constitutes nearly one-half of its valuation. 
 
BUIXiDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS. 81 
 
 First Ward $3,262,260 
 
 Second Ward 3,095,950 
 
 Third Ward 8,958,850 
 
 Fourth Ward 5,358,470 
 
 Fifth Ward 5,094,110 
 
 Sixth Ward 1,999,190 
 
 Seventh Ward 6,388,340 
 
 Total $35,458,130 
 
 The actual indebtedness of tlie city on the 4th of March, 
 1856, as reported by the City Comptroller, was $229,550. 
 
 The tax list is divided as follows for the current year 
 of 1857 : 
 
 Ward Tax $69,935 
 
 Interest Tax 31,196 
 
 County Tax 47,944 
 
 City Expenses 23,976 
 
 State Tax 22,374 
 
 School Tax 9,588 
 
 Total Taxation $199,013 
 
 REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS. 
 
 Real estate during the first six months of the past year 
 advanced rapidly, and at the rate of 25 to 30 per cent, 
 increase on the prices of 1855. It closed with prices 
 steady at the advance made in the early part of the season. 
 It was marked by great activity in building, and the im- 
 provements were of the most substantial character. In 
 fact, their extent has been only limited by the supply of 
 material and mechanics. 
 
 BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 Formerly, the brickmakers of Milwaukee were able to 
 supply the consumption at home, and also export to the 
 extent of 12,000,000. During the past year, although 
 
88 MILWAUKEE. 
 
 there has been a large increase of manufacture, less than 
 1,000,000 of bricks were exported, and of this number a 
 great share was on old contracts. Large numbers of stores 
 were erected, many of them spacious and valuable build- 
 ings. As nearly as we can ascertain, there are of this class 
 15 stores, of an aggregate cost of $250,000. In addition 
 to these improvements, there were erected 500 small build- 
 ings, including shops, offices, and dwellings, costing, on 
 an average, $1000 each, at an aggregate cost of $500,000, 
 
 Besides the improvements we have mentioned, there 
 were many other buildings erected. The amount expended 
 upon construction and repairs, exclusive of streets and 
 ground, exceeds $2,150,000. 
 
 In this connection it is pertinent to remark, that Mil- 
 waukee is celebrated for the manufacture of a peculiar kind 
 of brick, of a delicate cream or straw color, agreeable to 
 the eye, and unaffected by the action of the elements. The 
 appearance of the houses, chiefly built of this material, is 
 very striking, and to a stranger visiting the place for the 
 first time, presents an admirable and remarkable sight. 
 Few cities in the country (if, indeed, there are any) have 
 the materials for building more at hand, or of finer quality, 
 than this. Not only quarries of beautiful, light-colored 
 stone, within the limits of the city, and adjacent to the 
 railroads, but also lime in abundance for home consump- 
 tion and exportation. 
 
 As to lumber, the pineries of the north supply the city 
 with 100,000,000 feet annually. 
 
 WHOLESALE TRADE. 
 
 The wholesale business of Milwaukee has received a 
 great impetus lately, on account of the penetration of the 
 interior of the State by railroads, and the opening of a 
 direct road to the Mississippi. From present appearances, 
 
WHOLESALE TRADE. 89 
 
 there is abundant reason for believing that this part of its 
 trade has but just begun, and that the future will see it 
 increase in still greater ratio. 
 
 During the present year, the Milwaukee and Mississippi 
 Kailroad was opened to Galena and Dubuque, and also to 
 Prairie du Chien. By either of these routes merchandise 
 can be delivered from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi 
 river, with less railroad transit than any routes now in 
 existence. 
 
 Among the most important railroads is the Milwaukee 
 and La Crosse, which passes through the interior of the 
 State, opening up some of the finest farming lands in the 
 West ; also running its branches into the lumber and 
 mining regions of the North, as well as forming connec- 
 tions with the Land Grant roads of Minnesota, which will 
 eventually carry to Milwaukee, to be shipped to the East, 
 a large portion of the produce of that productive State. 
 The completion of these roads will bring to this city a 
 heavy trade, that has been always supposed would centre 
 at Chicago. Already Milwaukee outstrips her in the grain 
 business ; the receipts and exports at this place, the pre- 
 sent season, exceed those of Chicago, and there is no rea- 
 son to show why they may not for the future. 
 
 The merchants of this city procure transportation at a 
 less tariff of freight than any port on the lake, by the lines 
 of propellers now running between this and the lower lake 
 ports, so that they are able to sell to the more Western 
 houses at rates of advance, on New York, Boston, and 
 Philadelphia prices, little more than cost, insurance, and 
 transportation. At least 150 merchants are engaged in the 
 wholesale business of this city, besides a large number who 
 do a heavy retail trade with the country lying on the rail- 
 road lines. The amount of the wholesale trade, for the 
 year 1856, is estimated at $16,942,000. 
 8* 
 
90 MILWAUKEE. 
 
 Amonp: the houses included in this estimate are eighteen 
 whose sales are over $200,000 each; eight that sell over 
 $300,000 each; three that sell over $400,000; and two 
 that sell over $500,000 each. 
 
 MONETARY. 
 
 No city in the Union offers better, safer, or more remu- 
 nerative employment for capital, than Milwaukee. The 
 banking-system of Wisconsin is probably the safest in the 
 United States. Under such an organization it is scarcely 
 possible that bill-holders can suffer loss.' 
 
 There is no law in Wisconsin against high rates of 
 interest. The legal rate for banks being 10 per cent., and 
 12 per cent, for other purposes. The penalty for higher 
 than these rates being simply a forfeiture of the interest 
 charged, and only recoverable by a tender of the principal 
 
 1 "Every bank must transfer, in trust, to the State Treasurer, 
 United States stocks, or any State stocks on which full interests at 
 not less than six per cent, is annually paid, and estimated at their 
 average value for the previous six mo'hths in New York City, equal 
 to the amount of bills intended to be put in circulation ; but the 
 Comptroller is not bound to receive them unless he considers them 
 safe. 
 
 *' The law further provides that the bonds of any Railroad company 
 in this State, which have forty miles or more in operation, bearing 
 a rate of seven per cent, per annum, interest payable semi-annually, 
 and secured by a deed of trust upon such road, may be received in 
 lieu of public stocks ; but, in such case, bills shall be issued for not 
 more than one-half the amount of such bonds. 
 
 "And, as an additional security to bill-holders, it is provided that, 
 before circulating any notes, bonds shall be given by the directors 
 and stockholders of the bank, secured to the satisfaction of the 
 Comptroller, to the amount of one-fourth the bills to be issued. 
 
 " Each bill must have on its face the words, * Secured by pledge 
 of Public stocks,' (or of Railroad bonds,) and be countersigned by 
 the Bank Comptroller." — Abstract of the Banking Law of the State. 
 
BANKING — WHEAT TRADE. 
 
 91 
 
 in gold. Large amounts of capital are flowing here yearly 
 for investment, drawn from other States, in which the legal 
 rates of interest are from six to eight per cent. 
 
 The Banks average 10 per cent, dividends ; the Insurance 
 Companies, 10 to 15 ; and the Railroads, 8 to 10 per cent. 
 Several millions of dolllars could be invested at these rates 
 in the city. 
 
 Table, showing the Principal Items in the Reports of the Bayiks of the 
 City of Milwaukee, as made to the Comptroller, for January, 1857. 
 
 Name of Banks. 
 
 L^ars and 
 Discoiii Is. 
 
 S'ockde- 
 {jnsited. 
 
 Specie. 
 
 Cap'al. 
 
 $4ro,00' 
 2^0,000 
 200.000 
 100,00 ' 
 2^.000 
 50,000 
 25 000 
 
 Circula- 
 tion. 
 
 859,721 
 43^:09 
 46 347 
 49.327 
 22 9m7 
 23,-2 
 2 ,623 
 
 Deposits. 
 
 S ate Bank nf Wisconsin, . . 
 Farmers' and M:ll*>rs' Bank, 
 Ba k nf Milwaukee, - . . 
 VViscon. M. & F. L. Co. Bank, 
 
 Peiple'i Hank, 
 
 M ir ne Bank, 
 
 Second VVai (IBank, . . .' 
 
 1 T'.tal, 
 
 §774,^84 96 
 .572,810 90 
 374,367 .50 
 361 695 6t. 
 73 278 19 
 W,^22 r. 
 6(1.003 61 
 
 <J69.000 
 45,000 
 50 000 
 50,000 
 23,0<"!0 
 30,000 
 25,000 
 
 $50,823 19 
 22,434 65 
 II 910 43 
 66,940 02 
 8, 1 1 1 60 
 5,049 09 
 11,103 94 
 
 $485,887 75 
 371,774 85 
 I01,3-.3 37 
 320.963 02 
 7 ,412,^4 
 97,776 .1 
 72,495 82 
 
 $2,305 663 59 
 
 $292,000 
 
 $ 176,372 '.2 
 
 $1,050,00C 
 
 $2 6 366 
 
 $1,527 693 86 
 
 Besides the business done by the eight banks of issue, 
 there is a large amount of transactions through private 
 bankers and brokers. During the past year, there was 
 added to the banking capital of the city $415,000, and it 
 is contemplated to increase the capital of several banks 
 during the current year of 185Y. From careful estimates, 
 the amount of money used by the entire mercantile and 
 manufacturing business for 1856, exceeded $30,000,000. 
 
 WHEAT TRADE. 
 
 Milwaukee is one of the largest grain-markets in the 
 world. Probably nine-tenths of the surplus wheat (the 
 staple) of the State, is shipped from her port. So high 
 has Wisconsin wheat stood at the Eastern and European 
 markets, that its merchants have been able to sell it for 
 eight to ten cents per bushel above the prices for Illinois 
 and more southern States. This fact has turned the atten- 
 
92 MILWAUKEE. 
 
 tion of farmers to raising it, to the exclusion of other 
 grains ; and, while the wheat crop, since 1850, has increased 
 at the ratio of fifty per cent, per annum, the crops of rye, 
 oats, barley, and corn, have remained stationary, or advanced 
 only with the home demand. 
 
 The crop of 1856 was the largest ever harvested in the 
 State, and was secured in good condition. It was esti- 
 mated at 12,000,000 bushels, an excess of 4,000,000 over 
 the crop of 1855. We add a table, showing the rates at 
 which Chicago and Milwaukee spring-wheat sold in New 
 York during the past year. With such an advantage for 
 Milwaukee wheat, this market will always have the pre- 
 ference over Chicago. 
 
 Prices of Wheat at New York, 1856. 
 
 Date. Chicago. Milwaukee. 
 
 June 1 $1 40 $1 48 
 
 " 7 125 140 
 
 "14 122 1 37i (choice). 
 
 " 23 129 136 
 
 July 2 130 137i 
 
 " 9 139 150 
 
 " 16 130 140 
 
 " 23 134 144 
 
 Aug. 1 1 45 1 61 (choice). 
 
 Sept. 1 120 130 
 
 Oct. 1 135 144 
 
 Nov. 1 138 (choice). 144 
 
 Dec. 1 134 « 140 
 
 RAILROAD SYSTEM OF MILWAUKEE. 
 
 1 MIS city is connected by railroads with every section of 
 the Union. The Milwaukee and Mississippi, the Mil^ 
 waukee and Watertown, East and West, connecting the 
 Lakes and the Mississippi River. The La Crosse and 
 Milwaukee, and the Chicago, St. Paul, and Fond du Lac 
 
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. 93 
 
 railroads, each connecting her with Lake Superior. The 
 railroad from Green Bay, through Milwaukee, to Chicago, 
 commonly called the Lake Shore road, is to her what the 
 Hudson River railway is to Troy and Albany, in the State 
 of New York. Other railroads are projected, either new 
 routes or old ones, to intersect the country in various direc- 
 tions. Some of these, doubtless, will be carried through, 
 although the period of their completion is more distant 
 than of those above-named. 
 
 IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. 
 
 Milwaukee is the market for the greater part of the 
 products of Wisconsin. Steamboats, and other vessels 
 navigating the lake, touch here on their way to and from 
 Detroit, and points on Lake Erie, and the St. Lawrence 
 and Welland Canals. It is the principal port of entry of 
 the district of the same name, comprising about 100 miles 
 of the western shore of Lake Michigan. This tonnage, 
 belonging to the district of Milwaukee, December 31st, 
 1856, was as follows : 
 
 Total tonnage of Steamers 1,869'.32 
 
 " " Propellers ^ 705'54 
 
 " " Barks 1,215-22 
 
 " " Brigs 2,095-17 
 
 " " Schooners 14,989-06 
 
 Total amount of tonnage 21,497-50 
 
 1854. 1855. 1856. 
 
 Tonnage 12,000. 14,342. 21,497. 
 
 Increase in two years 8,874. 
 
 The number of arrivals and departures for the year were 
 4,t20, with an aggregate tonnage of 2,009,826; with 
 84,549 seamen on board. 
 
94 MILWAUKEE. 
 
 Arrivala of Vessels at the Port of Milivaukee, during the navigation 
 season of 1856. 
 
 Steam Vessels. Sail Vessels. Total. 
 
 In the month of April 61 60 121 
 
 " *' May lir 151 268 
 
 " " June 119 24r 366 
 
 « " July 187 138 325 
 
 " " Aug 194 184 378 
 
 « " Sept 185 152 337 
 
 " *' Oct 149 126 275 
 
 " " Nov 71 76 147 
 
 " <' Dec 8 18 26 
 
 Total 1091 1152 2243 
 
 Besides the additions to its fleet at the ship-yards, the 
 Chicago and Milwaukee line of steamers is now owned and 
 registered at this port. 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 Total amount of Tonnage of the District of Milwanhee, Dec. Z\st, 1856. 
 
 Vessels. Tons. 
 
 Steamers 3 1,869-32 
 
 Propellers 2 705-54 
 
 Barks 3 1,21622 
 
 Brigs 7 2,095-17 
 
 Schooners 90 15,581-83 
 
 Total 105 21,467-08 
 
 It would be an unpardonable omission, should we over- 
 look the departure from this port of the Schooner Dean 
 Richmond, with a cargo of wheat for Liverpool, England. 
 This important event took place on the 21st of July, 1856, 
 amid one of the most pleasant demonstrations, on the part 
 of the mercantile community, ever made in this city. The 
 Richmond was loaded at the warehouse of H. & J. F. Hill, 
 
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. 95 
 
 on the Milwaukee Kiver, with a cargo of selected club 
 wheat. She was owned by C. Y. Richmond and Captain 
 Pierce, and the cargo sent out by C. J. Kershaw, of Mon- 
 treal. The vessel registered 371 tons, and took 14,000 
 bushels. She arrived at Liverpool on the 29th of Sep- 
 tember, cargo and vessel in excellent condition. Thus 
 was commenced, what will eventually prove to be of vast 
 importance — direct trade with JEurope, via the St. Law- 
 rence and the Great Lakes. 
 
 During the past year, the American and Western Trans- 
 portation Companies have run daily lines of propellers 
 between this port and Buffalo, on Lake Erie, and are ready 
 to supply the wants of the freight traffic with every carrying 
 facility necessary for the expeditious transaction of business. 
 In 1856 the trade of this city with Oswego, on Lake 
 Ontario, had more than doubled. Of three million bushels 
 of wheat shipped from this port, one-third has found its 
 way to Oswego. The trade with Canada has also largely 
 increased ; a good share of the exports of flour and pork 
 having gone to Canadian markets. 
 
 The revenue collected at the Port of Milwaukee during the year 1856, 
 up to December ISth, amounts to $205,992 40.- 
 
 Value of mdse. entered during same period, $895,848 00 
 
 Duty $268,126 30 
 
 Value of goods remaining in warehouse on 
 
 December 31st, 1855 161,064 00 
 
 Duty 49,931 10 
 
 Total ; $1,056,912 00 $318,057 40 
 
 Deduct value withdrawn and duty paid ... 636,806 00 205,992 40 
 
 Value of merchandise remaining in ware- 
 house, December 18th, 1856 $420,106 00 $112,065 00 
 
96 MILWAUKEE 
 
 COMPATJATIVE DUTIES. 
 Amount 0/ Duties collected during the years 1S55 and 1856. 
 
 1855. 1856. 
 
 January $11,259 90 $11,220 30 
 
 February 11,702 60 22,845 30 
 
 March 5,765 60 685 70 
 
 April 918 00 6,4.32 50 
 
 May 20,687 40 6,467 80 
 
 June 13,025 30 6,534 00 
 
 July 19,92190 19,607 60 
 
 August 9,138 70 19.056 80 
 
 September 12,645 30 16,70190 
 
 October 16,203 20- 21,66140 
 
 November 27,093 00 38,588 70 
 
 December 25,467 60 37,390 60 
 
 Total $172,130 00 $205,992 60 
 
 Comparative Value of Imports at the Port of Mihoaiikee. 
 
 Total, 1854 $11,124,000 
 
 «< 1855 18,649,832 
 
 " 1856 27,974,748 
 
 Comparative Value of Exports. 
 
 Total, 1851 $2,607,824 
 
 " 1854 7,709,571 
 
 « 1865 17,329,531 
 
 " 1856 20,274,300 
 
 The imports and exports for the year 1856, for the Port 
 of Milwaukee, do not represent, by many millions of dollars, 
 the entire traffic of the city. It is estimated that the entire 
 imports and exports, by lake and railroad, amount to 
 $15,000,000, or about one-fifth of the entire commerce of 
 Lake Michigan. The completion of the railroads from 
 Milwaukee to the Mississippi and Lake Superior, will at 
 once double or treble the present extent of its commerce. 
 
 MANUFACTURES. 
 
 The manufactures of Milwaukee are yet in their infancy, 
 but are annually increasing in variety and extent, and rising 
 
MANUFACTURES. 9t 
 
 in importance. There are in this city some eighteen shops, 
 employing from twelve to one hundred men each, and 
 turning out an aggregate amount of $800,000 of work per 
 annum. Fully one-half the present capital was added the 
 past year, and no less than six of these establishments were 
 new during the year 1856. Extensions and enlargements 
 are contemplated for the present year to the amount of 
 $300,000, besides several new establishments. 
 
 ALE, BEER, ETC. 
 
 During the year 1856, there were twenty-six breweries 
 in operation in the city, manufacturing 15,000 barrels of 
 ale and beer, the larger portion of which was lager beer. 
 Of this amount, probably 30,000 barrels were sent from 
 this city. The entire capital employed was about $1,000,000. 
 Enlargements and extensions were made during the year 
 to the amount of $250,000. The number of men employed 
 is about 500, at average wages of $8 per week. 
 
 BRICK-MAKING. 
 
 Notwithstanding the demand from abroad for the beau- 
 tiful Milwaukee brick has been unabated, still the con- 
 sumption at home has been so great that but few have 
 been exported. While, in 1856 there were manufactured 
 35,000,000, only 1,000,000 were exported. There are 
 eight brick-yards in operation, employing about 300 men. 
 
 FLOURING-MILLS. 
 
 Large outlays, during the past year, have been made 
 upon the flouring-mills of the city, causing them to remain 
 idle a considerable portion of the time. The total amount 
 of flour manufactured by the five mills, beside custom work, 
 was 116,000 barrels. 
 9 
 
98 MILWAUKEE. 
 
 PORK AND BEEF PACKING. 
 
 During the past year, the first Cattle Market ever opened 
 in the city, was started by Messrs. Layton & Plankinton. 
 It was commenced in August, and they sold, to the close 
 of the year, about $60,000. 
 
 The beef packing amounted to about the same as 1855, 
 or about 10,000 bbls. About 100 men are employed in 
 this business, at $1.50 per day, for the season. 
 
 BOOTS AND SHOES. 
 
 There has been a large increase in the manufacture of 
 boots and shoes. The amount for the past year was 
 $350,000, against $185,000 for the year before. There 
 are 500 men employed, at average wages of $1 per week. 
 
 CLOTHING. 
 
 The manufacture of clothing, for the year 1856, nearly 
 doubled that of 1855, and now amounts to $600,000. The 
 number of hands employed by the wholesale houses is over 
 450, at average wages of $t.50 per week. 
 
 SHIP BUILDING. 
 
 During the first months of 1856, the amount of tonnage 
 launched was 1600 — one propeller and five schooners. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 There are many branches of industry that could be 
 spoken of with interest, but the limits of this work forbid. 
 It is satisfactory to notice that the manufacturers of Mil- 
 waukee are so prosperous and -successful. The advance- 
 ment has been beyond all expectation, and bids fair to out- 
 rival the past history of this industrious city. 
 
EARLY DAYS. 99 
 
 The total araonnt of the various manufactures in Milwaukee, 
 
 for the year 1856, were $8,057,000 
 
 The total for the year 1855, were 5,590,000 
 
 « u " 1854, <' 4,638,000 
 
 The merchants of Milwaukee are energetic and enter- 
 prising ; its Board of Trade active, efficient, and attentive 
 to its commercial and industrial interests. A report of the 
 business of the cit}^ is annually published by its Secretary, 
 and widely circulated. Much of its prosperity may be 
 traced to the efforts of this Board, in addition to its ably- 
 conducted newspaper press. 
 
 From these returns it will be seen what a splendid future 
 awaits Milwaukee. In a few years its population will have 
 reached one hundred thousand. Every new development 
 of trade, the railroads opened throughout the vast extent 
 of country tributary to it, the commerce of the lakes — all 
 add to its wealth, population, and importance. Tt is en- 
 tering upon a career that will certainly place it on a level 
 with the large commercial cities of the Eastern States. 
 Should it not be the ambition of every citizen to make it 
 worthy of its high destiny ? 
 
 EARLY DAYS. 
 
 Before closing this sketch of Milwaukee, it may be w^ell 
 to give a short account of her ''early days," with a word 
 or two in regard to Solomon Juueau, one of the ''first 
 settlers." 
 
 Thirty-nine years ago this enterprising pioneer immi- 
 grated from Canada, and built for himself a log cabin on 
 the future site of this great city. For seventeen long years 
 the "children of the forest" were his only neighbors. He 
 kept a few goods suitable for their wants, and was not only 
 the merchant of the place, but the only "white settler." 
 
 It is very rare that, in these hurrying days, men live to 
 
100 MILWAUKEE. 
 
 see their anticipations realized — whether they strive to win 
 a farm from the wilderness, or to found a city; But Solo- 
 mon Juneau, the first white settler of Milwaukee, is a rare 
 and an honored exception. lie "still lives" — and as he 
 treads alone the banks of that beautiful river, upon which 
 he made his lodgment in the wilderness, with what feelings 
 must he revert to the scenes of his early life ? The Indians 
 with whom he traded — where are they ? Alas ! the story 
 of the "red men" has become an "oft-told tale;" it ex- 
 cites little interest at the present day. They are gone ! 
 The hardy pioneers who gradually clustered around the site 
 of his cabin, and whom a life of mutual hardships and pri- 
 vations converted into friends and neighbors, have also 
 disappeared. They, too, have passed to "that undis- 
 covered country, from whose bourne no traveller returns." 
 No mark remains of the cabin of the "first settler." In 
 its stead has sprung up, as if by some magic influence, a 
 great and populous city. His early home is obliterated by 
 the homes of thousands, and the clearing, in which his 
 axe only was heard, now resounds with the busy hum of 
 men, toiling together to realize their anticipations of for- 
 tune and happiness, upon the spot where, less than forty 
 years ago, he felled the first tree, to frame the home of the 
 "pioneer." 
 
 Truly he has cause for wonder, and as the reminiscences 
 of the past crowd upon his memory, and bring the lights 
 of other days around him, he may well feel that he "treads 
 alone" those now crowded scenes, the solitary witness of 
 the city's birth. He, too, approaches the termination of a 
 varied and useful life ; let us hope that the end of the 
 " pioneer" may be peaceful and happy.' 
 
 J At the first charter election in the new city, Solomon Juneau was 
 elected M.iyoi', which was a well-merited compliment to the "old 
 pioneer." Subsequently lie left Milwaukee and settled in Dodge 
 
EARLY DAYS. 101 
 
 " In the spring of 1835,' a Land Office being established 
 at G^reen Bay, the land was brought into market, and Mr. 
 Juneau purchased a small tract, consisting of about 160 
 acres, lying on the east side of the river, directly north of 
 Wisconsin street. Previous to this time, G. H. Walker, 
 Esq., had come and made a claim to what is now called 
 Walker's Point, to which he subsequently obtained a title. 
 Byron Kilbourn, Esq., about that time purchased a tract 
 on the west side of the river, which has, from that time, 
 been known by the name of 'Kilbourntown. ' Daniel 
 Wells, Jr., W. W. Gilmore, Geo. D. Douseman, E. W, 
 Edginton, T: C. Douseman, Geo. 0. Tiffany, D. II. Bich- 
 ards, Wm. Brown, Jr., Milo Jones, Enoch Darling, and 
 others, immigrated about the same time, and made large 
 purchases of lands. In the course of the summer a num- 
 ber of good buildings were erected, and a great many 
 Eastern speculators came and bought lands at high prices. 
 Mr. Juneau, about this time, sold an undivided interest in 
 his lands to Morgan T. Martin. He built a fine dwelling- 
 house, on the lot where Mitchel's Banking House now 
 stands; also a large store and warehouse, on what is now 
 known as 'Ludington's Corner.' In 1836 he was doing 
 a large business, both in selling goods and lots. During 
 that season, $300,000 worth of goods had been trans- 
 ported there to sell. Ground-rents were nearly as high 
 as at present. A merchant with a stock of goods would 
 arrive one day, and by the next day noon he would have a 
 store completed to open. Business was done on the Cali- 
 fornia principle. Stores were usually built of rough boards, 
 retaining the 'grass floor,' and, in several instances, a 
 blanket was hung up for a partition, and one half of the 
 
 county, where lie still resides. He has now a large family, and we 
 learn that by hard labor lie obtains a comfortable living. 
 1 First Annual Report of the Wisconsin Historical Society. 
 9* 
 
102 MILWAUKEE. 
 
 tenement rented to another for a dollar a day. The to^Yn 
 was flooded with speculators, and all made money until the 
 present residents left, and navigation closed, when a sud- 
 den change came 'o'er the spirit of their dreams.' The 
 town was left with a large stock of goods, and but few 
 inhabitants. Merchants and other business men enjoyed 
 the winter in the best possible manner During the fall 
 quite a large number of settlers had arrived, of the right 
 stamp, whom space will not allow us to mention. All had 
 been engaged in the laud busmess, and had plenty of money 
 left to winter on. 
 
 " The spring of 1837 disappointed all our anticipations. 
 A general stagnation in business prevailed in all directions. 
 Our currency was mostly of the Michigan ' wild cat' stamp 
 (no longer a legal tender). There was no sale of real 
 estate. The second payments were becoming due on pur- 
 chases of real estate, and all who supposed themselves rich 
 in lands were not only destitute of money, but the means 
 of raising it. Some, who were able to hold on, kept their 
 property until they could get a handsome advance, while 
 the majority were compelled to sell for what they could get, 
 and bankruptcy was the inevitable result. 
 
 " At this time there were but a few settlements in the 
 interior ; but the hard times, which continued through the 
 years 1837-8, induced many to leave Milwaukee and locate 
 a * claim. ' The lands between the Milwaukee and Rock 
 rivers were then surveyed, but were not brought into mar- 
 ket until the fall of 1839. During this time they had be- 
 come thickly settled, and many of them quite valuable. 
 The hard times at the East had led numbers of persons to 
 seek a home in the West; and in the fall of 1839, when 
 those lands came into market, many of them had been so 
 improved that they were worth from $10 to $100 an acre, 
 while the occupants had not the first 'red cent' to buy 
 
MADISON. 103 
 
 them. Consequently, a large proportion of the settlers 
 were compelled to either sell their improvements for what 
 they could get, or pay from 25 to 50 per cent, for money 
 to enter their lands. 
 
 "About this time Alex. Mitchell, Harvey Burchard, the 
 Messrs. Ludington, E. Eldred, and other capitalists, came 
 to Milwaukee, and purchased lots at $100 each, that had 
 previously been sold from $1000 to $1500, and are now 
 selling from $5000 to $15,000 each. From that day to 
 this, ' the rise and progress' of Milwaukee has been steady 
 and onward. The price of land has continued to advance 
 with the increase of business, and nearly all who com- 
 menced business here at that time, and continued to the 
 present, have become wealthy and independent," 
 
 MADISON, THE CAPITAL OF WISCONSIN. 
 
 The City of Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, and seat 
 of justice of Dane, the largest and most productive county 
 in the State, is situated on a rising ground, between two 
 lovely lakes, and i» the most magnificent site of any inland 
 town in the United States. On the northwest is Lake 
 Mendota, nine miles long and six wide ; on the east Lake 
 Monona, five miles long and three wide. The city is cele- 
 brated for the beauty, health, and pleasantness of its loca- 
 tion ; commanding, as it does, a view of nearly every cha- 
 racteristic of country peculiar to the West — the prairie, 
 oak opening, mound, lake, and woodland. The surface 
 of the ground is somewhat uneven, but in no place too 
 abrupt for building purposes. The space between these 
 lakes is a mile in width, rising gently as it leaves their 
 banks to an altitude of about seventy feet, and is then 
 alternately depressed and elevated, making the site of the 
 city a series of gently undulating swells. On the most 
 
104 MADISON. 
 
 elevated ground is the State House, in the centre of one 
 of Nature's Parks of fifteen acres, overlooking the "Four 
 Lakes" and the surrounding city. From this the streets 
 diverge in every direction, with a gradual descent on all 
 sides. 
 
 To the west, about a mile distant, is the State Univer- 
 sity, in the midst of a park of 40 acres, crowning a beau- 
 tiful eminence. On the south side of Lake Monona is a 
 spacious Water-Cure establishment, surrounded by an ex- 
 tensive grove, and presenting a very striking appearance 
 on approaching the city. Around Madison, in every di- 
 rection, is a well-cultivated, undulating country, which is 
 fast being occupied by pleasant homes. 
 
 Daniel S. Curtiss, in his graphic work entitled Western 
 Portraiture, has given us his impressions of Madison, as 
 follows : 
 
 " At some time in our travels or observations, all of us have met 
 with situations that were at once indelibly impi*essed upon the fancy 
 as the paragon of all out-door loveliness and beauty — the place with 
 which all others were contrasted, and to which they must bear some 
 respectable degree of resemblance to be esteemed delighttal loca- 
 tions. With many persons, Madison is that paragon of landscape 
 scenery. As the brilliant diamond, chased around with changing 
 borders, which sparkles on the swelling vestment of some queenly 
 woman, so this picturesque city, with its varied scenery, sits the 
 coronal gem on the broad and rolling bosom of this rich and bloom- 
 ing State." 
 
 The Chicago Journal thus candidly and truthfully speaks 
 of the " Four Lake Country : 
 
 " For a long time, ' as beautiful as Madison' has been a household 
 word among tourists in the Northwest, but it is only a few weeks 
 since we looked, for the first time, upon this piece of embossed 
 work ; embossed, as if Nature feared for the blindness of humanity, 
 and so had given in raised characters this rare passage of poetry. 
 
IMPRESSIONS OF STRANGERS. 105 
 
 '"True, the season in which we saw it was unfavorable; the wind 
 was keen, and blew from some open window of the north ; great 
 patches of snow alternated with patches of withered gi-ass ; great 
 panes of ice were set in over the lakes ; the groves were leafless and 
 birdless, and our approach toward the region had been slow and 
 tedious. 
 
 "But notwithstanding all these discomforts, the capabilities of 
 Madison could not be altogether disguised. Nobody could help 
 seeing what a week of merry May, or a day or two of leafy June 
 could do for its swelling, wood-crowned hills, its wide sweeps of 
 crystal water, its beautiful gardens, and its broad avenues. Do what 
 one will witlu"^ floor of a prairie ; enamel it with flowers, dot it with 
 shrubbery, meander it with paths, and, despite all, it is a flat still. 
 You cannot conceal its poverty of resoxirces ; brooks will not run in 
 it ; smile it may, biit it never shows a dimple ; rocks there are none 
 for rustic seats, nor mosses to cover them if there were ; there are 
 no trees of God's planting ; there are no surprises of beauty, for all 
 is revealed at a single glance. Not so Madison ; it is rich in capa- 
 bilities ; almost all its loveliness is furnished ready to hand, and men 
 have nothing to do but live in it. 
 
 " Located up -^* a grand billow of an isthmus, little less than a 
 mile in width, V Hween two sheets of water, Lake Mendota and Lake 
 Monona, one containing some fifteen square miles, and the other 
 about fifty; with its park-like surroundings, undulating aAvay in the 
 distance ; the clusters'of groves, and sweeps of lawn, and glimpses 
 of water; on the west Lake Mendota, with its promontory, sacred 
 to the uses of friendship, ' Pic-nic Point;' on the east Monona; 
 here Waubesa, there Kegonoa, the Yahara, and yonder Wingra and 
 Peshugo ; as if, at some time, the toilet-glass of the evening staS 
 had been shattered by the red 'planet Mars,' or some such turbulent 
 fellow in the planetary court, and so the fragments were strewn over 
 the landscape just there ; with all these features, and such as these, 
 one may wander far through many a summer's day ere he will find 
 a place like Madison, at which he can exclaim as did the Indian, 
 "enamored with the Paradise upon which he had noiselessly stolen, 
 'Alabama!' — here we rest." 
 
 Bayard Taylor wrote to the New York Weekly Tribune, 
 in May, 1855, an account of his adventures in the West, 
 in which he made the following mention of Madison ; 
 
106 MADISON, 
 
 <* For natmval beauty of situation, Madison surpasses any Western 
 town I have seen. It is built on a narrow isthmus, between the 
 Third and Fourth Lakes. On the summit of a mound stands the 
 State House, in the centre of a handsome square of fourteen acres, 
 from which broad, smooth streets divei'ge, with a gradual descent on 
 all sides. To the west, and about a mile distant, stands the Uni- 
 versity, on the summit of a hill, or mound, of about equal height. 
 The Madisonians count seven hills, but I could not make them all out 
 distinctly, nor do I think it necessary to the beauty of the place 
 that it should have a forced resemblance to Rome. In one respect 
 it is equal — in a soft, beautiful, cream-colored stone, which furnishes 
 the noblest building material. Many of the business blocks and 
 private houses display architectural taste." 
 
 SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH:. 
 
 "The settlement of Madison,"' observes the Hon. A. 
 A. Bird, in his recent inaugural address as Mayor, "was 
 commenced in April, 1837. At that period, almost all the 
 entire territory between Lake Michigan and the Missis- 
 sippi river, was a wild and unsettled country, inhabited 
 only by the ' Sons of the Forest. ' At that time, and 
 during a few subsequent years, there was a greater number 
 of Indians at Madison, and in what was then termed the 
 * Four Lake Country, ' than at any other point south of 
 the Wisconsin river. They seemed to cling to Madison, 
 #id its beautiful lakes, with a determination not to leave 
 until called to the ' Spirit land.' These beautiful lakes, the 
 fisheries, and game, the splendid country bordering on the 
 lakes, the hills, dales, and groves, had become so associ- 
 ated with their very being, that it was to them a paradise 
 on earth. 
 
 1 This description of Madison is partly taken from an interesting 
 pamphlet, compiled by Lyman C. Draper, Esq., Cor. Secretary of the 
 State Historical Society of Wisconsin, and printed by order of the 
 Common Council of the city. 
 
EARLY SETTLEMENT. 101 
 
 ''The General Government required the removal of the 
 Indians to the country west of the Mississippi. It was 
 found necessary to procure the aid of the army in removing 
 them to their homes, and it was a difiScult matter for the 
 soldiers to collect them together. It was a touching scene 
 to witness the departure of those who had spent a lifetime 
 in a land made so beautiful by nature, from which they 
 were now to be exiled. The different emotions exhibited 
 by these ' Sons of the Forest,' were worthy the pencil of 
 the painter. They were leaving the land of their fatliers, 
 the spot dearest to them on earth : passing westward, upon 
 reaching University Hill, they took a long and last fare- 
 well of the spot endeared to them by early associations. 
 The groves and lakes on which they had sported from 
 childhood, where they had followed the flying deer, and 
 impelled the light canoe, were to be seen no more." 
 
 The site of Madison attracted the attention of Hon. 
 James H. Doty, as early as 1832. In the spring of 1836, 
 in company with Hon. S. T. Mason, of Detroit, he pur- 
 chased the tract of land occupied by the present city. 
 The first cost of this tract was about $1500. The Territo- 
 rial Legislature, which met at Belmont, Lafayette County, 
 the next winter, passed an act locating the capital here, 
 and John Catlin and Moses M. Strong staked out the 
 centre of the village in February of the same winter. In 
 the meantime, commissioners were appointed by the General 
 Government to construct the capitol edifice. Eben Peck 
 was sent on, with his family, to erect a house, where the 
 men, employed in building the capitol, might board and 
 lodge, and was the first settler at Madison. He arrived 
 on the 14th of April, in 1837, and put up a log house, 
 which remains standing to this day upon its original site, 
 on block lOY, Butler Street. This was, for about a year, 
 the only public house in Madison. 
 
108 MADISON. 
 
 On the 10th of June succeeding, A. A. Bird, the acting 
 commissioner for constructing the capitol, accompanied by 
 a party of thirty-six workmen, arrived. There was no 
 road, at that time, from Milwaukee to the capital, and the 
 party were compelled to make one for their teams and 
 wagons as they came along. 
 
 Among the party that came with Bird, was Darwin 
 Clark, Charles Bird, David Hyer, and John Pierce ; the 
 latter being the second settler with a family. 
 
 On the same day that this party reached Madison, Simeon 
 Mills, now a resident of Madison, arrived from Chicago. 
 John Catlin had been appointed postmaster, and Mr. M. 
 acted as his deputy. He erected a block building, fifteen 
 feet square, and in this opened the post-ofiBce, and the first 
 store in Madison. The building is yet extant, and at 
 present stands in the rear of a blacksmith's shop, and is 
 used as a coal-house. 
 
 During the following month, John Catlin arrived, and 
 was the first member of the legal^profession that settled in 
 Madison. Wm. N. Seymour came during the same season, 
 and was the second lawyer in the place. 
 
 The workmen upon the capitol proceeded at once to 
 procure stone and timber for that edifice, and, on the 
 Fourth of July, the corner-stone was laid with due cere- 
 mony. 
 
 The first frame building erected was a small office for the 
 acting commissioner; the first frame dwelling was built by 
 A. A. Bird. The boards used in these buildings were 
 made by hand. A steam saw-mill, to saw lumber for the 
 capitol, was built the same season on the shore of Lake 
 Mendota, just below the the termination of Pinkney Street. 
 In the month of September, of the same year, John Stone 
 arrived, being the third settler with a family. A Methodist 
 
SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH. 109 
 
 clerrryman, the Rev. Mr. Stehbins, then Presiding^ Elder 
 of the Territory, during the same month preached the first 
 sermon delivered in Madison. 
 
 Four families, with their inmates and guests, constituted 
 the entire population of Madison, and, with two or three 
 families at Blue Mounds, the whole population of Dane 
 County during the winter of 1837-8. 
 
 For a number of years the growth of the village was 
 slow. Immediately after the location of the capital, all the 
 lands in the vicinity were entered by speculators, and lots 
 and land were held at a prospective value. The location 
 being at a central point between the Mississippi and Lake 
 Michigan, the advancing army of immigrants, on either 
 hand, found a wide, fertile, and beautiful extent of country, 
 at that time nearer market, and therefore holding out supe- 
 rior attractions to the agriculturist. They did not, conse- 
 quently, care to indulge the speculators' appetites for fancy 
 prices. This condition of affairs continued until 1848. In 
 the meantime, the fertile valley of Rock River had been 
 filled with settlers, and immigration began to turn into 
 Dane County, which possesses a soil as bountiful, and a 
 surface of country as attractive, as any county in the State, 
 but which, before it was tapped by railroads, was too far 
 from market to render agriculture remunerative. 
 
 The beginning of the real prosperity and growth of 
 Madison commenced with the admission of the State into 
 the Union, in 1848. The Constitutional Convention then 
 permanently located the capital there; until that time there 
 had been fears of its removal, and capitalists had hesitated 
 to invest their money in the vicinity. Since that period, 
 its progress in wealth and population has been rapid and 
 constant. 
 
 A period of less than twenty-one years has elapsed 
 10 
 
110 MADISON. 
 
 since Eben Peck, the first settler of Madison, arrived there 
 with his family. The only other settlers, within the present 
 limits of Dane County, were Ebenezer Brigham and Abel 
 Rasdel. At the close of the next nine years, we find 
 Madison with a population of 283, and Dane County 
 8289 ; and the following nine years swelled the population 
 of Madison to nearly 7000, in February, 1855, and to 
 about 12,000 at the present date. Such are the results 
 produced in twenty years, some of which were periods 
 utterly unfavorable to progress and settlement. Until the 
 past three years it had no railroad facilities ; produce, from 
 its long distance from market, would scarcely recompense 
 the toiling farmer for his labor in its production ; the whole 
 population, with scarcely an exception, were struggling in 
 poverty against these discouraging and depressing influ- 
 ences — and yet, despite them all, Madison and Dane 
 County have made astonishing advances in all the elements 
 of wealth and greatness. These days and years of poverty, 
 hardship, and depression, have forever passed away, and 
 our political metropolis and empire county may now safely 
 calculate on continued and increasing prosperity. 
 
 Dane County has an area of about 1250 square miles, or 
 nearly 800,000 acres of land. Dating back from 183T, 
 when Madison received its first settler, and when this 
 county had but two families, we find that it has increased 
 during the first seven years, up to 1844, about fifty per 
 cent, annually, and from 1844 to 1850, when the population 
 was 16,500, the total increase for that period was over 
 three hundred per cent. Since 1850, the population of 
 the county has nearly tripled, and may be safely estimated 
 at 48,000. Let us make some moderate estimates of the 
 population of Dane County for the next ten years, based 
 upon the present population of 48,000: 
 
CAPABILITIES AND DESTINY. Ill 
 
 In 1857, add one-fifth increase 48,000 
 
 In 1858, " one-sixth " 56,000 
 
 In 1859, " one-seventh " 64,000 
 
 In 1860, " one-eighth " 72,000 
 
 In 1861, " one-ninth " 80,000 
 
 In 1862, " one-tenth " 88,000 
 
 In 1863, " one-eleventh " 96,000 
 
 In 1864, " one-twelfth " 104.000 
 
 In 1865, " onc-thirt'nth " 112,000 
 
 In 1866, " one-fourt'nth " 120,000 
 
 The great Empire State of Wisconsin is well able to 
 sustain a far greater population than that here indicated. 
 But one-sixth of the land in the county is yet settled, and 
 all is susceptible of culture ; and, were the other five-sixths 
 settled at the same ratio per square mile, we should exhibit 
 a population of 250,000 people. 
 
 In 1755, the State of Rhode Island, slightly larger than 
 Dane County, having an area of 1300 square miles, had a 
 population of 35,000 — about the same as this county pos- 
 sessed in 1855 ; showing that Rhode Island was ojie hun- 
 dred and ninetee^i years in attaining a population which 
 Dane County reached in eighteen years. The city of 
 Providence, in 1800, just one hundred and sixty-four years 
 after its first settlement, exhibited a population of 7600 — 
 while Madison has reached that number in eighteen years. 
 In the past half century, Rhode Island has slightly more 
 than doubled her population, while Dane County has nearly 
 tripled hers in the last sf^ue^i years ; and Providence, during 
 the same period, has, upon an average, doubled its numbers 
 once in twenty years, while Madison has doubled its popu- 
 lation, upon an average, once in every two and a half 
 years. These are fiicts which any one, curious in such sta- 
 tistical contrasts, may easily put to the test by a proper 
 reference to the official documents in our public libraries. 
 Nor is this a solitary instance — the same careful contrasts 
 
112 MADISON. 
 
 with Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Albany, 
 or almost any other old settled place, will exhibit the growth 
 of Madison and Dane County in quite as favorable a point 
 of view. 
 
 The question may very naturally be asked by the cautious 
 inquirer, what is there to justify the belief that Dane 
 County, with its surroundings, is able to sustain a city of 
 twenty or perhaps fifty thousand people ? Let us again 
 recur to the experience of other cities and counties. If, 
 then, Rhode Island can and does support her flourishing 
 capital, having a population of one-fourth of the whole 
 State, Dane County, with superior advantages in her favor, 
 can do at least as well. By the census of 1850, there were 
 13,000 acres of land returned as improved in Dane County, 
 which we may presume has increased by this time to about 
 140,000 — only about one-sixth of the whole. Let, then, 
 the whole be settled, and only as sijarsely per acre as that 
 part now improved, and we should have six times the 
 present population of 45,000, which would be 270,000. 
 And if the present county population of 45,000 supports 
 Madison, with 12,000 inhabitants, then a population of 
 270,000 would give to Madison a ratio of 65,000 people. 
 
 These figures may startle some — for there are always a 
 goodly number in every community, who, while they are 
 amazed at the progress of the past, can never make it a 
 criterion by which to judge the future. 
 
 Aside from the capital, there are thirty-four townships 
 in Dane County, whose present wealth may be stated as 
 follows : The improved farms, uncultivated lands, and per- 
 sonal property of the resident farmers, will average to-day 
 at least $500,000 to a township, making a total of 
 $17,000,000. Add, for Madison, real estate and personal 
 property, at least $8,000,000. This would make the total 
 wealth of the county $25,000,000. 
 
RAILROADS. 113 
 
 There are twenty-five wagon-roads, and seventeen dif- 
 ferent mail and stage routes, diverging in every direction 
 from Madison. Over seven hundred loaded teams have 
 arrived here in a single day, bringing from ten to fifteen 
 thousand bushels of wheat to market, with large quantities 
 of other produce. Nearly 100,000 bushels of wheat alone 
 w^ere marketed here in a single year. 
 
 It is, pre-eminently, the great railroad centre of Wis- 
 consin, and enjoys, in an enviable degree, all those pecu- 
 liarly favorable advantages. Many of the Western cities 
 rely wholly upon their projected railroads for growth and 
 prosperity. But the roads and connections of Madison 
 are real and bonajide, connecting it with every section of 
 the Union. Four great lines diverge here : the Milwaukee 
 and Mississippi ; the Milwaukee, Watertown, and Madison ; 
 East and West, connecting the lakes with the Mississippi 
 Kiver ; and the La Crosse and Land-Grant Roads, running 
 from Madison to Lake St. Croix and the City of Superior, 
 at the head of the lake. Arrangements are now being 
 made for the extension of the great Illinois Central Rail- 
 road, from Freeport, Illinois, to this city, thus giving a 
 direct communication with Mobile and the Gulf of Mexico. 
 
 The system connects with the Chicago, Fond du Lac, 
 and Superior Road, on the east and north, and the Beloit 
 and Madison Road on the south. There is no point in the 
 State so readily accessible in every direction, as Madison, 
 as it lies on the shortest route from New York, Philadel- 
 phia, Boston, Chicago, or Milwaukee, to the Mississippi 
 River. 
 
 An abundant supply of building-material is found here. 
 The most beautiful stone, easily quarried and cut, abounds 
 in its immediate vicinity. Bricks may be made to an un- 
 limited extent, and timber of all kinds can be commanded 
 whenever needed for use. 
 10* 
 
114 MADISON. 
 
 It is estimated that about $1,000,000 will be expended 
 ill Madison, and its vicinity, this year, upon public build- 
 ings, depots, and railroads. The most prominent buildings 
 and improvements, to be immediately commenced, are given 
 in the following table, with their least possible cost : 
 
 University (main edifice) $40,000 
 
 Capitol extension 100,000 
 
 U. S. Court Room and Post Office 50,000 
 
 City Hall 25,000 
 
 Fuur School Houses 24,000 
 
 Congreojational Church 20,000 
 
 Episcopal Church 16,000 
 
 Catholic Church 10,000 
 
 Insane Asylum 100,000 
 
 Bailroad Depots, at least 15,000 
 
 Total $400,000 
 
 From careful estimates made, it was found that the value 
 of merchandise, lumber, produce, wood, &c., marketed 
 
 and sold during 1856, was $4,702,000 
 
 Add value and labor 1,500,000 
 
 " Real Estate Sales : 500,000 
 
 Total $6,702,000 
 
 The value of manufactures and home products, for 1856, 
 
 was $1,265,000 
 
 As an additional evidence of the large business of 
 Madison, it may be mentioned, that eight and a half mil- 
 lions pounds of freight were received at the Madison Rail- 
 road Depot, during 1856, and that the total receipts in 
 money, for the same period, were $2t 1,872 44. 
 
 All kinds of manufactures, not already here, are greatly 
 needed ; indeed, in this new country, where every interest 
 is rapidly growing, and little is yet matured, every indus- 
 trial pursuit is open to development, and invites enterprise 
 and skill of all kinds. 
 
LIBRARIES — MISCELLANEOUS. 115 
 
 Dane County peat-beds were discovered in 1856, and lie 
 in three irregularly-shaped beds contiguous to each other, 
 about six miles from Madison. It is estimated that they 
 are worth not less than $1,000,000 to their fortunate 
 owners, and fully three times that amount to the city, as an 
 article of cheap and convenient fuel, and a first-class gene- 
 rator for the Gas Works. 
 
 Madison Libraries. — Madison must, from the nature of 
 things, always be the literary emporium of the State. The 
 following table exhibits the present number of volumes in 
 its libraries, including only two private collections, which 
 have been made to subserve public purposes, and all are 
 rapidly increasing : 
 
 Vols. 
 
 State Library 6,000 
 
 Executive Library 600 
 
 State Superintendent's 500 
 
 State Historical Society 3,500 
 
 State University Library... 2,400 
 Lyman C. Draper's Collec- 
 tion on Western History, 1,500 
 Madison Female Seminary, 1,000 
 
 Yds. 
 
 Madison Institute 700 
 
 J. W. Hunt's Statistical Col- 
 lection 300 
 
 State Agricultural Society.. 300 
 
 High School 300 
 
 Sabbath-School Libraries... 1,000 
 
 Total 18,100 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 Among the literary institutions of Madison are the State 
 TJniversity, largely endowed with an income of $30,000 per 
 annum ; a fully organized Commercial College ; two Female 
 Seminaries and Musical Academies ; four Public Schools ; 
 the State Historical Society, with its large and rare library, 
 fine picture gallery and cabinet of curiosities, already far 
 superior to any west of the Alleghanies ; Madison Institute, 
 with its library and able professors ; State Agricultural 
 Society; Dane County Agricultural Society; Madison 
 Hydraulic Company ; Lake-Side Water-Cure Establish- 
 ment ; the Gas-light and Coke Company ; and the Mutual 
 Insurance Company. Besides these, there are five organized 
 
116 DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS. 
 
 banks, viz. : Wisconsin, Dane County, Bank of the Capitol, 
 Merchants', and State Banks, all flourishing institutions 
 with large capitals. The City Cemetery occupies a fine 
 situation near Lake Mendota. Dane County Bible Society 
 was lately organized. There are eleven different religious 
 denominations in Madison, nearly all of which have fine 
 church edifices. The Press is well represented, viz. : the 
 Argus and Democrat, and Patriot (Democratic), and the 
 State Journal (Republican) ; published both daily and 
 weekly — the Argus and Democrat also issues a tri-weekly. 
 The Norske Americaner (Democratic), a Norwegian weekly ; 
 the Staats Zeitung (Democratic), and Madison Zeitung 
 (Republican), are German weeklies ; the Western Fireside, 
 a valuable literary and family paper, is issued weekly ; the 
 Wisconsin Farmer, a monthly magazine of thirty-six pages, 
 is the most ably-conducted of its kind in the Northwest ; 
 and the Students' Miscellany is a creditable monthly lite- 
 rary magazine, published by the students of the State 
 University. These several publications, together with the 
 State printing, book publishing, and job work, consume 
 nearly 10,000 reams of paper annually, and give employ- 
 ment to 110 hands. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS. 
 
 Janesville, one of the most flourishing and important 
 towns in the State, the county-seat of Rock County, is 
 beautifully located on both sides of Rock River, forty-five 
 mik'S southeast of Madison. It contains eight churches, 
 three banks, several academies, seminaries, the State Insti- 
 tution for the Blind, manufactories and mills of various 
 kinds, and five newspapers. The Milwaukee and Missis- 
 si j)pi Railroad is here intersected by the Fond du Lac and 
 Rock River Road. There are other railroads in course of 
 construction, which, when completed, will largely increase 
 
DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS. lit 
 
 its extensive trade. In 1846, the population was estimated 
 at 400 ; in 1854, at 6000 j and, at the present time, about 
 10,000. 
 
 Beloit, a few miles distant in Kock County, near the 
 south line of the State, was incorporated in 1845. It is 
 finely situated on Rock River, and is amply supplied with 
 water-power sufficient for manufactories and mills of every 
 description. It is noted for its fine churches, spacious 
 streets, and for being the seat of Beloit College, which was 
 founded in 1846. The present population is about tOOO. 
 
 Mineral Point, the county-seat of Iowa County, forty- 
 seven miles distant from Madison, derives its importance 
 from the rich mineral region surrounding it. Large quan- 
 tities of lead and copper are exported by way of Galena. 
 It is a place of active business, having several smelting- 
 furuaces, six churches, banks, and many stores. 
 
 PoTOSi is situated on Grant River, near its entrance into 
 the Mississippi, fifteen miles above Dubuque. It is the 
 principal depot of the mineral region of Wisconsin. Large 
 quantities of lead are annually shipped in steamboats from 
 the landing at the mouth of Grant River. 
 
 Cassville, on the Mississippi river, twenty-eight miles 
 above Dubuque, is a very important shipping port for the 
 lead of this region. In 1853, over 990,000 pounds were 
 shipped from its landing. 
 
 Prairie du Chien, one of the oldest towns in the State, 
 is on the Mississippi river, four miles above the mouth of 
 the Wisconsin. It is the county-seat of Crawford county, 
 and the terminus of the Milwaukee and Mississippi Rail- 
 road. It contains several churches, stores, and three news- 
 paper offices. 
 
 La Crosse, the county-seat of La Crosse county, is 
 beautifully situated on the Mississippi, at the mouth of the 
 river of the same name. We landed here, on our way up 
 
118 DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS. 
 
 the Mississippi, iu the summer of 1853, and can bear tes- 
 timony to its astonishing increase and prosperity. At that 
 time it contained some forty or fifty houses, and over 300 
 inhabitants ; now its population has increased to about 
 YOOO. It contains five churches, ten saw-mills, three sliin- 
 gle-mills, one sash and blind mill, and an iron foundry ; 
 besides, there are considerable quantities of pine lumber 
 manufactured. Its merchants transact a large amount of 
 business with the surrounding country, which is fast being 
 settled with an industrious agricultural population. The 
 claims of education have not been neglected ; a building 
 was lately erected for school purposes, at a cost of $10,000. 
 This city possesses peculiar advantages, from being the 
 terminus of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad, which 
 will be finished by 1S.58. In addition to this, the R,oot 
 River Yalley and Southern Minnesota Railroad Company 
 have lately received a munificent grant of land from the 
 General Government, to construct their road to the Big 
 Sioux river. Thus La Crosse will be the terminus of two 
 of the most important railroads in the Northwest. "We 
 have, therefore, every reason to expect that its future 
 growth will far exceed that of the past. 
 
 Prescott, the county-seat of Pierce county, at the con- 
 fluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers, is a rapidly 
 increasing town, and soon to be connected with Milwaukee 
 by railroad. 
 
 Hudson, one of the most flourishing towns on Lake St. 
 Croix, at the mouth of Willow river, is the capital of the 
 county. The St. Croix and Lake Superior Railroad 
 passes through it, connecting it with that great Lake and 
 Milwaukee. 
 
 Portage City is situated at the head of navigation of 
 the Wisconsin river, and on the ship canal connecting it 
 with the Fox. It is a depot for large qaantities of pine 
 
DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS. 119 
 
 lumber. There is now uninterrupted steamboat navigation 
 from this place to the Gulf of Mexico. 
 
 Fond du Lac, at the foot of Lake Winnebago, and 
 capital of the county of the same name, is one of the most 
 flourishing of the interior towns. It is connected by rail- 
 roads with Milwaukee, and is the starting point of the 
 Eastern Land Grant roads. Plank roads are constructed 
 in several directions, giving it communication with various 
 parts of the State. It has five newspapers, several bank- 
 ing houses, car factories, iron foundries, many dry goods 
 and other stores, and contains a population of about 8000. 
 
 OsHKOSH stands on a site where, a few years ago, was a 
 dense wilderness. Situated on Lake Winnebago, at the 
 mouth of the Fox and Wolf rivers, commanding a steam- 
 boat navigation of over two hundred miles, no point in the 
 interior of Wisconsin possesses greater facilities for trade. 
 In 1855 it had a population of 4000, and now it numbers 
 nearly 10,000. Nor is this growth remarkable, when we 
 consider its resources, and the demand of the surrounding 
 country. The railroads, nearly completed, will connect 
 this place with Lake Michigan on the east, and the Mis- 
 sissippi on the west. The Fox lliver Improvement, already 
 described, enables its merchants and manufacturers to ship 
 their goods through to the Lower Wisconsin and Missis- 
 sippi. Oshkosh is lighted with gas, and contains five churches, 
 several academies, land offices, foar newspapers, seven 
 hotels, fourteen grist mills, steam grist and shingle mills, 
 twelve dry goods and seventy other stores, besides boiler 
 factories, and other like establishments. The sales of 
 several of the leading mercantile houses, for the past year, 
 exceeded $163,000. The amount of lumber manufactured 
 yearly, is over 25,000,000 feet. 
 
 Kenosha, the most southerly lake port of Wisconsin, 
 formerly known as Southport, but, by the good taste of its 
 
120 DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS. 
 
 citizens, recently changed to its old Indian appellation, has 
 a good harbor, and fine piers extending into the lake. Its 
 imports, for 1851, were $1,968,084; exports for the same 
 year, $661,250; arrivals into the harbor, toO. These 
 reports are made partly upon conjecture, as the growth of 
 the lake towns has been so rapid, that the ascertained 
 population of one year may be scarcely more than a moiety 
 of the succeeding. The city contains several churches, 
 public buildings, banks, manufactories, newspapers, and is 
 rapidly increasing in commerce and prosperity. 
 
 Racine, situated on Lake Michigan, at the mouth of 
 Root river, twenty-three miles southeast of Milwaukee, is 
 the second city in the State in population and commerce, 
 and one of the most beautiful in the West. Its commer- 
 cial advantages are great ; the entrance of Root river into 
 the lake forms a commodious harbor, and large sums have 
 been expended for its improvement at different times. A 
 large amount of grain seeks this port for an outlet. There 
 are nine large storehouses, capable of containing 70,000 
 bushels each. In addition to these, the railroad companies 
 have capacious freight depots, for storing merchandise. 
 The favorable location of this city has attracted the atten- 
 tion of manufacturers, and large and profitable investments 
 have been and are still making. The Board of Trade 
 have prepared a statistical report of its manufactures for 
 1855, the total amount of which is $1,104,605. During 
 the past year, gas works have been erected, and over three 
 milei! of pipe laid, at a cost of fifty thousand dollars ; also 
 one church, three school buildings, two depots, two large 
 ma<thine shops, one round-house with stalls for thirteen 
 locomotives, several manufactories, planing and other mills, 
 stores and warehouses of various kinds, several fine man- 
 sions, and nearly two hundred smaller dwellings. In 1840 
 it had a population of only 33t ; in 1850, 511t ; in 1853, 
 
DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS. 121 
 
 Y500 ; and, in 1857, it is estimcated at 12,000. The Lake 
 Shore Raih'oad, running from Chicago to Green Bay, 
 makes a connection with the Racine and Mississippi Road 
 at tliis place, opening to the city a vast extent of prairie 
 country, depending upon the lake ports for its lumber, of 
 wliich the shipments, for the first six months of the year 
 1856, amounted to over 9,000,000 feet, and 4,500,000 
 shingles, besides fence posts, timber, staves, &c. There 
 are regular lines of steamboats touching at this port, on 
 their way to Buffalo and points on Lake Superior. Three 
 plank roads extend from this city into the interior ; one, 
 the Wilraot road, is twenty miles long, and runs southwest, 
 through a rich and fertile country, into the State of Illinois. 
 In 1851, its total imports and exports were $2,507,715; 
 arrivals, 1462. 
 
 Ozaukee is a thriving place on the shore of the lake, 
 thirty-one miles north of Milwaukee. Large quantities of 
 produce are shipped from here in steamboats. It contains 
 several churches, foundries, manufactories, breweries, news- 
 papers, and many stores. The population, in 1853, was 
 2500 ; now it has increased to about 5000. 
 
 Sheboygan is situated on Lake Michigan, at the mouth 
 of the river of the same name. It is one of the most im- 
 portant and flourishing ports in the State, and exports 
 large quantities of lumber and other articles. In 1851, 
 the value of its imports exceeded $1,400,000. The Mil- 
 waukee and Green Bay Railroad passes through the city, 
 and, with its interior roads, and the Fond du Lac Plank 
 Road, have very much increased its prosperity. It already 
 contains churches of seven different denominations, manu- 
 factories of various kinds, four newspapers, and bids fair 
 to be one of the largest ports on the lake. 
 
 Manitowoc is a very thriving town on the shore of Lake 
 Michigan, at the mouth of the river of its own name. A 
 11 
 
122 DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS. 
 
 few years ago it was almost unknown ; but of late its com- 
 merce has increased at a most surprising rate. In 1851, 
 its exports amounted to $77,120, and its imports, $106,721. 
 It will be shortly connected with Milwaukee and Green 
 Bay by the Lake Shore Railroad. 
 
 Two Rivers, fifteen miles above Manitowoc, is a town 
 of considerable importance. The country adjacent is finely 
 timbered, and furnishes large quantities of lumber for ex- 
 port. Its commerce for 1851 was estimated at about 
 $300,000. The entrances, for the same year, were 822 
 steam and 192 sail vessels. 
 
 Green Bay, one of the oldest settlements in the North- 
 west, is beautifully situated at the mouth of the Fox or 
 Neenah river, exactly at the head of a bay of the same 
 name. In 1855, it contained a population of 1644; and 
 now it is over 4000, being an increase of 2333 in two 
 years. Such has been the immense immigration lately to 
 the country tributary to it, that it has^ given new life to the 
 place. For many years. Green Bay has been a great mart 
 for fish and lumber, and is now rapidly becoming the 
 largest commercial depot for the internal trade of Wis- 
 consin. There is, at present, uninterrupted steam naviga- 
 tion from this place to the Mississippi, via the Fox River 
 Improvement (steamboats have been through the entire 
 length of this work), which will soon be one of the greatest 
 thoroughfares in the West, and destined to make a great 
 revolution in the present internal trade of the country. Mr. 
 Andrews' reports the commerce of Green Bay, for 1851, 
 to exceed $3,000,000. At present, there are three facto- 
 ries, averaging 100,000 shingles each per week ; six saw- 
 mills in the city and vicinity, averaging, weekly, about 
 240,000 feet ; within sixty miles there are, on each side of 
 the bay, twenty-four saw-mills (mostly steam), which ave- 
 
 1 Report on Colonial and Lake Trade. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS. 123 
 
 rage, weekly, about 300,000 feet. The greater part of 
 tliis lumber is sent to Cliicago and Milwaukee for market. 
 There are several railroads in process of construction to 
 this place; one of them, the Lake Shore Road, is partly 
 graded to Manitowoc, thirty miles distant. The city con- 
 tains many spacious warehouses, fine churches, and elegant 
 residences, and gives promise of great future prosperity. 
 
 There are, also, in different parts of the State, large 
 nunibers of flourishing towns and villages, of wliich our 
 limits forbid a mention. In fact, it would be almost an 
 impossibility, so rapidly are these new places springing up. 
 " In many instances, large colonies of German, Norwegian, 
 and other European emigrants, have purchased tracts of 
 land, and built up their villages as if by magic ; and the 
 immediate neighbors are even ignorant of their presence, 
 until they behold, with astonishment, the smoke curling 
 over the »ew settlement." 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES — CENSUS OF THE STATE. 
 
 Wisconsin is divided into fiftj-one counties, of which 
 we will give a short description of their soil, natural ad- 
 vantages, &c. 
 
 Adams lies on the Wisconsin, and is watered by the 
 Lemonwier, and other streams. The soil is admirably 
 adapted for agricultural purposes, and extremely produc- 
 tive. There are many dense forests in this county, from 
 which large quantities of lumber are procured, and rafted 
 down the Wisconsin. Large tracts of excellent land are 
 yet subject to private entry at Government price. Ger- 
 mantown is the county-seat. 
 
 Bad Axe takes its name from the river of the same name, 
 which flows through it, and on which the Winnebago In- 
 dians, under Black Hawk, met with their final defeat. This 
 county, lying on the Mississippi river, possesses good water- 
 power, and is partly prairie, interspersed with fine timber- 
 land. Viroqua is the county-seat. 
 
 Brown County, situated at the head of Green Bay, is a 
 beautiful rolling country, interspersed with groves of tim- 
 ber ; soil rich and deep, fine for grazing, and all spring 
 crops ; good farming lands may be purchased here from $2 
 to $5 per acre. De Pere is the county-seat. Green Bay, 
 jN^avarino, and Bridgeport, are flourishing places. 
 
 Buffalo, on the Mississippi river, at the mouth of the 
 Chippewa, contains large quantities of the best farming 
 
 (124) 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 125 
 
 lands subject to entry or pre-emption, and is rapidly being 
 settled. It is in the La Crosse Land District, and entries 
 can be made only at -that place. Waumandee City is the 
 county-seat. 
 
 Calumet lies on the east side of Lake Winnebago ; is 
 generally covered with a heavy growth of hard timber, 
 consisting of oak, maple, &c., and small quantities of pine. 
 It has a fertile soil, and is well watered ; owing to its being 
 the residence of the remnants of the Stockbridge and Bro- 
 thertown Indians, it has made but little progress. It has 
 increased very rapidly, however, the past year. 
 
 Chippewa. — This county is 91 miles long and 66 wide ; 
 it lies in the northern part of the State, and is watered by 
 the river of the same name, and its tributaries. The land 
 is of excellent quality, subject to pre-emption, and con- 
 taining some of the most valuable pineries in Wisconsin. 
 
 Columbia County is situated nearly in the centre of the 
 most thickly settled part of the State. The soil is good, 
 well watered by the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, but defi- 
 cient in timber. The land was all entered almost as soon 
 as it was in market. The La Crosse and Milwaukee, and 
 the Milwaukee and Watertown Railroads, pass tlirough 
 this county. Population, in 1850, was 9,565; in 1856, 
 29,000; an increase, in six years, of 19,435. 
 
 Crawford formerly was of great extent, including 
 nearly the whole space northerly from the Wisconsin to the 
 Michigan State line. A few years ago it was reduced to 
 a small territory, containing about 600 square miles. It 
 lies on the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers, and has a 
 varifty of soil and diversified scenery. Quantities of lead, 
 and some copper, have been found. There is also an 
 abundance of valuable timber, especially white pine, on the 
 Wisconsin. Much good Government land is yet to be 
 found. 
 
 11* 
 
126 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 Clark. — Large quantities of excellent farming land are 
 to be had in this county, at Government price. Extensive 
 pine forests abound ; there are few inhabitants as yet, con- 
 sisting principally of lumbermen. 
 
 Dane. — The description of this county is included with 
 that of Madison, the capital of the State, 
 
 Door is a narrow peninsula, between Green Bay and 
 Lake Michigan, with very few inhabitants. It was sepa- 
 rated from Brown County in 1850. Soil said to be good. 
 
 Dodge, named in honor of General Dodge, first Governor 
 of Wisconsin, is one of the finest agricultural counties in 
 the State ; its surface moderately rolling, diversified by 
 prairies, oak openings, and heavy woodlands. Iron Ridge 
 is a vast accumulation of rich iron. ore, which is just be- 
 ginning to be extensively manufactured. Several railroads 
 pass through this county, giving access for agricultural 
 productions to Milwaukee. The capital is Juneau ; Ho- 
 ricon, Beaver Dam, and Fox Lake, are thriving villages, 
 and rapidly improving. Population, at present, over 
 44,000. 
 
 Douglas, the most northwestern county in the State, 
 lying partly on Lake Superior. Only a small part has 
 been surveyed and brought into market. The soil is ad- 
 mirably adapted for all kinds of agricultural productions ; 
 we have seen specimens raised, which, in quality and size, 
 far exceeded those produced in the Uaster^n States. The 
 land abounds with mineral wealth, and the waters with fish. 
 The St. Croix and Lake Superior Railroad, commenced 
 in 1856, will be completed next year to St. Paul. This 
 county is at the head of a long line of lake navigation, and 
 will, in less than three years at furthest, be in connection 
 with the Atlantic cities by continuous railroads. To those 
 seeking a home, and fine farming, timber, and mineral 
 lands, contiguous to railroads, at $1.25 per acre, there is 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 12t 
 
 no county in the State which offers such inducements to 
 settlers as Douglas. The first settlement was made at the 
 City of Superior, the county-seat, in 1853. Wahbagon, 
 on the St. Louis, and Nashodana on the railroad, where 
 it crosses the St. Croix river, have recently been laid out. 
 
 Dunn, a new county, lying on the Chippewa river, about 
 fifty miles from the Mississippi. The soil is excellent, well 
 watered, and abounds in timber. Lands, as yet, unsur- 
 veyed. 
 
 Fond du Lac, one of the most fertile counties in the 
 State, containing extensive prairies, and quantities of heavy 
 timber. It was first settled in 1835, and has progressed 
 with great rapidity. 
 
 Grant. — This county is situated in the southwest corner 
 of the State, and was one of the first settled. Lying within 
 the mineral tract, it has a very valuable deposit of lead 
 ore. The soil is excellent. There is yet in the northern 
 part of this county excellent Government land, which, by 
 the graduation law, is now reduced to fifty cents per acre. 
 
 Green, in the southern part of the State, bordering on 
 Illinois, is an agricultural county ; partly rich prairie land, 
 with some timber. 
 
 Iowa. — This is one of the richest counties in Wisconsin, 
 both in soil and mineral resources. Copper and lead are 
 abundant. It is well watered, convenient to railroads, and 
 is the central point for mineral operations. The celebrated 
 Blue Mounds, in its northwestern part, are remarkable ele- 
 vations, being 1000 feet above the level of the Wisconsin 
 river. 
 
 Jackson County is situated on the Black river, about 
 twenty-five miles from the Mississippi. The northern part 
 is richly supplied with fine timber, and the southern is 
 mostly prairie, of the best quality. There is, also, an 
 abundance of rich iron ore, and good water-power. The 
 lands are open to pre-emption. 
 
128 DESCRIPTION or COUNTIES. 
 
 Jefferson possesses a rich, fertile soil, well watered, and 
 traversed by railroads. The principal place is Watertown ; 
 Jefferson, Aztalan, and Lake Mills, are flourishing villages. 
 It contains over 47,000 inhabitants. 
 
 Juneau, lately separated from Dodge County, contains, 
 at present, a population of 10,600. 
 
 Kenosha, a county forming the southeastern extremity 
 of Wisconsin. It is one of the oldest in the State, and 
 under high cultivation, 
 
 Kewaunee lies partly on Lake Michigan and Green 
 Bay, and contains about 460 square miles ; its inhabitants 
 are few, and principally engaged in lumbering. Plenty of 
 Government land to be had. 
 
 La Crosse County possesses farming lands of the best 
 quality, and vast pineries on the Black river and its tribu- 
 taries. These combined advantages have attracted great 
 attention for the past two years, and much of the land is 
 already occupied, yet some good Government land can be 
 found. Population, in 1856, about 11,000. 
 
 Lafayette is situated in the mineral region, bordering 
 on Illinois. The soil is generally productive, but has been 
 neglected for the more uncertain business of mining. The 
 cliff limestone, which underlies this county, abounds in rich 
 Teins of lead and copper, and large quantities of these 
 minerals are exported. The famous Platte Mounds, in the 
 northwest part, are remarkable for their regular form, and 
 are surrounded with a large expanse of prairie. 
 
 La Pointe County, bordering on Lake Superior, is 
 extensively covered by forests of pine timber. It has not 
 been surveyed, and, therefore, very little is known of its soil 
 and mineral resources. The fisheries are very valuable, 
 and the exports from this source are increasing every year. 
 La Pointe, one of the oldest settlements in the Northwest, 
 is the county-seat. Bayfield, Ashland, and Bay City, are 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 129 
 
 towns lately laid out, which are rapidly rising in im- 
 portance. 
 
 Marathon extends from the Upper Peninsula of Michi- 
 gan, south to Towns 25 and 26, containing 5452 square 
 miles. It is partly surveyed, and begins to open a field 
 for lumbering. The Wisconsin River traverses its whole 
 length, opening extensive pine forests to market. No part 
 of the State offers greater inducements to lumbermen than 
 this. 
 
 Marquette. — Some of the finest and best cultivated 
 farms are to be found in this county. It consists of prairie, 
 openings, and wood-land, well watered, &c. The best lands 
 are all entered, and are rapidly coming under cultivation. 
 
 Manitowoc, in the eastern part of the State, bordering 
 on Lake Michigan, has good land, and is well watered ; 
 large quantities of timber are exported. It is rapidly 
 increasing in business, and has a population of 20,000. 
 
 Monroe County, separated from La Crosse in 1854, is 
 yet almost an entire wilderness, consisting of oak openings 
 and pine groves ; the soil is rich and productive, principally 
 Government land, from which good selections can yet be 
 made. Population estimated at TOOO. 
 
 Milwaukee contains a population at present of about 
 TO, 000, and is too generally known to require a notice in 
 this work. 
 
 Oconto. — This county lies partly between Michigan and 
 Green Bay, containing about 4000 square miles, and 
 covered with valuable timber. Large tracts are open to 
 pre-emptors at Government price. 
 
 Outagamie possesses a fertile soil, mostly covered with 
 forests of pine and other timber, and well watered. Lands 
 may be procured at Government price. 
 
 Ozaukee is on Lake Michigan, north of Milwaukee. 
 The soil is rich, well cultivated, and divided into small 
 farms. 
 
130 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 Pierce lies on the Mississippi, at the month of the 
 St. Croix River. The soil is very good, partly covered 
 with pine forests. Land mostly subject to pre-emption. 
 
 Polk, formerly included in St. Croix County, comprises 
 over 2500 square miles, has much good farming and timber- 
 lands subject to entry. Timber, prairie, and openings, are 
 beautifully interspersed in the southern part. It offers 
 peculiar inducements to the settler, on account of the 
 St. Croix and Lake Superior Kailroad passing through it, 
 and is destined in a few years to be one of the most import- 
 ant counties in the State. 
 
 Portage County is on the Wisconsin River, and several 
 of its branches pass through it. Lumbering is its great 
 business ; pine is the prevailing timber. The soil is partly 
 light and sandy, with occasional strips of the best quality, 
 adapted to all kinds of agricultural productions. 
 
 Racine lies on the lake, south of Milwaukee, and is too 
 generally known to require description. 
 
 Rock River is highly prosperous, containing farms 
 well-improved, productive, and valuable. Railroads tra- 
 verse every part. 
 
 P».iCHLAND, lying on the north bank of the Wisconsin 
 River, on both sides of the fourth principal meridian, is- 
 but thinly settled, possessing a good soil, well watered, and 
 timbered with maple, walnut, oak, and pine, interspersed 
 with rich prairies. Large quantities of land are yet open 
 to pre-emption. 
 
 Sauk County contains about 800 square miles, consist- 
 ing of forests, openings, and prairies. The soil is rich, 
 and well adapted to agricultural purposes. There is much 
 unsettled land here, belonging to Government. 
 
 Sheboygan is too well known to require a notice. 
 
 Siiawaung contains large quantities of Government land. 
 The soil consists of a sandy loam, mostly covered with 
 pine timber, which is easily floated down the Wolf River. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 131 
 
 St. Croix. — This county is finely situated upon the 
 Mississippi River, and has very superior advantages for 
 the lumber-trade. It has great forest wealth, and is now 
 attracting much attention. The surface is generally rolling, 
 composed of prairie, openings, and forests, of the best pine 
 and other kinds of timber. 
 
 Trempeleau contains about twenty townships of land 
 of an excellent quality for farming purposes, offering great 
 inducements to emigrants, as the lands are now in market 
 at Government price. 
 
 Washington, a few miles back from Lake Michigan, is 
 heavily timbered, has good soil, and is principally settled 
 by Germans and Irish. Population, at present, over 
 25,000. 
 
 Waupacca is new, lying on both sides of the "Wolf 
 Kiver, possesses plenty of Government land, well watered, 
 consisting of prairie, openings, timber, and extensive pine 
 forests. Steamboats pass through this county from Osh- 
 kosh to New London. 
 
 Waukesha and Walworth are both too well known to 
 require a description. 
 
 Waushara, an excellent agricultural county, formerly 
 known as the " Lidian lands," offers strong inducements 
 to emigrants, in its fortunate combination of openings and 
 timber-land. - It is well watered, and there are yet large 
 quantities of Government land open to settlers. Population 
 in 1856, about 34,000. 
 
 Winnebago, one of the finest counties in the State, lies 
 on the west side of the lake of the same name. Its surface 
 is gently rolling, and beautifully diversified with woodland, 
 openings, prairie, and native hay-fields. Improved farms 
 can be obtained, of all classes, at from ten to twenty dollars 
 per acre ; good unimproved lands, from three to ten. 
 dollars. 
 
132 
 
 CENSUS OF WISCONSIN. 
 
 CENSUS OF WISCONSIN, FROM 1820 TO 1855. 
 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 1820 
 
 1830 
 
 1834 
 
 1836 
 
 1838 
 
 1840 
 
 1842 
 
 1846 
 
 1847 
 
 1850 
 
 1855 
 
 Adams 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 18; 
 
 6,868 
 
 liad Axe 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4.823 
 
 Brown 
 
 952 
 
 904 
 
 1957 
 
 2706 
 
 3048 
 
 2107 
 
 2140 
 
 2,(62 
 
 '2,91. 
 
 6,223 
 
 6,699 
 
 Buffalo 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 832 
 
 C:»lumet 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 275 
 
 407 
 
 836 
 
 '1,060 
 
 1.74( 
 
 3.131 
 
 Chippewa... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 616 
 
 3,t3S 
 
 Cliiik 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 838 
 
 Columbia... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,969 
 
 3,79 i 
 
 '9,56.:. 
 
 17,905 
 
 Crawford ... 
 
 492 
 
 092 
 
 810 
 
 1220 
 
 850 
 
 1503 
 
 1449 
 
 1,444 
 
 1,409 
 
 2,39y 
 
 3.32J 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 172 
 
 31*4 
 
 776 
 
 8,289 
 
 10 9o6 
 
 16,654 
 19,140 
 
 37 714 
 
 Dodge 
 
 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 67 
 
 149 
 
 7,787 
 
 14,906 
 
 34,5-10 
 
 l)oor 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 739 
 
 Douglas 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 386 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,550 
 24,784 
 
 Fond du Lac 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 139 
 
 295 
 
 '3,544 
 
 7,459 
 
 14,512 
 
 Grant , 
 
 
 
 
 
 2763 
 
 3926 
 
 5937 
 
 12,034 
 
 11,720 
 
 16,169 
 
 23.176 
 
 
 
 
 
 "sii's 
 
 494 
 5234 
 
 930 
 3078 
 
 1594 
 5029 
 
 4.758 
 14,906 
 
 6.487 
 7,963 
 
 8,5So 
 10,479 
 
 14,727 
 16,206 
 
 Iowa 
 
 
 1589 
 
 2033 
 
 Jackson 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1.U9S 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 463 
 
 914 
 
 1G3S 
 
 8,860 
 
 il,46i 
 
 15,339 
 
 •^6 8 "9 
 
 Kewauuee .. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,109 
 
 Kenosha .... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10,730 
 
 12,307 
 
 La Crosse ... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3,9U4 
 
 La Fayette .. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9,336 
 
 ll,55t; 
 
 16,064 
 
 La Pointe ... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 364 
 
 595 
 
 417 
 
 Manitowoc . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 236 
 
 263 
 
 629 
 
 1,286 
 
 3,71- 
 
 13,048 
 
 Maratbon... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 46(j 
 
 1.447 
 
 Marquette .. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 is 
 
 59 
 
 986 
 
 2,261 
 
 8,64. 
 
 14,873 
 
 Milwaukee . 
 
 
 
 
 
 28*92 
 
 3131 
 
 5607 
 
 9566 
 
 15,922 
 
 22,791 
 
 31,11'.. 
 
 46,265 
 
 Monroe 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2,407 
 
 Oconto 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,601 
 
 Outagamie . 
 
 
 
 
 • •••> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4.914 
 
 Ozaukee 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12,973 
 
 Pierce 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,720 
 
 Polk 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 547 
 
 Portage 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1623 
 
 646 
 
 931 
 
 1,504 
 19 23b 
 
 1,267 
 
 5 161 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2054 
 
 3475 
 
 6318 
 
 17 983 
 
 14 971 
 
 20 67o 
 
 Richland ... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 90o 
 
 5,584 
 
 Kock 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1701 
 
 2867 
 
 12,405 
 
 14,720 
 
 30,717 
 
 31,364 
 
 St. Croix 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,419 
 
 1.674 
 
 624 
 
 2,040 
 
 Sauk 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 102 
 
 393 
 
 1,003 
 
 2,178 
 
 4,37:^ 
 
 13,614 
 
 Shawauno.. 
 
 
 
 ..... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 264 
 
 Slieboygan . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 133 
 
 227 
 
 1,637 
 
 5,58u 
 
 8,38b 
 
 20,391 
 
 Trempeleau 
 Walworth ... 
 
 
 
 
 
 1019 
 
 2611 
 
 4618 
 
 lJ3,'4i39 
 7.473 
 
 i5,'639 
 15,447 
 
 17,861 ( 
 
 493 
 22 662 
 
 
 
 
 Washington 
 
 
 
 
 
 64 
 
 343 
 
 965 
 
 19.476 
 
 18.897 
 
 Waukesha.. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13,793 
 
 16,860 
 
 19,324 
 
 24,012 
 
 Waupacca .. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4.437 
 
 Waushara .. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5,541 
 17,439 
 
 Winnebago. 
 Total 
 
 1444 
 
 ;245 
 
 olOU 
 
 
 19,310 
 
 135 
 
 29,276 
 
 143 
 45,484 
 
 732 
 
 2,74.^ 
 
 10,167 
 
 10,030< 
 
 155,441 
 
 210,117 
 
 316,404 
 
 562,109 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 GRANTS OF LAND BY CONGRESS — LA CROSSE AND MILWAU- 
 KEE ; CHICAGO, ST. PAUL AND FOND DU LAC ; AND OTHER 
 RAILROADS. 
 
 Wisconsin, altbongli one of the youngest States of the 
 confederacy, is now, considering the time of its settlement, 
 much better supplied with railroad communications than 
 any other State in the Union. The General Government, 
 with those broad and comprehensive views, which should 
 always distinguish it, of the necessity for promoting internal 
 improvements, and for assisting young and enterprising 
 States, upon the recommendation of the Committee of the 
 House of Representatives,' lately passed the following Act 
 
 1 This grant will complete a great north and south trunk road, 
 from the Gulf of Mexico to Lake Superior and the Upper Missis- 
 sippi ; will develop the most valuable iron and copper mines, which 
 are sufficient to supply the necessities of the world for ages to come, 
 and distribute their products throughout the States. It will pene- 
 trate the extensive northern pineries, and, by rail and river, furnish 
 lumber to all the West and South. It will speedily settle an im- 
 mense wilderness, destined to remain unoccupied for a quarter of a 
 century to come, without some such aid. The alternate sections re- 
 maining to Government will not only sell readily, and for a greater 
 amount, but are actually more profitable with the road through 
 them, than the whole without such a road. This measure will 
 greatly increase the wealth, prosperity, and power of Wisconsin as a 
 State, and also add to the comfort and general prosperity of its 
 citizens. 
 
 Capital, enterprise, and industry from other States, will find in 
 12 (133) 
 
134 GRANTS OP LAND 
 
 granting public lands to Wisconsin, to aid in the construc- 
 tion of railroads. 
 
 Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
 of the United Slates of America, in Congress assembled, That there be, 
 and is hereby, granted to the State of Wisconsin, for the purpose of 
 aiding in the construction of a railroad from Madison, or Columbus, 
 by the way of Portage City, to the St. Croix river or lake, between 
 townships twenty-five and thirty-one, and from thence to the west 
 end of Lake Superior, and to Bayfield ; and, also, from Fond du 
 Lac, on Lake Winnebago, northerly to the State line, every alternate 
 section of land designated by odd numbers, for six sections in width 
 on each side of said roads, respectively. But in case it shall appear 
 that the United States have, when the lines or routes of said roads 
 are definitely fixed, sold any sections or parts thereof granted as 
 aforesaid, or that the right of pre-emption has attached to the same, 
 then it shall be lawful for any agent, or agents, to be appointed by 
 the Governor of said State, to select, subject to the approval of the 
 Secretary of the Interior, from the lauds of the United States nearest 
 to the tier of sections above specified, as much land, in alternate 
 sections, or parts of sections, as shall be equal to such lands as the 
 United States have sold or otherwise appropriated, or to which the 
 right of pre-emption has attached as aforesaid, which lands (thus 
 selected in lieu of those sold, and to which pre-emption has attached 
 as aforesaid, together with the sections and parts of sections, desig- 
 nated by odd numbers as aforesaid, and appropriated as aforesaid) 
 shall be held by the State of Wisconsin for the use and purpose 
 aforesaid: Provided, That the lands to be so located shall in no case 
 be further than fifteen miles from the line of the roads in each case, 
 and selected for and on account of said roads : Provided further. That 
 the lands hereby granted shall be exclusively applied in the con- 
 struction of the road for which it was granted and selected, and shall 
 be disposed of only as the work progresses, and the same shall be 
 
 Wisconsin sure promise of a rich reward, and by thus invigorating 
 one member of the confederacy, strength is given to the whole body 
 politic, and bonds of aflFection will be created that will grow stronger, 
 year by year, until they shall become indissoluble, and furnish the 
 surest guarantee of the perpetuity of this glorious Union. — Abstract 
 of the Report of the Committee on Public Lands. 
 
BY CONGRESS. 135 
 
 applied to no other purpose ■whatever. And provided further. That 
 any and all lands reserved to the United States by any Act of Con- 
 gress, for the purpose of aiding in any object of internal improvement, 
 or in any manner or for any purpose whatsoever, be, and the same 
 are hereby, reserved to the United States from the operation of this 
 act, except so far as it may be found necessary to locate the route 
 of said railroad through such reserved lands, in which case the right 
 of way only shall be granted, subject to the approval of the President 
 of the United States. 
 
 Sect. 2. And be it further enacted. That the sections and parts of 
 sections of land which, by such grant, shall remain to the United 
 States, within six miles on each side of said roads, shall not be sold 
 for less than double the minimum price of the public lands, when 
 sold ; nor shall any of the said lands become subject to private entry 
 until the same have been first offered at public sale at the increased 
 price. 
 
 Sect. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said lands hereby 
 granted to said State shall be subject to the disposal of the Legis- 
 lature thereof, for the purposes aforesaid, and no other; and the 
 said railroads shall be and remain public highways for the use of the 
 Government of the United States, free from toll or other charge 
 upon the transportation of property or troops of the United States. 
 
 Sect. 4. A ?id be it further enacted, That the lands hereby granted 
 to said State shall be disposed of by said State only in the manner 
 following, that is to say: That a quantity of land not exceeding one 
 hundred and twenty sections, and included within a continuous 
 length of twenty miles of roads respectively, may be sold ; and when 
 the Governor of said State shall certify to the Secretary of the Inte- 
 rior that any twenty continuous miles of either of said roads are 
 completed, then another like quantity of land hereby granted may 
 be sold ; and so, from time to time, until said roads are completed ; 
 and if said roads are not completed within ten years, no further 
 sales shall be made, and the land unsold shall revert to the United 
 States. 
 
 Sect. 5. And be it further enacted, That the United States mail 
 shall be transported over said roads, under the direction of the Post- 
 office Department, at such price as Congress may, by law, direct: 
 Provided, That until such price is fixed by law, the Postmaster- 
 General shall have the power to determine the same. 
 
 Approved June 3, 1856. 
 
136 LA CROSSE AND 
 
 As this munificent grant to the State was to be applied 
 in such manner as its Legislature should determine, it be- 
 came a question, whether the construction of these roads 
 ought to be undertaken by the State directly, under its 
 officers and agents, or by some delegated authority. The 
 Legislature decided that the mode of applying the grant 
 should be through the medium of incorporated companies. 
 The lands on the east side of the State were given to a 
 new company, authorized and required to construct a first- 
 class road from Fond du Lac, the present terminus of the 
 Chicago, St. Paul and Fond du Lac Railroad, to Supe- 
 rior, at the west end of Lake Superior, touching the 
 Michigan line, and giving a connection to the Michigan 
 roads from Marquette and Ontonagon. On the western 
 side, they were granted to the La Crosse and Milwaukee 
 Railroad, from Madison to Hudson, and the city of Supe- 
 rior. The following are extracts from an Act passed in 
 relation to the latter Company, and approved June 3, 1856 : 
 
 The People of the Slate of Wisconsin, represented in Senate and Asse?n- 
 hly, do enact as follows : 
 
 Section 1. The La Crosse and Milwaukee Bailroad Company is 
 hereby authorized and empowered to survey, locate, construct, com- 
 plete, and perpetually to have, use, maintain, and opei-ate railroads 
 ■with one or more tracks or lines, from the city of Madison, in the 
 county of Dane, and from the village of Columbus, in the county of 
 Columbia, on the most direct and feasible route, by the way of Portage 
 City, to the St. Croix river or lake, between townships twenty-five 
 and thirty-one, and from thence to the west end of Lake Superior, 
 and to Bayfield ; and shall have, possess, exercise and enjoy the 
 same rights, privileges, functions, franchises, authority and immu- 
 nities with reference to the said routes, or any railroad to be built 
 thereon, as it now possesses or enjoys with reference to any route 
 it is now authorized to occupy, or any railroad built or to be built 
 thereon ; and there is hereby conferred upon the La Crosse and Mil- 
 waukee Railroad Company, all the power and authority contained in 
 
MILWAUKEE RAILROAD. 137 
 
 tlie charter of said Company, and in the acts amendatory thereof, for 
 the purpose of carrying out the objects of this act, and of appro- 
 priating and applying the hinds hereinafter in this act granted, or 
 their proceeds, to aid in the construction of railroads by this act 
 authorized to be built. 
 
 Sect, 2. The said roads shall be constructed on the most direct 
 and feasible routes from Madison to Portage City, and from Colum- 
 bus to Portage City, and simultaneously as nearly as practicable ; 
 and both of them shall be completed by the last day of December, 
 A. D. 1858. And for the purpose of estimating and selectino- lands 
 granted by Congress, the city of Madison is hereby designated as 
 the point of commencement of said road, and the whole of the rail- 
 road hereby authorized to be constructed, shall be constructed by 
 said La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad Company, within ten years 
 from the third day of June, A. D. 1856. 
 
 Sect. 4. For the purpose of aiding in the construction of the rail- 
 roads — which, by this act, the said La Crosse and Milwaukee Rail- 
 road Company is authoi'ized to construct — all the interest and estate, 
 present and prospective, of this State, in, or to any, and all the lands 
 granted by the Government of the United States to the State of Wis- 
 consin, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of a railroad 
 from Madison or Columbus, by way of Portage City, to the St. Croix 
 river or lake, between townships twenty-five and thirty-one, and 
 from thence to the west end of Lake Superior, and to Bayfield, by 
 virtue of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act granting a portion of 
 the public lands to the State of Wisconsin, to aid in the construction 
 of railroads," approved June 3d, 1856, together with all and singular 
 the rights, privileges and immunities conferred, or intended to be 
 conferred, by the said Act of Congress, are hereby granted to the 
 said La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad Company : Provided, That 
 the said land shall be exclusively applied in the construction of that 
 road, for which it was granted and selected : and shall be disposed 
 of only as the work progresses, and the same shall be applied to no 
 other purpose whatsoever: And provided further, That the title to sai-d 
 lands shall vest in the said La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad Com- 
 pany, &c., &c. 
 
 On the nth day of October, 1856, the above grant was 
 accepted, and the terms and conditions of the Act of 
 Legislature agreed to, by the La Crosse and Milwaukee 
 12* 
 
138 • LA CROSSE AND 
 
 Company, and their railroads were divided into the follow- 
 ing divisions, for the purposes of construction, viz : The 
 Eastern Division, embracing the road from Milwaukee to 
 Poi'ta.2;e City ; the Western, from that point to La Crosse ; 
 the Watei'town, from Milwaukee to Portage City ; the 
 Northwestern, commonly called the St. Croix and Lake 
 Superior Railroad, from its intersection with this river or 
 lake to the west end of Lake Superior ; and the Portage 
 Division, extending from Madison to Portage City. The 
 stock of each of them to be separate and distinct from the 
 others, until they are all completed, or ii! running order. 
 Then it will become a part of the general stock of the 
 Company. 
 
 The routes of these divisions were immediately surveyed. 
 Moses M, Strong, Esq., Land Commissioner of this Com- 
 pany, in his Report to the Board of Directors, says : — 
 "The land which we are entitled to amounts to six sections 
 of 640 acres for every mile between Madison and St. 
 Croix, upon whatever route shall be adopted. This is 
 equal to oS-lO acres for every mile of road. If the route 
 by Point Basse be adopted, the distance will be 268 miles, 
 and the quantity of land would be 1,029,120 acres. No 
 precise information can, of course, be had in relation to the 
 character and description of every particular tract of land, 
 until the lands which are to vest in the Company are deter- 
 mined upon ; but enough is known to satisfy us that the 
 country, upon the whole line of the road, is well adapted 
 to settlement and cultivation ; and it is believed, that not 
 a single forty-acre tract will be found that will not be valu- 
 able for farming purposes. All the lauds will be between 
 latitude 43° 30' and 45° 10' north, and longitude 12° 45' 
 and 15° 55' west from Washington. In the whole of this 
 territory, embracing an area of about 20,000 square miles, 
 there are no mountains. And while there are quite a num- 
 
MILWAUKEE RAILROAD. 139 
 
 ber of small prairies, many of them are not more than three 
 or four miles from timber. The lands selected will, of 
 course, be the most valuable that can be procured, and 
 every forty-acre tract will be suitable for farming purposes.' 
 
 "All the rivers and smaller streams which water the 
 country through which the road will pass, furnish numerous 
 water-powers and facilities for manufacturing establish- 
 ments. Upon these will be erected saw and grist mills to 
 supply the first demands of the inhabitants, and to enable 
 them to prosecute, with profit, their agricultural and lum- 
 bering pursuits. It is also known that extensive deposits 
 of iron ore exist in various localities between Portage City 
 and Lake Superior. 
 
 "In forming an opinion of the value of the lands, they 
 should be viewed with all the advantages they will possess 
 after the road is constructed. All suitable for cultivation ; 
 none more than fifteen miles, and a large proportion within 
 six miles of the railroad, possessing every desirable facility 
 for fencing, fuel, water, and for cheap building materials, 
 with all the adjacent lands purchased, owned, and occupied 
 by an enterprising and industrious population, there can 
 be no reason why they should not command as high prices 
 as those in the more southern part of the State, of no 
 greater intrinsic value, nor possessing greater railroad 
 facilities." 
 
 From the last Report of the President of the La Crosse 
 and Milwaukee Kailroad Company, we learn that none of 
 these lands will be offered for sale until the road shall be 
 completed to St. Croix, and in operation a year, which 
 will be- in about four years from the present. During this 
 period, the lands remaining to the Government along the 
 route, will no doubt he jjj^e-emjjted the whole distance, 
 and the country generally advanced in improvements. The 
 
 1 For a description of these lauds, see page 42. 
 
140 ' LA CROSSE AND 
 
 land then owned by this Company will be the only land in 
 market, and will readily command the highest prices ; and 
 being sold on a long credit, with small annual payments, 
 ivill enable the better class of actual settlers to purchase 
 at fair prices. 
 
 "Sales being made in this manner, and subject to the 
 payment of seven per centum per annum interest, and the 
 principal in a term of years, will readily produce the 
 following results : 
 
 "10,000 acres, emTiraoing village-sites, valuable water-powers, 
 
 mines, Ac, at $100 per acre $1,000,000 
 
 200.000 acres first-class farming-land near the line, with 
 
 smaller water-powers and other privileges, $20 per acre, 4,000,000 
 300,000 acres of farming-lands, <fee., further from the road, 
 
 $15 per acre 4,500,000 
 
 350,000 acres of farming-lands, at still greater distance from 
 
 the road, $10 per acre 3,500,000 
 
 123,000 acres of inferior land, $5 per acre 615,000 
 
 Total.... $13,615,000 
 
 " These lands are among the most valuable in the western 
 country, and, instead of falling below, their value will 
 exceed the above estimate. No one acquainted with the 
 rapid growth and improvement of the West, can entertain 
 a doubt that they will command a price far above that we 
 have given. 
 
 ■'The length of road from Madison to St. Croix is 256 
 miles ; from Portage City to La Crosse is 101 miles ; from 
 which deduct 36 miles, which, in common with the other, 
 leaves 65 miles to complete the road to La Crosse ; 
 adding to this, 20 miles finished from Columbus to the 
 intersection of the La Crosse Road, gives a total of 341 
 miles to be constructed in the completion of our system. 
 Estimating the cost at $30,000 per mile, to include all 
 
MILWAUKEE RAILROAD. 141* 
 
 expenses, would give a grand total of $10,230,000, which 
 is $3,385,000 less than the value of the land alone. 
 
 "A mere glance at the map exhibits our commanding 
 position, and carries conviction to the mind without argu- 
 ment, that it is the only great artery along which must 
 flow the business of the largest scope of the finest country 
 which can be found tributary to anyone road in the United 
 States. The business of the Upper Mississippi surprises 
 every one who visits that region. There are now some 
 fifty steamboats plying on the river above Galena, and all 
 doing a full and profitable business. The travel alone, to 
 and from there, which would pass over the railroad at this 
 time, if completed to La Crosse, would make it one of the 
 best paying roads in the country." This branch will be 
 completed in less than a year, and the company in posses- 
 sion of the most northerly through and direct route from 
 the. Lake to the Mississippi River, and of course take the 
 greatest part of the through travel, in addition to the freight 
 and way business of one of the finest farming-districts in 
 the world. '* 
 
 When -this division is completed, a railroad will have 
 been commenced on the west bank of the Mississippi, across 
 the vast expanse of plain some 500 miles, making tributary 
 to it the southern part of Minnesota ; while from the St. 
 Croix and Lake Superior Road, a branch to St. Paul will 
 be in the full tide of successful operation ; and thence 
 extending through the central part of Minnesota, on the 
 great route towards the Pacific. Railroad facilities will be 
 rapidly furnished, bringing to the La Crosse and Mil- 
 waukee Road the rich tribute of the central tract of that 
 State ; while yet again, the St. Croix and Lake Superior 
 division, to the City of Superior, will bring the valuable 
 trade of Northern Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota, 
 
142 CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, AND 
 
 besides tlie vast amount of freight and pleasure-travel whicli 
 will land at this young and rising city, 
 
 " The position and facilities of the La Crosse and Mil- 
 waukee Railroad will be such, as almost with certainty 
 give it the greatest part of the trade of the Upper Missis- 
 sippi, embracing the whole of Minnesota and one-half of 
 Wisconsin, both equal to an area of two of the largest 
 States in the Union, and an amount of business beyond 
 computation." 
 
 The earnings of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Road, as 
 far as completed, in 1856, have considerably exceeded the 
 estimates, and, in fact, have been greater than can be 
 shown in the history of any railroad in America, of the 
 same distance and first year of its operation. The total 
 amount, up to 1857, was $505,083 86. The earnings of 
 the eastern division, for May, 185t, were $63,221 70, being 
 an increase of $21,745 7T over May, 1856. 
 
 THE CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, AND FOND DU LAC RAILROAD. 
 
 The Legislature of Wisconsin conferred the Eastern 
 Grant of lands, as we have before mentioned, upon a new 
 company of citizens of this State alone, incorporated as the 
 "Wisconsin and Superior Railroad Company." As this 
 line was the natural continuation of the Chicago, St. Paul, 
 and Fond du Lac Company, which was then engaged in 
 constructing its road north of Fond du Lac, arrangements 
 were mutually agreed upon for uniting the interests of the 
 two companies. The subjoined Act of the Legislature was 
 passed, and approved February 12th, 1857, authorizing 
 them to consolidate : 
 
 Section 1. The Chicago, St. Paul, and Fond du Lac Railroad 
 Compnny, a corporation created under the laws of the States of Illi' 
 
 1 Fiom the Annual Report of its Directors. 
 
FOND DU LAC RAIXROAD. 143 
 
 nois and Wisconsin, by the consolidation of the Illinois and Wisconsin 
 Railroad Company in the State of Illinois, and the Rock River Valley 
 Union Railroad Company in the State of Wisconsin, and the Wiscon- 
 sin and Superior Railroad Company, a corporation created by the 
 laws of Wisconsin, are hereby authorized and empowered to consoli- 
 date the capital-stock of the two companies, and to make the two 
 companies one, and to place the affairs and property of the two com- 
 panies under the direction of one board of directors, &c. 
 
 Sect. 2. The said consolidated company thus created shall be, 
 and is hereby declared to be a body politic and corporate, under the 
 name of The Chicago, St. Paul, and JFond du Lac Railroad Com- 
 pany, &c. 
 
 Sect. 3. The said consolidated company, hereby created, shall be 
 entitled to, and invested with, the title and ownership of all the lands, 
 and all and singular the rights, privileges, and immunities granted 
 or conferred by the Act of Congress, approved June 3d, A. D. 1856, 
 entitled "An Act granting public lands to the State of Wisconsin, to 
 aid in the construction of railroads in said State," to the extent of 
 the whole of the lands granted by said Act of Congress, for the pur- 
 pose of aiding in the construction of a railroad from Fond du Lac, on 
 Lake Winnebago, northerly to the State line, as fully and completely 
 as the said Wisconsin and Lake Superior Railroad Company is, by 
 its charter, entitled to and invested with the same ; subject, however, 
 to all the terms, conditions, restrictions, limitations, impositions, 
 duties, and obligations, contained in the charter of said Wisconsin 
 and Superior Railroad Company, and in the said Act of Congress, 
 as far as the same are applicable to the consolidated company 
 herebj' created, &c. 
 
 "The State of Michigan also received a grant of land 
 from Congress, 'to aid in the construction of railroads 
 from Little Bay de Noquet to Marquette, and thence to 
 Ontonagon, and from the two last-named places to the 
 Wisconsin State line ; also from Amboy, by Hillsdale and 
 Lansing, and from Grand Rapids to some point on or near 
 Traverse Bay ; also from Grand Haven and Pere Marquette 
 to Flint, and thence to Port Huron, every alternate section 
 of land, designated by odd numbers, for six sections in 
 width, on each side of each of said roads. ' 
 
144 CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, AND 
 
 "The Legislature of Michigan, which had the disposal 
 of the lands, distributed them among several companies. 
 That portion of the grant pertaining to the route from 
 Marquette, on Lake Superior, to the State line of Wis- 
 consin, was donated to the Marquette and State-Line Eail- 
 road Company, a corporation organized under the general 
 railroad laws of Michigan ; and that portion of the grant 
 extending from Ontonagon to the State line was donated 
 to the Ontonagon and State-Line Railroad Company, 
 organized in like manner. 
 
 " In accordance with the provisions contained in the said 
 several charters, and also by virtue of special acts of the 
 Legislatures of Wisconsin and Micliigan, authorizing the 
 same, the Chicago, St. Paul, and Fond du Lac Company, 
 and the Marquette and State-Line Railroad Company, 
 and the Ontonagon and State-Line Company, were con- 
 solidated, and thereby this company became fully invested 
 generally with all the chartered rights and properties of 
 those companies, and particularly with all the rights to the 
 land-grant applicable to these lines of road. 
 
 " Prior to its consolidation with this company, the 
 Marquette and State-Line Company had contracted for the 
 purchase of a railroad about seventeen miles in length, 
 from Marquette to the iron mines directly on their general 
 route to the State line of Wisconsin, and by virtue of this 
 consolidation, this company becomes possessed of said 
 road, and also of valuable contracts, with several large 
 mining companies in that section, for transporting iron-ore 
 from the mines to the harbor of Marquette. This section 
 of the road, it is supposed, will be in full operation to the 
 iron mountain in July of the present year. 
 
 " The distance from Fond du Lac (where the land-grant 
 commences,) to the State line of Michigan, nearly due 
 uorlh, is about one hundred and sixty-five miles, (as ascer- 
 
FOND DU LAC RAILROAD. 145 
 
 tained from a recent survey of the route by a corps of 
 engineers,) and from the State line to Marquette, about 
 seventy-five miles ; and from the State line to Ontonagon, 
 about ninety miles, making, in all, three hundred and 
 thirty miles of land-grant road, upon the most direct and 
 natural route to the copper and iron harbors of Lake Supe- 
 rior. The Act of Congress gives every alternate section 
 of land, for six sections in width, on either side of the road ; 
 and in case of deficiency of land within that limit, such 
 deficiency may be supplied by selecting lands on either side 
 for fifteen miles, allowing a width, for such selections, of 
 thirty miles — the entire length of the road. This, as will 
 be seen, amounts to three thousand eight hundred and forty 
 acres of land for every mile of railroad, and the whole 
 distance being three hundred and thirty miles, makes one 
 million two hundred and sixty-seven thousand acres. 
 Besides this, the company have the right, by the charter, 
 of running a road north-westerly to the west end of Lake 
 Superior, within the State of Wisconsin, to which the grant 
 of land also attaches. This can be done at any time 
 within ten years ; and, if done, will add about 900,000 acres 
 more to the lands of the company. This is truly a rich 
 and munificent gift from the General Government to aid 
 these railroad enterprises. 
 
 " In regard to the cost of construction of the road, and 
 the value of these lands, Mr. S. F. Johnston, the engineer 
 under whose superintendence the explorations were made, 
 says that ' a railroad can be built on our general route, 
 northerly, cheaply, and with great ease ; that the snow is 
 less an obstruction to the operation of a railroad than on 
 the prairies of Illinois, for the reason that it does not 
 drift at all, even on the highest lands. ^ He also reports 
 that, in some localities, the needle of the compass was 
 materially affected by magnetic iron-ore. The explorations 
 13 
 
146 CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, AND 
 
 heretofore made by engineers, from Ontonagon and Mar- 
 quette, show their respective routes to be feasible for a 
 railroad, and the land good, heavily timbered, with very 
 valuable varieties ; and also refer to the well-known fact, 
 that inexhaustible deposits of pure copper and iron ore 
 exist along the lines of road. The extensive forests of 
 pine, for which Northern Wisconsin is celebrated, and 
 through which the contemplated line will pass, cannot fail 
 to be of great value, especially when the road is finished 
 through them. The rapid and continually-increasing 
 growth and settlement of the area of country south of the 
 line above indicated, together with the already marked 
 inroads now being made upon the forests north of that line 
 by the enormous amount of timber annually cut there, prove 
 that these lands will be very valuable. On or near the 
 Brule River, on the route of this road, are inexhaustible 
 beds of the finest quality of slate and marble. As there 
 are no other slate-quarries within many hundred miles 
 south and west, eventually this slate will be sent by rail- 
 road, southerly, in large quantities, for roofing and other 
 purposes ; of course, this land must be valuable, and much 
 of it- will be owned by the company. 
 
 "But the most valuable are the mineral lauds. Pure, 
 unadulterated copper ' is found along the whole trap-range, 
 extending from Montreal River, north-easterly, past Onto- 
 nagon harbor, nearly parallel with the southern shore of 
 the lakes, and about fifteen to twenty-five miles from it, a 
 distance of nearly one hundred and fifty miles, to the extre- 
 mity of Keweenaw Point." 
 
 W. B. Ogden, Esq., President of the Chicago, St. Paul, 
 and Fond du Lac Railroad Company, in a circular-letter 
 to the stockholders, says : " Preliminary surveys have been 
 
 1 A general description of this copper-region will be found in the 
 Second Part of this work. 
 
FOND DTJ LAC RAILROAD. 14t 
 
 made of these lines, which show them entirely feasible for a 
 railroad, at an average cost of about $25,000 per mile, and 
 running through a peculiarly healthful region of good 
 farming and valuable timber and mineral lands. We shall 
 obtain the full quota of lands to which we are entitled under 
 the Act of Congress, viz. : 3,840 acres per mile, and all 
 (after excluding all swamp and refuse lands granted to the 
 State,) within ten miles of our road. Many of these lands 
 have a special value, in addition to their worth for farming 
 purposes. With the exception of the prairie region in 
 the vicinity of the southern part of the road, and occasional 
 meadows and openings all along it, the whole line north 
 from Appleton (some forty miles north of Fond du Lac,) 
 passes over lands covered with fine white pine and other 
 valuable timber, well watered, and abounding in great wealth 
 of iron, copper, slate, and marble. 
 
 " The Marquette line passes over superior and extensive 
 slate-quarries of various colors, and the only known acces- 
 sible slate west of Vermont, for the supply, over our road, 
 of the Great Northwest and the Valley of the Mississippi. 
 It also passes over and along the noted Lake Superior Iron 
 Kange, extending from fourteen to fifty miles in width, 
 north and south, and over one hundred miles in length, east 
 and west, and producing, as proved by repeated practical 
 analysis, experiment, and use, the finest iron in the world. 
 A single known bed of it, directly on the line of this road, 
 is capable, according to the United States Geological 
 Survey and official Government Report, ' of supplying the 
 world for ages. ' 
 
 "On the Marquette line, seventeen miles of road are 
 already constructed, and become our property by this con- 
 solidation, with an ample and paying business already. at 
 hand, in the transportation of ore and iron to the Lake at 
 
148 CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, AND 
 
 Marquette. There are single sections of iron-ore land, 
 along this line, which could not be purchased for $100,000. 
 
 *' The Ontonagon line passes over the great Lake Superior 
 copper and mining region, and directly past the rich Min- 
 nesota mine, with its recent wonderful discoveries of im- 
 mense masses and columns of solid virgin copper. A 
 section of land covering this mine has now a market value 
 of near |1, 500,000. 
 
 " The Government having made no reserve of minerals to 
 itself, and as our line of road penetrates to the interior of 
 this region, and opens a country hitherto (for want of 
 roads,) comparatively unoccupied, we shall, doubtless, in 
 locating our lands, obtain, in addition to extensive tracts 
 of fine pine timber-lands, many thousands of acres of great 
 value on account of the minerals they contain. As often 
 as every ten miles along the entire line, towns and villages 
 will spring up, and give great value to our adjoining lands 
 for villages and town lots. 
 
 "The Illinois Central Railroad Company, in their last 
 report, value their remaining unsold lands, taking their 
 large actual sales as a standard, at $13 52 per acre, and 
 express great confidence that a larger price will be realized. 
 
 " If we estimate our lands at the same rate, as with all 
 their wealth of timber and minerals we may safely do, we 
 have — 
 
 "1,267.200 acres, at $13 50 per acre, worth $17,107,200 
 
 The 330 miles of road to be constructed by these 
 
 lands, at $25,000 per mile, will cost 8,250,00C 
 
 Leaving a surplus of $8,857,200 
 
 '' On this basis there is value enough in these lands, not 
 only to build the 330 miles of road north of Fond du Lac, 
 but to reimburse to our stockholders their entire outlay in 
 building their road from Chicago to Fond du Lac. 
 
FOND DU LAC RAILROAD. 149 
 
 "The company have ten years' time in which to 
 complete the line to Lake Superior, and their lands are 
 free from all taxes during these ten years, unless pre- 
 viously sold by the company. The company have also the 
 right of way, free of cost, through all public lands, and all 
 lands reserved by Government in any manner or for any 
 purpose. 
 
 ''And this line, when constructed, will not want for busi- 
 ness. A large population have already gathered in the 
 vicinity of Ontonagon and Marquette, and heavy invest- 
 ments have been made in mining the copper and iron, 
 which business is rapidly increasing. Every year sends a 
 powerful emigration thither; and these emigrants, while 
 they develop the country, will draw their supplies from the 
 prairies of Wisconsin and Illinois. As the mining resources 
 of the region are developed, and it becomes easily acces- 
 sible by our road, this emigration will increase accordingly. 
 Manufiicturing establishments will, of necessity, grow out 
 of the mining operations. The Great West will look 
 mainly to the Lake Superior district for its supplies of 
 copper, iron, and slate, as they will be delivered over our 
 road at all seasons of the year, and at greatly reduced 
 cost. The carrying trade of lumber, iron, slate, and 
 marble, from our lands and the line of our road southerly, 
 and of the supplies of all sorts needed upon it in return, 
 will give full occupation for the entire capacity of the 
 road. 
 
 " The construction of a railroad from this extraordinary 
 lumber and mineral region south, as a means of intercourse 
 with the important lake cities on the western shore of Lake 
 Michigan and the great markets of the country, would be 
 an attractive investment of capital, without regard to the 
 land grant. 
 
 " Some of the most substantial and lucrative roads and 
 13* 
 
150 CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, AND FOND DU LAC RAILROAD. 
 
 improvements of the country have been constructed ex- 
 pressly for the accommodation of such a traffic ; and there 
 is not one of them where the object to be attained compares, 
 in extent and inexhaustible resources, for all time to come, 
 with ours. 
 
 "In another respect this road will compare favorably 
 with other roads of the country, viz. : in cheapness of 
 COST the grades are easy, the country favorable for con- 
 struction, the materials for ties and other structures on the 
 line abundant, the right of way furnished without cost. 
 
 "The company have also a charter for a road north- 
 westerly from the above north and south line to St. Louis 
 River, or the west end of Lake Superior, with the land- 
 grant privilege attaching to it — the whole distance sup- 
 posed to be about 200 miles. At some future day, and 
 not far distant either, a line of road from the City of Supe- 
 rior, south-easterly, to our north and south line, may not 
 only be demanded by the wants of that section, but be a 
 most essential tributary to our main line towards Chicago. 
 In such event, if our other roads to Marquette and Onto- 
 nagon should then be completed, it might be very important 
 and indispensable for the company to have the benefit of 
 the land-grant along its line." 
 
 The earnings of this road, while in course of construction 
 to Janesville, were, for the first eight months of 1856, 
 $166,198 98. The road was opened to Janesville in Sep- 
 tember, and the earnings on this portion of the line were, 
 for the eight months following, $288,048 33 ; and for the 
 month of May, 1857, $60,168 32, being an increase over the 
 corresponding month of the preceding year, of $30,655 31. 
 The connection with the Milwaukee and Mississippi Road 
 was made on the 11th of May, 1857, thus opening a 
 through route to the Mississippi, at Prairie du Chien, and 
 promising a very large increase of annual receipts. 
 
 \ 
 
MILWAUKEE AND MISSISSIPPI R. R. 151 
 THE MILWAUKEE AND MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD COMPANY. 
 
 This pioneer railroad of Wisconsin is fully completed to 
 Prairie du Chieu, its terminus on the Mississippi river, and 
 is not only one of the most prosperous, but one of the best 
 conducted roads in the State. An immense amount of 
 freight and travel pass over it, which formerly were car- 
 ried over the Illinois roads to the river. We annex ex- 
 tracts from the Report of its Superintendent. 
 
 "It is with great satisfaction that I can state to the 
 public generally, that our road, with all its connections 
 and arrangements for business from New York to St. Paul, 
 is in complete order, and ready for the earliest opening of 
 navigation. 
 
 "In the first place, the road terminates on the Missis- 
 sippi river, about seventy miles above any other. Now, 
 if we consider Chicago as the starting-point, we can take 
 a passenger thence over the Chicago and St. Paul Railroad 
 to Janesville, and thence over one hundred and thirty miles 
 of our road to Prairie du Chien, from eight to ten hours 
 in advance of the route via Dunleith, which advantage is 
 sufficient, in my judgment, to give at least one hundred and 
 thirty miles of our road the great bulk of travel to North- 
 ern Iowa, Minnesota, St. Paul, and the Upper Mississippi 
 country. Then, if we start at Milwaukee, we shall find our 
 road has connection with Chicago, via Lake Shore Rail- 
 road, and is, in the course of next year, to have a connec- 
 tion across Lake Michigan to Grand Haven, which is di- 
 rectly east of Milwaukee ; and thence with the Detroit and 
 Milwaukee Railroad, with the New York Central and Erie 
 Railroads, and with the Grand Canada Trunk Railroad, 
 extending to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. These routes, for 
 at least nine months of the year, are the shortest, cheapest 
 and quickest, from the principal Eastern cities and from 
 
152 MILWAUKEE AND MISSISSIPPI R. R. 
 
 New England, through the Grand Trunk Railroad, through 
 Milwaukee, and over the Milwaukee and Mississippi Rail- 
 road, to the great Northwest. 
 
 " From the two connections above mentioned, the Mil- 
 waukee and Mississippi Road is to receive an amount of 
 through business which will have scarcely a parallel in the 
 West, and which, added to our already large local busi- 
 ness, must fully establish the position I started with, that 
 the M. and M. Raih'oad would be the best paying road 
 west of Lake Michigan." 
 
 Lines of steamers are daily running in connection with 
 this railroad at Prairie du Chien, and the Company 
 is rapidly controlling the great bulk of the freight and 
 passenger traffic between the Upper Mississippi and the 
 East. As an evidence of the remarkable increase of busi- 
 ness, we will give the number of arrivals at St. Paul for 
 the last seven years. 
 
 Year. 
 
 No. of Arrivals. 
 
 Year. 
 
 No. of Arrivals 
 
 1850 
 
 104 
 
 1854 
 
 1855 
 
 310 
 
 1851 
 
 119 
 
 563 
 
 1852 
 
 171 
 
 1856 
 
 837 
 
 1853 
 
 235 
 
 
 
 During the year 1856, 112,052 passengers were trans- 
 ported over this road, without the slightest injury to any 
 one, except a lady, who had her shoulder injured by the 
 breaking of an axle, which threw the car in which she was 
 sitting at the time off the track. 
 
 The amount of freight moved over the road, for the past 
 year, was : Tonnage going east, 62,216; tonnage going 
 west, 90,361 ; total, 153,517. The aggregate amount of 
 earnings, for the same period, was $680,412 48. A divi- 
 dend of ten per cent, cash was paid in 1856. 
 
 \ 
 
DETROIT AND MILWAUKEE R. R. 
 
 153 
 
 THE DETROIT AND MILWAUKEE RAILROAD. 
 
 The line of this railroad is drawn from Grand Haven, 
 in the State of Michigan, and directly opposite Milwaukee, 
 to Detroit, at the foot of Lake St. Clair, and at the ter- 
 minus of the Canada and Great Western Railway ; branch- 
 ing from it at Owasso or Flint, directly east to Port Larnia, 
 the terminus of the Grand Trunk Railway from Montreal, 
 Toronto, and London, in Canada — making an air line from 
 Milwaukee to the starting-point of the three great Atlantic 
 roads — the Grand Trunk, the New York Central, and the 
 New York and Erie. 
 
 As the shortest possible connecting link between the ter- 
 mini of the diverging roads from Milwaukee to the differ- 
 ent points of the great Northwest, it is justly considered 
 one of the most important to the State of any of the roads 
 outside of its limits. The annexed table of distances 
 and passenger fares by different routes, will show the ad- 
 vantages of this route, in point of economy and expedition, 
 over all other means of communication between the Eastern 
 States and the principal points of importance in the 
 Northwest. 
 
 Table of Distances, Sc. 
 
 FROM NEW YORK TO 
 
 BY WHAT ROUTE. 
 
 raiES. 
 
 AMT. 
 
 TIME. 
 
 Milwaukee, via De 
 " " Mi 
 
 roit and Milwaukee Railway 
 
 chigan Central Railroad 
 
 942 
 1048 
 1078 
 10.51 
 1000 
 1142 
 1251 
 1-292 
 1439 
 1436 
 
 $20-20 
 23-98 
 24-73 
 23-97 
 
 25-20 
 
 28-97 
 26-70 
 29-17 
 29-18 
 
 47-51 
 52-24 
 53-24 
 52-33 
 
 57-51 
 62-33 
 72-51 
 
 86-57 
 86-48 
 
 « « Bu 
 
 « « N. 
 
 " " Pe 
 
 Prairie La Crosse, v 
 (( (( ( 
 
 St. Paul, via Detroi 
 
 ffalo and Michigan Southern Railroad.. 
 York and Erie and Michigan Southern 
 nn. Central and Detroit and Milwaukee 
 
 ia Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad 
 
 ' N. York and Erie and Mich. Southern 
 t and Milwaukee Railway 
 
 « " N. Y. 
 " « Michi 
 
 and Erie and Mich. Southern Railroad 
 gan Central Railroad 
 
 
 
 The business prospects of the Detroit and Milwaukee 
 Road are very flattering. They have carried over their 
 
154 MILWAUKEE AND HORICON R. R. 
 
 line, in the last six months, over 129,000 local passengers, 
 and their receipts have, in the same time, amounted to 
 $143,342. At this rate they will have, per annum, for 
 local traffic, over $680,000. A few years will make a vast 
 increase of their business, both local and through. This 
 Company lately received from Government over one hun- 
 dred thousand acres of land, which ought to produce at 
 least one million of dollars. 
 
 THE MILWAUKEE AND HORICON RAILROAD. 
 
 This road runs from Milwaukee northwest (N. 45° W.) 
 to the City of Superior, 325 miles, passing through, on its 
 route, Horicon, Waupum, Ripon, Berlin, and Stevens' 
 Point, and the whole line presents no material deviation 
 from an air line. It is proper to remark here, that the 
 charter of the La Crosse Road and the Milwaukee and 
 Horicon, occupies the same ground between Milwaukee 
 and Horicon, 51 miles, and an arrangement was made be- 
 tween these companies, under a contract running twenty 
 years from the time of opening the Milwaukee and Horicon 
 Road beyond Horicon. This road is now finished to 
 Berlin, 92 miles from Milwaukee, and is being hurried for- 
 ward without delay. It connects, at this point, with the 
 Valley Road, already built to Fond du Lac, and at Ripon 
 with the Winnebago, extending to Oshkosh, and the Ripon 
 and Wolf River Road, besides other important connections, 
 building by separate companies. It will be perceived that 
 the Milwaukee and Horicon Railroad occupies the position 
 of a grand trunk line, extending diagonally through the 
 middle of the State from the southeast to the northwest. 
 At the City of Superior, it will connect with the contem- 
 plated Northern Pacific Railroad, and will form the air 
 line from it to Milwaukee. 
 
MILWAUKEE AND BELOIT R. R. 155 
 
 The total amount of tonnage passing over this road, for 
 ten months of 1856, was 25,655, and 2Y,400 passengers. 
 This is a very encouraging prospect, when it is considered 
 that but ItjVo i^il^s were in operation for this period. 
 
 GREEN BAY, MILWAUKEE, AND CHICAGO RAILROAD. 
 
 This Company was organized in 1852, and the road com- 
 pleted between Milwaukee and Chicago in 1855. It runs 
 along the Lake Shore from Milwaukee to the State line, 
 a distance of 40 miles, connecting there with the Chicago 
 road. It is commonly called the Wisconsin Lake Shore 
 Road, and during the close of navigation (about three 
 months every year), it is the only means of connection, for 
 passengers and freight business, with the great Eastern 
 and Southern routes, and must prove one of the best roads 
 in the United States. As a passenger road, it is one of 
 the best in the West — running its trains with great regu- 
 larity and precision during all seasons of the year. It was 
 only in operation seven months of the year 1855, and there- 
 fore the comparative business is only given for that period 
 for the two past years. 
 
 1856. 
 
 Number of through passengers, both ways 98,553 
 
 « « way " " " 81,277 
 
 Earnings for the year 1856 $221,936-56 
 
 Last seven months of 1855 $36,409-65 
 
 Last seven months of 1856. 136,610-38 
 
 Excess for 1856 $50,200-73 
 
 MILWAUKEE AND BELOIT RAILROAD. 
 
 This road leads from Milwaukee, in a southwesterly di- 
 rection, to Elkhorn and Delavan, a distance of 49 miles, 
 where it will shortly intersect with the Racine and Missis- 
 
156 MILWAUKEE AND SUPERIOR R. R. 
 
 sippi Railroad, thereby forming a direct line to Savannah, 
 on the Mississippi river. It passes through a section of 
 country which, for fertility and agricultural productions, 
 cannot be surpassed in the West. 
 
 FOX RIVER VALLEY RAILROAD. 
 
 This Company was chartered in 1853, with the right to 
 construct a railroad from the south line of the State of 
 Wisconsin to Milwaukee, a distance of 43 miles. The 
 entire route has been surveyed, and about one-third of it 
 completed. Its location is very favorable, passing through 
 one of the richest and most densely populated portions of 
 Wisconsin, besides forming several important connections 
 with other railroads. 
 
 THE RACINE AND MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD. 
 
 This road runs from the city of Racine to Savanna, on 
 the Mississippi river, a distance of 136 miles. Having 
 an eastern terminus at Racine, and a belt of rich and well- 
 settled country, eighteen miles wide, the whole length of 
 the road, w^holly dependent upon it for the transportation 
 of its produce to a good market ; it commands every ad- 
 vantage upon which the success of such projects usually 
 depend. 
 
 MILWAUKEE AND SUPERIOR RAILROAD. 
 
 This enterprise is in the hands of a. Company organized 
 nnder a charter obtained in March last. The route of the 
 proposed road, under its charter, extends from Milwaukee, 
 by way of the lake shore towns, to Green Bay, and thence 
 to the City of Superior, at the head of Lake Superior — 
 covering a distance of about four hundred miles. It is the 
 extension northward of the line of lake shore roads, now 
 
DISTANCES BY RAILROAD. 
 
 15T 
 
 completed from Buffalo to Milwaukee. The Company is 
 entitled to receive one hundred thousand dollars of the 
 bonds of that city, besides numerous private subscriptions, 
 &c., in various counties along their route. It is their inten- 
 tion to complete the road to Sheboygan in 1858. Be- 
 tween Milwaukee and Green Bay it can have no rival road 
 within forty miles ; and, were its operations confined only 
 to the local business, it could not fail to be a profitable 
 investment. But it reaches further ; intersects the Chicago, 
 St. Paul, and Fond du Lac Road, leading to the mining 
 districts of Ontonagon and Marquette, and traverses the 
 richest mineral region in Northern Wisconsin, to the great 
 city of Lake Superior. 
 
 DISTANCES BY RAILROAD. 
 
 Kailroad distances by the various lines, diverging from 
 Milwaukee throughout the State of Wisconsin. 
 
 Milwaukee and 3[i8sis8ijipi Rail- 
 road, 
 
 MILES. 
 
 From Milwaukee to 
 
 Wauwiiutosa 5 
 
 Side Track 32 
 
 Junction 14 
 
 Forest House 17 
 
 Waukesha 20 
 
 Genesee 28 
 
 Eagle 36 
 
 Palmyra 42 
 
 Whitewater 50 
 
 Childs' Station 55 
 
 Milton 62 
 
 Janesville 70 
 
 Edgerton 72 
 
 Stoughton 82 
 
 Madison 98 
 
 Blackearth 122 
 
 Arena 128 
 
 Avoca 148 
 
 Muscoda 158 
 
 Boscabel 168 
 
 Prairie du Chien 195 
 
 14 
 
 La Crosse and ililwaukee Rail- 
 road. 
 
 MILES. 
 
 From Milwaukee to 
 
 Schwartzburg 7 
 
 Granville 13 
 
 German town 18 
 
 Richfield 23 
 
 Cedar Creek 28 
 
 Schleisinger 30 
 
 Hartford 34 
 
 Rubicon 39 
 
 Woodland 43 
 
 Iron Ridge 45 
 
 Horicon 51 
 
 Junction 54 
 
 Oak Grove 56 
 
 Beaver Dam 61 
 
 Fox Lake 68 
 
 Portitge Prairie 73 
 
 Cambria 77 
 
 Pardeeville 87 
 
 Portage City 95 
 
 New Lisbon 140 
 
 La Crosse 196 
 
158 
 
 DISTANCES BY RAILROAD. 
 
 Watertoicn Division. 
 
 MILES. 
 
 From Milwaukee to 
 
 Wiiuwiiutosa ^ 
 
 Elm Grove 9 
 
 Junction 14: 
 
 Pewaukee 20 
 
 Hartland 24 
 
 Pine Lake 27 
 
 Oconomococ 33 
 
 Ixonia 38 
 
 Watertown 45 
 
 Lowell 54 
 
 Columbus 64 
 
 Norihxoestern Division, 
 
 From Milwaukee to 
 
 Portage City 95 
 
 St. Croix River 323 
 
 St. Croix and Lahe Superior Rail- 
 road. 
 
 From Milwaukee to 
 
 St. Croix River 323 
 
 Falls of St. Croix 353 
 
 Gordon 388 
 
 Nashodana 400 
 
 City of Superior 460 
 
 Cfiicago, St. Paid, and Fond du Lac 
 Railroad. 
 
 From Chicago to 
 
 Junction 2 
 
 Jefferson 9 
 
 Canfield 12 
 
 Des Plaines 16 
 
 Dunton 23 
 
 Palatine 27 
 
 Barrington 32 
 
 Cary 38 
 
 CuYSTAL Lake 43 
 
 Ridgefield 45 
 
 Woodstock 51 
 
 Harvard 62 
 
 Lawrence 65 
 
 Sharon 71 
 
 Clinton .Junction 78 
 
 Shopiere S3 
 
 Janesville 91 
 
 HILES. 
 
 La Crosse Junction 
 
 Burnet 95 
 
 Chester 107 
 
 Oakfleld 116 
 
 Fond DU Lac 124 
 
 Milwauhee and Horicon Railroad. 
 
 From Milwaukee to 
 
 Schwartzburg 7 
 
 Granville 13 
 
 Germantown 18 
 
 Richfield 23 
 
 Cedar Creek 28 
 
 Schleisinger 30 
 
 Hartford 34 
 
 Rubicon 39 
 
 Woodland 43 
 
 Iron Ridge .., 45 
 
 Horicon 61 
 
 Burnett 56 
 
 Mill Creek 62 
 
 Waupun 66 
 
 Brandon 74 
 
 Reed's Corners 77 
 
 Ripon 81 
 
 Berlin 92 
 
 Stevens' Point. 142 
 
 Chicago and Milwauhee Railroad. 
 
 From Chicago to 
 
 Chittenden 7 
 
 Evanston 12 
 
 Wynetka 16 
 
 Glencoe -... 19 
 
 Highland Park 23 
 
 Rockland 30 
 
 Waukegan 35 
 
 State Line 45 
 
 Kenosha 51 
 
 Racine 62 
 
 County Line 70 
 
 Oak Creek 75 
 
 Milwaukee 85 
 
 Racine and Mississippi Railroad. 
 
 From Racine to 
 
 Junction 2 
 
 Windsor 10 
 
 Union Grove 14 
 
RIVER DISTANCES. 
 
 159 
 
 MILES. 
 
 Kansasville 18 
 
 Dover 20 
 
 Burlington 26 
 
 Lyonsdale 30 
 
 Springfield 33 
 
 Elkhorn 40 
 
 Delavan 46 
 
 Darien 50 
 
 Allen's Grove 53 
 
 Clinton 58 
 
 Bkloit 68 
 
 rockfokt 72 
 
 Fheeport 101 
 
 Savannah 136 
 
 Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad. 
 
 From Detroit to 
 
 D. M. Si T. R. R. Junction.. 3 
 
 Royal Oak 12 
 
 Birmiugham 18 
 
 Pontiac 25 
 
 Drayton Plains 31 
 
 Waterford 33 
 
 Clarkson 35 
 
 Springfield 39 
 
 Davisburg 42 
 
 Holly 47 
 
 Fentonville 52 
 
 Linden 57 
 
 Gaines 62 
 
 Vernon 70 
 
 Corunna 77 
 
 Owosso 80 
 
 Ovid 90 
 
 St. Johns 100 
 
 Ionia 120 
 
 Lowell 
 
 Ada 
 
 Grand Rapids 
 
 Grand Haven 170 
 
 Milwaukee, by steamboats... 251 
 
 RIVER DISTANCES. 
 
 Table of distances from St. Louis, via Mississippi and 
 Sti Louis rivers, to the City of Superior. 
 
 MILES. 
 
 From St. Louis to 
 
 Missouri River 18 
 
 Alton... 3 21 
 
 Grafton 18 39 
 
 Illinois River 2 41 
 
 Gilead 32 73 
 
 Hamburg 10 83 
 
 Clarksville 13 96 
 
 Louisiana 11 107 
 
 Hannibal 25 132 
 
 QuiNCY 18 150 
 
 La Grange 10 160 
 
 TuUy 7 167 
 
 Warsaw | 17 134 
 
 Des Moines River] 
 
 Keokuk 4 188 
 
 ^^^^'^^^ 1 12 200 
 
 Nauvoo J 
 
 Madison 10 210 
 
 Burlington 20 230 
 
 ■ MILES. 
 
 Oquawka 17 247 
 
 New Boston 19 266 
 
 Iowa River 1 267 
 
 Muscatine 25 292 
 
 Fairport 7 299 
 
 Andalusia 10 309 
 
 Rock Island ) 9 3^3 
 
 Davenport J 
 
 Hampton 11 329 
 
 Parkhurst 8 337 
 
 Albany 19 356 
 
 Lyons 9 365 
 
 Charleston 15 380 
 
 Savannah 2 382 
 
 Belleview 19 401 
 
 Fever River (to Galena 6 
 
 miles) 7 408 
 
 Dubuque 24 432 
 
 Dunleith 1 433 
 
 Potosi Landing 14 447 
 
160 
 
 LAKE DISTANCES. 
 
 MILES. 
 
 Waupaton 10 467 
 
 Buena Vista 5 462 
 
 Cassville 4 466 
 
 Guttenburg 10 476 
 
 Clayton , 12 488 
 
 Wyalusing 5 493 
 
 McGregor's 6 499 
 
 Prairie du Chien 4 503 
 
 Red House 6 508 
 
 Johnson's Landing........ 2 510 
 
 Lafayette 30 540 
 
 Columbus 2 542 
 
 Lansing 1 543 
 
 De Soto 6 549 
 
 Victory 10 559 
 
 Bad Axe City 10 569 
 
 Warner's Landing 6 675 
 
 Brownsville 10 585 
 
 La Crosse 12 597 
 
 Dacotah 12 609 
 
 Richmond 6 615 
 
 Monteville 5 620 
 
 Homer 10 630 
 
 Winona 7 637 
 
 Fountain City 12 649 
 
 Mount Vernon 14 663 
 
 Minneiska 4 667 
 
 Alma 15 682 
 
 Wabashaw 10 692 
 
 Nelson's Landing 3 695 
 
 Keed's Landing 2 697 
 
 Foot of Lake Pepin 2 699 
 
 North Pepin 6 705 
 
 Johnstown 2 707 
 
 Lake City 5 712 
 
 Central Point 2 714 
 
 Florence 3 717 
 
 MILES. 
 
 Maiden's Bock 3 720 
 
 Westerville 3 723 
 
 Wacouta 12 735 
 
 Red Wing 6 741 
 
 Thing's Landing 7 748 
 
 Diamond Bluff 8 756 
 
 Prcscott 13 769 
 
 Point Douglas 1 770 
 
 Hastings 3 773 
 
 Grey Cloud 12 785 
 
 Pine Bend 4 789 
 
 Red Rock 8 797 
 
 Kaposia 3 800 
 
 St. Paul 5 805 
 
 St. Anthony 9 814 
 
 Rice Creek 7 821 
 
 St. Francis or Rum River 9 830 
 
 Itasca 7 837 
 
 Elk River 6 843 
 
 Big Lake 10 853 
 
 Big Meadow (Sturgis)... 18 871 
 St. Cloud (Sauk Rapids) 10 881 
 
 Watab 6 887 
 
 Little Rock 2 889 
 
 Platte River 12 901 
 
 Swan River 10 911 
 
 Little Falls 3 914 
 
 Belle Prairie 5 919 
 
 Fort Ripley 10 929 
 
 Crow Wing River 6 935 
 
 Sandy Lake 120 1055 
 
 Savannah Portage 15 1070 
 
 Across the Portage 5 1075 
 
 Down Savannah to St. 
 
 Louis 20 1095 
 
 Fond du Lac 60 1155 
 
 City of Superior 22 1179 
 
 LAKE DISTANCES 
 
 Chicago, 3Iihvati7cee, and Lake Su- 
 perior Line. 
 
 mLES. 
 
 From Chicago to 
 
 Milwaukee 90 90 
 
 Sheboygan 50 140 
 
 Manitowoc 25 165 
 
 Two Rivera 7 172 
 
 MILES. 
 
 Manito Island 112 284 
 
 Mackinaw 90 374 
 
 S. St. Marie 90 464 
 
 Marquette 170 634 
 
 Cop's Harbor 80 714 
 
 Eagle Harbor 16 730 
 
 Eagle River 9 739 
 
 Ontonagon 65 804 
 
LAKE DISTANCES. 
 
 161 
 
 MILES. 
 
 La Pointe 80 884 
 
 City of Superior 80 964 
 
 The Lady Elgin, on this line, is 
 of 1037 tons burthen, and cannot be 
 surpassed by any steamer floating 
 the Western waters, in point of 
 speed, comfort, &c. 
 
 Cleveland, Detroit, and Lake Supe- 
 rior Line. 
 
 From Cleveland to 
 
 Detroit 130 130 
 
 Fort Gratiot 70 200 
 
 MILES. 
 
 Pointe au Barques 85 285 
 
 Thunder Bay 70 355 
 
 Presque Island 80 430 
 
 Sault St. Marie 100 530 
 
 Marquette 170 700 
 
 Cope Harbor 80 780 
 
 Eagle Harbor 16 796 
 
 Eagle River 9 805 
 
 Ontonagon 65 870 
 
 La Pointe 80 950 
 
 Superior 80 1030 
 
 The Iron City and Daeotah propel- 
 lers are new, and among the best 
 boats on the Lake. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 PUBLIC LANDS — PRE-EMPTION LAW — ADVICE TO SETTLERS 
 — EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS, ETC. 
 
 In the precediug pages we described the various resources 
 of this, the Empire State of the Northwest ; and will now 
 give some account of the public lands within its limits, 
 and an abstract of the pre-emption law, for the benefit 
 of those desirous of availing themselves of its privileges. 
 This law has, since the date of its passage, been one con- 
 tinuous source of benefit to the "West. It is the best pro- 
 tection ever devised for the poor and industrious man 
 against the speculator and the capitalist. 
 
 The public lands of the United States are that immense 
 body of unappropriated and unsettled lands, commonly 
 called Government lands, which have been acquired at 
 various periods, both by treaty and purchase ; and, in all 
 action upon them, both by individuals and by public bodies, 
 legislative or judicial, are treated as the property of the 
 Government. President Buchanan, in his Inaugural Ad- 
 dress, truly says : ** No nation, in the tide of time, has ever 
 been blessed with so rich and noble an inheritance as we 
 enjoy in the public lands. In administering this important 
 trust, whilst it may be wise to grant portions of them for 
 the improvement of the remainder, yet we should never 
 forget that it is our cardinal policy to reserve these lands, 
 as much as may be, for actual settlers, and this at moderate 
 prices We shall thus not only best promote the pros- 
 
 (162) 
 
PUBLIC LANDS. 163 
 
 perity of the new States, by furnishing them a hardy and 
 independent race of honest and industrious citizens, but 
 shall secure homes for our children, and our children's 
 children, as well as for those exiled from foreign shores, 
 who may seek in this country to improve their condition, 
 and to enjoy the blessings of civil and religious liberty. 
 Such emigrants have done much to promote the growth 
 and prosperity of the country. They have proved faithful, 
 both in peace and in war. After becoming citizens, they 
 are entitled, under the Constitution and laws, to be placed 
 on a perfect equality with the native-born citizens, and in 
 this character they should ever be kindly recognised." 
 
 The present system of public surveys is a complete ad-- 
 measurement and marking of the whole body of public 
 lands, and is very easy of comprehension. The land is 
 first measured and marked in township lines, which are 
 divisions of six miles square. Afterwards the township is 
 divided into sections of one mile square, each section being 
 marked by " blazing" a tree, as the technical phrase is for 
 barking it with an axe ; or, if the corner to be marked is in 
 the prairie, by driving a stake, and throwing up a sod, 
 noting at the same time, on the tree or the stake, the 
 number of the township and section. The townships are 
 numbered from south to north on a base liyie, and the north 
 and south ranges are numbered on both sides of an arbi- 
 trary meridian, east and west. The meridian lines are 
 established and surveyed from some important point, gene- 
 rally from the junction of some water-course. The *' fourth" 
 principal meTidian commences on the Illinois River, at a 
 point seventy-two miles due north from its mouth ; (here 
 also commences its base line, which runs due west to the 
 Mississippi River). This meridian continues north through 
 the State of Wisconsin. The sections are numbered, 
 beginning at the northeast section of the township for 
 
164 
 
 PRE-EMPTION LAW. 
 
 number one, running west, and alternately east, terminating 
 with number thirty-six in the southeast corner. Section 
 numbered sixteen in each township is appropriated to 
 schools, and transferred to the States for that purpose. 
 The following diagram will serve to illustrate : 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 12 
 13 
 24 
 25 
 36 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 18 
 
 n 
 
 16 
 
 15 
 
 14 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 
 21 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 
 30 
 
 29 
 
 28 
 
 21 
 
 26 
 
 31 
 
 32 
 
 33 
 
 34 
 
 35 
 
 Those lands not entered under the pre-emption law are 
 offered at sale, previous to which, no person, except haying 
 a pre-emptive right, can purchase. After they have been 
 offered at public sale, they are open to every purchaser at 
 private sale. The price of all the lands is fixed at a uni- 
 form minimum of one dollar and a quarter per acre, except 
 those specified in the late land-grants. 
 
 THE PRE-EMPTION LAW. 
 
 The following abstract of the pre-emption law will 
 prove of interest to such as design to avail themselves of 
 its provisions : 
 
 1. The settler must never before have had the benefit 
 of pre-empting under the act. 
 
 2. He must not, at the time of making the pre-emp- 
 
PRE-EMPTION LAW. 165 
 
 tion, be the owner of three hundred and twentj acres of 
 land in any State or Territory in the United States. 
 
 3. He must settle upon and improve the land in good 
 faith, for his own exclusive use or benefit, and not with the 
 intention of selling it on speculation ; and must not make, 
 directly or indirectly, any contract or agreement, in any 
 way or manner, with any person or persons, by which the 
 title which he may acquire from the United States should 
 enure, in whole or part, to the beaefit of any person except 
 himself. 
 
 4. He must be twenty-one years of age, and a citizen 
 of the United States ; or, if a foreigner, must have declared 
 his intention to become a citizen before the proper autho- 
 rity, and received a certificate to that effect. 
 
 5. He must build a house on the land, live in it, and 
 make it his exclusive home, and must be an inhabitant of 
 the same at the time of making application for pre-emption. 
 [Until lately, a single man might board with his nearest 
 neighbor ; but the same is now required of single as mar- 
 ried men, except that, if married, the family of the settler 
 must also live in the house.] 
 
 6. The law requires that more or less improvements 
 be made on the land, such as breaking, fencing, &c., but 
 pre-emptions are granted where a half-acre is broken and 
 enclosed. 
 
 T. It is necessary that no other person, entitled to the 
 right of pre-emption, shall reside on the land at the same 
 time. 
 
 8. No person is permitted to remove from his own 
 land, and make a pre-emption in the same State or Ter- 
 ritory. 
 
 9. The settler is required to bring with him to the 
 land-ofiBce a written or printed application, setting forth 
 the facts in his case as to the 1st, 2d, and 3d requirements 
 
166 LAND GRANT, AND PRE-EMPTION. 
 
 here mentioned, with a certificate appended, to be signed 
 by the Register and Receiver, and make affidavit to the 
 same. 
 
 10. He is also required to bring with him a respect- 
 able witness of his acquaintance, who is knowing to the 
 facts of his settlement, to make affidavit to the 4th, 5th, 6th, 
 1th, and 8th requirements here mentioned, with the same 
 set forth on paper, with a corresponding blank certificate 
 attached, to be signed by the land-officers. 
 
 11. The pre-emptor, if a foreigner, must bring with 
 him to the land-office, duplicates of his naturalization 
 papers, duly signed by the official from whom they were 
 received. 
 
 A minor who is the head of a family, or a widow, may 
 also pre-empt — their families being required to live on the 
 land. 
 
 The settler is required to file a written declaratory 
 statement of his intention to pre-empt, before he can pro- 
 ceed with his pre-emption. 
 
 Fees. — 1st. The fee required by the Register for filing 
 a declaratory statement, is one dollar. 
 
 2d. For granting a pre-emption, the Register and Re- 
 ceiver can receive fifty cents. 
 
 3d. For duplicate of the map of any township, one dollar 
 is required by the Register." 
 
 LAND GRANT — EFFECT UPON PRE-EMPTIONS. 
 
 "We assure all our readers, that the closing of the land- 
 offices need deter no one from immigrating to Wisconsin, 
 and none there from making claims. The Bailroad Grants 
 in its terms, respects all pre-emptions made up to the time 
 the roads are actually located. After the location, pre- 
 emptors are excluded from pre-empting odd-numbered 
 sections only, within six miles of either side of the roads 
 
UNSURVEYED LANDS — L A ND - F F I C E S. 167 
 
 as located; but the Government price for all lands within 
 six miles of the railroads, is $2 50 per acre. If they wish 
 to go further off than six miles from the proposed railroad 
 lines, then the price of the lands will be $1 25 per acre. 
 
 The closing of the land-offices is a real benefit to the 
 settler, by preventing speculators (the bane of all new 
 States,) from taking up all the public lands along the line 
 of the proposed roads. 
 
 UNSURVEYED LANDS. 
 
 Besides the lands which have been surveyed and brought 
 into market, there are large tracts yet unsurveyed, and 
 almost unexplored. The amount of these lands is esti- 
 mated at about 14,500 square miles; principally lying in 
 the northwestern part of the State, and almost without 
 inhabitants. The soil of this region is of an excellent 
 quality, &c.^ 
 
 LAND-OFFICES. 
 
 There are six land-offices in Wisconsin, each of which 
 represents several counties, viz. : Mineral Point, Manasha, 
 Hudson, Stevens' Point, La Crosse, and City of Superior. 
 At either of these offices, settlers will be furnished with 
 small township maps, showing all the vacant or unentered 
 lands, up to the date of application. 
 
 The right of pre-emption gives to Wisconsin an advan- 
 tage over other Western States, for it precludes entirely 
 the possibility of its becoming, as are the States of Illinois 
 and Iowa, a country of speculators, who feel no interest in 
 them, except that of having their lands increase in value, 
 as the result of the public spirit and enterprise of others. 
 
 There are still thousands of persons at the East, farmers, 
 mechanics, artisans, working-people, who look toward 
 
 1 See Pages 40 and 42. 
 
168 EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS. 
 
 Wisconsin with a disposition to emigrate — perhaps they 
 mete out from year to year a bare subsistence — the year 
 rolls by, and if they have enjoyed the right to labor during 
 the bulk of it, they have accumulated but little ; and when 
 we look back at the condition of things a winter or two 
 ago, in the large cities, when the most hard-working, 
 honest, proud-spirited mechanics were straitened for want 
 of the means of keeping themselves and their little ones 
 from starvation, we cannot help wondering why more 
 of them do not come to this favored State. And who can 
 tell when these things will occur again ? Neither honesty, 
 industry, nor capability, are a protection when there is no 
 work. The very men who have barely enough to eke out 
 a miserable subsistence in the cities, could command in 
 Wisconsin, through the whole winter, from $2 50 to $3 00 
 per day, and be sought after gladly, and begged to work. 
 What, too, would be their opportunities, rising in a new 
 country ; at home among people like themselves ; their 
 children imbibing health and happiness from the air they 
 breathed, instead of disease and crime ; they themselves 
 known and respected according to their deserts ; and pos- 
 sessing the many advantages for a rapid accumulation of 
 fortune, known only to a new country I Who would ask 
 to exchange such a pure, free life, for the crowded miseries 
 of the Eastern cities, their uncertainty of employment, and 
 the few rugged, scrambling roads by which the poor can 
 rise I Surely no sensible man would hesitate long as to his 
 choice. 
 
 " The working-man in Wisconsin need never be idle, and 
 it is pre-eminently the place for working-people ; the whole 
 country is in a state of transition, rapidly going on. What 
 has been done at the East, has yet to be done here ; the 
 numerous channels of business, into which it requires years 
 to attain a successful position there, are either just opened 
 
EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS. 169 
 
 to enterprise in this State, or await, perhaps, another year's 
 agricultural settlement, as we chance to look at a point 
 just bursting into notice, or another with a few years the 
 advantage — hence, the newly-arrived mechanic, artisan, or 
 manufacturer asks himself, not. Where can I find an open- 
 ing ? but. Which is the best V 
 
 The Emigrant's Journal says: *'Wedo know that the 
 Beneficent Creator of all things, in his sovereign benevo- 
 lence, has thrown wide to humanity millions upon millions 
 of untilled acres in the Great West, that lie there waiting 
 for hands to cover them with harvests. And we also know 
 that, in the crowded cities of our own land, and in the 
 crowded States of Europe, thousands on thousands of our 
 fellow-beings are toiling through life to obtain a miserable 
 subsistence, who, on those broad acres, would soon find 
 ease, and comfort, and affluence. Now, to assist that emi- 
 gration, seems to us one of the noblest works to which man 
 could devote himself. To illustrate our purpose, let us 
 stop at this corner of a great city, and see the population 
 set past us. It is sunset. Note that poor laborer; he 
 comes from a hard day's work. From morning to night 
 that man's muscles have been going. The miserable pit- 
 tance he receives is scarce enough to keep his wife and 
 children in food and lodging. The benefit of all his toil 
 goes to some one — not to himself. 
 
 " Imagine that man set upon his own land, the plough 
 in his grasp, and his fortune before him. Where, then, 
 would be the result of his labor ? House, ploughed land, 
 fences, barns, would grow under his hand with half the 
 labor he now gives to procure a living, and every day's 
 work would be for himself, and would add to his own per- 
 sonal wealth. The heavens would smile above him, the 
 great earth would yield him her fruits ; and he would leave 
 15 
 
ITO EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS. 
 
 Lis children — instead of siclvness, sin, and poverty — health, 
 happiness, and prosperity." 
 
 Another journal forcibly remarks : "We say, then, to 
 the mechanic, pent up in dense, suffocating cities, or 
 crowded towns, toiling at the selfish dictation of arrogant 
 employers, who derive at least three-fourths of the profits 
 of your labor — to such I say, Come to the fresh and fruit- 
 ful West, where you may easily have an independent and 
 pleasant home. 
 
 "To the young farmer, who works the long hot days 
 for the paltry sum of ten or a dozen dollars per month, or 
 to him who rents land, returning to others the 'lion's 
 share' of all the products of his industry — to all who would 
 better their condition and regain new energies, unto such 
 I say, confidently and in a lively friendship. Come, and ap- 
 propriate to yourselves any necessary and proper amount 
 of these gardens, boundless and beautiful, which you can, 
 so many of you, easily do. 
 
 " They will return you a greater yield of crops, for less 
 labor, and then you can obtain prices but little under 
 Eastern markets ; transportation is so cheap and speedy, 
 which renders these Western lands as valuable as those of 
 the East." 
 
 An intelligent writer in the New York Herald says : — 
 " Having visited Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and 
 Wisconsin, I can speak from knowledge and experience in 
 regard to their present and future. I am desirous of 
 stating, through your columns, my opinion as to which of 
 these Territories or States, emigrants, particularly those 
 of the Northern States, and who are practical farmers, will, 
 taking all the circumstances into consideration, find it most 
 to their advantage to settle in. Wisconsin is my choice, 
 for the following reasons : First, good water, a healthy 
 climate, plenty of wood, all kinds of grain and fruit grow 
 
GENERAL REMARKS. lU 
 
 in abnndarice, an intelligent population, railroads travers- 
 ing every part of tlie State, and a home market at almost 
 every door. It is interspersed with lakes and streams, and 
 abounding with fish and game. The time is not far distant 
 which will witness the value of all the middle portion of 
 that State at fifty dollars and upwards for an acre. The 
 pineries are supposed to be less in value than the prairie 
 and oak openings. This is not so at present. There are 
 lands there now that cannot be purchased for two hundred 
 dollars per acre. There are now more than three thousand 
 shingle-makers, lumbermen, and others, in these dense 
 forests ; and if a shingle-maker, with his machine, cannot 
 make twenty dollars per day, and drink his quart of 
 whiskey, he won't work. The shingle-makers frequently 
 pay five to eight dollars for a single tree. The lumbermen 
 will take a whole tree, and throw it in a stream but a trifle 
 wider than the tree itself, and, as they term it, log it down 
 to some larger water. This is done only when the snow is 
 going off, in the spring, or when there is a rise of water in 
 the fall of the year. To mount some high eminence on a 
 cold, frosty morning, and cast your eye over these dark 
 forests, and behold the smoke standing, like the shaft of 
 Bunker Hill Monument, in the air, is indeed a sight worth 
 seeing." 
 
 It is surprising to see so many hard-working farmers, 
 laboring in the Eastern States on miserable farms, from ten 
 to one hundred acres in size, when such inducements are 
 offered in Wisconsin, as buying improved farms at low 
 prices, or selecting to suit themselves from Government 
 lands at $1 25 per acre. The prairies and openings of this 
 State offer farms, wild or improved, of a quality which the 
 same means could not purchase in the other States, while 
 the rapidity with which internal improvements advance, 
 approximates with each year the value of produce near the 
 
172 GENERAL REMARKS. 
 
 market-prices of the East, and consequently gives an en- 
 hanced value to their farms. 
 
 The soil in most parts of the State is composed of the 
 black deposit of decayed vegetation, which for ages has 
 flourished in wild luxuriance, and rotted upon the surface ; 
 of loam, and, in a few localities, of clay mixed with sand. 
 The deposit of vegetable mould is uniformly several inches 
 thick on the tops and sides of hills — in the valleys it is fre- 
 - quently a number of feet. A soil thus created of impalpa- 
 ble powder, formed of the elements of organic matter — the 
 dust of death — we need scarcely remark, is adapted to the 
 highest and most profitable purposes of agriculture — 
 yielding crop after crop in rank abundance, without an 
 artificial manuring. Instances could be mentioned of land 
 cropped for twenty to thirty successive years, without the 
 addition of a pound of manure, on which the growth, last 
 season, was just as vigorous^ and the yield as profuse, as 
 on any of the series. 
 
 We are told by those wiseacres who are always croaking, 
 that "the bubble of Western speculation in lands, &c., 
 will soon blow up" — this has been their cry for years. 
 Whether it comes or not — and there is no doubt that it 
 ought to come soon in several of the States whose lands 
 are partly held by Eastern speculators — it can do no mate- 
 rial damage to Wisconsin, and we will give our reasons : 
 
 First. Its unrivalled agricultural country to fall back upon. 
 
 Second. Its vast mineral resources of lead, copper, 
 iron, &c.' 
 
 1 A piece of gold-bearing quartz -was found lately near Waupacca, 
 in Waupacca River, near the centre of the State ; also, a specimen 
 of pure gold was dug from a cellar in the same vicinity. The quartz 
 specimen is quite rich in the precious metal. The particles are 
 plainly visible to the eye, scattered in profasion over the surface of 
 the rock. Particles of gold, as large as a pea, have been frequently 
 dug out of the ground at the same place. 
 
GENERAL REMARKS. 113 
 
 Third. Its immense lumber regions. 
 
 Fourth. Its commercial position and advantages. Lake 
 Superior on the north, Lake Michigan on the east, the 
 Mississippi River on the west, and the inland navigation 
 improvements connecting that river and Lake Michigan, 
 besides its railroads which traverse it in every direction. 
 
 Fifth. In the energy and industry of its inhabitants. 
 
 Sixth, and lastly. In the large and increasing European 
 immigration. 
 
 In May, 1857, over one thousand Norwegian settlers 
 arrived, and at least twenty thousand more are expected 
 to follow, from that country alone, this year. We have no 
 means of knowing the numbers of German and Irish' immi- 
 grants, but they are in excess of former years. Wiscojisin, 
 if she never receives one dollar more, or another settler 
 from the old States, would still increase at an unexam- 
 ]^led rate from foreign immigration alone ! 
 
 In addition to all these resources, Wisconsin is not crip- 
 pled with a heavy debt, like most of the other States. In 
 185t it only amounted to about $70,000. Nor has she to 
 expend millions upon internal improvements, for the 
 General Government granted over 2,000,000 acres to con- 
 struct her railroads ; the lands appropriated for school pur- 
 poses are worth at least $3,000,000, besides the University, 
 and other trust funds. 
 
 One would infer from the remarks of several of the leading 
 journals, that the only cities in the Union were in the 
 Eastern States, and that the products of the West must be 
 brought there for market. The statements of these journals 
 show a narrow-mindedness and intentional ignorance of the 
 true state of affairs. Wisconsin has, within her own limits, 
 a ready market for all her agricultural productions, and is 
 able to ship the products of her lead, copper, and iron 
 mines, to Canada, to Europe, or the Gulf of Mexico. 
 15* 
 
174 GENERAL REMARKS. 
 
 Great numbers of emigrants have arrived tliis year at its 
 Lake ports from Europe via Canada. 
 
 That there are many towns which have no existence but 
 on paper, and in the brains of speculators ; and that great 
 numbers of young men, who are fit for nothing but idling 
 away their time in cities, or attending upon fancy mercan- 
 tile duties, come here, and can find no employment suited 
 to their capacity, we do not deny. But we do assert that 
 a good farmer or mechanic failing to succeed in Wisconsin, 
 is almost an impossibility — in fact, we would like to hear 
 of one. "We will go further, and maintain that not only 
 can they succeed better in Wisconsin, but in less time, and 
 with less labor, than is needed in other States. Even sup- 
 posing a general revulsion should occur in commercial 
 affairs throughout the East, we confess that we are unable 
 to see how it can affect the settlers in W^isconsin who have 
 purchased lands at $1 25 to $2 50 per acre. For it is 
 proved that the first crop raised generally pays both for 
 the farm and improvements! Again, in proportion as 
 the population increases, there must be towns ; and these 
 towns must give employment to mechanics to build them, 
 and to all kinds of tradesmen to support them, and the 
 remuneration that will be paid in every case will be very 
 great. 
 
 We make these statements to prove that the course of 
 Wisconsin must ever be onward. If its increase in former 
 years exceeded that of any other State in the Union, what 
 must it soon be when the resources we have mentioned shall 
 have been fully developed. 
 
PAKT II. 
 
 LAKE SUPERIOE 
 
 (175) 
 
LAKE SUPERIOR. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 LAKE SUPERIOR — PICTURED ROCKS — CLIMATE — ISLANDS. 
 
 "Father of Lakes ! thy -waters bend 
 Beyond the eagle's utmost view, 
 "When, throned in heaven, he sees thee send 
 Back to the sky its world of blue. 
 
 "Boundless and deep, the forests weave 
 Their twilight shade thy borders o'er, 
 An^ threatening cliffs, like giants, heave 
 Their rugged forms along thy shore." 
 
 Lake Superior, the Mediterranean Sea of America, is 
 the largest body of fresh water on the face of the globe. 
 It is 627 feet above the level of the sea, 860 miles long, 
 160 wide, and its mean depth has been estimated at 900 
 feet, its elevation above Lakes Huron and Michigan 49 
 feet, and it is said that near two hundred rivers and creeks 
 flow into it. The greater part of these rivers are not 
 navigable, except by canoes, owing to their numerous falls 
 and rapids. 
 
 More than two hundred years ago, before the emigrants 
 of the " Mayflower" ever trod on New England soil, the 
 Erench Jesuits of Canada had partially explored this great 
 
 (177) 
 
lis LAKE SUPERIOR. 
 
 lake, and described the form of its shores, in their reports, 
 as similar to that of a bended bow, the northern shore 
 being the arc and the southern the cord, while Keweenaw 
 Point, projecting from the southern shore to the middle of 
 the lake, is the arrow. A description published bj one of 
 them in Paris, in 1638, is accompanied with a map, dis- 
 playing the geographical positions of its shores with as 
 much fidelity as most of those of the present day. 
 
 Almost the whole line of its shores is rock-bound ; the 
 rocks, in many places, rising to the height of from ten to 
 two hundred feet. One of the earliest discoverers described 
 the lake as "an ocean in a storm, sculptured in granite," 
 so striking was the aspect of its bold rocks and towering 
 mountains, torn, as it were, from their places by some 
 mighty convulsion of nature. In some places, mountain 
 masses of considerable elevation stretch along the shore, 
 while mural precipices, and beetling crags, oppose them- 
 selves to the surges of this mighty lake, and threaten the 
 unfortunate mariner, who may be caught in a storm on a 
 lee shore, with almost inevitable destruction. 
 
 High ranges of hills stretch along the northern shores, 
 commencing in Canada, and reaching to Minnesota. They 
 arise from twelve hundred to thirteen hundred feet above 
 the lake, covered with a sparse and stunted growth of 
 pines, and other varieties of evergreens, mixed with the 
 usual northern vegetation of birch, aspen, and other trees 
 peculiar to this region, and presenting scenery unrivalled 
 for its beauty. The shore is indented with numerous small 
 bays and harbors. Some of these bays afford secure shel- 
 ter from storms, as they are sometimes overhung by high 
 walls of rock, rising from 300 to 600 feet above the water. 
 Several towns have recently been laid out on the American 
 shore, which extends about one hundred and fifty miles 
 along the northwestern coast of the lake. From the re- 
 
PICTURED ROCKS. 119 
 
 ports of the settlers, and samples of their agricultural pro- 
 ductions, it is inferred that its soil is capable of producing 
 any of the productions of the Middle States. Already 
 considerable quantities of lumber have been shipped to 
 other lake ports from these new settlements. The "north 
 shore" is also known to abound in vast deposits of valu- 
 able minerals. 
 
 In many parts, along the southern shore, the country is 
 mountainous, the ridges rising, in some places, eight hun- 
 dred feet above the lake, and covered with the original 
 forest. Here the ''Porcupine range" is seen, presenting 
 varying outlines as you sail along the coast. Keweenaw 
 Point is also covered with hills, but less lofty and pictu- 
 resque than those already mentioned. 
 
 The eastern shores of the lake, between this point and 
 its outlet at the St. Mary's river, are low, and covered 
 with a dense forest. The "Pictured Rocks," on these 
 shores, are a great curiosity. They form a perpendicular 
 wall of over 300 feet in height, extending about ten miles. 
 On their faces are to be seen numerous projections and in- 
 dentations, with extensive caverns, which receive the waves 
 with a tremendous roar. It needs but a bold stroke of the 
 imagination to fancy we see mystic towers, columns, arches, 
 Doric temples, and varied forms of architectural ruins ; 
 their majestic fronts rising from the clear water, presenting 
 a display that may fairly challenge the world to surpass. 
 Can we wonder that the untutored savage, as he passed 
 these majestic rocks in his canoe, associated them in his 
 mind as the residence of a '' Mighty Manito ?" In the 
 beautiful legends lately published by Longfellow, we read 
 of an Indian hero, when pursued by Hiawatha, flying for 
 refuge 
 
 "To the Pictured Rocks of sandstone, 
 Looking over lake and landscape ; 
 
180 CLIMATE. 
 
 And the Old Man of the Mountain, 
 He, the Manito of mountains. 
 Opened wide his rocky doorways, 
 Opened wide his deep abysses." 
 
 The rapid settlement of the States on its borders, and 
 the completion of the ship canal at the Sault Ste. Marie, 
 have awakened attention to these hitherto neglected and 
 almost unknown regions. In fact, it was supposed that its 
 climate was inhospitable, its soil barren and unfit for culti- 
 vation, and it was altogether unworthy of notice, saving 
 on account of its valuable copper mines. The object of 
 the author will be to prove that it has the finest and most 
 salubrious climate in the United States, and now presents 
 more attractions to the settler than any part of our extended 
 domain. 
 
 A healthier region does not exist ; here the common dis- 
 eases of mankind are comparatively unknown. The light- 
 ness of the atmosphere has a most invigorating effect upon 
 the spirits, and the breast of the invalid swells with new 
 emotions w^hen he inhales its healthy breezes, as they sweep 
 across the lake. The subjoined observations were made by 
 the Array Surgeons stationed at Fort Wilkins, Copper 
 Harbor, in Lat. 47° 2t' N. ^ 
 
 Mean Annual Temperature 41° 4' 
 
 Mean Temperature of the Summer 61° 4' 
 
 Mean Temperature of the Winter 21° V 
 
 Dr. Owen says: — "The health, even of the more 
 marshy portions of this district, seems better than, from its 
 appearance, one might expect. The long bracing winters 
 of these northern latitudes exclude many of the diseases 
 which, under the prolonged heat of a more southern cli- 
 mate, the miasm of the swamp engenders. At the Pem- 
 bina settlement (in latitude 49°), owned by the Hudson's 
 
CLIMATE. 181 
 
 Bay Company, to a population of five thousand, there was 
 but a single physician, and he told me, that without an 
 additional salary allowed him by the Company, the diseases 
 of the settlement would not afford him a living." 
 
 None of the American Lakes can compare with Lake 
 Superior in healthfulness of climate during the summer 
 months, and there is no place so well calculated to restore 
 the health of an invalid, who has suffered from the de- 
 pressing miasms of the fever-breeding soil of the South- 
 western States. This opinion is fast gaining ground among 
 medical men, who are now recommending to their patients 
 the healthful climate of this favored lake, in preference to 
 sending them to die in enervating southern latitudes. 
 
 The waters of this vast inland sea, covering an area of 
 over 32,000 miles, exercise a powerful influence in modi- 
 fying the two extremes of heat and cold. The uniformity 
 of temperature thus produced is highly favorable to animal 
 and vegetable life. The most delicate fruits and plants 
 are raised wiilwut injury, while four or five degrees further 
 south they are destroyed by the early frosts. It is a sin- 
 gular fact, that Lake Superior never freezes in the middle ; 
 and, along the shores, the ice seldom extends out more than 
 fifteen to eighteen miles. The temperature of its waters 
 rarely, if ever, change, and are almost always at 40° Fah- 
 renheit — the maximum density of water. In midsummer 
 its climate is delightful beyond comparison, while, at the 
 same time, the air is softly bracing. The winds are vari- 
 able, and rarely continue for more than two or three days 
 in the same quarter. 
 
 In my opinion, there is nothing relating to Lake Supe- 
 rior more misrepresented, and less understood, than its 
 winters, the very mention of which, a few years ago, and 
 even at the present time, in the Atlantic States, conveys 
 almost a sensation of misery — but how far from the reality ? 
 16 
 
182 CLIMATE. 
 
 Instead of snow, sleet, rain, and fog, alternating with very 
 little sunshine, what do we find ? The winter season is said 
 to be, by the oldest residents, the most agreeable part of 
 the year, with plenty of clear blue sky, fine bracing atmo- 
 sphere, and very little rain from the month of November 
 until April. Besides, coughs, colds, and diseases of the 
 lungs are comparatively unknown here, and this alone 
 should recommend the climate of Lake Superior. 
 
 'Tis true, snow falls to a considerable depth, making the 
 roads level, and filling up all their inequalities ; and, so far 
 from being an inconvenience, adds greatly to the comfort 
 and happiness of all. This is the season for hilarity and 
 social enjoyment ; its lengthened eve is full of fireside joys. 
 In this region, less snow falls than in either the New Eng- 
 land States or northern part of New York. The testimony 
 of the oldest fur-traders, long accustomed to this climate, 
 proves the truth of these assertions. 
 
 The Hon. Henry M. Rice, the present delegate from 
 Minnesota Territory, in a letter dated June 3d, 1854, says: 
 "For several years, I had trading-posts extending from 
 Lake Superior to the Red River of the North, from 46° 
 to 49'^ north latitude, and never found the snow so deep 
 as to prevent supplies being transported from one post to 
 another with horses. Between the 45th and 49th degrees 
 north latitude, the snow does not fall so deep as it does 
 between the 40th and 45th degrees ; this is easily accounted 
 for, upon the same principle that, in the fall, they have 
 frosts much earlier near the 40th than they do near the 45th 
 degree. Yoyageurs traverse the territory from Lake Su- 
 perior to the Missouri the entire winter with horses and 
 sleighs, having to make their own roads, and yet with 
 heavy loads are not detained by snow. I have also gone 
 from the head waters of the Mississippi to the waters of 
 the Hudson Bay, on foot, and without snow shoes. I spent 
 
ISLANDS. 183 
 
 one entire winter travelling through that region, and never 
 found the snow over eighteen inches deep, and seldom over 
 nine inches. One winter, north of Al^ north latitude, I 
 wintered about sixty head of horses and cattle, without 
 giving them food of any kind, except such as they could 
 procure themselves under the snow. Owing to its altitude, 
 the atmosphere is dry beyond belief, which accounts for the 
 absence of frosts in tlie fall, and for the small quantity of 
 snow that falls in a country so far north." 
 
 There are but few islands in Lake Superior. The largest 
 of them is Isle Royale, in the western part. Some of the 
 best harbors on the lake are on its shores, but, as yet, they 
 are rarely visited. Its sides are covered with forest. la 
 winter, the ice has been known to extend from the Cana- 
 dian shore to this island, a distance of twenty miles. Isle 
 Royale is celebrated for its copper mines, the most im- 
 portant of which are to be found on its northern shores ; 
 but, at present, the explorations have been too limited to 
 form a just impression of their value and extent. It is also 
 celebrated for its valuable fisheries, and exports several 
 thousand barrels to the Eastern markets. 
 
 Between Isle Royale and the main land are two large 
 islands, of which, however, little is known ; in the northern 
 part of the lake are four more. The most interesting 
 group of islands is the Apostles' Isles, a cluster of consi- 
 derable importance, embraced within an area of four hun- 
 dred square miles. Madeline is the largest, being thirteen 
 miles long, and with an average breadth of two miles. 
 Its surface is level, and the soil rich and fertile. This 
 island is situated about three miles from the Wisconsin 
 coast, forming one of the best natural harbors on the lake. 
 Its climate is justly celebrated. Tempered, as well in sum- 
 mer as in winter, by the vast expanse of water that sur- 
 rounds it, and which, except at the immediate surface, is 
 
184 ISLANDS. 
 
 almost always at 40° Fahrenheit, its climate is milder, at 
 once, and more equable, than any part of Wisconsin, 
 whether it be on the main land of Lake Superior, or fur- 
 ther south, on the Mississippi.^ 
 
 Thoujyh Madeline Island contains some fifteen thousand 
 acres of valuable arable land, and a population of over 
 three hundred souls, but two or three hundred acres are 
 under cultivation. Any one who supposes this region is 
 too far north to raise good fruit and vegetables, should 
 ramble through some of its gardens, 4n the month of Au- 
 gust or September, and see for himself the fine thrifty 
 vegetables, ripe currants, etc., besides apple trees and 
 grape vines laden with fruit. 
 
 Bear Island and Esquagendeg are the next largest 
 islands of this group, and are each about four miles long 
 by two and a half wide. They are principally covered 
 with a thick growth of evergreens along the shores, while 
 the rest of their surface is covered with cedar, hemlock, 
 birch, aspen, and pine, with occasional natural meadows. 
 The waters around them teem with the finest fish. We 
 believe that these islands have been, within the last two 
 years, claimed by settlers. 
 
 Grand Island, extensive and rock-bound, lies in the 
 southern part of the lake, two miles from the Michigan 
 shore, and forms a most excellent harbor. The remaining 
 islands of Lake Superior are near its outlet, including the 
 island of Michipicoten, which is one-third as large as Isle 
 Koyale, and believed to abound in copper. 
 
 Lake Superior is subject to as violent storms as the At- 
 lantic, rendering the navigation at times, and particularly 
 late in the fall and winter, exceedingly dangerous. Owing 
 to the lofty crags which surround it, the winds sweeping 
 over the lake impinge upon its surface so abruptly a:s to 
 
 1 Owen's Geological Repoi-t. 
 
LAKE SUPERIOR. 185 
 
 raise a peculiarly deep and combing sea, which is exceed- 
 ingly dangerous to boats and small craft.' During the 
 months of June, July, and August, the navigation is per- 
 fectly safe. Its blue, cold, and transparent waters, undis- 
 turbed by tides, are, during these months, as motionless 
 and glassy as those of any small secluded lake, reflecting, 
 with perfect truth of form and color, the inverted landscape 
 that slopes down to its smooth, sandy beach. The mirage 
 on this lake is truly wonderful. It is not uncommon to see 
 islands far in the distance, which gradually disappear as 
 they are approached. In some of the bays, the water is so 
 clear that a diver could pick up a small silver coin at a 
 depth of over thirty feet, and the whole of the lower part 
 of the vessel can be distinctly seen. 
 
 1 Dr. Jackson's Report. 
 
 16* 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 MINERAL RESOURCES — COPPER, SILVER, AND IRON — CHA- 
 RACTER OF THE SOIL — FISHERIES COMMERCE — SAULT 
 
 STE. MARIE CANAL — GENERAL REMARKS. 
 
 The earliest visitors to Lake Superior were, no doubt, 
 well acquainted with its rich deposits of copper ore. More 
 than one of their published descriptions mention it. Char- 
 levoix' states that "such was its purity, that one of the 
 monks, who had been bred a goldsmith, made from it several 
 sacramental articles." 
 
 " The savages," he says, "on account of the quantity 
 of fish furnished by Lake Superior, and of the respect 
 inspired by its vast extent, have made it a sort of divinity, 
 and offer to it sacrifices in their manner." He thinks, 
 nevertheless, it is rather to the genius of the lake, than to 
 the lake itself, that they address their prayers. " If one 
 may believe them," says he, "the origin of the lake has 
 something divine in it. It was formed, they imagine, by 
 Michabou, the god of waters, in order to supply them with 
 beaver. In the strait by which it is discharged into Lake 
 Huron, there is a rapid, caused by great rocks, called 
 Sault Ste. Marie. These rocks, according to the Indians, 
 are the remains of a causeway which God had built, to hold 
 the waters of the river and those of Lake Alimepegon, 
 which filled this great lake. 
 
 "In places on its borders, and about some of its islands, 
 we found large pieces of copper, which are yet the object 
 
 (186) 
 
MINERAL RESOURCES. 18t 
 
 of the superstitious adoration of the savages. They regard 
 them with veneration, as a present from the gods who in- 
 habit the waters. They collect the smallest fragments of 
 it, and preserve them with care, but make no use of them. 
 They say that formerly they have seen a large rock, all of 
 the same mineral, raised much above the water, and, as it 
 is not now to be seen, they say that the gods have removed 
 it somewhere else. But there is reason to suppose that, in 
 the lapse of time, the waves of the lake have covered it with 
 sand and ooze ; and it is certain that we discovered, in 
 many places, a large quantity of this metal, without even 
 being obliged to dig much. 
 
 '' On my first voyage to this country, I knew a brother 
 of our order who was a goldsmith by trade, who, while on 
 his mission at Sault Ste. Marie, had gone in search of it, 
 and had made chandeliers, crosses, and censers of it ; for 
 the copper is often almost wholly pure." 
 
 Claude Allonez, a Jesuit missionary, and one of the 
 earliest explorers of the lake, says : *' The savages respect 
 this lake as a divinity, and make sacrifices to it, on account, 
 perhaps, of its magnitude, or for its goodness in furnishing 
 them with fishes, which nourish all these people, where 
 there is but little game. There are often found, beneath 
 the water, pieces of copper, well formed, and of the weight 
 of ten and twenty pounds. I have seen them many times 
 in the hands of the savages ; and, as they are superstitious, 
 they keep them as so many divinities, or as presents from 
 the gods beneath the water, who have given them as 
 pledges of good fortune. On that account, they keep the 
 pieces of copper enveloped among their most precious 
 furniture. There are some who have preserved them for 
 more than fifty years, and others who have had them in 
 their families from time immemorial, and cherish them as 
 household gods." 
 
188 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 Messrs. Foster and Whitney, in their interesting geolo- 
 gical report to Congress, on the mineral district of Lake 
 Superior, in 1850-51, remark : " That this region was re- 
 sorted to by a barbaric race for the purpose of procuring 
 copper, long before it became known to the white man, is 
 evident from numerous memorials scattered throughout its 
 entire extent. Whether these ancient miners belonged to 
 the race who built the mounds found so abundantly on the 
 Upper Mississippi and its affluents, or were the progeni- 
 tors of the Indians now inhabiting the country, is a matter 
 of conjecture. 
 
 ' ' When all of the facts shall have been collected, the 
 question may be satisfactorily determined. The evidence 
 of the early mining consists in the existence of numerous 
 excavations in the solid rock ; of heaps of rubble and earth 
 along the courses of the veins ; of the remains of copper 
 utensils, fashioned into the form of knives and chisels ; of 
 stone hammers, some of which are of immense size and 
 weight ; of wooden bowls, for bailing water from the 
 mines ; and numerous levers of wood, used in raising the 
 mass copper to the surface. 
 
 " The high antiquity of this rude mining is inferred from 
 the fact, that the existing race of Indians have no tradi- 
 tions by what people, or at what period, it was done. The 
 places, even, were unknown to the oldest of the band until 
 pointed out by the white man. It is inferred from the cha- 
 racter of the trees growing upon the piles of rubbish — be- 
 tween which and those forming the surrounding forest no 
 perceptible difference can be detected ; from the mouldering 
 state of the wooden billets and levers ; and from the nature 
 of the materials with which these excavations are filled, 
 consisting of fine clay, enveloping half-decayed leaves, and 
 the bones of the bear, the deer, and caribou. This filling 
 
MINERAL RESOURCES. 189 
 
 up resulted, not from the action of temporary streamlets, 
 but from the slow accumulations of years. 
 
 "These evidences are observed on this location for a 
 distance of two and a half miles. Upon a mound of earth 
 we saw a pine stump, broken fifteen feet from the ground, 
 ten feet in circumference, which must have grown, flour- 
 ished, and died, since the earth in which it had taken root 
 was thrown out. Mr. Knapp counted three hundred and 
 ninety-five annular rings on a hemlock, growing under 
 similar circumstances, which he felled near one of his 
 shafts. Thus it would appear that these explorations were 
 made before Columbus started on his voyage of discovery. 
 
 " The amount of ancient hammers found in this vicinity 
 exceeded ten cart-loads, and Mr. K., with little reverence 
 for the past, employed a portion of them in walling up a 
 spring. They are made of greenstone or porphyry peb- 
 bles, with a groove, single or double, cut around, by which 
 a withe was attached. 
 
 "Mr. Wm. H. Stevens, the agent of the Forrest Mine, 
 has discovered other workings on the southwest quarter of 
 section 30, township 50, range 39, almost of equal extent 
 and interest. They occur on the southern slope of a hill, 
 and consist of a series of pits, some of which, on being 
 opened, are found to be fourteen feet deep. They are ar- 
 ranged in four lines, following the courses of four veins or 
 feeders. 
 
 " In cleaning out one of these pits, at the depth of ten 
 feet, the workmen came across a fragment of a wooden 
 bowl, which, from the splintry pieces of rock and gravel 
 imbedded in its rim, must have been employed in bailing- 
 water. 
 
 " From the northeast quarter of section 31, township 51, 
 range 3t, to section 5, township 49, range 40, a distance 
 of nearly thirty miles, there is almost a continuous line of 
 
190 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 ancient pits along the middle range of trap, though they 
 are not exclusively confined to it. 
 
 "Upon Keweenaw Point they have been found extend- 
 ing from Eagle river eastward to range 28, a distance of 
 twelve miles, along the base of the trap range." 
 
 It is evident that these early miners were not more ad- 
 vanced towards civilization than the Indians generally, 
 because the mining and other implements found in these 
 ancient excavations, are precisely similar to those which are 
 known to have been in use among the tribes of the Atlan- 
 tic coast. The stone hammers, made of oval pebbles, 
 grooved about the middle for withes, which formed the 
 handles, were the native instruments for breaking out pieces 
 of copper on Lake Superior, and for breaking the hard 
 rocks of Moosehead Lake, for the arrow and spear-heads 
 of the Eastern Indians. Such hammers, together with 
 half-finished stone scalping-knives, have been found both at 
 Ontonagon and at Eagle Eiver. The Indian miner also 
 assisted the operation of breaking the rocks by kindling 
 fires upon them ; and hence the origin of the charred 
 brands and coal that have been found around the battered 
 and beaten projections of copper. 
 
 The first Englishman that ever visited the copper region 
 was Alexander Henry, who remained several years there, 
 exploring for minerals. We extract from his journal the 
 following account of his discoveries : 
 
 "On the 19th of August, 1165, we reached the mouth 
 of the Ontonagon river, one of the largest on the south 
 side of the lake. At the mouth was an Indian village, and, 
 three leagues above, a fall, at the foot of which sturgeon, 
 at this season, were obtained so abundant that a month's 
 subsistence for a regiment could have been taken in a few 
 hours. But I found this river chiefly remarkable for the 
 
MINERAL RESOURCES. 191 
 
 abundance of virgin copper which is on its banks and in its 
 neighborhood. 
 
 "On my way back to Miehilimackinaw, I encamped a 
 second time at the mouth of the Ontonagon river, and now 
 took the opportunity of going ten miles up the river with 
 Indian guides. The object for which I most expressly 
 went, and to which I had the satisfaction of being led, was 
 a mass of copper, of the weight, according to my estimate, 
 of no less than five tons. Such was its pure and malleable 
 state, that, with an axe, I was able to cut off a portion 
 weighing a hundred pounds. On viewing the surrounding 
 surface, I conjectured that the mass, at some period or 
 other, had rolled down the side of a lofty hill which rises 
 at its back." ' 
 
 The first copper mining company on Lake Superior was 
 organized by this enterprising explorer. In 1770, Messrs. 
 Baxter, Bostwick, and Henry, built a barge at Pointe aux 
 Pius, and laid the keel of a sloop of forty tons. They 
 were in search of gold and silver, and expected to make 
 their fortunes. The other partners, in England, were " His 
 Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester; Mr. Secretary 
 Townshend ; Sir Samuel Tuchet, Bart. ; Mr. Baxter, 
 Consul of the Empress of Russia, and Mr. Cruikshank ; 
 in America, Sir William Johnson, Bart., Mr. Bostwick, 
 Mr. Baxter, and myself. A charter had been petitioned 
 for and obtained ; but owing to our ill success, it Avas 
 never taken from the seal office." The sloop and other 
 effects of the Company, were sold by Mr. Baxter to pay 
 its debts. The American Revolution shortly after com- 
 
 1 In 1820, Schoolcraft, who accompanied General Cass on his ex- 
 pedition to the Mississippi, mentions this rock in his journal, "as 
 one of the largest and most remarkable bodies of native copper on 
 the globe." A few years later it was removed to Washington, where 
 it may now be seen lying on the ground, near the War Department. 
 
192 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 menced, and the mineral resources of the lakes were for- 
 gotten. 
 
 The celebrated Captain Jonathan Carver, who visited 
 these regions about the year 1769, in his observations on 
 the copper mines of Lake Superior, says : — "It might, in 
 future times, be made a very advantageous trade, as the 
 metal, which costs nothing on the spot, and requires but 
 little expense to get it on board, could be conveyed in 
 boats and canoes through the Falls of St. Mary, to the 
 Isle of St. Joseph, which lies at the bottom of the strait, 
 near the entrance of Lake Huron ; from thence it might be 
 put on board larger vessels, and in them be transported 
 across that lake to the Falls of Niagara ; then being car- 
 ried by land across the portage, it might be conveyed with- 
 out much more obstruction to Quebec. The cheapness and 
 ease with which any quantity of it may be procured, will 
 make up for the length of way that is necessary to trans- 
 port it before it reaches the sea coast, and enable the pro- 
 prietors to send it to foreign markets on as good terms as 
 it can be exported from other countries." 
 
 Samuel Preston, in a letter dated Stockport, Pa., May 
 1st, 1820, says: — "Dr. Franklin told me that when he 
 was drawing the treaty of peace with England in the city 
 of Paris, he had access to the journals and charts of a 
 corps of French engineers, that had sloops and were ex- 
 ploring Lake Superior when Quebec fell to the British, 
 from which chart he drew the line through Lake Superior 
 to include the most and the best of the copper to the 
 United States ; and the time would come, when drawing 
 that line would be considered the greatest service he ever 
 rendered his country. The facilities of transportation 
 would be well improved so as to export that copper ore to 
 Europe cheaper than they raised it from their own mines." 
 
 The experiment of sending ships loaded with native 
 
MINERAL RESOURCES. 193 
 
 copper from Lake Superior has never yet been tried. 
 There can be no doubt of its success. Ships have cleared 
 from Chicago loaded with grain for Liverpool, which 
 brought high prices on arrival. The distance from the 
 mines of the lake is somewhat less to the ocean than from 
 Chicago, A great part of the copper in some of these 
 mines is found nearly pure, and taken out in masses of from 
 one to ten tons in weight. Several years ago, a block of 
 copper from Lake Superior was sent to London as a spe- 
 cimen ; the geologists there could not be convinced, at 
 first, but that it was a Yankee trick — they had never heard 
 of copper being found in such a pure state, and supposed 
 the block had been cast for the purpose of exhibition. The 
 writer passed through the Sault St^ Marie Canal, on the 
 propeller Manhattan, in July, 1856, with a cargo of about 
 two hundred tons of nearly pure copper. A large part of 
 it was in masses of from two to six tons weight ; there 
 were also many barrels containing virgin copper in small 
 lumps, from six to eight hundred pounds to the barrel. 
 This cargo was consigned to Detroit and Cleveland. 
 
 The first definite information in regard to the mineral 
 resources of Lake Superior, was published in 1841, by Dr. 
 Douglas Houghton, Geologist to the State of Michigan ; 
 and his report did more than anything else to awaken pub- 
 lic interest in this region. In 1843, the Chippewas ceded 
 their lands, extending from the Chocolate to the Montreal 
 river, and southerly as far as the boundary of Wisconsin, 
 to the United States. Upon the ratification of the treaty 
 numerous settlers arrived, among them several miners from 
 Wisconsin, who selected large tracts of land, including 
 many of those now occupied by the best mines of the coun- 
 try. In the summer of 1844, the first mining operations 
 were commenced, and many masses of native copper, some 
 of which contained silver, and were of large size, were dis- 
 
 n 
 
194 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 covered. These facts were reported in the Eastern cities 
 with great exaggerations, and a great excitement, or 
 *' copper fever," ensued; and, in 1845, the shores of Ke- 
 weenaw Point were whitened with the tents of speculators 
 and so-called geologists. 
 
 In 1846, the excitement had reached its climax ; the 
 speculations in stocks were continued as long as it was pos- 
 sible to find a purchaser, and a serious injury was inflicted 
 on the mining interests of the country, by the unprincipled 
 attempts to palm off worthless land as containing valuable 
 veins. But every such mania must have an end, and in 
 1847 the bubble had burst, many were ruined, and the 
 country was almost deserted. Out of all the companies 
 which had been formed, not more than half a dozen were 
 actually engaged in mining. 
 
 Since this period, public attention has been again drawn 
 toward the Superior country. Its mineral lands have been 
 partly surveyed, and much information obtained relating 
 to localities where the ores of copper, iron and silver 
 abound, A considerable number of mining companies have 
 been organized, and some of them are in successful ope- 
 ration. The time has now arrived when public opinion 
 is convinced of the value of mineral productions ; and it is 
 understood that good working mines are sure to command 
 and reward the energies of capitalists and miners, since it 
 is proved that mining is liable to no greater risks of failure 
 than ordinary mercantile enterprises, provided due precau- 
 tion be exercised by the adventurers in the selection of 
 their mines, and in working them to advantage. 
 
 As it is desirable to give as full an account as possible 
 of the vast mineral wealth of Lake Superior, we shall em- 
 body in this chapter the statements of Dr. Charles T. Jack- 
 son, late U. S. Geologist and Chemist, as given in his report 
 
MINERAL RESOURCES. 195 
 
 to Grovernment, and which must be received as high au- 
 thority : 
 
 " On approaching the Sault Ste. Marie by the St. Mary's 
 river, the geologist has an opportunity of discovering the 
 age of the sandstone strata, by observing that the limestone 
 of St. Joseph's island, and of the other numerous isles in 
 that river, are rocks of the Devonian group, and contain 
 the characteristic fossils by which that rock is determined 
 to be the equivalent of those of Eifel. 
 
 " It is obvious, then, that the red and gray sandstone 
 of Lake Superior are above Devonian rocks, and, there- 
 fore, cannot be older than the coal formation ; while, from 
 their lithological character, they appear to belong to the 
 Permean system of Yerneuil and Murchison. Above the 
 Sault we see these red and gray sandstones dipping at a 
 gentle angle into the lake, showing that they do in fact dip 
 directly opposite to the direction that would be required to 
 make them dip beneath the limestone on St. Mary's river. 
 
 " Following the coast to I'Anse, or Keweenaw Bay, we 
 find, on the south side of that bay, large beds of slate 
 rocks, some of which are good novaculite or whetstone 
 slate. On the northern side of the bay we find a long 
 series of cliffs of red sandstone perfectly horizontal, or, at 
 most, wavy, extending all the way to Bete Gris. This 
 sandstone, as before observed at Sturgeon river, surrounds 
 a mass of Silurian limestone, containing shells, known as 
 the Pentamerus ohlongus, one of which I discovered in a 
 piece of the limestone brought to me by one of my assist- 
 ants in 1848. 
 
 '' Doubling the cape, we soon pass Horseshoe Cove and 
 reach Copper Harbor, the site of Fort Wilkins, and one 
 of the first places where copper ore was noticed by the 
 French Jesuits, since whose time it has ever been known 
 
196 MINERAL ilESOURCES. 
 
 to the Tovageurs on the lake under the name of the green 
 rock, 
 
 " While constructing the fort at Copper Harbor, nume- 
 rous boulders of black oxide of copper, a very rare ore of 
 that metal, were discovered ; and before long a vein of thivS 
 valuable ore was discovered in the conglomerate rocks, 
 near the pickets which enclose the parade ground. This 
 was found to be a continuation of the vein called the green 
 rock at Hayes' Point, and was immediately opened by the 
 Boston and Pittsburg Mining Company. Unfortunately, 
 however, the vein was soon cut off, as I had ventured to 
 predict it would be, by a heavy stratum of fine-grained red 
 sandstone, which is not cupriferous. There the vein was 
 found to consist wholly of calcareous spar, and of earthy 
 minerals of no economical value. 
 
 "The miners w^ere then transferred to the cliff, near 
 Eagle river, where I had surveyed a valuable vein of native 
 copper, mixed with silver. This vein has since been fully 
 proved, and is one of the wonders of the world, there being 
 solid masses of pure copper in the vein of more than one 
 hundred tons weight each, besides masses of smaller size in 
 other parts of the vein. This mine has produced about 
 900 tons of copper per annum, and is one of the most 
 valuable copper mines in the country. It is a regular me- 
 tallic vein, in amygdaloidal trap-rock, which underlies the 
 compact trap-rock that caps the hill. The spot is one of 
 the finest locations for mining purposes that I have seen, 
 the vein being exposed in the face of a cliff 300 feet above 
 the level of the southwest branch of Eagle river. This 
 vein, when first discovered, was far from disclosing its real 
 value. A perpendicular vein of prehnite, six inches wide 
 at the top of the cliff, was observed to contain a few par- 
 ticles of copper and silver, not amounting to more than 
 two per cent of the mass. About half way down the cliff 
 
MINERAL RESOURCES. 191 
 
 this vein of prehnite was found to be a foot and a half 
 wide, and contained five and a half per cent, of copper, and 
 some silver. It was thought worth while to drive a level 
 into the lower part of the cliff, where, according to the 
 rate of widening of the vein, it ought to be from two to 
 three feet wide. This was done at my suggestion, and a 
 magnificent lode of copper was disclosed ; many lumps of 
 solid copper of several hundred weight being found mixed 
 with the vein-stone. On sinking a shaft at this point the 
 solid metallic copper was soon found to occupy nearly the 
 whole width of the chasm, and immense blocks of copper 
 are now taken from this vein by the miners, who are work- 
 ing levels 300 or more feet below the mouth of the shaft. 
 Large quantities of lumps of copper, called barrel ore, and 
 rock rich in smaller pieces of copper, mixed with silver, are 
 now raised, this last being called stamp ore, and worked 
 by stamping and washing the ore. From this stamp work 
 about five thousand dollars' worth of pure silver is picked 
 out by hand, and much is still left among the finer particles 
 of metal, and goes into the melted copper," 
 
 To get out these huge masses of copper, a place is 
 sought in the shaft where a hole may be bored into the 
 rock, and a heavy blast is fired. This starts the cop- 
 per from the wall of rocks, and sometimes removes it 
 entirely. It is then cut up by means of steel chisels, driven 
 by blows of a heavy sledge-hammer — one man holding the 
 chisel, while the other strikes with the sledge ; a groove is 
 morticed out across the mass of copper, and then a series 
 of ribbons of it, about a quarter of an inch in thickness, 
 are cut out, until the channel thus morticed divides the 
 mass. The copper is perfectly malleable and ductile, and 
 is very tough. The masses of solid copper are very pure, 
 and ought to yield more than ninety per cent, of refined 
 metal. Such are the facilities of transportation presented 
 It* 
 
198 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 by tlie Lake steamboats and propellers, that it requires but 
 three or four days, generally, from the time these masses 
 see the light, to deliver them at the smelting works of Chi- 
 cago, Detroit, or Cleveland. 
 
 " There are other valuable copper mines on Eagle river. 
 The Xorlh American Company, which has one end of the 
 cliff vein, called the south cliff mine, and another, on which 
 their mining operations commenced some years ago, is at 
 present in successful operation, and will add much to the 
 exports of copper from the lake. 
 
 "The Lake Superior Copper Company, which was the 
 first that engaged in these mining operations, that gave 
 value to this district, opened its first mines on Eagle river 
 in 1844. Under the very unfavorable state of things which 
 then existed in the savage and uncivilized state of the coun- 
 try, and after two or three years' labor, they very unfortu- 
 nately sold their mines, at the precise moment when they 
 were upon the vein that now has proved to be so very rich 
 in copper and silver. The Phoenix Copper Company, 
 formed of the remains of the Lake Superior Company, 
 opened these mines anew, and now these give ample en- 
 couragement to the new adventurers, who will doubtless 
 reap their reward in valuable returns for their labor and 
 enterprise. ' ' 
 
 At this mine, shaft number two, passing into the west- 
 ern side of the vein, was very rich in copper and silver at 
 the surface, and impoverished as it left it in descending. 
 After working downward for a time, through barren rock, 
 the miners sent off a level toward the river, with the inten- 
 tion of striking the vein under the stream ; but, to their 
 great surprise, opened into a deep and wide ravine or an- 
 cient channel of the river, filled with great masses of cop- 
 per, lumps of copper and silver mixed, small globules of 
 pure silver — all rounded and worn by the action of running 
 
MINERAL RESO'URCES. 199 
 
 water, and mixed with sand, gravel, and pebbles. A 
 single mass of silver was obtained from this ravine which 
 weighed more than six pounds, and was worth one hundred 
 and thirty dollars.' That lump of silver is now in the 
 cabinet of the United States Mint, at Philadelphia. 
 Masses of copper were also found weighing a thousand 
 pounds. These were exported to France.^ 
 
 "The Copper Falls Mine, another branch of the Lake 
 Superior Company, is also engaged in working valuable 
 veins of native copper and silver, and has sent some of 
 their metals to market. 
 
 " The Northwest Company has a valuable mine a few 
 miles from Eagle Harbor, and the metal raised therefrom 
 is very rich and abundant, some of it being mixed with 
 sprigs and particles of metallic silver. This mine, if opened 
 with due skill, and in as bold a manner as that of the 
 Boston and Pittsburg Company, at the cliff, cannot fail to 
 prove of great value. 
 
 " The rocks which contain native copper, on Keweenaw 
 Point, are of that kind called amygdaloidal trap, which is 
 a vesicular rock, formed by the interfusion of sandstone 
 and trap rock, and is the product of the combination of 
 the two gaseous- bubbles, or aqueous vapors, which have 
 blown it into a sort of scoria a-t the time of its formation. 
 It is in this rock that we find the copper-bearing prehnite, 
 and other vein-stones peculiar to the copper lodes. 
 
 *' The northern or British shore of Lake Superior has, 
 as yet, been but little explored, either geologically or for 
 minerals. One mine of blende, or sulphuret of zinc, richly 
 mixed with spangles of native silver, and a vein of sul- 
 phuret of copper, have been discovered at Prince's Bay, 
 
 1 In 1856, a mass of pure silver was discovered in one of these 
 mines, worth $1040. 
 
 2 Foster and Whitney's Report. 
 
200 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 on the north shore, not far from Isle Royale. I know not 
 what progress has been made in developing the ores of this 
 mine, but at the time when I examined it, in 1841, it gave 
 promise of rich returns. As a general thing, the copper 
 on the northern shore is mineralized by sulphur, and occurs 
 as yellow copper pyrites, or as gray or black sulphurets of 
 copper, while the copper on the south shore, and on Isle 
 Royale, is mostly in the metallic state, and all the valuable 
 working mines are there opened for the native metal. This 
 is a remarkable reversion of the usual laws of mineral veins, 
 and was first discovered and pointed out by myself; and 
 the first mines for native copper were opened by my advice, 
 and in accordance with my surveys, in 1844, as before 
 stated. This remarkable region has certainly surprised 
 both geologists and miners by its wonderful lodes of native 
 copper, and by the lumps of pure silver which have been 
 opened and brought to light by enterprising companies and 
 skilful engineers. 
 
 "One of the most remarkable associations of metals is 
 here observed in the intermixture of pure silver with pure 
 copper, the two metals being perfectly united without any 
 alloying of one with the other.' This singular condition 
 of these two metals has puzzled chemists and mineralogists ; 
 and the solution of the problem of their mode of deposition 
 in the veins is still undiscovered. It is obvious, from ex- 
 periment, and from all we know of the affinities of metals 
 for each other, that the native copper was not injected in 
 a molten state into the veins. Although I have discovered 
 the manner in which the copper veins were probably formed, 
 I am far from having learned that of the silver, for we 
 know of no volatile salt, or combination of that metal. 
 
 ^ The author was presented with a lump, weighing over siz ounces, 
 of the same description mentioned by Dr. Jackson. On removing the 
 copper its weight was found to be /our ounces. 
 
MINERAL RESOURCES. 201 
 
 " The rocks known to belong to the cupriferous forma- 
 tion of Lake Superior are all of igneous formation, or liave 
 been thrown up from the unknown interior of the globe in 
 a molten state, and in long rents, having a somewhat cres- 
 centic shape, with the curve toward the north and west ; 
 the radius of the arc not being far from thirty miles in 
 length on Keweenaw Point. The average width of this 
 belt is not more than five miles, while its length is not less 
 than two hundred miles. The Keweenaw belt of trap runs 
 by the Ontonagon river, narrowing to only a mile in width 
 in some parts of its course, and then widening rapidly as 
 it extends into Wisconsin. 
 
 "On the Ontonagon river it is about four miles wide ; 
 and it is here highly cupriferous, several important veins, 
 now wrought by mining companies, having been discovered 
 by the miners in their employ on this river and in its 
 vicinity. The Minnesota Mine has been, thus far, the most 
 successful of those opened upon this part of the trap range. 
 It is remarked by all the geologists and miners who have 
 examined these rocks, that the copper ore lies in the amyg- 
 daloidal variety of tbem, and that the veins of native cop- 
 per are pinched out into narrow sheets in the harder trap 
 rock which overlies the amygdaloid. This fact was first 
 noticed by Mr. Alger and myself in the geological survey 
 of Nova Scotia, made by us in 1827, and the private 
 geological surveys which I made on Keweenaw Point, in 
 1844 and 1845, proved it to be true also in that region ; so 
 that it is a law now well known to the miner upon the Lake 
 Superior land district. It was discovered, also, that the 
 copper dies out in the veins when they cut through sand- 
 stone rocks." 
 
 The following description of recent discoveries of im- 
 mense masses of copper is taken from the Lake Superior 
 Miner of February 28, 185t : 
 
202 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 "The most astonishing developments have recently been 
 made at the Minnesota mines. It would seem that won- 
 ders were never to cease on that location. Geological 
 dogmatists were somewhat surprised when they began to 
 take copper in large masses from the south lode of the 
 Minnesota, and from the National mines. It was against 
 the rule which they had established in relation to veins, 
 because a vein proper must cut the formation, and could 
 not, as they declared, lie between two kinds of rocks so 
 completely dissimilar as trap and conglomerate. The sub- 
 sequent works on the Minnesota have proved this vein to 
 be one of the most valuable in mineral of any yet discovered 
 upon the globe. 
 
 "Another peculiar feature among the phenomena of this 
 lode has been discovered by the late openings. They are 
 finding immense masses of copper in the conglomerate 
 under the vein. A few days since, when we were in the 
 mine, this was shown in the most marked manner at several 
 points. In the twenty-fathom level, east of No. 5 shaft, 
 south lode, the regular sheet copper had been taken from 
 the foot wall, and the yield at this point had been very 
 great. The masses were from twelve to eighteen inches 
 thick. Strings of copper were cut off that vseemed to 
 branch into the conglomerate. These were followed, and 
 led immediately to very large masses, some of which were 
 of the thickest copper ever before taken from the mine. 
 One piece, which was cut up, presented a face of bright 
 copper cut by the chisel, three feet and nine inches in 
 thickness. It was so thick that it could not be handled in 
 the mine without again dividing longitudinally, or sjDlitting, 
 as they call it. Thus the mass showed two flat -surfaces, 
 at right angles with each other, of bright copper cut by 
 the chisel.- 
 
 " This point in the mine has been extremely productive. 
 
MINERAL RESOURCES. 203 
 
 Some two hundred tons of large masses have been taken 
 out of the conglomerate under the lode, besides the enor- 
 mous yield of the vein itself overlying it. In one place 
 the copper extended into the conglomerate as far as sixteen 
 feet south of the foot wall. 
 
 " An occurrence of copper in all respects similar is found 
 to the west of No. 5, under the adit level. Besides the 
 masses in the regular vein, which was also extremely rich 
 at this point, they had taken only forty or fifty tons out of 
 the conglomerate. The foot wall was perfect, as in the 
 other case, and the strings leading into the conglomerate 
 were quite small, and very slightly attached. But by tri- 
 fling labor they uncovered a series of masses going up and 
 down, with an eastward inclination, for the height of seventy 
 or eighty feet, and going out of sight both ab.ve and below. 
 It was at once apparent that they had something very 
 valuable, but they had no conception of the immense mass 
 which a few days' work disclosed. At one convenient 
 point they broke away behind the copper, so as to get in a 
 sand-blast of five or six kegs of powder. They then 
 stripped the mass further, and fired again without result. 
 Again they fired nine kegs, and the mass remained un- 
 moved. Breaking the rock around for a considerable dis- 
 tance, eighteen kegs were shot off without effect; and 
 again twenty-two kegs, and the copper entirely undisturbed 
 at any point. After further clearing, twenty-five kegs were 
 shot off under the copper, and it was thought with some 
 effect. But a final blast of thirty kegs, or 750 pounds, 
 was securely stamped beneath the mass and fired. As 
 soon as the hot air and powder-smoke had time to clear 
 away, a mass of copper, some forty-five feet in height, and 
 from three to five feet in thickness, apparently very pure, 
 and which will probably weigh three hundred tons, had 
 
204 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 been shot out, and was ready for cutting up.' The blast 
 had torn the immense body from its bed, without exliibiting 
 a sign of bending or cracking it in any place, so great was 
 its thickness and strength. It was torn off from other 
 masses, which still remain in the solid rock. 
 
 "About one hundred feet to the east of this is another 
 large mass, which several parties are exposing, and from 
 present appearances it may even exceed in size the last- 
 named one. 
 
 "These are near the point of the great counter lode, 
 of which we have spoken heretofore, from which 300 to 400 
 tons of copper have been taken ; and the ground in the 
 vicinity has unquestionably yielded the greatest amount of 
 mineral ever taken from the earth in the same space. Its 
 occurrence has been in three distinct forms: — 1. In the 
 counter just named ; 2. In the regular vein ; and, 3. In 
 the conglomerate rock under the vein. 
 
 " At the No. 2 shaft they are sinking below the sixty- 
 fathom level, and experience great difficulty in getting 
 through the copper which they encounter. It was feared 
 that they would be compelled to turn the shaft entirely out 
 of the vein to enable them to sink. 
 
 " But little heavy copper has hitherto been taken from 
 the eastern part of their workings. This has been mainly 
 owing to the want of power for clearing the mine of water 
 
 1 It will probably require one year or more to cut up this immense 
 piece of copper. Eight masses were taken off in April, weighing, in 
 the aggregate, 50,601 lbs., to which should be added 13 bbls. copper 
 chips, 7310 lbs., giving a grand aggregate of nearly 29 tons. The 
 total amount taken from it in every form, up to the month of May, 
 is 70 tons and 592 lbs. The product of the Minnesota Mine for 
 April, 1857, was 370,540 lbs., or 185 tons and 550 lbs. This is pro- 
 bably the largest amount ever taken from one mine in the world in 
 a similar period. The price of copper ranges at about twenty-five 
 cents per pound at the mines. 
 
MINERAL RESOURCES. 205 
 
 and dirt. The new en^^ine at No. 6 shaft has been in ope- 
 ration for some five weeks. It is the most powerful ma- 
 chine on the location, works admirably, and is doing a 
 splendid duty. It has already made room for twenty-five 
 or thirty miners in that part of the ground. Masses of 
 thirty to forty tons weight are now uncovered in the back 
 of 30, near No. 6, the most eastern shaft. A mass was 
 also found in the back part of 40, near the same shaft. In 
 the 60, west of No. 3, drifting has been made a little over 
 a hundred feet, disclosing excellent ground. Connection 
 has also been made between Nos. 2 and 3, distant some 
 two hundred and thirty feet, showing several important 
 masses. 
 
 '* This is a rapid summary of the new things to be seen 
 under ground at the Minnesota mines. With a thousand 
 tons of copper in sight, a considerable part of which is 
 thrown down, with their abundant openings and ample 
 machinery, what do you think, reader, will be the product 
 of the Minnesota mines for the coming year ? We ojyine 
 that the most sanguine expectations hitherto formed will 
 be exceeded." 
 
 The gross product of the Minnesota mine for the past 
 year has been within a fraction of 1860 tons of mineral.' 
 The market value of this product, including nearly $1000 
 worth of silver, was about $t02,000, and the entire expen- 
 ditures of the year, in round numbers, $337,000, leaving a 
 balance of $345,000 net earnings. 
 
 This dividend^ will make the aggregate sum of six hun- 
 dred and eighty thousand dollars (being more than ten 
 times the whole amount of capital paid in), divided among 
 
 1 From the Report for the year 1856. 
 
 2 A dividend of $300,000, or 30 per cent, on the capital stock, is 
 here alluded to. 
 
 18 
 
206 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 the stockholders from the net earnings of this mine for the 
 past five years, viz : 
 
 For 1852, $10 on 3000 shares $30,000 
 
 « 1853, 20 « « 60,000 
 
 " 1854, 30 " " 90,000 
 
 " 1855, 10 20,000 " 200,000 
 
 " 1856, 15 " " 300,000 
 
 $680,000 
 
 a result v^'hich cannot but be considered highly satisfactory. 
 The amount of copper raised from the mines of Lake 
 Superior, during the year 1856, has not been ascertained, 
 nor can it be exactly estimated. Many of the mines allow 
 their stamp stuff to accumulate through the winter, un- 
 dressed, being satisfied that the delay of preparation for 
 market is more than compensated by the saving of fuel, and 
 by devoting the same amount of labor to the opening and 
 working of the mines in w^armer weather. The figures 
 below are partially estimated, but are probably less than 
 the truth. The following tables are digests, with slight 
 corrections, from more elaborate ones prepared for the 
 Lake Superior Miner, by Mr. Brunschweiler, of Onton- 
 agon, and by Captain Paull, of the North American Mine, 
 and from official statements. 
 
 SHIPMENT OP ROUGH COPPER IN TONS, FOR 1856.. 
 From Ontonagon. 
 
 Mas8. Brl. and Stamp. TotaL 
 
 Adventure 27 118 145 
 
 Atzec 15 40i 65J 
 
 Douglas Houghton J 8^ 9 
 
 Evergreen 4J 15 lOJ 
 
 Flint Steel River —.2 2 
 
 Amount carried forward.... 47 184 230| 
 
Brl. and Stamp. 
 
 184 
 
 49 
 
 Total. 
 
 2301 
 
 50 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 497 
 60 
 
 13 
 
 i 
 1858 
 115 
 
 22 
 
 33 
 
 45 
 
 116 
 
 58 
 
 4i 
 62 
 
 108 
 
 199i 
 
 49 
 
 60 
 
 16 
 
 22 
 
 MINERAL RESOURCES. 20T 
 
 Mass. 
 
 Amount brought forward... 47 
 
 Forest 1 
 
 J. a. Grout — 
 
 Mass 10 
 
 Merchant — 
 
 Minnesota 1361 
 
 National 55 
 
 Nebraska 11 
 
 Norwich 71 
 
 Ohio — 
 
 Ohio Trap Rock — 
 
 Peninsula — 
 
 Ridge 4 
 
 Rockland 9U 
 
 Toltee 11 
 
 Windsor 6 
 
 Total 1608 1099 2767 
 
 From Keweenaw Point, 
 
 Mass, Brl. and Stamp. 
 
 Central 53 
 
 Cliff (Pittsburg and Boston), 1548 
 
 Connecticut 22 
 
 Copper Falls 154 
 
 Fulton 2 
 
 North American 328 
 
 Northwestern 15 
 
 Phoeaix 11 
 
 Total 2128 
 
 From Portage Lake. 
 
 Mass, Brl. and Stamp. 
 
 Isle Royale , 223 
 
 Huron 22 
 
 Pewabee 103 
 
 Portage 101 
 
 Quincy .■ 20 
 
 Total 409 
 
208 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 Total Shipments. 
 
 1R56. 1855. 
 
 From Ontonagon 2767 1984 
 
 From Keweenaw Point 2128 2245 
 
 From Portage Lake 462 3l5 
 
 5357 4544 
 
 Tons of Copper raised from the Minnesota, Cliff, and Rocldand Mines, 
 
 in 1856. 
 
 Minnesota. Cliff. Rockland. 
 
 January 159 120 — 
 
 February 153 127 26 
 
 March 165 145 — 
 
 April 159 150 — 
 
 May 153 141 16 
 
 June 152 140 20 
 
 July 153 134 30 
 
 August 155 154 33 
 
 September 150 146 41 
 
 October 154 146 32 
 
 November 156 124 23 
 
 December 150 120 24 
 
 Total 1859 1647 245 
 
 The following is a report of the capital, etc., of the two 
 most profitable mining companies on Lake Superior. Each 
 of these companies is now paying dividends at the rate 
 of 30 per cent, per annum on their assumed capital. 
 
 Annnal Report, Fehruary, 1857. 
 
 Nnminal Total Highest 
 
 LoiCafinn of Nominal p:»r value Number of pad in Capital siles 
 
 oflBfe. capital. per share. shares. per share. paid in. per share 
 
 Minnesota.. New York $1,000,000 $50 20.000 $:5-30 $66,000 $110 
 
 Cliflf. Pittsburg 6,000 18-50 110,905 245 
 
 The whole amount of copper shipped the past season, as 
 given in the report of the Superintendent of the St. Mary's 
 Falls Ship Canal, through which it all passed, is 10,452,000 
 pounds, worth, at 25 cents, $2,613,000. 
 
 The native copper of the Lake Superior mines may be 
 
MINERAL RESOURCES. 209 
 
 considered to be chemically pure. It dissolves in pure 
 nitric acid without leaving a trace of residuum ; it gives no 
 precipitate when the nitric acid solution is heated with am- 
 monia ; neither on the addition of chloro-hydric acid. It 
 dissolves to a clear solution in concentrated sulphuric acid, 
 when heated ; it contains no trace of arsenic or other vola- 
 tile metal. This is the result of the examination of several 
 specimens of copper from the Phoenix, Cliff, and Minnesota 
 mines. A piece of copper from the last-named mine, sawn 
 with care from a perfectly pure and solid mass, was found 
 to have the specific gravity of 8 '838.* 
 
 The great national value of the copper mines of Lake 
 Superior will be seen by comparing their productions with 
 that of others, in different parts of the world. The sub- 
 joined table exhibits the foreign mines, together with the 
 annual yield of metal : 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Sweden 1,000 
 
 Russia 2,000 
 
 Hungary 2,000 
 
 Hartz Mountains 212 
 
 East Germany 14.3 
 
 Hesse 500 
 
 Norway Y,200 
 
 United Kingdom of Great Britain 14,463 
 
 Mexico 200 
 
 Lake Superior Mines, in 1856 6,000 
 
 IRON ORES. 
 
 The iron, no less than the copper region, of Lake Supe- 
 rior, is one of the wonders of the world. The country 
 has been explored sufficiently to enable us to form a rough 
 estimate as to its capability of producing the most valuable 
 metals used by man. Mr. Foster, the eminent U. S. 
 
 1 Foster and Whitney's Report. 
 18* 
 
210 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 Geologist, says: — "Without excepting even Missouri, 
 there is no region of the workl where the specular ores of 
 iron are developed in so great a degree of purity, and on 
 a scale of such magnificence, as in the district of Lake 
 Superior. They occur, not in veins, not in beds, but iu 
 mountain masses, forming, in some instances, the crowning 
 summits of the country." 
 
 This region commences along the coast of the lake, with 
 the metamorphic rocks, extending from the Chocolate to 
 the Dead river, a distance of ten miles, following the shore, 
 and sweeping away southerly and westerly across the 
 branches of the Menomonee river, far into the State of 
 Wisconsin. A surveyor, in his report of the ore along the 
 Michigamig river, on the east boundary of township forty- 
 six north, range thirty west, says : — " The river here forms 
 a lake-like expansion, and is bounded on the northeast by 
 a range of hills, which rise abruptly to the height of two 
 hundred feet above the water. We explored this ridge, 
 and found that it was composed, for the most part, of nearly 
 pure specular oxide of iron. It shoots up in a perpen- 
 dicular cliff, one hundred and thirteen feet in height, so 
 pure that it is difficult to determine its mineral associations. 
 We passed along the base of this cliff for more than a 
 quarter of a mile, seeking for a gap, through which we 
 might pass, and gain the summit. At length, by clam- 
 bering from one point to another, we succeeded. Passing 
 along the brow of the cliff forty feet, the mass was com- 
 paratively pure ; then succeeded a bed of quartz, composed 
 of grounded grains, with small specks of iron disseminated, 
 and large, rounded masses of the same material inclosed, 
 constituting a conglomerate. This bed was fifteen feet in 
 thickness, and succeeded again by specular iron, exposed, 
 in places, to the width of one hundred feet ; but the soil 
 and trees prevented our determining its entire width. This 
 
MINERAL RESOURCES. 211 
 
 one cliff contains iron sufficient to supply the world for 
 ages ; yet we saw neither its length nor its width, but only 
 an outline of the mass." 
 
 On the line between sections ten and eleven there is an 
 elongated knob of almost pure ore, rising to the height of 
 fifty feet above the surrounding country. Further south, 
 in the same sections, there is a mass of still greater magni- 
 tude, though not of equal purity, on what is known as the 
 Cleveland Company's location. It rises in an oblong knob 
 to the height of one hundred and eighty feet above the sur- 
 rounding country, and one thousand and thirty-nine feet 
 above Lake Superior, being the culminating point on that 
 meridian line between the two lakes. 
 
 There are other localities of ore in this region, to which 
 we need not refer. There is such an abundance of it to be 
 obtained by working an open quarry, that it can never 
 command a price much above the cost of the labor of quar- 
 rying and transportation. 
 
 '* This iron region is the most valuable and extensive in 
 the world for the manufacture of the finer varieties of 
 wrought iron and steel. When we consider the immense 
 extent of the district, the mountain masses of the ore, its 
 purity and adaptation to the manufacture of the most valu- 
 able kinds of iron, and the immense forests which cover 
 the surface, suitable for charcoal, this district may be pro- 
 nounced unrivalled. The ore consists mainly of the spe- 
 cular or peroxide of iron, an admixture of the fine-grained 
 magnetic. In some instances, the whole ridge or knob 
 appears to consist of one mass of pure ore — so pure that 
 no selection is required ; but an unlimited quantity might 
 be quarried or picked up in loose blocks around the slopes. 
 In others, the ore is mixed with seams of quartz or jasper, 
 which renders it less valuable, and requires some care for 
 the selection. The iron, in such oases, presents a banded 
 
212 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 or contorted structure, or alternating seams of steel-gray 
 and brilliant red. The appearance of a mountain cliff, 
 thus made up, is extraordinary. The iron mountain of 
 Missouri becomes insignificant compared with these im- 
 mense deposits." 
 
 In 1849, two samples of this iron, selected without care 
 from among the products of the Jackson forge, were placed 
 in the hands of Major Wade, of the Ordnance Department 
 — whose oflBce it is to test the tenacity of the guns made 
 for Government — for the purpose of experiment. The 
 results obtained were as follows : 
 
 Sample No. 1, 7,550 density, 89*582 lbs. pressure to square inch. 
 " No. 2, 7,768 " 72-885 " " " 
 
 In the second sample there was a slight flaw observed 
 after it was parted, which would account for its inferior 
 tenacity. These results give an unparalleled tenacity, and 
 prove the high value of this iron. 
 
 The following are the results of the numerous experi- 
 ments of Professor Walter R. Johnson, on the tenacity of 
 bar-iron in various parts of the world : 
 
 strength in lbs. per square inch. 
 
 Iron from Salisbury, Ct., by means of 40 trials 58*009 
 
 •* Sweden, 4 " 58*184 
 
 " Centre County, Pa., 15 " 58*400 
 
 " Lancaster County, Pa., 2 " 58-661 
 
 " Mclntyre, Essex Co., N. Y., 4 " 58*912 
 
 " England (cable bolt, E. v.), 5 " 59*105 
 
 " Prussia, 5 " 76*069 
 
 To which we add the tenacity of the Carp River iron, 
 
 Lake Superior, as determined by Major Wade 89*582 
 
 The transactions in iron ore, for the past year, says the 
 "Lake Superior Journal," though small in comparison 
 with what can and will be done, exceed, by far, the antici- 
 pations of those interested. The ore has been successfully 
 
MINERAL RESOURCES. 213 
 
 introduced into market, where it sells readily at high prices. 
 The shipments, for the year 1856, were, for the Cleveland 
 Iron^ Milling Company, 6536 gross tons, making a total of 
 10,036 tons mined; for the Sharon Iron Mining Company, 
 4497 gross tons, and the same have now on the dock, ready 
 for shipment, 2805 gross tons, making a total of 7352 tons ; 
 the Eureka Iron Mining Company have shipped 2000 gross 
 tons, and have some 600 more ready for shipment, giving 
 them a total of 2600 tons mined. The whole amount 
 shipped being 13,033 gross tons, and the total amount 
 mined 20,538 gross tons, which, at $5 per ton, the lowest 
 price quoted, would net $102,690. These shipments may 
 look small, but it should be remembered that this is the 
 first really active season, and it was the finishing of the ex- 
 perimental work. 
 
 When this is taken into consideration, with the fact that 
 the trade has been established on a firm basis, it is highly 
 gratifying. From the preparations now making by the 
 companies already in operation, and by others who will 
 shortly commence, it is estimated that the shipments for 
 1857 will exceed in value $1,000,000. 
 
 Although the facilities for shipping ore from Lake Supe- 
 rior are unrivalled — the mines being from five to twenty 
 miles only distant from the lake — yet, during part of the 
 year, these mines, with the men who work them, and the 
 villages and towns supported by them, are, for all practical 
 business purposes and communication, locked up from the 
 rest of the world ; they depend for their supplies entirely 
 upon the East and South, and these supplies must be pro- 
 vided by the shipping on the lake before navigation closes 
 in the autumn. 
 
 Fortunately for the Lake Superior country, the General 
 Government, as we have before mentioned, granted a large 
 body of these valuable mineral lands to the States of 
 
214 CHARACTER OF THE SOIL. 
 
 Michigan and Wisconsin, to bnild railroads through them. 
 As soon as these contemplated commnnications are opened, 
 there will be but few days in the year in which conveyance 
 to and from the mines cannot be had with every market 
 connected with the entire line of iron road from the lake to 
 the Gulf of Mexico. We are convinced that the construc- 
 tion of these railroads would cause many of the copper 
 mines (which are at present suspended) to be worked at a 
 profit, by reason of the facilities it would give for reducing 
 the cost of labor and supplies, and would obviate the 
 necessity now existing for the heavy outlay of capital re- 
 quired to procure all the necessary means one year in 
 advance. 
 
 CHARACTER OF THE SOIL. 
 
 It must not be supposed that the soil of the Lake Supe- 
 rior country is unfit for cultivation ; on the contrary, it 
 is preferable to that of New England. The materials, 
 in some of the eastern parts of the district, consists of fine 
 sand, forming the "pine plains''' south of the "Pictured 
 Rocks." The coarse drift which abounds on the southern 
 slope affords a warm dry soil, which will require repeated 
 dressings to make it productive, after the vegetable mould 
 shall have been exhausted. The region where it prevails 
 is not low and marshy, but is thrown into gentle undula- 
 tions, like the rolling prairies of Illinois. Such is the 
 character of the lower valley of the Menomonee. ' 
 
 The northern part of Wisconsin, bordering on the lake, 
 ranks first in agricultural capacity. Dr. Owen ^ says : — 
 " The red clay and marl lands, occupying the high plains 
 skirting Lake Superior, are characterized particularly by 
 the predominance of oxide of iron, from which they derive 
 their color, and which amounts to four and a half per cent.,. 
 
 1 J. W. Foster's Report. 2 Geological Report. 
 
CHARACTER OF THE SOIL, 215 
 
 or nearly one half of the weight of the saline matter ; it is 
 always a retentive soil, from the abundance of argillaceous 
 earth which enters into its composition. And it may be 
 compared, in quality, to the red lands of Maryland and 
 Yirginia, bordering on the Potomac river, in Montgomery 
 and Loudon counties, which produce wheat crops that can 
 scarcely be excelled." 
 
 The same author remarks, in relation to the soil of Made- 
 line island, which lies opposite La Pointe county, Wis- 
 consin : — '' That portion of the soil of this island fit for 
 cultivation, produces potatoes, and all manner of garden 
 vegetables and roots in great luxuriance. In the flat, wet 
 parts, both the soil and the climate are favorable to grass, 
 and the crop is certain and stout. Oats do well ; on good 
 soil I have no doubt that wheat would be a good and sure 
 crop, if well cultivated." 
 
 The editor of the Chicago Democratic Press, who visited 
 a vegetable garden on this island in July, 1856, says : — 
 "It is by far the best and most productive one that we 
 have seen this season. True, the fruits ripen later than 
 they do with us, but they are fine and perfect." The spa- 
 cious garden of Mr. Austrian, to which he allude's, is one 
 of the most attractive spots on the island. Luxuriant 
 vegetables of all kinds were raised last summer ; also cher- 
 ries, apples, and grapes. The latter part of September, 
 1856, Mr. A. sent the following productions, raised in his 
 garden, to the editors of the Superior Chronicle, viz : One 
 ruta baga turnip, weighing seven pounds, a beautiful ear 
 of Genesee flint corn, several bunches of ripe tomatoes, 
 citrons, squashes, carrots, beets, some marrow-fat peas, 
 three varieties of apples, and a bunch of flowers. The 
 author himself measured some stalks of rye, raised on a 
 claim near the City of Superior, which, although not fully 
 ripe, were five feet six inches in height, and he is confident, 
 
216 FISHERIES. 
 
 that had some of the vegetables raised in the same place 
 been exhibited at the United States Agricultural Fair, 
 they would without difficulty have secured the fir at prize. 
 
 FISHERIES OP LAKE SUPERIOR. 
 
 The products of the fisheries of Lake Superior are of 
 great importance to the inhabitants and States which lie on 
 its borders. It abounds with the most delicious fresh water 
 fish known. The flavor of its trout, white fish, and others, 
 is much superior to that of the other lakes, and they com- 
 mand a higher price in market. " One species," says Mr. 
 Andrews, " the sisl-awit.,^ has only to be known in the New 
 York and Eastern markets, in order to supersede all varie- 
 ties of sea fish, for unquestionably none approach it in suc- 
 culence and flavor." This fish is preferred by the Indians 
 on account of its fatness. They are readily caught by the 
 hook, but the usual method is by means of gill nets, set a 
 yard or two from the bottom, in water of about two hun- 
 dred feet in depth ; the lower edge of the net is then an- 
 chored by weights attached to cords, while the upper edge 
 is sustained by means of floats. The siskawU weighs 
 from five to twenty pounds. 
 
 The white fish^ are preferred to all others by the white 
 inhabitants and travellers. There are two kinds of lake 
 trout,^ each weighing from twelve to fifty pounds. The 
 sturgeon are quite remarkable, not only in size, but in 
 flavor ; pickerel, pike, carp, black fish, and herring, are 
 also abundant. Large quantities of these fish are packed 
 annually at Siskawit Bay, Isle Royale, at La Pointe, and 
 many other places along the northern and southern shores, 
 for the Eastern and Western markets. This branch of 
 commerce is increasing very fast, in consequence of the 
 
 1 Pereopsis Guttatus. ^ Coregonus Albus. ^ galmo Amethystus. 
 
COMMERCE. 21t 
 
 opening of the Sault Canal, and rapid increase of settle- 
 ment along its coast. The waters of Lake Superior are 
 teeming with life, and from the south shore alone 50,000 
 barrels might be yearly sent to market. 
 
 COMMERCE OF LAKE SUPERIOR. 
 
 It is very difiBcult to procure correct information of the 
 commerce of this lake, owing to the fact that it has only 
 recently been opened to direct navigation with the other 
 lakes, and from the extreme inaccuracy and looseness of the 
 returns reported. The business of the Lake Superior 
 country, for 1851, is estimated by Mr. Andrews as follows, 
 for the articles which crossed the portage at the Sault Ste. 
 Marie : 
 
 Imports, 100,000 barrels bulk; in which are included 
 2000 bundles pressed hay, 20,000 bushels of oats, and 
 other kinds of grain, provisions, dry goods, groceries, 
 general supplies, and five mining engines ; forming an 
 aggregate estimated value of $1,000,000. 
 
 The exports passing around the rapids, for the same 
 season, are as follows ; 
 
 1800 tons of copper, at $350 , $630,000 
 
 500 tons of iron blooms, at $50 25,000 
 
 4000 barrels of fish, at $5 20 000 
 
 The imports are about 40,000 barrels bulk in excess of 
 the imports of 1850. 
 
 The receipts for tolls on the Sault Ste. Marie Canal, for 
 the season of 1856, amounted to $11,950-44. 
 
 COMPARATIVE ESTIMATE OF FREIGHT. 
 Up Freight. 
 
 1855. 1856. Total. 
 
 Barrels bulk 76,468 119,259 195,727 
 
 Tons 4,373 11,568 15,941 
 
 19 
 
218 COMMERCE. 
 
 Down Freight. 
 
 1855. 1856. Total. 
 
 Copper, in tons 3,196i 6,726i 8,923 
 
 Iron blooms, in tons .- 1,040 781 1,821 
 
 Iron ore 1,447 11,597 13,044 
 
 Estimated value of up freight $2,5fl0,000 
 
 « " down freight 2,875,000 
 
 Total $5,375,000 
 
 Lumber to the extent of 395,295 feet passed through 
 the canal. The importation of this article will doubtless 
 entirely cease in a few years, and the exportation of it 
 form, eventually, a conspicuous item in the trade of Lake 
 Superior, as already a large number of saw-mills, of suffi- 
 cient capacity to supply all demands, are at work at the 
 head of the lake. 
 
 At present, there are about twelve propellers and st-eam 
 vessels engaged in the commerce of this " mighty inland 
 sea." It requires a voyage of about four days, including 
 numerous stoppages, to convey passengers and freight from 
 Chicago to the City of Superior, at the head of the lake, 
 and the same time from Cleveland. The North Star, a 
 favorite boat, made the trip in June, 185Y, from Detroit, 
 in three days. On their return voyage they take in cop- 
 per, in masses and barrels, iron ores and bars, fish, ship's 
 knees, &c.' A number of sailing vessels are also engaged 
 m this commerce. 
 
 The average close of navigation at the head of Lake 
 Superior, for the past two years, has been about the 1st of 
 December,^ and the average opening about the middle of 
 
 1 Captain Church, of the St. Mary's river, exported, in 1850, ten 
 tons of raspberry jam. 
 
 2 In 1855, the schooner Algonquin left the port of Superior, on 
 her return voyage, the 17th of December. 
 
SATJLT STE. MARIE CANAL. 219 
 
 April. From these facts it will be observed that the lake 
 is susceptible of navigation for nearly eight months in the 
 year, and about two weeks longer than the Upper Mis- 
 sissippi. 
 
 SAULT STE. MARIE CANAL. 
 
 The outlet of Lake Superior is through the St. Mary's 
 river, which is sixty miles in length, connecting it with 
 Lake Huron. At some places it spreads out into little 
 lakes ; at others, rushes through narrow rapids, or winds 
 around beautiful islands. Its entire length is navigable as 
 far as the falls — the "Sault" of the river having a descent 
 of twenty-two feet within three-fourths of a mile. Until 
 the year 1855, the only inlet for merchandise, or outlet for 
 the produce of this vavSt lake, and the wide regions de- 
 pendent upon it, was in the portage around the " Sault," 
 across which every article had to be transported, at prodi- 
 gious labor and expense. In 1851, the fleet of the lake 
 consisted of two steamers, four propellers, and a consi- 
 derable number of smaller craft, all of which had been 
 dragged overland, by man and horse, across the isthmus. 
 These vessels were constantly employed carrying up sup- 
 plies, and bringing back returns of ore and metal, and yet, 
 under all these disadvantages and drawbacks, the traffic 
 was profitable and progressive. 
 
 After continued efforts had been made, for many years, 
 to induce the General Government to construct a ship canal 
 around these rapids. Congress, in 1852, offered to the State 
 of Michigan *750,000 acres of land to aid in completing it, 
 and the Legislature of that State contracted to give these 
 lands, free of taxation, for five years, to Erastus Corning, 
 and others, in consideration that the proposed canal should 
 be in navigable order by the 19th of May, 1855. The 
 work was finished at the appointed time, and is superior to 
 
220 SAULT STE. MARIE CANAL. 
 
 anything of its kind on this continent. Its locks are the 
 largest in the world. The combined length of the two 
 sides and wings of the two locks together is nearly one- 
 third of a mile, all of solid masonry, twenty-five feet high, 
 ten feet thick at the base, with bnttresses six feet in width 
 at the distance of every twelve feet, all faced with cut white 
 limestone, equal to the best of this State. The gates are 
 each forty feet wide. The canal is one hundred feet wide 
 at the top of the water, and one hundred and fifteen at the 
 top of its banks, containing a depth of water of twelve 
 feet, and is principally excavated through rock. This ship 
 canal is a magnificent piece of workmanship, and has 
 opened to the lower lakes a navigation of fully a thousand 
 miles. Mr. Andrews forcibly remarks : — " Our shipping 
 will have an uninterrupted sweep over waters which 
 cb^ain more than three hundred thousand square miles of 
 a region abounding in mineral and agricultural re- 
 sources. They may he icater-horne nearly half way 
 across the continent. The inexhaustible elements of wealth 
 on the shores of Lake Superior will then become avail- 
 able." Again he says : — ** So soon as the canal above- 
 mentioned shall be completed, the summer tour of tra,i'el- 
 lers will he extended to a cruise ai^ound Lake Superior, 
 and from La Pointe many ivill cross over to the Falls of 
 St. Anthony, on the Mississippi river. The importance 
 of this enterprise can hardly be over-estimated, and its 
 consequence will be the vast facilitation and increase of the 
 commerce of Lake Superior, and the incalculable enhance- 
 ment of the value of the public lands, while a tide of emi- 
 gration may be expected from Norw^ay, Sweden, and the 
 north of Europe, as well as from the New England States, 
 pouring into the northwestern wilderness, subduing the 
 forests, and extending far and wide the area of civilization. 
 
GENERAL REMARKS. 221 
 
 The time will doubtless come when a canal or railway will 
 be made to the Falls of St. Anthony." 
 
 It affords the author great pleasure to be able to bear 
 bis testimony to the accomplishment of these predictions 
 of Mr. Andrews in his interesting report to Government. 
 The summer tour which he mentions, from Lake Superior 
 to the Mississippi river, has already been made by great 
 numbers, not only from La Pointe, but also from the City 
 of Superior. During the past winter, a line of sleighs 
 conveyed passengers tri-weekly between the latter place and 
 St. Paul. Many Norwegian and other emigrants have 
 already arrived, and it is expected that at least ten thou- 
 sand more will reach the Lake Superior country this year. 
 
 A railroad is now under construction from the City of 
 Superior to St. Paul, and the contractors are to have it 
 completed by July, 1859. The feasibility of constructing 
 a canal from the lake to the Mississippi river, is demon- 
 strated by the fact that the first steam propeller, the Man- 
 hattan, in 1850 passed up the St. Louis river, at the head 
 of the lake, as far as Pond du Lac village. The river, at 
 the time, was not above its ordinary stage, and at the 
 lowest part sounded there was over six feet water in the 
 channel. "This brings the steam navigation on Lake 
 Superior within thirty-five miles of the Mississippi, at the 
 mouth of Sandy Lake river."' We believe the distance is 
 but six miles from the St. Louis to the Savanna river, 
 which flows into Sandy Lake. This route is one of the 
 most celebrated in the northwest, from the first discovery 
 of the lake to the present time. How surprised would 
 either Mr. Andrews, Dr. Owen, or General Cass be, were 
 they to visit again these regions. On the shores of the Bay 
 of Superior stands the youngest and largest city of the 
 lake ; steamboats arrive at its piers tri-weekly, and connect 
 
 1 Owen's Geological Report. 
 19* 
 
222 GENERAL REMARKS. 
 
 there with smaller steamers for the new towns on the St. 
 Louis river, viz : Middletou, Du Luth, Oneota, Wahba- 
 gon, and Fond du Lac, besides other boats, touching at 
 perhaps a dozen or more towns along the north shore of 
 the lake.' The shrill whistle of the "iron horse" is heard 
 where, at the date of the publication of Dr. Owen's Sur- 
 vey, in 1852, was a dense wilderness. 
 
 Mr. Andrews again remarks: — ''Possibly we may see 
 the trade of Hudson'' s Bay flowing into the United States, 
 through Lake Superior and our other great lakes and 
 rivers. For that great hay is hut fifteen days^ canoe 
 voyage from' Lake Superior, and the portages ai^e few 
 and not long, so that the British Hudson's Bay Fur Com- 
 pany carry on constant communication with their factories 
 upon the bay from their posts upon Lake Superior; and 
 their agents at the British posts in Oregon travel from their 
 stations on the borders of the Pacific Ocean, by way of 
 Hudson's Bay and Lake Superior, on their route to Great 
 Britain." The little steamer James Carson arrived at 
 the City of Superior, June Qth, 1 857, /rom Fond du Lac, 
 ivilh forty passengers, and about six thousand dolLx^rs' 
 
 WORTH OF FURS. 
 
 We cannot agree with several of the Chicago journals, 
 who, on account of the " grant of lands" to Minnesota, to 
 aid in the construction of a railroad from St. Paul to Pem- 
 bina, infer that, when this is accomplished, "the question 
 of the trade of the Hudson's Bay Territory will be forever 
 settled, and Chicago will be the depot for the furs of that 
 region." It has always been an acknoioledged fact, that 
 transjiortation by the water is far cheaper than by land, 
 and why furs and merchandise should be carried such 
 an immense distance over railroads to and from Chicago 
 we do not understand, especially when they can be sent 
 1 See steamboat advertisements. 
 
GENERAL REMARKS. 223 
 
 from ilie City of Superior to all parts of the luorld on 
 steamboats, without reshipment, each city being at the head 
 of a great lake, and possessing equal advantages of direct 
 communication ivith the Atlantic Ocean. 
 
 A glance at the map of the United States is all that is 
 necessary to satisfy any reflecting mind of the important 
 position occupied by Lake Superior, and the influence it 
 is soon destined to exercise on the commercial affairs of 
 this continent. In a few years, when the contemplated 
 railroads are completed, it will become the principal avenue 
 of intercourse between the Eastern and Northwestern por- 
 tions of our extended country. In addition to its vast 
 mineral and lumber resources, and extensive fisheries, the 
 present unexampled flood of immigration to its shores 
 should not be overlooked. Now, all this teeming popula- 
 tion must have access to Eastern markets, and the greater 
 the facilities afforded to them the greater will be their 
 increase, prosperity, and commerce. 
 
 Should anything herein contained appear exaggerated, 
 let it be remembered, that for the last ten years the wildest, 
 the boldest anticipations respecting the Northwest have 
 been more than realized ; had it been predicted that these 
 almost boundless wilds should at this day be the dwelling- 
 place of thousands of freemen, that towns vieing in popu- 
 lation and wealth with many on the Atlantic border, should 
 in that period have arisen, and that Lake Superior shx)uj£l 
 be traversed weekly by lines of steamboats, it would have 
 been deemed beyond measure extravagant ; yet all this is 
 sober reality, and at this moment the onward march of this 
 great region in populaticTn, wealth, and resources, is more 
 rapid than at any former period. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 CITY OF SUPERIOR — ITS SITUATION — HARBOR — ADVANTAGES 
 — RAILROADS — RISE AND HISTORY PROGRESS — AGRI- 
 CULTURAL RESOURCES OF THE NEMADJI AND ST. LOUIS 
 RIVERS. 
 
 The City of Superior, situated on the Bay of Superior 
 and Nemadji river, at the head of Lake Superior, on an 
 elevation of thirty-four feet, possesses a better site, a better 
 harbor, and greater natural advantages for a commercial 
 city, than any other point in the Northwest. Its harbor is 
 the largest on the lake, and is admirably sheltered from 
 storms by two points of land projecting out from the States 
 of Wisconsin and Minnesota, forming a bay of over six 
 miles in length by one in width, large enough to accommo- 
 date the shipping of the entire chain of lakes. The en- 
 trance from the lake is about half a mile wide, with suffi- 
 cient depth of w^ater for any vessel which can pass through 
 the ship canal at the Sault Ste. Marie. Vessels can enter 
 into this magnificent land-locked harbor in all w^inds, and 
 are secure from the heaviest storm which could arise in the 
 winter season. The Government is now constructing a 
 lighthouse on Minnesota Point, at the entrance of this 
 bay. 
 
 Besides these advantages-, the City of Superior is the 
 "naost western point accessible to ocean vessels in North 
 America, and it enjoys uninterrupted w^ater communication 
 with the Atlantic Ocean, via the British American canals 
 
 (224) 
 
,,1 4iViWlllllii 
 
 
CITY OF SUPERIOR. 225 
 
 and the St. Lawrence river. Its situation corresponds ex- 
 actly with that of Chicago, it being the cliicf port, and at 
 the head of navigation of a great hike, and the point where 
 the raih'oads from the interior of the State will terminate. 
 
 As Wisconsin and the States and Territories lying north 
 and west of it advance, and the commerce of Lake Snpe- 
 rior increases, as that of Lake Michigan has done, there is 
 no reason why Superior may not become a second Chicago. 
 
 Its position at the furthest extremity of Lake Superior, 
 commanding the country lying north and west of the lake, 
 and east of the Rocky Mountains, shows that Nature has 
 marked this spot for the great commercial city of this 
 mighty inland sea. 
 
 Nor is there any apparent limit to its increase. The 
 great States and cities which are growing up in the North- 
 w^est, will find their cheapest outlet to the seaboard by the 
 channel of the lakes. Peopled, as they are now being, 
 with a rapidity w^hich has no parallel, these new States are 
 fast rivalling in wealth and importance the older communi- 
 ties of the Eastern frontier, and are drawing from them, 
 rapidly and steadily, the capital and vitality which were 
 once all their own. Kailroads are in process of construc- 
 tion to the Mississippi river, and to other points beyond, 
 which will soon command the produce and commerce of the 
 interior. 
 
 The experiment of an uninterrupted navigation from the 
 Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean was proved by the successful 
 voyage of the schooner Dean Richmond, in the SjJring of 
 1856, /rom Chicago to Liverpool, and the arrival of the 
 British schooner Madeira Pet, the lith of July, 1857, 
 with a cargo of merchandise from Liverpool, at Chicago. 
 These voyages are destined to work an entire revolution in 
 the internal traffic of the Western States, and will lead to 
 an extended and increasing intercourse with Europe. The 
 
226 CITY OF SUPERIOR. 
 
 application of steam will overcome the delays of navigation, 
 and the path opened by the "Dean Richmond" and the 
 " Madeira Pet" will be thronged with the flags of every 
 nation. What is true of Chicago is true of the City of 
 Superior. What is possible by the St. Lawrence river and 
 canals is equally possible with the Sault Ste. Marie. The 
 unrivalled chain of inland navigation to the heart of this 
 continent does not end with Chicago. It is complete to 
 the City of Superior. 
 
 What may be said in favor of the lakes as an outlet 
 from the great West, may, for all purposes of business and 
 settlement, be urged for them as an inlet from the ocean. 
 The productions of the Northwest are now shipped, in the 
 very centre of America, for the remotest parts of Europe, 
 and the best class of emigrants — always an invaluable cargo 
 — embark almost at their own doors, and are conveyed to 
 the very places in which they desire to settle. An advan- 
 tage of the highest importance, as it saves them from the 
 inconveniences, delays, and impositions, which now too 
 often attend their journey westward. In a short time, 
 emigrants can purchase tickets for Wisconsin in the very 
 heart of Europe, which will take them over two thousand 
 miles into the interior of America, ivithout transhipment, 
 and with no greater inconvenience than might attend their 
 journey from their homes to the ports of departure.^ 
 
 We will give the distances from Liverpool to Quebec, 
 to prove that the sailing distance between them is — if the 
 Straits of Belle Isle be followed, 400 miles, and if the 
 southern route be taken, some 200 miles — shorter than 
 between Liverpool and New York. 
 
 1 At present, large numbers of emigrants are daily reaching Wis- 
 consin through Canada. On arrival at Quebec, they take passage on 
 Bteamboats for different ports on Lakes INIichigan and Superior. 
 
ADVANTAGES. 22*1 
 
 The distances are as follows : 
 
 Miles. 
 From Quebec to Liverpool, via north of Ireland and Straits 
 
 of Belle Isle 2680 
 
 From Quebec to Galway, via north of Ireland and Straits 
 
 of Belle Isle 1800 
 
 From New York to Galway 2815 
 
 " « Liverpool 3073 
 
 Another advantage of this route is, that a third of the 
 distance to Quebec is within the Gulf and River St. Law- 
 rence, where a steamer will sail faster, being less impeded 
 there than by the heavy swells of the Atlantic. 
 
 Miles. 
 The distance from Quebec, via daily steamers, to Montreal, is... 180 
 
 " " Montreal to Cleveland, daily steamers, is 661 
 
 " " Cleveland to City of Superior, " is 1091 
 
 Total 1932 
 
 To appreciate the magnitude of the canals and their 
 locks on the St. Lawrence, it is necessary to give a de- 
 scription of some of the most important of them. The 
 Welland Canal is a very important work, connecting Lakes 
 Ontario and Erie. Its locks are 150 feet in length of 
 chamber, by a width of 26 J feet, its dimensions being well 
 suited for the class of vessels best adapted to the Western 
 lakes, of which large numbers pass through it, as well of 
 Canadian as American crafts. This canal is 28 miles in 
 length, having about 30 cut-stone locks, and is lighted with 
 gas for the night operations ; the brilliant burners marking 
 its course for a long distance. Notwithstanding these pre- 
 cautions, it is with difficulty that the immense trade be- 
 tween the upper and lower lakes can be accommodated. 
 It surmounts an elevation between Lakes Ontario and Erie 
 of 330 feet, while the elevation from tide water to Lake 
 Ontario being over 200 feet, is overcome by the St. Law- 
 
228 CITY OF SUPERIOR. 
 
 rence canals, seven in number, of various lengths, from 12. 
 miles to one mile (but in the aggregate only 41 miles of 
 canal), having locks 200 feet in length between the gates, 
 and 45 feet in width, with an excavated trunk from 100 to 
 140 feet wide on the water surface, and a depth of ten feet 
 of water. These canals are chiefly used for ascending the 
 stream, as large steamers, drawing seven feet water, with 
 passengers and mails, leave Kingston, at the foot of Lake 
 Ontario, in the morning, and without passing through a 
 single lock, reach the wharf at Montreal the same day 
 before dark. 
 
 In the year 1853, there passed through the Welland 
 Canal 2743 British sailing vessels and 917 steamers, and 
 2705 American sailing vessels and 349 steamers. Through 
 the St. Lawrence canals there passed, in the same year, 
 5457 British sailing vessels and 2173 steamers, and 123 
 American sailing vessels and 51 steamers. The total num- 
 ber of vessels, of all classes, passing through the canals of 
 Canada that year, was 20,406, with a tonnage of 2,138,654 
 tons. 
 
 On the whole, it may be safely asserted that no country 
 in the world is possessed of more important and extensive 
 canals than is Canada. They are now destined to be the 
 medium of communication for large numbers of vessels 
 which the direct ocean trade of the great West will employ. 
 
 Nor is this all. This vast and uninterrupted water com- 
 munication from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to the 
 extremity of Lake Superior, will be the basis of the whole 
 system of Western railroads. A Pacific Railroad over 
 the northern route to Puget's Sound, with a termination 
 at the City of Superior, is the necessary supplement of the 
 navigation we have described. 
 
 The construction of a railroad to the Pacific Ocean is 
 attracting a large share of the attention of the people of 
 
RAILROADS. 229 
 
 the United States, and that a road, upon some such route, 
 will be constructed, by aid derived from the General 
 Government, appears to be the general opinion. It is con- 
 ceded that the northern route, as surveyed by Governor 
 Stevens, presents the greatest advantages, and the fewest 
 obstacles, and we feel conj&dent it will be adopted. 
 
 When the St. Croix and Lake Superior Railroad is com- 
 pleted, which will be in 1859, connecting the City of Supe- 
 rior with St. Paul, Milwaukee, and Chicago, an astonishing 
 revolution will be made in the transhipment of freight to 
 the Northwest. As it is a settled fact that transportation 
 is impelled by an irresistible impulse into the cheapest and 
 most direct channels of communication, the following state- 
 ments and tables of distances will prove that the lake route, 
 yia the City of Superior, is not only the nearest, but by 
 far the cheapest means of shipping freight to the North- 
 west, and a saving in time of from ten days to two weeks. 
 Let us take New York as a starting-point from the sea- 
 board, and St. Paul, at the head of navigation of the Mis- 
 sissippi, as the terminus. The distances between these 
 places is as follows : 
 
 Miles. 
 
 From New York to Chicago, by canal via Albany and Buf- 
 falo, and by steamboat via Detroit 1551 
 
 From Chicago, by railroad via Dunleith, and via steamboat 
 to St. Paul 568 
 
 Total 2119 
 
 From New York to Buffalo, via canal 508 
 
 From Buffalo to City of Superior, via propellers 1241 
 
 From City of Superior, via railroad, to St. Paul 140 
 
 Total 1889 
 
 showing a difference of 230 miles, and one transhipment 
 less, in favor of the new route. 
 20 
 
230 CITY OF SUPERIOR. 
 
 The usnal route for freight from Philadelphia to St. 
 Pan], is by railroad to Pittsburg, thence by steamboats 
 do^Yu the Ohio and up the Mississippi, occupying about 
 cue month ; the distance is 2266 miles. 
 
 Miles. 
 
 The new route to St. Paul, via City of Superior, is by rail- 
 road to Cleveland, occupying about 2 days, a distance of 489 
 
 From Cleveland to Superior, via propellers, occupying 4 
 days 1091 
 
 From City of Superior to St. Paul, via railroad 140 
 
 Total 1720 
 
 showing a difference in favor of City of Superior of 546 
 miles, and a saving of at least two weeks in time. 
 
 Another important fact, which must not be overlooked, 
 is, that the vast mineral products of Lake Superior may 
 be transported via this railroad and the Mississippi river, 
 cheaper than by any other means of communication. These 
 subjects are capable of much additional amplification, and 
 many more important statements might be added, but these 
 facts and figures will serve to convince every one of the 
 advantages of the lake route. 
 
 The Chicago, St. Paul, and Fond du Lac Railroad 
 Company, who are now surveying their road from Milwau- 
 kee to Lake Superior, will doubtless extend it (as their 
 charter provides) to the City of Superior. The Milwaukee 
 and Horicon Railroad will terminate at this point, and their 
 engineers are at present surveying the route. The Mil- 
 waukee and Superior Railroad, a new company, chartered 
 in March, 1856, also terminates at the City of Superior. 
 Either of these routes, ivhen completed, ivill reduce the 
 time between New York and the head of this great lake 
 to about three days'' travel! 
 
 Probably one of the greatest sources of future prosperity 
 of the city of Superior, will be derived from the thousands 
 
RAILROADS. 231 
 
 of visitors who will fill her hotels to overflowing, and leave 
 immense sums of money among her merchants. We assert 
 that, when the railroad connecting this city with the Mis- 
 sissippi is ill travelling order, a great majority of the 
 visitors who daily ascend that river to St. Paul (and I 
 have known of from YOO to 1000 arrivals there in one day, 
 in the height of the travelling season), will cross over to 
 Superior and return homewards by the lakes, in preference 
 to returning the same route. This is no idle supj)osition ; 
 already hundreds have arrived in Superior, by the Point 
 Douglas and Lake Superior Military Road. 
 
 The wealthy Southerner, on his usual summer tour to 
 the North, m^II prefer embarking on the " floating palaces 
 of the mighty Father of Waters" for St. Paul, thence by 
 railroad to City of Superior, and re-embarking there on 
 splendid lake steamboats, will coast along the shores of 
 the Mediterranean of North America, through the Sault 
 Ste. Marie, either to Detroit, Cleveland, and Chicago, or 
 connect at Mackinaw with the " Collingwood route" for 
 Canada, or Niagara, as his fancy may dictate. At present, 
 there are three boats on the Superior line from Cliicago, 
 and six from Cleveland ; both lines connecting with the 
 " Collingwood route" at Mackinaw. 
 
 To the traveller from the East, who prefers good fare 
 and fine scenery to shutting himself up at a watering place, 
 the northern route presents unequalled attractions. From 
 Cleveland and Detroit splendid lake steamboats will convey 
 him, in four days, to the City of Superior; then, in a few 
 hours, he will reach St. Paul by the railroad ; after view- 
 ing that cily, and the Falls of St. Anthony, he has choice 
 of routes in returning homeward. For myself, I prefer the 
 elegant accommodations and fare of the Mississippi boats, 
 and its magnificent scenery, to travelling over the railroads. 
 This route, up the lakes and down the Mississippi, is the 
 
232 CITY OP SUPERIOR. 
 
 finest in this country; and when it is considered that, in 
 length, it is equal to crossing the Atlantic, we may well be 
 amazed at the cheapness of travel, and variety of scenery 
 it presents. Travellers on tours of pleasure from the East- 
 ern cities, on their way to tlie Falls of St. Anthony, will 
 not willingly undergo the fatigues and annoyances of the 
 raih'oad route to the Mississippi, when the tour of the 
 lakes presents such attractions. 
 
 Thus the City of Superior occupies the most prominent 
 position in the Northwest, at the head of navigation, and 
 we may also add, it forms the gate of communication be- 
 tween the Eastern and Western travel, of over two thou- 
 sand miles of uninterrupted lake and river navigation to 
 the Atlantic, and nearly the same distance to the Gulf of 
 Mexico. The productions of the Northwest will be shipped 
 fi'oni her piers direct to New York and European ports ; 
 emigrants will arrive direct from Euro})e for the West, with 
 passengers and freight from Eastern cities ; the productions 
 of Lake Superior will be collected in her warehouses for 
 shipment to the Western and Southern States, the Gulf of 
 Mexico, and the shores of the Pacific Ocean. A city with 
 such a situation, surrounded by so magnificent a country, 
 cannot but have a great and glorious destity. 
 
 RISE AND HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SUPERIOR. 
 
 In the fall of 1853, Messrs. D. A.J. Baker, D. A. Rob- 
 ertson, George E. Nettleton, R. R. Nelson, Benjamin 
 Thompson, Edmund Rice, James Stinson, and Wm. H. 
 Newton, left St. Paul to lay out a town at the west end of 
 Lake Superior. On arrival, each one erected a log cabin 
 and made a claim. In the spring of 1854, they organized 
 themselves into a company, under the name of " Proprie 
 tors of Superior," with the following additional members, 
 viz : Messrs. W. W._ Corcoran, of Washington City, D. C. ; 
 
EARLY HISTORY. 233 
 
 R. J, Walker, of New York ; Geo. W. Cass, of Penna. ; 
 and Horace S. Walbridge, of Ohio. Wm. H. Newton, 
 Esq., was ai)))ointed Engineer and Agent for the "Pro- 
 prietors of Superior," and, assisted by Thomas Chirk, 
 Esq., the necessary surveys were made, and on the 6th of 
 September, 1854, the plat of the town of Superior was 
 duly recorded. 
 
 This plat contained thirty-three streets, eighty feet wide, 
 running parallel with the bay, and twenty-four avenues, one 
 hundred feet wide, running from the bay. The former are 
 named numerically, and the latter after the proprietors, 
 early settlers, and other persons. The lots are all the 
 same size, and regularly numbered — the odd on the right, 
 and the even on the left side. Each house takes the num- 
 ber of the lot upon which it is erected. Twenty lots were 
 donated by the proprietors for churches, thirty-two for 
 schools, half a block for county buildings, two blocks for a 
 public park, and two blocks for a cemetery.' In the fall 
 of 1855, that portion, of the town beyond the Nemadji 
 river, fronting on the Bay of Allouez,^ and known as East 
 Superior, was laid out and recorded. Six blocks were 
 donated for public squares, lots for churches and school- 
 houses, and over thirty acres, with two water fronts, for 
 railroad depots. Also an avenue, three hundred feet wide, 
 running from thence in a southern direction to the town 
 line, through which railroads are to approach the harbor. 
 A portion of these lands has been appropriated by the St. 
 Croix and Lake Superior Railroad Company. But little 
 building was done until the spring of 1855 ; previous to 
 that date, a large-sized hotel — the Superior House — and 
 Quebec pier were commenced, but were not completed 
 until the following summer. 
 
 1 Now occupied by the Nemadji Cemetery. 
 
 ' Formed by the waters of the Nemadji river and Bay of Supei'ior. 
 20* 
 
234 CITY or SUPERIOR. 
 
 We wc'll remember our astonishment on first landing 
 from the steamboat Lady Elgin, June 30th, 1856, at the 
 foot of this pier ; walking up Second street, we were 
 greeted by the busy sounds of workmen on all sides — some 
 felling trees and grubbing stumps, others at work on the 
 bridges over the ravines at Nettleton and St. John's Ave- 
 nues, besides many constructing houses. Upon the whole, 
 it presented the busiest scene we had witnessed since 
 leaving Chicago. The street in front of the Superior 
 House was covered by the timbers for the new addition to 
 its Second street front ; we had the pleasure of assisting in 
 the raising of the frame a few days after. Above it, stores 
 were built as far as Carlton Avenue ; among them were 
 those of Messrs. Paul, Orrin Rice, and Dr. Neill ; beyond 
 these the few straggling houses of Superior City were to be 
 seen, and its large and commodious pier. The Barstow 
 block, opposite the Superior House, was occupied by J. 
 M. Newton's hardware, and Geo. F. Holcomb's grocery 
 store ; the Recorder of Deeds, and Wm. H. Newton, 
 Agent and Attorney for the " Proprietors," occupied the 
 second floor, HoUingshead Avenue was opened about 
 half a mile from the bay ; the only houses erected upon it 
 were Mr. Double's, and several small ones, near Sixth 
 street. Below this avenue, on Second street, was the 
 Stockton House, Messrs. Bright & Hayes' law office, Mr. 
 Moore's, the Young America House, the Episcopal 
 church, Wm. H. Newton's residence, and many other 
 houses. There were also several on the banks of the Ne- 
 madji river ; in the little log school-house, at the corner of 
 Fourth street and Becker Avenue, quite a large number of 
 children were daily instructed by a young lady ; this house 
 was occupied alternately, on the Sabbath, by the Rev. 
 Messrs. J. M. Barnett, of the 0. S., Wm. A. McCorkle, 
 of the N. S. Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. James 
 
EARLY HISTORY. 235 
 
 Peet, of the Methodist Church, Sixth street was partially 
 opened, and the contractors were grading it. 
 
 Four small saw-mills were in operation, and the total 
 cumber of buildings, of all descriptions, was about one 
 hundred and ninety. Planks were laid along Second 
 street to Nemadji river, for the purpose of a sidewalk, and 
 
 our usual stroll, on those beautiful evenings in summer ■ 
 
 at which time the twilight, in this latitude, continues until 
 9 o'clock — was along this sidewalk to the river bank, 
 where the old forest trees 
 
 "Bend with a calm and quiet shadow down 
 Upon the beauty of that silent water." 
 
 In our frequent walks we noted the rapid improvement of 
 the place; houses seemed to grow up almost daily. Du- 
 ring our stay they averaged four per week. We were 
 offered building lots on Second street, at from $300 to 
 $500 apiece, on Sixth street from $150 to $250, on Eighth 
 street at $100, and corner lots on the Nemadji and Second 
 street at $350. When the news arrived, several months 
 later, that the Legislature of Wisconsin had passed the 
 Railroad bill, giving the lands near Superior, donated by 
 Government, to the St. Croix and Lake Superior Railroad, 
 and that this Company was then engaged in purchasino- 
 and forwarding supplies to Superior, to commence opera- 
 tions before winter set in, property went up at an unpre- 
 cedented rate ; quarter shares, which had been offered in 
 July at $9000, were then scarce at $15,000, and Second 
 street lots could not be had at any price. It may be pro- 
 ber to state here, that the City of Superior consists of 5000 
 acres, divided into thirteen original shares ; after the town 
 was laid out in 1854, several of these shares were sold at 
 $1500 each, and their rise to the present time has been un- 
 exampled. 
 
236 CITY OF SUPERIOR. 
 
 Opposite the town, on Minnesota Point, were several 
 hous^, the pier of Mr. Stuntz, and a few Indian lodp^es ; 
 tliese Indians belonged to the Chippewa tribe, and were 
 chiefly engaged in fishing. At tlie head of the Bay of 
 Superior, the town of Du Luth was partially laid out, and 
 on the Xorth Shore (as it is called) scattered clearings 
 showed that considerable portions of it had been taken up 
 by pre-empters. The little steamboat James Carson made 
 weekly trips to the Indian village of Fond du Lac, on St. 
 Louis river, about twenty miles from Superior, and the 
 yacht Comet made daily trips to Du Luth. 
 
 On the 8th of August, the inhabitants were qnite sur- 
 prised by the appearance of the U. S. Steamer Michigan, 
 it being the first national vessel that ever buffeted the waves 
 of Lake Superior. A meeting of the Masonic Association 
 ■was held on the 16th of this month, preparatory to the 
 erection of a hall. A few days after, the Douglas County 
 Jail was commenced. The largest cargo which had ever 
 reached Superior was brought from Cleveland by the 
 favorite propeller Manhattan, the following September, con- 
 sisting of twenty-two hundred barrels of freight, the large 
 and complete machinery for Mr. Johnson's steam saw-mill, 
 beside many passengers. 
 
 In November, 1856, the inhabitants of Superior gave 
 their first vote, for President and Vice President. The 
 result showed that the Democratic electoral ticket received 
 a majority of 146, the total number of votes polled being 
 194, a numher almost unexampled in the history of West- 
 ern towns of hut two years'' growth. 
 
 In common with other visitors, we w^ere delighted with 
 the climate of Lake Superior. The atmosphere being 
 very dry and bracing, and so clear that the shades and 
 shadows of the ^'North^' or Minnesota shore of the lake 
 
EARLY HISTORY. 237 
 
 were plainly visible at a distance of thirty miles, giving 
 a grand effect to the scenery. ' 
 
 Before concluding these early recollections of Superior, 
 we would remark that, next to the town itself, the " Chro- 
 nicle," a handsome, ably-edited weekly journal, conducted 
 by Messrs. Ashton & Wise, most attracted our attention. 
 This newspaper was first issued in June, 1855, and is now 
 the oldest journal on Lake Superior. It certainly required 
 energy and perseverance of no common order to commence 
 its publication so far away from civilization, among a popu- 
 lation then of about three hundred. But true native en- 
 ergy, as usual, overcame every obstacle, and now its pro- 
 prietors are reaping the reward of their sagacity and 
 enterprise. It is now in the third year of its existence, 
 and has the largest circulation and patronage of any paper 
 on Lake Superior, or north and west of St, Paul. Its 
 
 1 Result of Meteorological Observations, taken from the report of 
 L. Washington, Esq., at Superior, Douglas county, Wisconsin, Lati- 
 tude 46 deg. 38 min. 31 sec, Longitude 92 deg. 3 min. 28 sec. 
 Height of station -above the sea, 658 feet. The mean temperature 
 is as follows : 
 
 Degrees. 
 
 For the week ending June 1, 1856 55 
 
 « " " 29, « 62 
 
 " " July 12, '* 60 
 
 « « Aug. 2, <* 74: 
 
 " ' " 16, " 62 
 
 « « " 30, « 62 
 
 « " Sept. 6, " 68 
 
 " " " 20, " 53 
 
 ** " Oct. 11, " 52 
 
 ** " " 18, " 46 
 
 " " Nov. 1, " 38 
 
 " " " 15, " 35 
 
 " " " 29, " 26 
 
 " " Dec. 13, " 20 
 
 " " " 28, " 16 
 
 " " Jan. 3,1857 20 
 
 " " " 11, " 12 
 
238 CITY OF SUPERIOR. 
 
 sales, for the week ending April 1, 1857, amounted to 1500 
 copies, and it has done more to attract settlers to the Lake 
 Sii]ierior country than any journal on its shores. 
 
 Xothing will better illustrate the steady and healthy ad- 
 vancement of the City of Superior, than the following 
 report of its progress up to January 1, 1851, compiled 
 partly from the semi-annual review of the " Chronicle," 
 
 The population of Superior is composed of persons 
 from all sections of our own country, and from almost 
 every clime of Europe. The States of Ohio and Pennsyl- 
 vania are perhaps more strongly represented than the 
 others, while the foreign population comprises persons from 
 the northern parts of Europe. In June, 1855, the inha- 
 bitants immbered nearly 500 ; in January, 185G, 600 ; and 
 in January, 1857, over 1500. The increase of houses- pre- 
 sents the growth of the town in a remarkable manner. In 
 June, 1855, the entire number was 35 ; in June, 1856, 
 196 ; and in January, 1857, 340. 
 
 Soon after the town plat was recorded, the proprietors 
 placed in the hands of AVm. H. Newton, their agent, about 
 twenty-five hundred lots, to be sold to actual settlers — 
 binding the latter to improve and build upon them. The 
 terms were made reasonable ; requiring one-third of the 
 purchase-money in hand, and the residue in one and two 
 years. Upon these terms the sales were as follows : 
 
 Yciir. Lots. Price. 
 
 1854 .'. 362 $25,619-00 
 
 1S55 930 86,912-00 
 
 1850 556 29,25500 
 
 Tutal 1848 $141,786-00 
 
 Amounts received on these sales, are, in 
 
 1854 $6,891-00 
 
 1855 73,55900 
 
 1856 32,75000 $113,200-00 
 
 Balance due, exclusive of interest $28,58600 
 
PROGRESS. 239 
 
 The proceeds of the sales have been applied as follows : 
 
 In the purchase of lands $32,421-00 
 
 Surveying, clerk's office, and other expenses 29,7ir00 
 
 Clearing streets 6,80200 
 
 Building hotel 10,63 iOO 
 
 Building Quebec pier 10,585-00 
 
 Interest on loans, discounts, and other losses 6,61-t-OO 
 
 Loans to sundry individuals and R. R. Co 16,433-00 
 
 The arrivals at the port of Superior, for the past three 
 years, bear the following comparisons : 
 
 Year. Steamboats. Sailing Tessels. Total. 
 
 1854 2 5 7 
 
 1855 23 10 33 
 
 1856 40 16 56 
 
 We would remark here, that the trade of Superior alone 
 brings these vessels to its piers. It is at the head of navi- 
 gation, and there are no towns beyond, or around, of suffi- 
 cient importance to employ even one vessel. All the boats 
 coming to this place generally stop at the other towns 
 along the south shore ; thus the commerce of Superior 
 increases the number of arrivals at Marquette and Onton- 
 agon, while their commerce contributes nothing towards 
 those at this port. 
 
 During the past year, the amount of freight received in 
 Superior was about 35,000 barrels; averaging them at 
 twelve dollars per barrel, a very moderate estimate, it 
 makes a total of $420,000, and, compared with the im- 
 ports of 1855, shows an increa.se of about $226,000. We 
 have been furnished by the merchants and business men 
 with the amount of purchases made by them during the 
 past year, and we learn that the following places have 
 participated in its trade, and to the extent of the sums 
 placed opposite to their names. 
 
240 CITY OF SUPERIOR. 
 
 New York $68,00000 
 
 Chicago 55,100-00 
 
 Cleveland 41,20000 
 
 Pliiladelphia 26,90000 
 
 Detroit 26.60000 
 
 St. Paul 16,00000 
 
 Milwaukee :. 9,000 00 
 
 Boston 6,00000 
 
 Ashtabula 7,00000 
 
 Buffalo 4,50000 
 
 Conneaut, 2,80000 
 
 Kentucky 1,500-00 
 
 Cincinnati 1,000-00 
 
 Indiana 800-00 
 
 New York State 60000 
 
 It was estimated that the amount of lumber brought here 
 last summer was 1,800,000 feet. Tlie average cost of this 
 lumber was about $20 per thousand, amounting in all to 
 $36,000. 
 
 The lands granted for the construction of a railroad from 
 Hudson to Superior, and to Bayfield, have passed into the 
 hands of the St. Croix and Lake Superior Railroad Com- 
 pany, who are obliged to open a good wagon road from 
 this city to the St. Croix river ; they expect to have the 
 railroad in complete order within two years ; large numbers 
 of workmen have been employed on the wagon road during 
 the past winter, and the contractors have commenced the 
 dock and warehouses at the mouth of the Nemadji, in East 
 Superior. 
 
 The military road from Superior to Point Douglas, on 
 the Mississippi river, is in an excellent condition, and 
 teams are daily passing over it. About forty miles south, 
 the road from Mille Lac joins the military road, which 
 connects there with roads from St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, 
 and Little Falls. 
 
 The country bordering on Lake Superior is generally 
 
AGRICULTURE. 241 
 
 considered too far north to have a favorable climate for 
 agriculture. This is a great mistake; its summers are 
 shorter, and its winters longer than in Ohio and Indiana, 
 yet it is also a fact, that during the same length of time 
 in the summer it is favored with more sunlight, owing to 
 the greater length of the days. Yegetation consequently 
 grows more rapidly, and requires less time to mature. In 
 1856, the actual amount of land under cultivation in the 
 vicinity of Nemadji river was about sixty acres. The fol- 
 lowing table will show the crops raised on the above quan- 
 tity of land, and the prices at which they were sold. 
 
 Produce. Bushels. Price per bushel. Total value. 
 
 Potatoes 2130 $1-25 $2,662-50^ 
 
 I'urnips 240 -50 121-00 
 
 ^eets 20 1-50 3000 
 
 Parsnips 75 1-50 112-50 
 
 Onions 12 3-00 3600 
 
 Wheat 60 2-00 120-00 
 
 Oats 30 1-25 37-50 
 
 Cabbages 945 heads. 5-00 per hundred. 47-50 
 
 Hay 99 tons. 25-00 per ton. 2,475-00 
 
 Total $5,641-00 
 
 The average value per acre of the products raised is 
 about one hundred dollars. It should be remembered, the 
 land was cleared during last winter and spring, and the 
 crops were planted among the stumps, and wholly by means 
 of the hoe. The soil was not turned up ; but holes being 
 made in the ground, the seed was dropped in and covered 
 over, and thus left to mature. By proper care the crop 
 would have been one-third more than it really was. 
 
 During the past winter, in comparing the meteorological 
 
 reports of Superior with observations taken at St. Paul, 
 
 we invariably found a difference in favor of the former of 
 
 from five to ten degrees, notwithstanding it is nearly one 
 
 21 
 
242 CITY OP SUPERIOR. 
 
 hundred miles north of St. Paul. The Lake Superior win- 
 ters are perhaps the most pleasant part of the year. Cold 
 weather is experienced in spells of from two to four days at 
 a time, and at but two or three periods during the season. 
 The remainder of the winter may be said to be delightful, 
 being almost continual sunshine. The inhabitants of Supe- 
 rior are not annoyed with frequent rains, high winds, or 
 heavy snow storms. No rain falls from November to 
 April ; and the average depth of snow, for the past two 
 winters, has been about twelve inches. The atmosphere is 
 dry and highly pregnant with electricity, imparting energy 
 and elasticity to the frame. 
 
 BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPERIOR, FOR 1857. 
 
 In looking over the number of buildings to be com- 
 menced this summer, and most of them completed before 
 the close of navigation, we are surprised at the amount of 
 capital about to be expended. There has been no year, 
 since the settlement of Superior, that has presented, since 
 its opening, as fair a prospect. Hundreds of laborers 
 must be employed upon their construction, and they will 
 give no little stimulus to trade, in articles of home con- 
 sumption. Among the contemplated improvements, we 
 notice the dock and warehouse of the St. Croix and Lake 
 Superior Railroad Company, in East Superior ; the dock 
 is to be three hundred feet long by fifty wide, and the ware- 
 house one hundred and ten feet front by forty feet deep. 
 The Proprietors of Superior are constructing a very ex- 
 tensive dock on the river bank, opposite to the depot 
 grounds of the railroad company. It commences on the 
 bay front, about seven hundred feet from the mouth of the 
 river, and runs from thence a distance of two thousand feet. 
 It is to be fifty feet wide, and connected with the main land 
 by a causeway at the foot of B-obinson Avenue. A Ma- 
 
BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 243 
 
 sonic hall has been partly erected on the corner of Third 
 street and Stinson Avenue, to cost $7000. The Govern- 
 ment lighthouse is commenced, for which an appropriation 
 was made several years ago, of $15,000. The 0. S. Pres- 
 byterian church, on Sixth street, is now under contract, to 
 cost about $3500. It is proposed to erect a very large 
 hotel in the vicinity of the Masonic Hall this summer, at a 
 cost of $80,000. A company from New York have com- 
 menced a substantial pier at Detroit Avenue, and several 
 entire blocks of stores are to be erected by Wm. H. New- 
 ton, and others. In addition to these improvements, at 
 least three hundred buildings of different kinds are to be 
 constructed on lots sold by the proprietors to settlers, in 
 fulfilment of their contracts. 
 
 In addition to these statistics and facts, we would briefly 
 mention some which relate to the intellectual and moral 
 growth of Superior. The first public school was opened 
 in a building erected for the purpose on Becker Avenue, 
 near Pourth street, and shortly after another school-house 
 was built near the Nemadji river ; there is also a select 
 school, under the control of a lady, which will doubtless 
 grow into a female seminary. The first school opened with 
 seventeen scholars; now there are about eighty in the 
 three. The first Sabbath School was commenced in a room 
 in Barstow block, with one teacher and three little girls. 
 This school is now the Union Sabbath School of Superior, 
 and embraces six teachers and thirty pupils. During the 
 past summer, a second Sabbath School was formed m con- 
 nection with the Episcopal church, having three teachers 
 and twelve pupils. 
 
 The first church erected was in the summer ot 185b, by 
 the Episcopalians, on Second street, and is thirty feet by 
 twenty-five. The New School Presbyterians have erected 
 a church forty feet by twenty-five, and the Old School 
 
244 CITY OF SUPERIOR. 
 
 Presbyterians have commenced their building ; it is to bo 
 seventy-five by thirty-five feet. The Roman Catholics have 
 purchased a large and comfortable log building on Fourth 
 street. The first minister came to the place in August, 
 1855 ; the second in November, 1855 ; the third in Feb- 
 ruary, 1856 ; and the fourth in July, 1856. The denomi- 
 nations they represent are : Presbyterian (Old and New 
 School), Methodist Episcopal,* and Episcopal. Each one 
 has an organized church, although the membership is not 
 large. These facts need no comment ; they show conclu- 
 sively that Superior is not destitute of two of the most 
 essential elements in the growth and prosperity of any com- 
 munity — schools and churches. 
 
 In January, 1856, a number of persons connected with 
 the Masonic fraternity met, and took preliminary steps to- 
 ward the formation of a lodge in this town. In March the 
 lodge was duly opened, under a dispensation from the 
 Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, with ten members. At the 
 present time it numbers about forty members, and is in a 
 highly flourishing condition. The fraternity organized an 
 association for the erection of a large and elegant hall, 
 which is now partly finished. 
 
 MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS NECESSARY 
 TO THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF SUPERIOR. 
 
 The following comprises ^few of the manufacturing and 
 other interests needed to supply the wants of both present 
 and future : — Iron foundries and machine shops ; brick 
 manufacturing, pressed or burnt ; stone dressing by ma- 
 
 1 The Rev. David Brook, Presiding Elder of St. Paul District, Min- 
 nesota Conference, delivered the first English Protestant sermon ever 
 preached in Superior, in the spring of 1855, in what was then the 
 carpenter shop of the Superior House, hut now the bar-room. 
 
REMARKS. 245 
 
 chinery ; * agricultural tools of all kinds ; freight and pas- 
 senger cars ; hat and cap, and boot and shoe manufac- 
 turing ; sash and blind factories ; planing mills ; wagons, 
 carts, wheelbarrows, &c., for farmers and railroads ; steam- 
 boats, sail and row boats, &c. Superior and Douglas 
 county also need, and will sustain, on an increased scale, 
 nurseries, vegetable and flower gardens, seed stores, &c. 
 
 The settlement of Superior was unlike that of many 
 other towns, not only in the Western, but in the Eastern 
 States. Emigrants from the Atlantic cities, and from most 
 points of the Western interior, came here principally on 
 steamboats, and brought with them all the conveniences 
 and comforts of civilized life ; indeed, many of the luxuries 
 were, in about one week^s time, without toil, danger, or 
 exposure, transported to their new homes, and in a few 
 months they were surrounded with the appendages of civi- 
 lization, and the blessings of law and society. 
 
 In the short space of three years, by the agency of steam, 
 this wilderness at the extremity of Lake Superior was 
 transformed into the settlements of a commercial and civi- 
 lized people. Here are to be found stores of every de- 
 scription, and some of them will compare favorably with 
 many in New York. 
 
 The settler has not to undergo, in this place, the priva- 
 tions that were endured by the pioneers of New England, 
 or any of the Western States. The ground is easily 
 cleared of timber, which is always greatly in demand ; the 
 quantity of wood disposed of yearly to the dififerent steam- 
 
 1 An inexhaustible quarry of fine blue granite was lately disco- 
 vered at the head of the Bay of Superior, and is now being worked, 
 to procure suitable stone for laying the foundations of the Govern- 
 ment lighthouse. The blasts throw it off in large square blocks, 
 about eight feet long and two wide ; the quality appears to be supe- 
 rior to the best New Hampshire granite. 
 21* 
 
246 CITY OF SUPERIOR. 
 
 boats is very great, beside that used by the St. Croix and 
 Lake Superior Railroad. The productions of the soil 
 meet with a ready market in Sui)erior — mechanics, and 
 others, who are enjoying high wages, will live well, on the 
 best that can be obtained. The healthfulness of the climate 
 is unrivalled ; no ague, or chills and fevers, which are the 
 terror of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas. In winter, 
 no keen, cutting blasts sweep across the lake, as are expe- 
 rienced in the prairie States, nor does the snow fall to as 
 great a depth. We make these statements to prove tt 
 those desirous of settling here, that the hardships, etc., so 
 often mentioned by the newspapers in the Atlantic cities, 
 to deter settlers from coming westward, are unknown in 
 Superior. 
 
 The " Chronicle, "Jn its remarks on the growth of this 
 place, thus forcibly contrasts its present with its past 
 history : 
 
 " It is a source of sincere gratification to those of our 
 citizens who came here in the infant days of Superior, to 
 contemplate the rapid progress it has made in the past two 
 years, and the encouraging circumstances that now sur- 
 round us. Three years ago last month, three of the pre- 
 sent proprietors of the town, after encountering the trials 
 and fatigues incident to a voyage through the almost path- 
 less forest lying between here and St. Paul, arrived at the 
 mouth of the Nemadji, and looked for the first time upon 
 the broad expanse of water stretching far out before their 
 delighted visions, and at the beautiful and capacious bay 
 lying tranquilly at their feet. To the left was the present 
 site of Superior, an unbrolren forest. No work of art de- 
 noted the spot which nature had so admirably formed for a 
 mighty city. To them, and to their associates, were en- 
 trusted this mission, and how faithfully they have performed 
 it the present demonstrates. 
 
NEMADJI RIVER. 24t 
 
 " Superior, among the towns on Lake Superior that 
 have an actual existence, is the youngest, and yet one of 
 the largest. Its growth, while it surpasses all others, has 
 been healthy. No settlement on the lake has equalled it in 
 developing the country adjacent, and none have been as 
 successful in opening communication with the more thickly 
 settled regions. These things have been accomplished in 
 two years. What a mighty work for so short a period I 
 In two years a dense forest has been transformed into a 
 healthy, prosperous town, numbering at least two hundred 
 and fifty houses, and a population exceeding one thou^ 
 sand. The brightest fancy of those pioneer men has been 
 more than realized." 
 
 NEMADJI RIVER. 
 
 This beautiful stream divides the City of Superior into 
 two nearly equal parts, East and West Superior. It is 
 from twenty to thirty yards wide, and from three to ten 
 feet deep, and unobstructed by rapids, excepting a few in- 
 considerable ones, which are easily ascended by canoes. 
 On one of its tributaries copper ores have been discovered, 
 in large quantities, and several companies are now engaged 
 in mining, with fair prospects of success. Near the head 
 waters of this river are extensive forests of the finest vari- 
 eties of timber, and many lumbermen are employed in 
 floating logs to Superior. The first saw-mill in operation 
 was erected on its banks between Second and Third streets, 
 and the first steamboat which ever ploughed its waters was 
 the propeller Manhattan, Captain Spaulding, who ascended 
 the river for several miles in 1855. 
 
 The country between the Nemadji and the St. Louis 
 rivers is alluvial and heavily timbered. The land is mostly 
 taken up by settlers, who have made considerable improve- 
 ments, and some of the best farms near Superior are along 
 
248 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES. 
 
 its banks. There are still numerous excellent locations 
 open to pre-emptors along the railroad. For the benefit 
 of those who imagine that the soil of the Lake Superior 
 country is unfit for cultivation, we subjoin several very 
 interesting letters published in the "Chronicle," from per- 
 sons who visited many of the settlers, for the purpose of 
 obtaining information in regard to the quality of its soil, 
 and its adaptation to raising grass and vegetables. It 
 must be borne in mind, that the ground was broken up 
 with the hoe, and only in one or two instances a plough 
 was used, and the vegetables were merely raised by way of 
 experiment. 
 
 William Mann, Esq., in a letter dated October 14, 1856, 
 says : — '' Feeling a strong interest in the progress of agri- 
 culture, I have made it my business to examine the crops 
 on the Nemadji river, where, until this season, nothing was 
 grown. I find about thirty acres planted in potatoes, 
 which average one hundred and five bushels to the acre. 
 The Messrs. Wright have about three acres of winter wheat, 
 of a quality better than three-fourths of the wheat grown 
 in the United States. They have raised, also, a good crop 
 of oats. On the river there are crops of turnips, and ruta 
 bagas, that cannot be beat in any part of the Union ; and 
 also of most kinds of garden vegetables. I measured 
 onions, grown from seed, that were thirteen inches in cir- 
 cumference, and a crook- necked squash that measured 
 twenty-seven inches long by eleven in circumference; 
 oats, heavily-corned and fully ripe, sixty inches in heigM, 
 and tomatoes weighing one pound each. 
 
 "We must bear in mind that, as yet, the crops have 
 been put in with the hoe, and I know of but two small 
 spots where the plough-share has touched the soil. We 
 may call this the first year's planting, and it has been de- 
 monstrated that we can raise large crops of hay, wheat, 
 
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES. 249 
 
 oats, peas, beans, salad, radishes, cucumbers, turnips, beets, 
 carrots, and parsnips." 
 
 Another correspondent, T. L. F. , in a letter dated Oct. 
 21, 1856, says : — "I have taken the liberty of placing be- 
 fore you a few reliable facts concerning the progress which 
 is being made upon claims on the banks of the Nemadji 
 river alone, passing over, for the present, the ** many open- 
 ings" between this and the St. Louis river. During the 
 past week I have visited all the claims (or, I might say, 
 farms) upon the banks of the Nemadji, upon which clear- 
 ings have been made and crops raised this year, and from 
 a close personal examination of the same, and from infor- 
 mation derived from the occupants, I am enabled to give 
 you an accurate account of the different crops raised, the 
 amount of each, and the number of ac;*es cleared. 
 
 " I will first ask your attention to the claim of Mr. Pat- 
 rick Fay. Here I found some twelve acres of land well 
 cleared, and upon it three good hewn log houses, which are 
 occupied by his mother, sisters, and three brothers. The 
 amount of potatoes raised upon this place was three hun- 
 dred and fifty bushels ; turnips, about fifty bushels ; and a 
 small patch of beets and onions. The onions were raised 
 from the seed, and the day I was there Mr. Fay pulled for 
 me two that measured each thirteen inches in circuni' 
 jerence. 
 
 " From this place I went about two miles down the river 
 to the claim of Mr. T. L. Fitch, who has about eight acres 
 under cultivation ; he commenced clearing his land the first 
 day of June, and, by the time it was ready to plant, the 
 season was almost too far advanced ; however, he has 
 raised about sixty bushels of potatoes, and fifteen of tur- 
 nips, besides eight tons of hay on a meadow near the river. 
 
 " The next claim, half a mile below, is the one upon 
 which the 'old warehouse' of the American Fur Company 
 
250 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES. 
 
 stands. This house was used long ago by the Comrpany 
 for storing their supplies, but is now deserted, and in a very 
 diUipidated condition. This claim is owned by Mr. James 
 "Wright, who has cut forty tons of hay from a meadow near 
 the river. 
 
 " Two claims a short distance back from the Nemadji 
 are worthy of notice. One of them, belonging to Mr. E. 
 C. Clark, is a very promising farm, the land being well 
 adapted to agricultural purposes ; over five acres are 
 cleared, on which he has raised sixty bushels of potatoes, 
 besides a promising crop of oats and turnips, which were 
 entirely destroyed by cattle, the fences having been broken 
 down in several places. 
 
 "The next claim I visited was that of Mr. Daniel 
 Wright. Here I found a farm in real earnest — over sixty 
 acres of land cleared, and a great portion of it in crops. 
 He has raised, of wheat, sixty bushels ; of oats, thirty 
 bushels ; turnips, fifty bushels (some of them weighing ten 
 pounds) ; parsnips, seventy-five bushels ; potatoes, four 
 hundred bushels ; onions, two bushels ; and hay, ten tons. 
 This is the largest clearing in Nemadji township, and better 
 land cannot be found anywhere. I have seen Mr. Wright 
 dig a bushel of potatoes from seven hills, and I think the 
 average of his crop will yield a bushel to every ten hills. 
 From one hill he dug fifty-eight potatoes, and this, from 
 new land, which has never been ploughed, I think is a very 
 fair yield. 
 
 " From the Wrights I went to the claim of Mr. W. F. 
 Robinson, who has a little over two acres cleared, on which 
 he raised twenty-five bushels of potatoes, one hundred 
 bushels of turnips, and two tons of hay. 
 
 "Adjoining Mr. Robinson is the claim of Mr. Wm. 
 Crawford, who has two acres cleared, and cut eigkteen tons 
 of hay from one meadow on his place. 
 
AGRICULTUEAL RESOURCES. 251 
 
 ti 
 
 " From this I visited the farm of Mr. Wm. E. Slayton. 
 The river runs through this claim, and he has a house and 
 a clearing on each side ; upon one side eight acres are 
 under cultivation, upon which were raised two hundred and 
 fifty bushels of potatoes, nine hundred heads of cabbages, 
 and fifty bushels of turnips. Crossing the river, I ex- 
 amined the other clearing of over three acres ; here he had 
 raised six hundred bushels of potatoes, and larger potatoes 
 I never saw. On the 18th of June, Mr. Slayton planted 
 some peas, beans, and corn, all of which came to maturity, 
 and looked well. He also raised half a barrel of large and 
 fine cucumbers, ten bushels of beets, five tons of hay, and 
 small quantities of pumpkins, squashes, carrots, parsnips, 
 vegetable oysters, lettuce, etc., for the sake of experiment, 
 all of which came to maturity, and grew large and fine. 
 One parsnip, which was pulled up for me last Saturday, 
 measured thirty-two inches ; this was not its entire length, 
 as the end remained in the ground ; a beet pulled at the 
 same time measured twenty inches. 
 
 *' The next place I visited was that of Mr. Ira F. Holt, 
 who has eight acres of land cleared, on which he raised 
 four hundred bushels of potatoes, one hundred and fifty of 
 turnips, and two of tomatoes. He also cut sixteen tons 
 of hay on one meadow. 
 
 *' But I fear I am trespassing on your good nature, and 
 will therefore close this for the present, although I have 
 not yet spoken of Mr. Burbank's place, upon which he has 
 raised a large crop of potatoes, turnips, pumpkins, etc., 
 nor that of Mr. Nettleton, and others. 
 
 *'From a recapitulation of these few claims, we find 
 that of 
 
 Land cleared, there is 118 acres. 
 
 Bushels of potatoes raised 2130 
 
 " turnips 240 
 
252 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES. 
 
 Bushels of beets 20 
 
 " parsnips 75 
 
 " onions 12 
 
 " wheat 60 
 
 " oats 30 
 
 Heads of cabbage 950 
 
 Tons of hay cut 99 
 
 " You will perceive that potatoes and turnips are the 
 principal crops raised — all the others being pretty much for 
 the sake of experimenting. " 
 
 Mr. r. H. Chasseur, horticulturist, in a letter dated 
 March 24, 1857, says: — "Having, like many other for- 
 tune-seekers, travelled over all your great republic, I finally, 
 by the advice of a gentleman of Kentucky, steered my 
 course to Superior, where I found everything more satis- 
 factory than I expected. I did not come to this place for 
 the sake of speculation, but to get a home to proceed la 
 the works of nature. 
 
 " Many times I have been astonished to hear individuals 
 coming from still further northern climates say, "but it is 
 no farming country," I would beg strangers not to judge 
 the ' dog by his hair ;' examine first, and you will find your 
 error. The soil in and around Superior contains from ten 
 to twenty-five per cent, of marl, and a far better alkali 
 than we find in the animal manure, and a property you will 
 not find in your black soil. Yes, gentlemen, in a soil like 
 the one we have here, when properly worked, one is able 
 to produce almost anything. I think, for my part, that in 
 the many fine species of vegetables that were exhibited at 
 your ofiBce last fall, we already have had satisfactory proof 
 of this assertion. They were, indeed, a grand show ; and 
 far better than I have seen or raised myself in the older 
 States, where I followed gardening for fourteen years. 
 Farmers well know that snow is a fertilizer, and small 
 grain protected during the winter months is sure of pro- 
 
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES. 253 
 
 ducing a good crop. Such is the case at Superior. Never 
 in my days have I experienced a finer and more blessed 
 winter ; beneficial to the crops, yet protected from the rays 
 of the sun, which would otherwise draw up the weak plants 
 and expose them to the frosts at night, which is common 
 in northern latitudes. 
 
 "The vegetable, as well as the floral kingdom, is richer 
 here than in any latitude I ever met with before. Many 
 rare and fine species I have seen in the wild state ; and to 
 my great surprise, one morning, while boating on the beau- 
 tiful Neraadji, I found a new species of the yellow honey- 
 suckle (caprifolium) adorning the banks of that stream. I 
 shall never forget that morning, and the impression made 
 upon my mind to see those beautiful banks, richly lined 
 with shrubbery, and interspersed with trees of different 
 sorts, so tastefully ordered. I have frequently met with 
 the fine Tiger lily, and the pretty Aggeratus (the latter I 
 saw last spring selling in New York at twenty-five cents 
 each). Ranunculus, roses, and many a fine species of the 
 Urabelito family. Plums, gooseberries (without mildew), 
 strawberries, whortleberries, cranberries, and raspberries, 
 grow everywhere throughout the woods, and as good as I 
 ever saw in their cultivated state. Finer turnips — and the 
 Swedish ruta baga with other kinds — I have never seen 
 since I left Sweden. The potatoes grown here excel any- 
 thing of the kind I have ever met with. They contain 
 more starts, and are consequently more nutritious for hu- 
 man food. A specimen of wheat raised here was indeed a 
 fair sample, and not the small and shrunken grain grown in 
 other States, but full and plump. From my observations 
 I confidently believe we will yet raise apples, peas, cherries, 
 etc., because I say about this country as Mr. Cobbet ex- 
 presses himself in his 'American Gardener' about Long 
 22 
 
254 ST. LOUIS RIVER. 
 
 Island, IN'ew York, ' When you see the blossom the fruit 
 will follow. ' 
 
 "The tiller of the soil abroad who wishes to get a 
 healthy, rich, and cheap home, can, from the above state- 
 ments, conclude whether or not to settle in Superior. 
 Farmers are wanted here. Without them no country can 
 exist." 
 
 THE ST. LOUIS RIVER. 
 
 This river rises in the northeastern part of Minnesota, 
 and enters Lake Superior on the west. It is extremely 
 rocky, and so full of sunken boulders and dangerous rapids 
 that it never could be made navigable further up than Fond 
 du Lac, which is twenty miles from the City of Superior. 
 The action of its waters, and those of the lake, have formed 
 a narrow strip of land, about seven miles in length, jutting 
 out from the Minnesota shore, which, in connection with a 
 similar point from the Wisconsin shore, in an opposite di- 
 rection, forms the Bay of Superior. At the head of this 
 bay the river again widens out into another bay of about 
 the same size, which is called the Bay of St. Louis ; from 
 thence to Fond du Lac, the old trading-post of the Fur 
 Company, the river is wide, and of sufficient depth to admit 
 the passage of any of the craft which ply upon the lake. 
 It is somewhat crooked, containing numerous islands, some 
 wooded, and others covered with excellent grass, and fields 
 of wild rice. The St. Louis flows through a rich alluvial 
 bottom, from one to three miles in width, partly timbered, 
 and partly covered with natural meadows. From the Bay 
 of St. Louis to the falls, its northern shore is bold and 
 rugged ; the blufifs on the south side are similar to those 
 of the north for several miles below the falls. Immense 
 quantities of excellent stone, suitable for building purposes, 
 and slate, are on its banks, and from the surface indications 
 
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES. 255 
 
 we would infer tbat valuable mineral ores abound. During 
 the past winter the lumbermen have not been idle ; the first 
 raft consisted of twenty-nine hundred logs, and was towed 
 by the steamboat James Carson, on the 24th of May, from 
 near Fond du Lac to the Du Luth mill. Much of the land 
 along this river is already occupied by settlers, and the 
 productions raised for experiment will equal, if not surpass, 
 in quality and size, those- of any State in the Union. A 
 great many specimens of vegetables, etc., were deposited 
 at the office of the "Chronicle" for the purpose of exhibi- 
 tion. Among them were the following : a stalk of corn, 
 eleven feet six inches long, bearing an ear fourteen inches 
 in length, and well proportioned ; it was the common yel- 
 low corn, and was raised from a grain picked up on Quebec 
 pier ; several potatoes, weighing each two pounds. Mr. 
 D. Geo. Morrison contributed a sample of very large pota- 
 toes raised in St. Louis county, containing /br/y-^ue to the 
 bushel. There were also many specimens of ruta baga 
 turnips, weighing five, six, and nine pounds, and one of 
 eleven pounds, which measured thirty-five inches in circum- 
 ference. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PRINCirAL TOWNS CONTINUED — ONTONAGON — MARQUETTE^ 
 EAGLE RIVER — EAGLE HARBOR — COPPER HARBOR — BAY- 
 FIELD — LA POINTE BAY CITY AND ASHLAND, ETC. 
 
 Ontonagon, the largest mining depot, and the second 
 town in size on Lake Superior, is situated at the mouth of 
 the Ontonagon river. The most productive copper mine 
 in the world, the Minnesota, which we have before de- 
 scribed, and several other very promising ones, are but a 
 short distance from this town. It has a population of 
 about 1200, a large proportion of which are connected with 
 the mines. During the past winter, there has been 690 
 feet added to the western side of the harbor, making the 
 total length of the west pier 1115 feet. It will shortly 
 receive another addition of 100 feet, which will carry it out 
 into twelve feet water. The eastern pier has been also ex- 
 tended, and is now over 500 feet. We learn from the On- 
 tonagon Miner of June 15, 1857, that the steamer "Mine- 
 ral Rock" went out a few days previous with 123 tons of 
 copper on board, and drawing over eight feet water ; this 
 is the legitimate effect of the recent improvement of the 
 harbor. A new brick powder magazine is shortly to bo 
 erected on the river above Rose island ; an improvement 
 much needed, as the Ontonagon district uses over ten thou- 
 sand kegs of powder yearly ; and a new omnibus makes 
 daily trips to the mines for the accommodation of the tra- 
 velling public. Ontonagon will, in less than three years, 
 
 (25G) 
 
PRINCIPAL TOWNS. 25T 
 
 be in connection with Milwaukee and Cliicago by railroad ; 
 when these roads are completed, a new era will be opened 
 in the history of Lake Superior mining, and the miners will 
 be enabled to send copper to market at all seasons of the 
 year. The value of the copper shipped from this port in 
 1856 exceeded $1,000,000. 
 
 Marquette is one of the most important and flourishing 
 towns on the lake, and is named in honor of one of the 
 early French Jesuit explorers. It owes its importance to 
 its iron mines, and may be appropriately called the iron 
 city of Lake Superior. Many houses were erected last 
 year, of neat and tasteful designs, besides four stores, a car 
 factory for the Iron Mountain Railroad Company, an 
 office for the Canal Company, an extensive pier, and the 
 Marquette House has been enlarged and fitted up. The 
 mines are a few miles back of the town, connected with it 
 by a railroad, the first one completed on Lake Superior. 
 The amount of iron shipped from this port, in 1856, was 
 20,538 gross tons, valued at $102,600. The facilities for 
 taking out ore, and carrying it to the lake, are now such 
 as will enable the various companies to mine upwards of 
 200,000 tons the present year. Immense quantities of 
 marble have been discovered, of various shades of beauty, 
 within four or five miles from the town, near the Iron 
 Mountain Railroad; new varieties are constantly being 
 brought to light, and as some of its most enterprising citi- 
 zens are actively engaged in developing these quarries, 
 there is no doubt that, in a year or two, a large trade will 
 spring up with the Eastern cities. The late land grant 
 from Government to the State of Michigan for railroad 
 purposes, provides for two roads terminating at this place. 
 These companies are now united with the Chicago, St. 
 Paul, and Fond du Lac, and are actively at work at various 
 points on the route between Marquette and Fond du Lac. 
 
258 PRINCIPAL TOWNS. 
 
 Tlie Marquette Journal of June 20, 1857, says: — "The 
 number of buildings now in progress of erection is nearly 
 double that of last year, while the railroad and manufac- 
 turiug interests are contributing their mighty impulse to 
 expand our dimensions and importance. At the Jackson 
 mountain the miners have uncovered a perpendicular wall 
 of some 160 feet in length and about 50 feet high. The 
 ore thus exposed is of the very best quality, and, by putting 
 in a large blast a quantity can be thrown out of from 100 
 to 1000 tons." 
 
 Eagle River. — This town, as a copper-mining depot, 
 is second only to Ontonagon ; it is situated on one of the 
 loveliest spots on the shore, and possesses an excellent 
 harbor. Six miles distant is the celebrated Cliff, North 
 America, and several other mines. We visited the two 
 former, and were astonished at the numbers of immense 
 masses of pure copper, weighing from three to eight tons 
 each, lying on the ground ready for shipment, and had the 
 pleasure of seeing one weighing six tons hoisted out of the 
 Cliff mine. These masses are somewhat unwieldy, and are 
 carted from the mines to the lake, and then hoisted into the 
 holds of steam propellers. The stamping mills are an 
 object of interest to visitors ; here the ore is well crushed 
 and washed ; it is then packed in kegs ready for shipment. 
 In 1856, the value of the copper exported from Eagle 
 River was estimated at about $1,000,000. 
 
 Eagle Harbor is steadily increasing in size, and in 
 shipments from its copper mines. It has an excellent har- 
 bor, and is one of the usual stopping-places of the steam- 
 boats, on their way to and from the head of the lake. 
 
 Copper Harbor is situated on the eastern limits of the 
 copper range ; near it is Fort Wilkins, a place of delightful 
 summer resort, of considerable reputation, under the direc- 
 tion of Dr. Livermore. 
 
PRINCIPAL TOWNS. 259 
 
 Bayfield is situated on the shore of Lake Superior, 
 opposite or near the Apostles' islands, in La Pointe county, 
 Wisconsin, eighty miles below Superior. AVhen we visited 
 this place in June, 1856, not a house, or a clearing, marked 
 the spot of the future city ; now it has a population of 
 several hundred inhabitants, many good substantial build- 
 ings, including a large hotel, a pier four hundred feet long, 
 besides a large steam saw-mill, and a well-edited weekly 
 newspaper, called the Bayfield Mercury. It is surrounded 
 with a rich agricultural country, containing vast unde- 
 veloped resources of minerals, and the finest varieties of 
 timber ; it possesses a most excellent harbor, and is con- 
 nected with St. Paul by a good wagon road. The Bay- 
 field branch of the St. Croix and Lake Superior Railroad 
 terminates here, and is now under survey. The traveller 
 cannot help contrasting this young and rising place with 
 the ancient settlement of La Pointe across the bay. One 
 was settled by French, Half-Breeds, and Indians. But 
 Bayfield shows plainly what the energy and activity of the 
 American race can accomplish. 
 
 La Pointe, one of the oldest towns in the I^J'orthwest, 
 was first settled by the French Jesuits and traders in 1680. 
 It is situated on Madeline, the largest of the Apostles' 
 islands, four hundred and twenty miles west of the Sault 
 Ste. Marie. The air of vigorous life belonging to the new 
 settlement is wholly wanting here ; everything looks old 
 and worn out; the dilapidated pickets that formerly en- 
 closed the place, its ruined fort, the old Fur Company's 
 buildings, some of them still standing, and the lazy, care- 
 less air of the few French traders, and the half-breeds 
 lounging about the wharves, present quite a sorrowful con- 
 trast with the bustle and business of many other points on 
 Lake Superior. 
 
 Dr. Owen says : — "As a site for a town, and especially 
 
260 PRINCIPAL TOWNS. 
 
 as a place of resort for health and pleasure, La Pointe 
 offers advantages beyond any portion of the main land in 
 Wisconsin. As a fishing station it is unrivalled. The 
 bays and creeks of the numerous islands and main shore 
 are amongst the best fishing-grounds on the whole lake for 
 trout, siskawit, and white fish, or lake shad. It lies on a 
 magnificent bay, nearly three miles across, and is capable 
 of containing at anchor, secure from all winds, a numerous 
 fleet of the largest class vessels. La Pointe was originally 
 selected by the adventurous traders of the Northwest Fur 
 Company, as the most eligible site for a depot and trading- 
 post in the Northwest Territory ; and was, for a long time, 
 their principal rendezvous, and the centre of their exten- 
 sive and wide-spread operations. It is not only one of the 
 most commanding and accessible situations on Lake Supe- 
 rior, but it presents one of the most agreeable and pic- 
 turesque lake scenes the tourist can well imagine. 
 
 " Lake Superior has, at times, not only the varied inte- 
 rest, but the sublimity of a true ocean. Its blue, cold, 
 transparent waters, undisturbed by tides, lie, during a calm, 
 motionless and glassy as those of any small, secluded lake, 
 reflecting, with perfect truth of form and color, the in- 
 verted landscape that slopes down to its smooth, sandy 
 beach. But when this inland sea is stirred by the rising 
 tempest, the long sweep of its waves, and the curling white- 
 caps that crest its surface, give warning, not only to the 
 light bark canoe, still much used along its shores, but also 
 to sloop and schooner and lake steamer, to seek some shel- 
 tering haven. At such times, craft of every description 
 may be seen running before the wind, or beating up against 
 it, all making for the most favorite harbor on the lake — 
 the sheltered bay of Madeline island." 
 
 La Pointe is often mentioned in connection with many 
 of the early Jesuit missionaries. Here was the scene of 
 
PRINCIPAL TOWNS. 261 
 
 the labors of Allouez, of the distinguished Marquette, and 
 of an Indian battle between the warlike Dakotas and the 
 Algonquins, in which the chapel of the Holy Spirit, erected 
 by these devoted missionaries, was destroyed. 
 
 Bay City and Ashland are points of note a few miles 
 from Bayfield, at the head of Chegwomigon Bay, and wero 
 laid out in the fall of 1856. Each has its pier, stores, and 
 buildings, and possesses a commodious harbor, with a depth 
 of water from twelve to thirty feet. In a few years they 
 will be connected with Milwaukee and Chicago by railroads. 
 
 Grand Island City is opposite the island of the same 
 name ; its harbor is pronounced by Schoolcraft to be one 
 of the best in America ; it was recently laid out by a com- 
 pany formed in Philadelphia, who are actively at work con- 
 structing a pier, saw-mill, hotel, and other buildings, and 
 opening a road to Little Bay de Noquet, on Green Bay, a 
 distance of about forty miles. 
 
 Buchanan, Burlington, Encampment Island, Bea- 
 ver Bay, Endion, Saxon, Hiawatha, and Grand Port- 
 age, are all flourishing towns on the north shore of Min- 
 nesota, and some of them numbering their hundreds of 
 inhabitants. 
 
 Du LuTH, at the head of the Bay of Superior, is rapidly 
 growing in importance ; a large amount of lumber is manu- 
 factured here; it was laid out in 1856, and now contains 
 several hundred inhabitants. Extensive quarries of fine 
 blue granite have been discovered and worked recently, a 
 short distance from this place, and as they lie about one 
 hundred and fifty feet from the Bay of Superior, will be 
 easily shipped to market. The discovery of this supply of 
 stone will be the commencement of a new era in buildiii"* 
 in this section of country. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE EARLY SETTLER OF LAKE SUPERIOR. 
 
 The progress and prosperity of the new towns and set- 
 tlements bordering on this magnificent lake have been 
 almost marvellous ; yet Nature has not been easily won, 
 or her treasures gained without a contest worthy of their 
 merits. Those who have viewed the first openings of some 
 of these towns, must have been impressed with the com- 
 fortless, lonely, and even dreary look of the early settler's 
 small log cabin. In the centre of a dense forest, the first 
 footprints of civilization in this wilderness were to be re- 
 cognized only by the felled trees and decaying boughs 
 which mark the site of his labors to obtain a home in that 
 distant wild. He seems not unlike the sinking mariner 
 clinging in desperation to the wreck of a frail bark, beaten 
 by the surging waves, which threaten every moment to 
 engulf him. Every morning the same boundless forest 
 greets his eye, and his only hope against its encompassing 
 him forever, lies in the axe resting on his strong shoulder, 
 and the indomitable courage and noble resolution throbbing 
 in his bosom. His heart beats as he recognizes in the 
 many beauties of nature by which his every step is sur- 
 rounded, the beneficent hand of an All-wise Creator, who 
 has guided his wandering feet to these highly-favored 
 shores, and he resolves, by perseverance and industry, there 
 to establish his home. 
 
 The settler has a cabin, though apparently cheerless and 
 
 (2G2) 
 
THE EARLY SETTLER. 263 
 
 devoid of comfort ; but he is contented, and even happy 
 Every man is by nature a poet, and there is no path in life 
 so rude and thorny that its miseries are not softened and 
 its desolation gilded by poetry. " Hope springs eternal 
 in the human breast," and stimulates him to new efforts. 
 This little clearing on the picturesque and beautiful shores 
 of this " Father of Lakes," which, to some, might appear 
 almost unable to yield subsistence, is his home, and fancy 
 has tinged, with her bright and glowing colors, the dreams 
 of the early settler. As he gazes upon his small posses- 
 sion his heart swells in thankfulness to his Maker, 
 
 "For there are tlionglits ■which God alike has given 
 To high and low — and these are thoughts of heaven." 
 
 He considers not its size ; to him it encourages expecta- 
 tions of an extensive farm, fertile fields waving with golden 
 grain, and hope adds, perhaps, an "Addition" to the future 
 city. This poetical illusion, this dream of fancy, as you 
 may style it, sustains him in his fatiguing labors, and con- 
 tentment diffuses her bright and happy influence around his 
 rude fireside. 
 
 Winter, in its cold cheerlessness, flies rapidly by, and, 
 owing to the fine climate of Lake Superior, there are but 
 few days in which he cannot toil in the open air. He is 
 not annoyed by the piercing blast, rain, and sleet ; it is 
 true, earth is concealed by her beautiful covering of snow, 
 but it serves to shield the tender corn he has planted from 
 the destroying frost. But now the warmer air seems to 
 predict the coming of lovely spring, and clothes in strange 
 beauty his forest home. Twilight casts her softened beams 
 over the waving forest, tinging it with the roseate hue of 
 even. Near the cabin is seen the pioneer busy at his toil, and 
 
 His axe rings sharply 'mid those forest shades, 
 Which from creation towards the skies had tower'd 
 In unshorn beauty. 
 
264 THE EARLY SETTLER. 
 
 The laup;hing faces of his happy children speak peace and 
 contentment ; he has made himself a home in a dense wil- 
 derness, and it is the boast of his strength and manliness 
 that here he will achieve the respectability of his family. 
 He has heard the story of thousands of settlers in Wiscon- 
 sin, who have been victorious in the same struggle with 
 hardships, and he resolves to follow their noble example. 
 
 Spring has returned once more, bringing with it not only 
 a new life to the earth, but also invigorating the strength 
 of man. The ice king relaxes his iron grasp on the waters 
 of the lake, and all nature smiles. Soon the sound of a 
 bell is heard, and then a noble steamboat is seen ploughing 
 the waves of this inland sea. Our settler receives with 
 open arms the strangers, and bids them welcome to his 
 cabin until they have made their "cZaims." Thus every 
 boat brings a full complement of emigrants — farmers, me- 
 chanics, laborers, speculators, etc., all busy and energetic; 
 trees are cut down, houses are springing up on all sides, 
 streets being cut out and graded, and a new town rapidly 
 rises on the shores of this beautiful lake. The current of 
 population still flows on to this favored spot. Now mark 
 its progress ; where the first lonely cabin of our friend the 
 settler was situated, is now occupied by his own neat frame 
 house ; further on are rows of comfortable dwellings ; here 
 a saw-mill ; there a church. One would think we were 
 transported back to the days of "Aladdin," and his kind 
 genius was moving about on the shores of Lake Superior. 
 One of his dreams is accomplished — his ^'claiiiV^ is now 
 included in the town ; where he once toiled from morn till 
 night to clear a few acres, is now selling at so much per 
 lot ; he sees himself growing richer every day with the 
 growth of the town ; the railroad bill is passed, and the 
 road commenced a short distance from him. He cannot 
 realize his good fortune ; his children now are well dressed, 
 
THE EARLY SETTLER. 265 
 
 and you meet their smiling faces on their way to the little 
 log school-house. One would think that they had never 
 known the hardships of a " pioneer life. " 
 
 Winter comes again, and finds our friend snug and com- 
 fortable in his new house. The coldest winds may blow, 
 the snow may fall, but what matter ? All day long, and 
 at night, huge fires are blazing in his hearth ; his store- 
 house is filled abundantly with the good things of life. As 
 he sits at his fireside, his thoughts revert to his native 
 place — to the old homestead — to the days of his boyhood, 
 when his father and himself toiled from morn till night, and 
 barely eked out a subsistence, in one of the Eastern States. 
 He well recollects the day he first heard of the Northwest 
 — of Wisconsin — of Lake Superior — where thousands of 
 acres were opened to pre-emption. It was hard to leave 
 his childhood's home, but he had a young family of his own 
 to look up to him. Shall he bring them up to poverty and 
 want, or bid adieu to home and friends and try the North- 
 west ? He emigrates ; and now when he looks at his chil- 
 dren, as they are playing about, and the dear partner of 
 his life, his heart swells with thankfulness to the beneficent 
 Creator of all things. He thanks Him, that he was bora 
 in a free and happy land, under the protection of such a 
 government; for the pre-emption law, that protects the 
 poor man, and enables him to have his own "vine and fig 
 tree;" last of all, but not least, that his wandering steps 
 were directed to these shores. 
 
 My readers, this is no fancy sketch, but a true picture 
 of the life of many early settlers, not only on Lake Supe- 
 rior, but also in many other places in the Northwest. 
 Here are golden opportunities opening every day to emi- 
 grants. Immense tracts of the finest land in the country 
 are still open to pre-emption, and let no man say "I am 
 23 
 
266 THE EARLY SETTLER. 
 
 too late, ^^ while he has land inviting, and the strong arm 
 of the law protecting him. Should he want a market for 
 his prodnce, here are steamboats and railroads at his very 
 door. Let the example of this early settler induce others 
 to do likewise, and reap, as he now does, the reward of 
 his sagacity and enterprise. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A TOUR — MILWAUKEE TO ST. PAUL — STEAMBOAT LIFE — 
 
 SCENERY ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI — LAKE PEPIN 
 
 TOWNS ST. PAUL ITS IMPROVEMENTS, ETC. CANOE 
 
 VOYAGE ON THE ST. CROIX AND BRULE RIVERS TO TITE 
 CITY OF SUPERIOR. 
 
 As few travellers to the Northwest are now willing to 
 retrace their steps before reaching the regions of the 
 "Upper Mississippi," the falls of St. Anthony, and per- 
 haps the newly-settled city at the head of Lake Superior, 
 a short description of such a tour may not be without inte- 
 rest to some of my readers.' 
 
 Who would have supposed, even five years ago, that 
 such an extended tour could be made, or that Lake Supe- 
 rior, w^hich was then the Ultima Thule of American geo- 
 graphy, w^ould be traversed by tri-weekly lines of steam- 
 boats, laden with passengers and freight, in the year 1857 ? 
 Yet these are the facts, and in three years, at the very 
 farthest, a continuous line of railroad will reach from Mil- 
 waukee to St. Paul, the head of Lake Superior, and pro- 
 bably to the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 I Yery few Eastern people have a correct conception of 
 the progress of the Northwest. The imagination of some 
 is filled with visions of boundless prairies, with their rich 
 soil and vegetation — a wide expanse of natural garden 
 plot ; others, again, picture to themselves lonely settlements 
 
 1 For the table of distances, see p. 159. 
 
 (267) 
 
268 A TOUR. 
 
 in dense forests, or Indian lodges on the banks of some 
 rapid river. A very short time since Wisconsin was con- 
 sidered the far West ; now its fertile prairies are beginnini^ 
 to be thickly dotted over with the comfortable homes of 
 settlers, and its forests are rapidly disappearing before the 
 demands of commerce. The few solitary Indians scattered 
 about here and there, serve but to remind one of the past, 
 and of the progress of the "pale faces." 
 
 Taking Milwaukee as the starting-point, the traveller is 
 quickly carried over the Milwaukee and Mississippi Rail- 
 road, through some of the finest scenery and richest agri- 
 cultural counties in Wisconsin. In a few hours, the beau- 
 tiful city of Madison and the 'Tour Lakes" are passed, 
 and the train enters the magnificent valley of the Wiscon- 
 sin, which is about three miles wide, and runs nearly due 
 west for forty miles. It is very level, and surrounded on 
 either side with picturesque bluffs, rising to the height of 
 from three to five hundred feet. Along this valley the 
 train sweeps in fine style ; the road is so direct and smooth, 
 that the rate of thirty miles an hour is attained without the 
 passengers being incommoded by the motion of the cars. 
 At this speed Prairie du Chien, the terminus of the road, 
 is soon reached. Here a first-class steamboat is awaiting 
 the arrival of the train, and in a short time is rapidly 
 ploughing the waters of this mighty river. 
 
 These steamboats are among the best in the country, the 
 cabins spacious and elegant, the state-rooms commodious, 
 and the tables equal to the ordinaries of the best hotels. 
 The officers are not only accommodating, but particularly 
 polite and hospitable, treating the passengers as their 
 guests, and taking pains to render the voyage agreeable. 
 A trip to St. Paul ' on one of these boats often resembles 
 a party of pleasure, and combines in its incidents much 
 
 1 This trip to St. Paul lias been made in 70 hours from New York. 
 
A TOUR. 269 
 
 variety and no small degree of luxury. Large and cheer- 
 ful parties thus meet, and, as they must necessarily be at 
 least one day together, accommodate themselves to each 
 other, and at night, when the spacious cabin is lighted up, 
 enlivened by the merry notes of the piano or violin, and 
 filled with well-dressed persons, engaged in the mazy dance, 
 it seems more like a floating palace than a mere conveyance 
 for travellers. 
 
 What a motley mixture compose the passengers on an 
 *'up river" steamboat. Here are persons going out to 
 look at the country, and select homes for their families, 
 travellers on business, and parties for pleasure, besides nu- 
 merous emigrants. Many little episodes of life are daily 
 occurring, strongly marked and full of interest. How 
 many of those who come out to settle are incapable of en- 
 during a brief pioneer experience ! Even where the ob- 
 stacles are lightest, and the goal nearest, there are many 
 who have neither faith nor courage to meet them. 
 
 The scenery of the " Upper Mississippi" is truly magni- 
 ficent ; its charm consists in the succession of beautiful 
 pictures presented to the eye ; as soon as one disappears, 
 another opens to the view. The bluffs on either side of the 
 river constitute some of the most picturesque scenery in the 
 world, often rising over two hundred feet above the water 
 level, and remind one of huge fortifications in the distance. 
 The rocks jutting out of the sides of some of them, appear 
 to have been cut smooth by a sculptor's chisel ; occasion- 
 ally they rise to a sharp peak, the top and sides of which 
 are thinly covered with trees of various kinds ; at intervals 
 the cabins of the settlers may be seen at the foot of some 
 of these bluff's. The river, in many places, is full of islands, 
 thickly wooded with willow and other trees, and shrubbery 
 covered with vines. 
 
 About one hundred miles above Prairie du Chien the 
 23* 
 
2T0 A TOUR. 
 
 scenery changes from the beautiful and the picturesque to 
 an aspect of grandeur ; some of the bhififs rise to an alti- 
 tude of over six hundred feet, thinly covered with trees, 
 giving them a mysterious beauty, impossible to describe ; 
 about seventy miles above Winona, the river widens, and 
 forms a beautiful sheet of water, called Lake Pepin, which 
 is surrounded by high bluffs. At the entrance is seen one 
 higher than the rest, standing out in bold relief, called the 
 Maiden's Rock, or Cap des Sioux ; from this rock, tradi- 
 tion informs us, Winona, the daughter of an Indian chief, 
 precipitated herself, rather than marry one she could not 
 love. If the steamboat enters this lake at the close of a 
 clear summer's day, the view presented is truly sublime, and 
 
 " Long shadows fall 
 More darkly o'er the wave as day declines. 
 Yet from the West a deeper glory shines, 
 While every crested bluff and rocky height, 
 Each moment varies in the kindling light 
 To some new form of beauty — changing through 
 All shades and colors of the rainbow's hue, 
 *The last still loveliest,' till the gorgeous day 
 Melts in a flood of golden light away, 
 And all is o'er." 
 
 But there are many important towns situated on the 
 banks of this noble river, and some of them require at 
 least a passing notice. La Crosse, the terminus of the La 
 Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad, in 1853, contained some 
 four or five stores, and perhaps fifty dwellings ; now it is a 
 thriving place, with over 5000 inhabitants. Winona, forty 
 miles above, on the Minnesota shore, is another instance 
 of rapid growth ; last year over six hundred new buildings 
 were erected, and the population now exceeds 4000. Red 
 Wing, a few miles above, was settled about the same year, 
 and has now a population of about 2000. Hastings, 
 
A 
 
 A TOUR. 271 
 
 thirty-five miles below St. Paul, is a very thriving town, 
 and its landing always displays a busy scene. Nininger 
 City, seven miles above Hastings, was laid out by Messrs. 
 John Nininger and Ignatius Donnelly, in the fall of 1856, 
 and now contains about one hundred buildings and a popu- 
 lation of at least five hundred. The sudden growth of this 
 place shows what combination and concentrated effort can 
 do to assist location. A few miles further is Kaposia, for- 
 merly called Crow Village, from being the residence of a 
 band of Sioux Indians,, who were removed two years ago 
 by orders from Government. 
 
 Soon after leaving Kaposia, the beautiful panorama of 
 St. Paul, the Diadem city of the Northwest, and its sur- 
 rounding country, burst on the view. On a high bluff, on 
 the eastern bank of the river, the city is seen spread out, 
 with its conspicuous public buildings and churches, and 
 numerous steamboats at its landing. Every American has 
 heard of St. Paul ; its rapid growth has caused great as- 
 tonishment ; this, however, none can adequately realize but 
 those who have visited the place in its early days. He who 
 '- saw this city as it was eight years ago, and sees it as it is 
 now, might well conceive that nothing short of supernatural 
 power could have produced the marvellous change. It was 
 nought, however, but the miracle of American courage and 
 perseverance, fostered under American institutions. 
 
 After an interval of four years, I revisited this rising me- 
 tropolis ; on arrival at the landing I observed that the bluff 
 had been cut away, and the place where one formerly was 
 obliged to climb a steep flight of steps to reach the street 
 was now occupied by large stone warehouses. Along Third 
 street the change was, if possible, more striking ; nearly all 
 the old frame houses were removed, and many handsome brick 
 and stone stores filled their places. The First Presbyterian 
 church remained as formerly, but its founder, that true 
 
2T2 A TOUR. 
 
 friend of Minnesota, the Rev. E. D. Neill, no longer offi- 
 ciated ; he has charge now of the new College lately erected 
 by his efforts in "Upper Town." The Capitol building, 
 the Winslow House, and the Central Presbyterian church, 
 which I daily observed in process of construction, had 
 been completed over two years. Nor had the march of 
 improvement been confined only to this part of the city ; 
 the dense forest, which formerly covered what is now West 
 St. Paul, on the opposite bank of the river, had been 
 cleared oflf and laid out into town lots. Before these 
 changes were made, the smoke of the approaching steam- 
 boat could be distinctly seen from Third street, above the 
 tops of the trees, several hours before its arrival, and num- 
 bers used to hurry down to the landing to meet their 
 friends ; now so many boats arrive daily, that the only ones 
 who appear interested in them are the drivers of the differ- 
 ent hotel coaches, who congregate on the landing, loudly 
 vociferating to the unfortunate travellers — Fuller House, 
 Winslow, American, Snelling, &c. 
 
 Of the numerous Indians that formerly were to be seen 
 in all parts of St. Paul, not one remained. They, too, had' 
 retreated before the march of improvement to the distant 
 wilderness towards the setting sun. It was highly grati- 
 fying to me to find that so many of the "old residents" 
 had increased in wealth along with the city, and that the 
 pioneer newspapers, the St. Paul Pioneer and Democrat, 
 and the Daily Minnesotian, had, from their altered appear- 
 ance, also shared in the general prosperity. These papers 
 are now published daily, and have an extensive circulation 
 throughout the entire Union. 
 
 Were a stranger informed, on first arriving, that the 
 greater part of the present site of this city could, nine 
 years ago, have been purchased at $1-25 per acre, he would 
 feel himself justified iu believing his informant was im- 
 
A TOUR. 2Y3 
 
 posing upon his credulity ; and when I compare the pre- 
 sent St. Paul with the first sketch ever taken by an artist, 
 from the opposite bank of the river, and which I placed in 
 the hands of the engraver, I myself can hardly realize the 
 change. Mr. Bond afterwards copied this lithograph, and 
 it may be seen in his work on Minnesota and its Resources. 
 
 In 1849, when the Hon. Alexander Ramsey was ap- 
 pointed the first Governor of Minnesota, there was but a 
 handful of people in the whole territory, and they princi- 
 pally Canadians and half-breeds ; now the present popula- 
 tion of St. Paul alone exceeds 15,000, and in 1856 the 
 number of visitors arriving from January to July, at only 
 four of its principal hotels, was 28,000. In 1849 there 
 were 85 steamboat arrivals, and in 1856 they had increased 
 to 83 1. Several railroads are now rapidly approaching, to 
 connect it with the Eastern cities and Lake Superior. 
 
 Having always asserted that a great city icould natu- 
 rally spring up at the head of navigation on the Missis- 
 sijypi, and that another would also arise at the head of 
 Lake Superior, in Wisconsin, and altogether disclaiming 
 any consideration as a foreteller of future events, yet, 
 let any one, if he can, now deny either fact. 
 
 We might proceed to describe the Fuller House, the 
 largest hotel in the Northwest, the old Catholic church, 
 from which St. Paul takes its name, the Historical So- 
 ciety's building, the Baldwin school, the numerous beau- 
 tiful private residence's, the gas works, the new bridge 
 across the river, the famous cave, the pleasant afternoon 
 drives to the Falls of St. Anthony and the lovely Minne- 
 haha, Fort Snelling, the sailing and fishing on Lakes Min- 
 netonka and White Bear, and many other objects of inte- 
 rest, which our limits will not allow. One little occurrence 
 is worth mentioning ; strolling along Fort street one even- 
 ing, in company with several friends, as far as Winslow's 
 
274 A TOUR. 
 
 Addition, we observed a German family, consisting of five 
 persons, seated under a little arbor in the centre of their 
 garden, each playing upon some musical instrument. We 
 listened with great interest for some time, until the gather- 
 ing shades of twilight admonished us to retrace our steps 
 homeward, and then requested, at parting, one of their 
 favorite airs ; they complied, and played a most beautiful 
 and touching German melody. The wife and mother ap- 
 peared much affected, and with difficulty finished her part ; 
 her thoughts, evidently, were carried to the home of her 
 childhood, so far away in the Old Fatherland, 
 
 TOYAGE ON THE ST. CROIX AND BRULE RIVERS TO LAKE 
 
 SUPERIOR. 
 
 One pleasant morning in the month of June, a few friends 
 of the author, tempted by the pleasing anticipations of 
 hunting and fishing, left St. Paul for the City of Superior, 
 by the way of the St. Croix river, preferring this as the 
 most romantic route, affording them an opportunity of 
 camping out, and ascending this river in canoes. The 
 party consisted of seven persons, and, on arrival at the St. 
 Croix Falls, found two bark canoes which had been sent 
 from the lake to meet them, in charge of four voyageurs. 
 The navigation here commenced ; one voyageur, pole in 
 hand, stood at each end, and the swiftness of the stream 
 required them to exert great strength and dexterity to urge 
 the light bark forward. The provisions, baggage, tent, 
 and passengers, completely filled the canoes. After leaving 
 St. Croix Falls, no houses were seen until Superior came 
 in sight; 
 
 The party were ol^liged to camp at night, and landed to 
 cook through the day. The Upper St. Croix is a beau- 
 tiful stream, in romantic scenery surpassing the Mississippi ; 
 it has its source in a lake of considerable size, of the same 
 
A TOUR. 215 
 
 name. There the company landed, each man carpet-bag 
 in hand, to cross the portage, in order to reach the Brule, 
 or what is called on the map Burnt Wood, a distance of 
 two miles, up hill all the way. The voyageurs carried over 
 the canoes and provisions, and launched them again on this 
 narrow stream, 800 feet above the waters of Lake Supe- 
 rior ; its width at this point is about four feet, but widens 
 and becomes more rapid in its descent, until the canoe has 
 to be held back by the navigators. This little stream sur- 
 passes, if possible, the St. Croix in beauty ; its banks are 
 lined with verdure, and the trees and shrubbery in many 
 places meeting overhead, form a continuous grove, through 
 which the clear water meanders with a gentle murmur. 
 Numerous adventures occurred on the route, and many 
 porcupines, muskrats, deer, ducks, geese, sturgeon and 
 trout were obtained, and after sundry picking, cleaning, 
 &c., they at last found the way into the camp kettle, and 
 were considered delicacies after living on salt pork. The 
 porctipines and the rats, however, were left to the refined 
 taste of the voyageurs, who soon made way with them. 
 
 After many exciting incidents, the voyage terminated at 
 the City of Superior at 8 o'clock in the morning, having 
 started from the last camp at 3 o'clock. The shore of the 
 lake resembles the sea-side — sand, with the surf roaring and 
 beating on it. When the canoes were upon the lake the 
 billows were running at least three feet high., but the little 
 vessels being of so light weight, and managed by skilful 
 hands, they rode the waves in safety, and reached Superior 
 after a twelve days' trip from St. Paul. 
 
 Here they found a large hotel — the Superior House — 
 kept by Mr. J. H. Willard, and were delighted with the 
 excellent fare and celebrated lake trout. After a few days 
 pleasantly spent in this rising city, they embarked on one 
 of the floating palaces, and coasted along the north shore 
 
276 A TOUR. 
 
 of Lake Superior to Isle Royale ; then the steamboat di- 
 rected her course towards the opposite shore, and soon 
 arrived at the famous copper region, at each port taking 
 in quantities of pure ore, both in "masses" and in barrels ; 
 thence her course was to the outlet of the lake, passing the 
 "Pictured Kocks," against whose front the waves dash in 
 storms with a continuous roar ; shortly after doubled White 
 Fish Point, and entered the St. Mary's river, passed 
 through the far-famed Sault Ste. Marie Canal, and arrived 
 at Mackinaw. At this point the party separated ; some 
 took steamboat for Chicago, others for Cleveland, and one 
 or two the Collingwood boats, and returned to their homes 
 via Canada and Niagara. They found the atmosphere of 
 Lake Superior perfectly delightful, and its waters, during 
 the entire voyage, perfectly calm, with not even a ripple to 
 disturb its glassy-like appearance. 
 
PART III 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 CONSTITUTION OF WISCONSIN- STATE GOVERNMENT AND 
 INSTITUTIONS -POST-OraCES IN WISCONSIN - LIST OF 
 NEWSPAPERS. 
 
 24 (277) 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 CONSTITUTION OF WISCONSIN. 
 
 PREAMBLE. 
 
 Wb, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order 
 to secure its blessings, form a more perfect goyernment, insure domestic tranciuil* 
 lity, and promote the general welfare, do establish this Constitution. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 DECLARATION OF RIGHTS. 
 
 Section 1. All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inhe- 
 rent rights : among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To secure 
 these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from 
 the consent of the governed. 
 
 2. There shall be neithers lavery nor involuntary servitude in this State, other- 
 wise than for the punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been duly 
 convicted. 
 
 3. Every person may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all sub- 
 jects, being responsible for the abuse of that right, and no laws shall be passed to 
 restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all criminal prosecutions 
 or indictments for libel, the truth may be given in evidence ; and if it shall appear 
 to the jury that the matter charged as libellous be true, and was published with 
 good motives, and for justifiable ends, the party shall be aciiuitted; and the jury 
 ehall have the right to determine the law and the fact. 
 
 4. The right of the people peaceably to assemble to consult for the common good, 
 and to petition the government or any department thereof, shall never be abridged. 
 
 6. The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate ; and shall extend to all cases 
 at law, without regard to the amount in controversy; but a jury trial may be waived 
 by the parties in all cases, in the manner prescribed by law. 
 
 6. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor shall excessive fines be imposed, nor 
 ehall cruel and unusual punishments be inflicted. 
 
 7. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to be heard by 
 
 (278) 
 
CONSTITUTION. 279 
 
 himself and counsel ; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against 
 him; to meet the witnesses face to face; to have compulsory process to compel the 
 attendance of witnesses in his behalf: and in prosecutions by indictment or infor- 
 mation, to a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the county or district 
 wherein the offence shall have been committed, which county or district shall have 
 been previously ascertained by law, 
 
 8. No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offence, unless on the present- 
 ment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases of impeachment, or in cases 
 cognizable by justices of the peace, or arising in the army or navy, or in the militia 
 when in actual service in time of war or public danger; and no person, for the same 
 offence, shall be put twice in jeopardy of punishment, nor shall be compelled in any 
 criminal case to be a witness against himself. All persons shall, before conviction, 
 be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offences, when the proof is evi- 
 dent, or the presumption great; and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall 
 not be suspended unless when, in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety 
 may require. 
 
 9. Every person is entitled to a certain remedy in the laws, for all injuries or 
 wrongs which he may receive in his person, property, or character; he ought to ob- 
 tain justice freely, and without being obliged to purchase it; completely and with- 
 out denial, promptly and without delay, conformably to the laws. 
 
 10. Treason against the State shall consist only in levying war against the same, 
 or in adhering to its enemies giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be 
 convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, 
 or on confession in open court. 
 
 11. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and 
 effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated ; and no 
 warrant shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and 
 particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be 
 seized. 
 
 12. No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, nor any law impairing the obligation 
 of contracts, shall ever be passed ; and no conviction shall work corruption of blood 
 or forfeiture of estate. 
 
 13. The property of no person shall be taken for public use without just compen- 
 sation therefor. 
 
 14. All lands within the State are declared to he allodial, and feudal tenures are 
 prohibited. Leases and grants of agricultural land, for a longer term than fifteen 
 years, in which rent or service of any kind shall be reserved, and all fines and like 
 restraints upon alienation, reserved in any grant of land, hereafter made, are de- 
 clared to be void. 
 
 15. No distinction shall ever be made bylaw between resident aliens and citizens, 
 in reference to the possession, enjoyment or descent of property. 
 
 16. No person shall be imprisoned for debt arising out of or founded on a con- 
 tract, expressed or implied. 
 
 17. The privilege of the debtor to enjoy the necessary comforts of life shall be re- 
 cognized by wholesome laws, exempting a reasonable amount of property from 
 seizure or sale, for the payment of any debt or liability hereafter contracted. 
 
 18. The right of every man to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of 
 his own conscience, shall never be infringed; nor shall any man be compelled to 
 attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry, against 
 his consent. Nor shiill any control of. or interference with the rights of conscience 
 be permitted, or any preference be given by law to any religious establishments, or 
 
280 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 modes of vrorship. Nor shall any money be drawn from the treasury for the benefit 
 of religious societies, or religious or theological" seminaries. 
 
 19. \o religious tests shall ever be required as a qualification for any ofiRce of pub- 
 lic trust, under the State; and no person shall be rendered incompetent to give 
 evidence in any court of law or equity, in consequence of his opinions on the sub- 
 ject of religion. 
 
 20. The military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power. 
 
 21. Writs of error shall never be prohibited by law. 
 
 22. The blessings of a free government can only be maintained by a firm adhe- 
 rence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue, and by frequent 
 recurrence to fundamental principles. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 BOUNDARIES. 
 
 Section 1. It is hereby ordained and declared that the State of Wisconsin doth 
 consent and accept of the boundaries prescribed in the act of Congress entitled "An 
 Act to enable the people of Wisconsin Territory to form a Constitution and State 
 government, and for the admission of such State into the Union," approved August 
 sixth, one thousand eight hundred and forty-six, to wit: Beginning at the north-east 
 corner of the State of Illinois, that is to say, at a point in the centre of Lake Michi- 
 gan, where the line of forty-two degrees and thirty minutes of north latitude crossea 
 the same ; thence, running with the boundary line of the State of Michigan, through 
 Lake Michigan, Green Bay, to the mouth of Menomonee river ; thence up the chan- 
 nel of the said river to the Brule river; thence up said last-mentioned river to Lake 
 Brule; thence along the southern shore of Lake Brule, in a direct line to the centre 
 of the channel between Middle and South island, in the Lake of the Desert; thence 
 in a direct line to the head waters of the Montreal river, as marked upon the sur- 
 vey made by Captain Cram ; thence down the main channel of the Montreal river 
 to the middle of Lake Superior; thence through the centre of Lake Superior to the 
 mouth of the St. Louis river; thence up the main channel of said river, to the first 
 rapids in the same, above the Indian village, according to Nicollet's map ; thence 
 due south to the main branch of the river St. Croix ; thence down the main channel 
 of said river to the Mississippi; thence down the centre of the main channel of that 
 river to the north-west corner of the State of Illinois; thence due east with the 
 northern boundary of the State of Illinois, to the place of beginning, as established 
 by "An Act to enable the people of the Illinois territory to form a Constitution and 
 State government, and for the admission of such State into the Union on an equal 
 footing with the original States," approved April eighteenth, one thousand eight 
 hundred and eighteen. Provided, however, That the following alteration of the 
 aforesaid boundary be, and hereby is, proposed to the Congress of the United States 
 as the preference of the State of Wisconsin ; and if the same shall be assented and 
 agreed to by the Congress of the United States, then the same shall be and forever 
 remain obligatory on the State of Wisconsin, viz. : Leaving the aforesaid boundary 
 line at the foot of the rapids of St. Louis river; thence in a direct line, bearing 
 Bouth-westerly to the mouth of the Iskodewabo, or Rum river, where the same 
 empties into the Mississippi river; thence down the main channel of the said Mis- 
 sippi river, as prescribed in the aforesaid boundary. 
 
 2. The propositions contained in the Act of Congress are hereby accepted, ratified 
 and confirmed, and shall remain irrevocable without the consent of the United 
 States; and it is hereby ordained that this State shall never interfere with the pri- 
 
CONSTITUTION. 281 
 
 mary disposal of the soil -within the same by the United States, nor with any regu- 
 lations Congress may find necessary for secaring the title in such soil to bona fidt 
 purchasers thereof; and no tax shall he imposed on land, the property of the United 
 States; and in no case shall non-resident proprietors be taxed higher than residents. 
 J^ovided, That nothing in this Constitution, or in the Act of Congress aforesaid, 
 shall in any manner prejudice or affect the right of the State of Wisconsin to five 
 hundred thousand acres of land granted to said State, and to be hereafter selected 
 and located, by, and under the Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to appropriate the 
 proceeds of the sales of the public lands, and grant preemption rights," approved 
 September fourth, one thousand eight hundred and forty-one. 
 
 AETICLE III. 
 
 SUFFRAGE. 
 
 Section 1. Every male person, of the age of twenty-one years or upwards, belong- 
 ing to either of the following classes, who shall have resided in the State for one 
 year next preceding any election, shall be deemed a qualified elector at such election: 
 
 First. White citizens of the United States. 
 
 Second. White persons, of foreign birth, who shall have declared their intention 
 to become citizens, conformably to the laws of the United States on the subject of 
 naturalization. 
 
 Third. Persons of Indian blood, who have once been declared, by law of Congress, 
 to be citizens of the United States, any subsequent law of Congress to the contrary 
 notwithstanding. 
 
 F^)urth. Civilized persons of Indian descent, not members of any tribe. Provided, 
 That the Legislature may at any time extend, by law, the right of suffrage to per- 
 sons not herein enumerated; but no such law shall be in force until the same shall 
 have been submitted to a vote of the people at a general election, and approved by 
 a majority of all the votes cast at such election. 
 
 2. No person under guardianship, non compos mentis, or insane, shall be quali- 
 fied to vote at any election; nor shall any person convicted of treason or felony be 
 qualified to vote at any election, unless restored to civil rights. 
 
 3. All votes shall be given by ballot, except for such township officers as may, by 
 law, be directed or allowed to be otherwise chosen. 
 
 4. No person shall be deemed to have lost his residence in this State by reason of 
 his absence on business of the United States, or of this State. 
 
 5. No soldier, seaman, or marine, in the army or navy of the United States, shall 
 be deemed a resident of this State in consequence of being stationed within the 
 same. 
 
 6. Laws may be passed excluding from the right of suffrage all persons who have 
 been, or may be, convicted of bribery or larceny, or of any infamous crime; and de- 
 priving every person who shall make, or become directly or indirectly interested in 
 any bet or wager depending upon the result of any election, from the right to vote 
 at such election. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 LEGISLATIVE. 
 
 Section 1. The legislative power shall be vested in a Senate and Assembly. 
 
 2. The number of the members of the Assembly sliall never be less than fifty-four, 
 nor more than one hundred. The Senate shall consist of a number not more than 
 one-third, nor less thau one-fourth of the number of the members of the Assembly. 
 24* 
 
282 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 8. The Legislature shall provide by law for an enumeration of the inhabitants 
 cf the State, ia the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, and at the end 
 of every ten years thereafter; and at their first session after such enumeration, and 
 also after each enumeration made by the authority of the United States, the Legis- 
 lature shall apportion and district anew the members of the Senate and Assembly, 
 according to the number of inhabitants, excluding Indians not taxed, and soldiers 
 and officers of the United States army and navy. 
 
 4. The members of the Assembly shall be chosen annually by single districts, on 
 the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of November, by the qualified electors of 
 the several districts ; such districts to be bounded by county, precinct, town, or 
 ward lines, to consist of contiguous territory, and be in as compact form as practi- 
 cable. 
 
 5. The Senators shall be chosen by single districts of convenient contiguous ter- 
 ritory, at the same time and in the same manner as members of the Assembly are 
 required to be chosen ; and no Assembly district shall be divided in the formation 
 of a Senate district. The Senate districts shall be numbered in regular series, and 
 the Senators chosen by the odd-numbered districts shall go out of office at the expi- 
 ration of the first year, and the Senators chosen by the even-numbered districts 
 shall go out of office at the expiration of the second year, and thereafter the Sena- 
 tors shall be chosen for the term of two years. 
 
 6. No person shall be eligible to the Legislature who shall not have resided one 
 year within the State, and be a qualified elector in the district which he may bo 
 chosen to represent. 
 
 7. Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of 
 its own members, and a majorit}' of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; 
 but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may compel the attend- 
 ance of absent members in such manner, and under such penalties, as each Uousu 
 may provide. 
 
 8. Each House may determine the rules of its own proceedings, punish for con- 
 tempt and disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all the 
 members elected, expel a member; but no member shall be expelled a second time 
 for the same cause. 
 
 9. Each House shall choose its own officers, and the Senate shall choose a tempo 
 rary President, when the Lieutenant-Governor shall not attend as President, or 
 shall act as Governor. 
 
 10. Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and publish the same, ex- 
 cept such parts as reijuire secresy. The (V)ors of each House shall be kept open, 
 except when the public welfare shall require secresy. Neither House shall, without 
 consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days. 
 
 11. The Legislature shall meet at the seat of government, at such time as shall 
 be provided by law, once in each year, and not oftener, unless convened by the 
 Governor. 
 
 12. No member of the Legislature shall, during the term for which he was elected, 
 be appointed or elected to any civil office in the State, which shall have been created, 
 or the emoluments of which shall have been increased during the term for which 
 he was elected. 
 
 13. No person being a member of Congress, or holding any military or civil office 
 under the United States, shall be eligible to a seat in the Legislature ; and if any 
 person shall, after his election as a member of the Legislature, be elected to Con- 
 gress, or be appointed to any office, civil or military, under the Government of the 
 United Slates, his acceptance thereof shall vacate his seat. 
 
CONSTITUTION. 21^3 
 
 14. The Governor shall issue writs of elcctioia fo fill such vacancies as may occur 
 in either House of the Legislature. 
 
 15. Members of the Legishiture shall, in all cases except treason, felony, and 
 breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest; nor shall they be subject to any civil 
 process during the session of the Legislature, nor for fifteen days next before the 
 commencement, and after the termination of each session. 
 
 16. No member of the Legislature shall be liable, in any civil action or criminal 
 prosecution whatever, for words spoken in debate. 
 
 17. The style of the laws of the State shall be, "The people of the State of Wis- 
 consin represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows :" and no law shall 
 be enacted except by bill. 
 
 18. No private or local bill, which maybe passed by the Legislature, shall embrace 
 more than one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title. 
 
 19. Any bill may originate in either House of the Legislature, and a bill passed 
 by one House may be amended by the other. 
 
 20. The yeas and nays of the members of either House, on any question, shall, at 
 the re(iuest of one-sixth of those present, be entered on the journal. 
 
 21. Each member of the Legislature shall receive for his services, two dollars and 
 fifty cents for each day's attendance during the session, and ten cents for every mile 
 he shall travel in going to and returning from the place of the meeting of the Legis- 
 lature, on the most usual route. 
 
 22. The Legislature may confer upon the boards of supervisors of the several 
 counties of the State, svich powers of a local, legislative, and administrative charac- 
 ter as they shall from time to time prescribe. 
 
 23. The Legislature shall establish but one system of town and county govern- 
 ment, which shall be as nearly uniform as practicable. 
 
 24. The Legislature shall never authorise any lottery, or grant any divorce. 
 
 26. The Legislature shall provide by law that all stationery required for the use 
 of the State, and all printing authorised and required by them to be done for their 
 use, or for the State, shall be let by contract to the lowest bidder; but the Legisla- 
 ture may establish a maximum price. No member of the Legislature, or other State 
 officer, shall be interested, either directly or indirectly, in any such contract. 
 
 26. The Legislature shall never grant any extra compensation to any public offi- 
 cer, agent, servant, or contractor, after the services shall have been rendered or the 
 contract entered into. Nor shall the compensation of any public officer be increased 
 or diminished during his term of office. 
 
 27. The Legislature shall direct by law in what manner, and in what courts, suits 
 may be brought against the State. 
 
 28. Members of the Legislature, and all officers, executive and judicial, except 
 Buch inferior officers as may be by law exempted, shall, before they enter upon the 
 duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe an oath or affirmation to support 
 the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Wiscon- 
 sin, and faithfully to discharge the duties of their respective offices to the best of 
 their ability. 
 
 29. The Legislature shall determine what persons shall constitute the militia of 
 the State, and may provide for organizing and disciplining the same, in such man- 
 ner as shall be prescribed by law. 
 
 30. In all elections to be made by the Legislature, the members thereof shall vote 
 viva voce, and their votes shall be entered on the journal. 
 
284 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 DXECVTTVZ. 
 
 Section 1. The executive power shall he vested in a Governor, wko shall hold hia 
 office for two years. A Lieutenant-Governor shall be elected at the same time, and 
 for the same term. 
 
 2. No person, except a citizen of the United States, and a qualified elector of th^ 
 State, shall be eligible to the office of Governor, or Lieutenant-Governor. 
 
 3. The Governor and Lieutenant-Governor shall be elected by the qualified elec- 
 tors of the State, at the times and places of choosing members of the Legislature. 
 The persons respectively having the highest number of votes for Governor and Lieu- 
 tenant Governor, shall be elected. But in case two or more shall have an equal 
 and the highest number of votes for Governor or Lieutenant-Governor, the two 
 Houses of the Legislature, at its next annual session, shall forthwith, by joint 
 ballot, choose one of the persons so having an equal and the highest number of 
 votes for Governor or Lieutenant-Governor. The returns of election for Gover- 
 nor and Lieutenant-Governor shall be made in such manner as shall be provided 
 by law. 
 
 4. The Governor shall be Commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces of 
 the State. He shall have power to convene the Legislature on extraordinary occa- 
 sions ; and in case of invasion, or danger from the prevalence of contagions disease 
 at the seat of government, he may convene them at any other suitable place within 
 the State. He shall communicate to the Legislature, at every session, the condition 
 of the State, and recommend such matters to them for their consideration, as he 
 may deem expedient. He shall transact all necessary business with the officers of 
 the Government, civil and military. He shall expedite all such mea-sures as may 
 be resolved upon by the Legislature, and shall take care that the laws be faithfully 
 executed. 
 
 5. The Governor shall receive, during his continuance in office, an annual com- 
 pensation of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. 
 
 6. The Governor shall have power to grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons, 
 after conviction, for all offences except treason and cases of impeachment, upon such 
 conditions and with such restrictions and limitations as he may think proper, sub- 
 ject to such regulations as may be provided by law relative to the manner of apply- 
 ino- for pardons. Upon conviction for treason, he shall have the power to suspend 
 the execution of the sentence until the case shall be reported to the Legislature at 
 its next meeting, when the Legislature shall either pardon, or commute the sen- 
 tence, direct the execution of the sentence, or grant a further reprieve. He shall 
 annually communicate to the Legislature each case of reprieve, commutation, or 
 pardon granted, stating the name of the convict, the crime of which he was con- 
 victed, the sentence and its date, and the date of the commutation, pardon, or re- 
 prieve, with his reasons for granting the same. 
 
 7. In case of the impeachment of the Governor, or his removal from office, death, 
 inability from mental or physical disease, resignation, or absence from the State, the 
 powers and duties of the office shall devolve upon the Lieutenant-Governor, for the 
 residue of the term, or until the Governor, absent or impeached, shall have returned, 
 or the disability shall cease. But when the Governor shall, with the consent of 
 the Legislature, be out of the State in time of war, at the head of the military 
 force thereof, he shall cx)ntinue Commander-in-chief of the military force of the 
 State. 
 
CONSTITUTION. 285 
 
 8. The Lieutenant-Governor shall be President of the Senate, hut shall have only 
 a casting vote therein. If, during a vacancy in the office of Governor, the Lieute- 
 nant-Governor shall be impeached, displaced, resign, die, or from mental or physi- 
 cal disease become incapable of performing the duties of his office, or be absent from 
 the State, the Secretary of State shall act as Governor until the vacancy shall be 
 filled, or the disability shall cease. 
 
 9. The Lieutenant-Governor shall receive double the per diem allowance of mem- 
 bers of the Senate, for every day's attendance as President of the Senate, and the 
 same mileage as shall be allowed to members of the Legislature. 
 
 10. Every bill which shall have passed the Legislature shall, before it becomes a 
 law, be presented to the Governor. If he approve, he shall sign it; but if not, he 
 shall return it, with his objections, to that House in which it shall have origiuated, 
 who shall enter the objections at large upon the journal, and proceed to reconsider 
 it. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present shall a^ree to 
 pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by 
 which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of the mem- 
 bers present, it shall become a law. But in all such cases, the votes of both Houses 
 shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for 
 or against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each House respectively. If 
 any bill shall not be returned by the Governor within three days (Sundays ex- 
 cepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, unless 
 the Legislature shall, by their adjournment, prevent its return; in v/hich case it 
 shall not be a law. 
 
 ARTICLE VI 
 
 ADMINISTRATIVE. 
 
 Section 1. There shall be chosen, by the qualified electors of the State, at the 
 times and places of choosing the members of the Legislature, a Secretary of State 
 Treasurer, and an Attorney-General, who shall severally hold their offices for the 
 term of two years. 
 
 2. The Secretary of State shall keep a fair record of the official acts of the Legisla- 
 ture and Executive Department of the State, and shall, when required, lay the same 
 and all matters relative thereto, before either branch of the Legislature. He shall 
 he tx officio auditor, and shall perform such other duties as shall be assigned him 
 by law. He shall receive, as a compensation for his services, yearly, such sum as 
 shall be provided by law, and shall keep his office at the seat of government. 
 
 3^. The powers, duties, and compensation of the Treasurer and Attorney-General 
 shall be prescribed by law. 
 
 4. Sheriffs, coroners, registers of deeds, and district attorneys shall be chosen by 
 the electors of the respective counties, once in every two years, and as often as va- 
 cancies shall happen. Sheriffs shall hold no other office, and be ineligible for two 
 years next succeeding the termination of their offices. They may be required by 
 law to renew their security from time to time ; and in deftiult of giving such new 
 security, their offices shall be deemed vacant. But the county shall never be made 
 responsible for the acts of the sheriff. The Governor may remove any oflicor in this 
 section mentioned, giving to such officer a copy of the charges against him, and an 
 opportunity of being heard in his defence. 
 
286 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 
 JUDICIARY. 
 
 Section 1. The court for the trial of impeachments shall he composed of the Senate. 
 The House of Representatives shall have the power of impeaching all civil officers of 
 this State, for corrupt conduct in oifice, or for crimes and misdemeanors; but a majo- 
 rity of all the members elected shall concur in an impeachment. On the trial of an 
 impeachment against the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor shall not act as a mem- 
 ber of the court. No judicial officer shall exercise his office after he shall have been 
 impeached, until his acquittal. Before the trial of an impeachment, the members 
 of the court shall take an oath or affirmation truly and impartially to try the im- 
 peachment, according to evidence; and no person shall be convicted without the 
 concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. Judgment in cases of impeach- 
 ment shall not extend further than to removal from office, or removal from office 
 and disqualification to hold any office of honor, profit, or trust, under the State ; 
 hut the party impeached shall be liable to indictment, trial, and punishm'^nt, ac- 
 cording to law. 
 
 2. The j udicial power of this State, both as to matters of law and equity, shall be 
 vested in a Supreme Court, Circuit Courts, Courts of Probate, and Justices of the 
 Peace. The Legislature may also vest such jurisdiction as shall be deemed neces- 
 sary in municipal courts, and shall have power to establish inferior courts in the 
 several counties, with limited civil and criminal jurisdiction. Provided, That the 
 jurisdiction which may be vested in municipal courts shall not exceed, in thsir re- 
 spective municipalities, that of Circuit Courts, in their respective circuits, as pre- 
 scribed in this Constitution: and that the Legislature shall provide as well for the 
 election of judges of the municipal courts as of the judges of inferior courts, by the 
 qualified electors of the respective jurisdictions. The term of office of the judges of 
 the said municipal and inferior courts shall not be longer than that of the judges 
 of the Circuit Court. 
 
 3. The Supreme Court, except in cases otherwise provided in this Constitution, 
 shall have appellate jurisdiction only, which shall be coextensive with the State; 
 hut in no case removed to the Supreme Court, shall a trial by jury be allowed. The 
 Supreme Court shall have a general superintending control over all inferior courts; 
 it shall have power to issue writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, injunction, quo war- 
 ranto, certiorari, and other original and remedial writs, and to hear and determine 
 the same. 
 
 4. For the term of five years, and thereafter until the Legislature shall otherwise 
 provide, the judges of the several Circuit Courts shall be judges of the Supreme 
 Court, four of whom shall constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of a majority 
 of the judges present shall be necessary to a decision. The Legislature shall have 
 power, if they should think it expedient and necessary, to provide by law for the 
 organization of a separate Supreme Court, with the jurisdiction and powers pre- 
 scribed in this Constitution, to consist of one chief justice and two associate justices, 
 to be elected by the qualified electors of the State, at such time and in such manner 
 as the Legislature may provide. The separate Supreme Court, when so organized, 
 shall not be changed or discontinued by the Legislature; the judges thereof shall 
 be so classified that but one of them shall go out of office at the same time; and 
 their term of office shall be the same as is provided for the judges of the Circuit 
 Court. And v.'henever the Legislature may consider it necessary to establish a sepa- 
 rate Supreme Court, they shall have power to reduce the number of Circuit Court 
 
CONSTITUTION. 287 
 
 judges to four, and subdivide the judicial circuits; but no such subdivision or re- 
 duction shall tiike effect until after the expiration of the term of some one of the 
 said judges, or till a vacancy occur by some other means. 
 
 5. The State shall be divided into five judicial circuits, to be composed as follows : 
 The first circuit shall comprise the counties of Racine, Walworth, Rock, and Green. 
 The second circuit, the counties of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dane. The 
 third circuit, the counties of Washington, Dodge, Columbia, Marquette, Sauk, and 
 Portage. The fourth circuit, the counties of Brown, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Fond 
 du Lac, Winnebago, and Calumet. And the fifth circuit shall comprise the coun- 
 ties of Iowa, La Fayette, Grant, Crawford, and St. Croix ; and the county of Rich- 
 land shall be attached to Iowa, the county of Chippewa to the county of Crawford, 
 and the county of La Pointe to the county of St. Croix, for judicial purposes, until 
 otherwise provided by the Legislature. 
 
 6. The Legislature may alter the limits, or increase the number of circuits, making 
 them as compact and convenient as practicable, and bounding them by county 
 lines; but no- such alteration or increase shall have the effect to remove a judge 
 from office. In case of an increase of circuits, the judge or judges shall be elected as 
 provided in this Constitution, and receive a salary not less than that herein pro- 
 vided for j udges of the Circuit Court. -■» 
 
 7. For each circuit there shall be a judge chosen by the qualified electors therein, 
 who shall hold his office as is provided in this Constitution, and until his successor 
 shall be chosen and qualified ; and after he shall have been elected, he shall reside 
 in the circuit for which he was elected. One of said judges shall be designated as 
 chief justice, in such manner as the Legislature shall provide. And the Legisla- 
 ture shall, at its first session, provide by law, as well for the election of, as for clas- 
 sifying the judges of the Circuit Court, to be elected under this Constitution, in 
 such manner that one of said judges shall go out of office in two years, one in three 
 years, one in four years, one in five years, and one in six years; and thereafter the 
 judge elected to fill the office shall hold the same for six years. 
 
 8. The Circuit Courts shall have original jurisdiction in all matters, civil and 
 criminal, within this State, not excepted in this Constitution, and not hereafter pro- 
 hibited by law, an appellate jurisdiction from all inferior courts and tribunals, and 
 a supervisory control over the same. They shall also have the power to issue writs 
 of habeas corpus, mandamus, injunction, quo warranto, certiorari, and all other 
 writs necessary to carry into effect their orders, judgments, and decrees, and give 
 them a general control over inferior courts and jurisdictions. 
 
 9. When a vacancy shall happen in the office of judge of the Supreme or Circuit 
 Courts, such vacancy shall be filled by an appointment of the Governor, which shall 
 continue until a successor is elected and qualified; and when elected, such successor 
 shall hold his office the residue of the unexpired term. There shall be no election 
 for a judge or judges at any general election for State or county officers, nor within 
 thirty days either before or after such election. 
 
 10. Each of the judges of the Supreme and Circuit Courts shall receive a salary, 
 payable quarterly, of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars annually ; 
 they shall receive no fees of office, or other compensation than their salaries ; they 
 shall hold no office of public trust, except a judicial office, during the term for which 
 they are respectively elected ; and all votes for either of them, for any office except a 
 judicial office, given by the Legislature or the people, shall be void. No person shall 
 be eligible to the office of judge, who shall not, at the time of his election, be a citizen 
 of the United States, and have attained the age of twenty-five years, and be a quali- 
 fied elector within the jurisdiction for which he may be chosen. 
 
288 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 11. The Supreme Court shall hold at least one term annually, at the seat of gov- 
 ernment of the State, at such time as shall be provided by law; and the Legislature 
 may provide for holding other terms, and at other places, when they may deem it 
 necessary. A Circuit Court shall be held at least twice in each year, in each county 
 of this State, organized for judicial purposes. The judges of the Circuit Court may 
 hold courts for each other, and shall do so when required by law. 
 
 12. There shall be a clerk of the Circuit Court chosen in each county organized 
 for judicial purposes, by the qualified electors thereof, who shall hold his office for 
 two years, subject to removal as shall be provided by law. In case of a vacancy, the 
 j udge of the Circuit Court shall have the power to appoint a clerk, until the va- 
 cancy shall be filled by an election. The clerk thus elected or appointed, shall give 
 such security as the Legislature may require; and when elected, shall hold his office 
 for a full term. The Supreme Court shall appoint its own clerk ; and the clerk of 
 a Circuit Court may be appointed clerk of the Supreme Court. 
 
 13. Any judge of the Supreme or Circuit Court may be removed from office by 
 address of both Houses of the Legislature, if two-thirds of all the members elected 
 to each House concur therein; but no removal shall be made by virtue of this sec- 
 tion, unless the judge complained of shall have been served with a copy of the 
 charges against him, as the ground of address, and shall have had an opportunity 
 of being heard in his defence. On the question of removal, the ayes and noes shall 
 be entered on the journals. 
 
 14. There shall be chosen in each county, by the qualified electors thereof, a judge 
 of probate, who shall hold his office for two years, and until his successor shall be 
 elected and qualified, and whose jurisdiction, powers and duties shall be prescribed 
 by law : Provided, however, That the Legislature shall have power to abolish the 
 office of judge of probate in any county, and to confer probate powers upon such 
 inferior courts as may be established in said county. 
 
 15. The electors of the several towns, at their annual town meetings, and the 
 electors of cities and villages, at their charter elections, shall, in such manner as the 
 Legislature may direct, elect justices of the peace, whose term of office shall be for 
 two years, and until their successors in office shall be elected and qualified. In 
 case of an election to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of a full term, 
 the justice elected shall hold for the residue of the unexpired term. Their number 
 and classification shall be regulated by law. And the tenure of two y«ars shall in 
 no wise interfere with the classification in the first instance. The justices thus 
 elected shall have such civil and criminal jurisdiction &a Bhall be prescribed by 
 law. 
 
 16. The Legislature shall pass laws for the regulation of tribunals of conciliation, 
 defining their powers and duties. Such tribunals may be established in and for 
 any township, and shall have power to render judgment, to be obligatory on the 
 parties, when they shall voluntarily submit their matter in difference to arbitra- 
 tion, and agree to abide the judgment, or assent thereto in writing. 
 
 17. The style of all writs and process shall be, " The State of Wisconsin." All 
 criminal prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by the authority of the 
 same; and all indictments shall conclude against the peace and dignity of the 
 State. 
 
 18. The Legislature shall impose a tax on all civil suits commenced or prosecuted 
 in the municipal, inferior, or Circuit Courts, which shall constitute a funJ to be 
 applied toward the payment of the salary of judges. 
 
 19. The testimony in causes in equity shall be taken in like manner as in cases at 
 law ; and the office of master in chancery is hereby prohibited. 
 
CONSTITUTION. 289 
 
 20. Any suitor in any court of this State shall have the right to prosecute or de- 
 fend his suit either iu his own proi^er person, or by an attorney or agent of his 
 choice. 
 
 •21. The Legislature shall provide by law for the speedy publication of all statute 
 laws, and of such judicial decisions made within the State, as may be deemed expe- 
 dient. And no general law shall be in force until published. 
 
 2± The Legislature, at its first session after the adoption of this Constitution, 
 shall provide for the appointment of three commissioners, whose duty it shall be to 
 inquire into, revise and simplify the rules of practice, pleadings, forms, and proceed- 
 ings, and arrange a system adapted to the courts of record of this State, and report 
 the same to the Legislature, subject to their modification and adoption ; and such 
 commission shall terminate upon the rendering of the report, unless otherwise pro- 
 vided by law. 
 
 23. The Legislature may provide for the appointment of one or more persons in 
 each organiz-ed county, and may vest in such persons such judicial powers as shall 
 be prescribed by law : Pfovided, That said power shall not exceed that of a judge of 
 the Circuit Court at Chambers. 
 
 ARTICLE VIII. 
 
 FINANCE. 
 
 Section 1. The rule of taxation shall be uniform, and taxes shall be levied upon 
 guch property as the Legislature shall prescribe. 
 
 2. No money shall be paid out of the treasury, except in pursuance of an appro- 
 priation by law. 
 
 3. The credit of the State shall never he given or loaned in aid of any individual, 
 association, or corporation. 
 
 4. The State shall never contract any public debt, except in the cases and manner 
 herein provided. 
 
 5. The Legislature shall provide for an annual tax sufficient to defray the esti- 
 mated expenses of the State for each year; and whenever the expenses of any year 
 Bhall exceed the income, the Legislature shall provide for levying a tax for the ensu- 
 ing year, sufficient, v/ith other sources of income, to pay the deficiency, as well as 
 the estimated expenses of such ensuing year. 
 
 6. For the purpose of defraying extraordinary expenditures, the State may con- 
 tract public debts ; but such debts shall never, in the aggregate, exceed one hun- 
 dred thousand dollars. Every such debt shall be authorized by law, for some pur- 
 pose or purposes to be distinctly specified therein; and the vote of a majority of all 
 the members elected to each House, to he taken by yeas and nays, shall be neces- 
 sary to the passage of such law; and every such law shall provide for levying an 
 annual tax sufficient to pay the annual interest of such debt, and the principal 
 •within five years from the passage of such law, and shall specially appropriate the 
 proceeds of such taxes to the payment of such principal and interest; and such ap- 
 propriation shall not be repealed, nor the taxes he postponed or diminished, until 
 the principal and interest of such debt shall have been wholly paid. 
 
 7. The Legislature may also borrow money to repel invasion, suppress insurrec- 
 tion, or defend the State in time of war; but the money thus raised shall be applied 
 exclusively to the object for which the loan was authorized, or to the repayment of 
 the debt thereby created. 
 
 8. On the passage, in either House of the Legislature, of any law which imposes, 
 
 25 
 
293 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 eontinue«, or renews a tax, or creates a debt or charge, or malies, fontinues, or re- 
 news an appropriatkm of public or trust money, or releases, dischargeg, or eom- 
 mutes a claim or demand of the State, the question shall be taken by yeas and 
 nays, which shall be duly entered on the journal ; and three-fifths of all the mem- 
 bers elected to such House shall, in all such cases, be required to constitute a quo- 
 rum therein. 
 
 9, No scrip, certificate, or other evidence of State debt whatsoever, shall be issued, 
 except for euch debts as are authorized by the sixth and seventh sections of thja 
 article. 
 
 10. The State shall never contract any debt for works of internal improvement, 
 or be a party in carrying on such works; but whenever grants of land or other 
 property shall have been made to the State, eepocially dedicated by the grant to 
 particular works of internal improvement, the State may carry on such particular 
 •works, and shall devote thereto the avails of such j^rants, and may plevlge or appro- 
 priate the revenues derived from such wc«:ks in aid of their completion, 
 
 4RTICLE IX. 
 
 EMINENT DOMAIN ANI> PROPERTY OF THE STATE, 
 
 Section 1. The State shall have concvirrent jurisdiction on all rivers and lakes 
 bordering on this State, so for as such rivers or lakes shall form a common boun- 
 dary to the State, and any ather State or Territory now or hereafter to be formed 
 and bounded by the same. And the river Mississippi and the navigable waters lead- 
 ing into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence, and the carrying places between the 
 same, shall be common highways, and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the 
 State, as to the citizens of the United States, without anj tax, impost, or duty 
 therefor. 
 
 2. The title to all lands and other property which have accrued to the Territory 
 of Wisconsin, by grant, gift, purchase, forfeiture, escheat, or otherwise, shall vest 
 in the State of Wisconsin. 
 
 3. The people of the State, in their right of sovereignty, are declared to possess 
 the ultimate property in and to all lands within the jurisdiction of the State; and 
 all lands, the title to which shall fail from a defect of heirs, shall revert or escheat 
 to the people. 
 
 ARTICLE X. 
 
 Sectio'N 1. The supervision of public instruction shall be vested in a State Super- 
 intenilent, and such other officers as the Legislature shall direct. The State Super- 
 intendent shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the State, in such manner as 
 the Legislature shall provide; his powers, duties, and compensation shall be pre- 
 scribed by law. Provided, That his compensation shall not exceed tlie sum of twelve 
 hundred dollars annually. 
 
 2. The proceeds of ail lands that have been or hereafter may be granted by the 
 United States to this State, for educational purposes (except the lands heretofore 
 granted for the purposes of a university), and all moneys and the clear proceeds of 
 all property that may accrue to the State by forfeiture or escheat, and all moneys 
 ■which may be paid as an equivalent for exemption from military duty, and the 
 dear proceeds of all fines collected in the several counties for any breach of tho 
 
CONSTITUTION. 291 
 
 penal laws, and all monej's arising from any grant to tbe State, where the purposes 
 of such srant are not specified, and the five hundred thousand acres of land to which 
 the StMt'e is eniitled hy the provisions of an Act of Conu'ress entitled '-An Act to ap- 
 propriate the proceeds of the saks of the public lands, and to grant pre-eniptioa 
 rJi;hts7' approver! the fourth day of September, one thousand ei-hit hundred and 
 forty-one, and also the five per centum of the nett proceeds of tl.a public huids to 
 whiih the State shall become entitled on her admission into the Union (if Congress 
 shall consent to such appropriation of the two grants last mentioned), shall be set 
 kpart as a separate fund, to be called the school fund, the iuterest of which, and all 
 other revenues derived from the school lauds, shall be exclusively applied to the fol- 
 lowing objects, to wit: 
 
 First. To the support and maintenance of common sehools, in each school dii?- 
 trict, and the purchase of suitable libraries and apparatus therefor. 
 
 Second. The residue shall be appropriated to the support and maintenance of 
 academies and normal schools, and suitable libraries and apparatus therefor. 
 
 3. The Legislature shall provide by law for the establishment of district schools, 
 which shain.e as nearly uniform as practicable: and such schools shall be free and 
 without charge for tuition to all children between the ages of four and tweuty 
 years, and no sectarian instruction shall be allowed therein. 
 
 4. Each town and city shall be required to raise by tax. annually, for the support 
 of common schools therein, a sum not less than one-half the amount received 
 by such town or city respectively tor school purposes, from the income of the school 
 
 fund. 
 
 5s Provision shall be made by law for the distribution of the income of the school 
 fund among the several towns and cities of the State, for the support of common 
 schools thei'ein, in some just proportion to the number of children and youth resi- 
 deut therein, between the ages of four and tweuty years; and no appropriation 
 shall be made from the school fund to any city or town, for the year in which said 
 city or town shall fail to raise such tax, nor to any school district for the year ia 
 which a school shall not be maintained at least three months. 
 
 6. Provision shall be made by law for the establishment of a State university, at 
 or near the seat of State Government, and for connecting with the same, from time 
 to time such colleges, in different parts of the State, as the interests of education 
 may require The proceeds of all lands that have been or may hereafter be granted 
 by the United States to the State for the support of a university shall be and re- 
 main a perpetual fund, to be called the "university fund." the interest of which 
 shall be appropriated to the support of the State university, and no sectarian in- 
 struction shall be allowed in such university. 
 
 7 The Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Attorney-General shall constitute a 
 toard of commissioners for the sale of the school and university lands, and for the 
 investment of the funds arising therefrom. Any two of said commissioners 
 shall be a quorum for the transaction of all business pertaining to the duties of 
 
 ' rplovT^'ion shall be made by law for the sale of all school and university lands, 
 after they ehall have been appraised; and when any portion of such lands shall be 
 gold and the purchase-money shall not be paid at the time of the sale, the com- 
 missioners shall take security by mortgage upon the land sold ^r the sum remain^ 
 in- unpaid, with seven per cent, interest thereon, payable annually at the office of 
 the Treasurer. The commissioners shall be authorized to execute a good and suffi- 
 cient conveyance to all purchasers of such lands, and to discbarge any moitgages 
 
292 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 taken as security, •when the sum due thereon shall have heen paid. The commis- 
 sioners shall have power to withhold from sale any portion of such lands when 
 they shall deem it expedient, and shall invest all moneys arising from the sale of 
 8uch lands, as well as all other university and school funds, in such manner as the 
 Legislature shall provide, and shall give such security for the faithful performance 
 of their duties as may be required by law. 
 
 ARTICLE XI. 
 
 CORPORATIONS. 
 
 Section 1. Corporations without hanking powers or privileges may be formed 
 tinder general laws, but shall not be created by special act. except for municipal 
 purposes, and in cases where, in the judgment of the Leiiislature, the objects of the 
 corporation cannot be attained under general laws. All general laws or special acts 
 enacted under the provisions of this section may be altered or repealed by the Legis- 
 lature at any time after their passage. 
 
 2. No municipal corporation shall take private property for public use against 
 the consent of the owner, without the necessity th^ireof being first established by 
 the verdict of a jury. 
 
 3. It shall be the duty of the Legislature, and they are hereby empowered to pro- 
 vide for the organization of cities and incorporated villages, and to restrict their 
 power of taxation, assessment, borrowing money, contracting debts, and loaning 
 their credit, so as to prevent abuses in assessments and. taxation, and in contract- 
 ing debts by such municipal corporations. 
 
 4. Th(j Legislature shall not have power to create, authorize, or incorporate, by 
 any general or special law, any bank or banking power or privilege, or any institu- 
 tion or corporation, having any banking power or privilege whatever, except as pro- 
 Tided in this article. 
 
 5. The Legislature may submit to the voters, at any general election, the ques- 
 tion of " bank or no bank ;" and if, at any such election, a number of votes equal 
 to a majority of all the votes cast at such election on that subject shall be in favor 
 of banks, then the Legislature shall have power to grant bank charters, or to pass a 
 general banking law, with such restrictions, and under such regulations, as they 
 may deem expedient and proper for the security of the bill-holders : Provided, That 
 DO such grant or law shall have any force or effect until the same shall have been 
 submitted to a vote of the electors of the State at some general election, and been 
 approved by a majority of the votes cast on that subject at such election. 
 
 ARTICLE XII. 
 
 AMENDMENTS. 
 
 Section 1. Any amendment or amendments to this Constitution may be proposed 
 in either House of the Legislature, and if the same shall be agreed to by a majority 
 of the members elected to each of the two Houses, such proposed amendment or 
 amendments shall be entered on their journals, with the yeas and nays taken 
 thereon, and referred to the Legislature to be chosen at the next general election, 
 and .shall be published for three months previous to the time of holding such elec- 
 tion. And if, in the Legislature so next chosen, such proposed amendment or 
 
CONSTITUTION. 293 
 
 ametidments shall be agreed to by a majority of all the members elected to each 
 House, then it shall be the duty of the Legislature to submit such proposed amend- 
 ment or amendments to the people, in such manner and at su(^h time as the Legis- 
 lature shall prescribe; and if the people shall approve and ratify such amendment 
 or amendments by a majoritj' of the electors voting thereon, such amendment or 
 amendments shall become part of the Constitution : Provided^ That if more than one 
 amendment be submitted, they shall be subiuitted in such manuer that the people 
 may vote for oragaiust such amendments separately. 
 
 2. If at any time a majority of the Senate and Assembly shall deem it neces- 
 sary to call a convention to revise or change this Constitution, they shall recom- 
 mend to the electors to vote for or against a convention at the next election for 
 members of the Legislature; and if it shall appear that a majority of the electors 
 voting thereon have voted for a convention, the Legislature shall, at its next ses- 
 sion, provide for calling such convention. 
 
 ARTICLE XIII. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. 
 
 Section 1. The political year for the State of Wisconsin shall commence on the 
 first Monday in January in each year, and the general election shall be holden ou 
 the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November in each year. 
 
 2. Any inhabitant of this State who may hereafter be engaged, either directly or 
 indirectly, in a duel, either as principal or accessary, shall forever be disqualified 
 as an elector, and from holding any office under the Constitution and laws of 
 this State, and may be punished in such other manner as shall be prescribed by 
 law, 
 
 3. No member of Congress, nor any person holding any office of profit or trust 
 under the United States (postmasters excepted), or under any foreign power; no 
 person convicted of any infamous crime in any court within the United States, and 
 no person being a defaulter to the United States, or to this State, or to any county 
 or town therein, or to any State or Territory within the United States, shall be 
 eligible to any office of trust, profit, or honor in this State. 
 
 4. It shall be the duty of the Legislature to provide a great seal for the State, 
 ■which shall be kept by the Secretary of State; and all official acts of the Governor, 
 his approbation of the laws excepted, shall be thereby authenticated. 
 
 6. All persons residing upon Indian lands within any county of the State, and 
 qualified to exercise the right of suffra;;e under this Constitution, shall be entitled 
 to vote at the polls which may be held nearest their residence, for State, United 
 States, or county officers : Provided, That no person shall vote for county officers 
 out of the county in which he resides. 
 
 6. The elective officers of the Legislature, other than the presiding officers, shall 
 be a chief clerk, and a sergeant-at-arms, to be elected by each House 
 
 7. No county with an area of nine hundred square miles or less, shall be divided, 
 or have any part stricken therefrom, without submitting the question to a vote of 
 the people of the county, nor unless a majority of all the legal voters of the county 
 voting on the question, shall vote for the same. 
 
 8. No county seat shall be removed until the point to which it is proposed to be 
 removed shall be fixed by law, and a majority of the voters of the county, voting 
 on the question, shall have voted in favor of its removal to such point. 
 
 25* 
 
294 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 9. All county officers whose election or appointment is not proviaed for by this 
 Constitution, shall be elected by the electors of the respective counties, or appointed 
 by the boards of supervisors or other county authorities, as the Legislature shall 
 ciirect. All city, town, and village officers, whose election or appointment is not 
 provided for by this Constitution, shall be elected by the electors of such cities, 
 towns, and villages, or of some division thereof, or appointed by such authorities 
 thereof, as the Legislature shall designate for that purpose. All other officers whose 
 election or appointment is not provided for by this Constitution, and all officers 
 Tvhose offices may hereafter be created by law, shall be elected by the people, or ap- 
 pointed as the Legislature may direct. 
 
 10. The Legislature may declare the cases in which any office shall be deemed 
 vacant, and also the manner of filling the vacancy where uo provision is made for 
 that purpose, in this Constitution. 
 
 ARTICLE XIV. 
 
 SCHEDULE. 
 
 Section 1. That no inconvenience may arise by reason of a change from a territo- 
 rial to a permanent State Government, it is declared that all rights, actions, prose- 
 cutions, judgments, claims, and contracts, as well of individuals as of bodies corpo- 
 rate, shall continue as if no such change had taken place; and all process which 
 may be issued under the authority of the Territory of Wisconsin, previous to its 
 admission into the Union of the United States, shall be as valid as if issued in the 
 name of the State. 
 
 2. All laws now in force in the territory of Wisconsin, which are not repugnant 
 to this Constitution, shall remain in force until they expire by their own limita- 
 tion, or be altered or repealed by the Legislature. 
 
 3. All fines, penalties, or forfeitures accruing to the Territory of Wisconsin, shall 
 enure to the use of the State. 
 
 4. All recognizances heretofore taken, or which may be taken before the change 
 from a Territorial to a permanent State Government, shall remain valid, and shall 
 pass to, and may be prosecuted in the name of the State; and all bonds executed to 
 the Governor of the Territory, or to any other officer or court, in his or their offi- 
 cial capacity, shall pass to the Governor or the State authority, and their succes- 
 eors in office, for the uses therein respectively expressed, and may be sued for and 
 recovered accordingly ; and all the estate or property, real, personal, or mixed, and 
 all judgments, bonds, specialities, choses in action, and claims or debts of whatso- 
 ever description, of the Territory of Wisconsin, shall enure to and vest in the State 
 of Wisconsin, and may be sued for and recovered in the same manner, and to the 
 same extent, by the State of Wisconsin, as the same could have been by the Terri- 
 tory of Wisconsin. All criminal prosecutions and penal actions which may have 
 arisen, or which may arise before the change from a Territorial to a State Govern- 
 ment, and which shall then be pending, shall be prosecuted to judgment and execu- 
 tion in the name of the State. All offences committed against the laws of the Ter- 
 ritory of Wisconsin, before the change from a Territorial to a State Government, 
 and which shiiU not be prosecuted before such change, may be prosecuted in the 
 name and by the authority of the State of Wisconsin, with like effect as though 
 Buch change had not taken place; and all penalties incurred shall remain the same 
 as if this Coustitution had not been adopted. All actions at law, and suits in equity, 
 
CONSTITUTION. 205 
 
 ■which may be pcndnig in any of the courts of the Territory of Wisconsin, at the 
 lime of the change from a Territorial to a State Government, may be continued and 
 transferred to any court of the State which shall have jurisdiction of the subject 
 matter thereof. 
 
 5. All officers, civil and military, now holding their offices under the authority 
 of the United States, or of the Territory of Wisconsin, shall continue to hold and 
 exercise their respective ofiaces until they shall be superseded by the authority of 
 the State. 
 
 6. The first session of the Legislature of the State of Wiseomsin shall commence 
 on the first Monday in June next, and shall be held at the village of Madison, 
 which shall be and remain the seat of Government until otherwise provided by 
 law. 
 
 7. All county, precinct, and township officers, shall continue to hold their respec- 
 tive offices, unless removed by the competent authority, until the Legislature shall, 
 in conformity with the provisions of this Constitution, provide for the holding of 
 elections to fill such offices respectively. 
 
 8. The President of this convention shall, immediately after its adjournment, 
 cause a fair copy of this Constitution, together with a copy of the act of the Legis- 
 lature of this Territory, entitled "An Act in relation to the formation of a State 
 Government in Wisconsin, and to change the time of holding the annual session of 
 the Legislature," approved October twenty-seventh, one thousand eight hundred 
 and forty-seven, providing for the calling of this convention, and also a copy of so 
 much of the last census of this Territory as exhibits the number of its inhabitants, 
 to be forwarded to the President of the United States, to be laid before the Congress 
 of the United States at its present session. 
 
 9. This Constitution shall be submitted, at an election to be held on the second 
 Monday in March next, for ratification or rejection, to all white male persons of 
 the age of twenty-one years or upwards, who shall then be residents of this Terri- 
 tory and citizens of the United States, or shall have declared their intention to be- 
 come such in conformity with the laws of Congress on the subject of naturaliza- 
 tion; and all persons having such qualifications shall be entitled to vote for or 
 against the adoption of this Constitution, and for all officers first elected under it. 
 And if the Constitution be ratified by the said electors, it shall become the Consti- 
 tution of the State of Wisconsin. On such of the ballots as are for the Constitu- 
 tion, shall be written or printed the word "yes;" and on such as are against the 
 Constitution, the word " no." The election shall be conducted in the manner now- 
 prescribed by law, and the returns made by the clerks of the boards of supervisors 
 or county commissioners (as the case may.be) to the Governor of the Territory, 
 at any time before the tenth day of April next. And in the event of the ratifica- 
 tion of this Constitution, by a majority of all the votes given, it shall be the duty 
 of the Governor of this Territory to make proclamation of the same, and to trans- 
 mit a digest of the returns to the Senate and Assembly of the State, on the first day 
 of their session. An election shall be held for Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, 
 Treasurer, Attorney-General, members of the State Legislature, and members of 
 Congress, on the second Monday of May next, and no other or further notice of 
 auch election shall be required. 
 
 10. Two members of Congress shall also be elected on the second Monday of May 
 next; and, until otherwise provided by law, the counties of Milwaukee, Waukesha, 
 Jefferson, Racine, ^^'alworth, llock, and Greene, shall constitute the first Congres- 
 sional district, and elect one member ; and the counties of Washington, Sheboygan, 
 
296 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Manitouwoc, Calumet, Brown, Winnebajro. Fond da Lac, Marquette, Pauk, Portage, 
 Columbia. Dodj;e, Dane, Iowa, La Fayette, Grant, Richland. Crawford, Chippewa, 
 St. Croix, and La Poiute, shall constitute the second Congressional district, and shall 
 elect one member. 
 
 11. The several elections provided for in this article shall be conducted according 
 to the existinj: laws of the Territory: Provided, That no elector shall be entitled to 
 vote, except in the town, ward, or precinct where he resides. The returns of elec- 
 tion for senators and members of Assembly shall be transmitted to the clerk of the 
 board of supervisors, or county commissioners, as the case may be, and the votes 
 shall be canvassed, and certificates of election issued, as now provided by law. In 
 the first Senatorial district, the returns of the election for Senator shall be made 
 to the proper officer in the county of Brown. In the second Senatorial district, to 
 the proper officer in the countj' of Columbia. In the third Senatorial district, to 
 the proper officer in the county of Crawford. In the fourth Senatorial district, to 
 the proper officer in the county of Fond du Lac. And in the fifth Senatorial district, 
 to the proper officer in the county of Iowa. The returns of election for State offi- 
 cers and members of Congress shall be certified and transmitted to the Speaker of 
 the Assembly at the seat of Government, in the same manner as the votes for Dele- 
 gate to Congress are required to be certified and returned by the laws of the Terri- 
 tory of Wisconsin, to the Secretary of said Territoi-y. and in such time that they may 
 be received on the first Monday in June next; and as soon as the Legislature shall 
 be organized, the Speaker of the Assembly and the President of the Senate shall, in 
 the presence of both Houses, examine the returns, and declare who are duly elected 
 to till the several offices hereinbefore mentioned, and give to each of the persona 
 elected a certificate of his election. 
 
 12. Until there shall be a new apportionment, the Senators and members of the 
 Assembly shall be apportioned among the several districts, as hereinafter men- 
 tioned; and each district shall be entitled to elect one Senator ormember of the 
 Assembly, as the case may be. 
 
 The counties of Brown, Calumet, Manitouwoc, and Sheboygan, shall constitute 
 the first Senate district. 
 
 The counties of Columbia, Marquette, Portage, and Sauk, shall constitute the 
 second Senate district. 
 
 The counties of Crawford, Chippewa, St. Croix, and La Pointe, shall constitute the 
 third Senate district. 
 
 The counties of Fond du Lac, and Winnebago, shall constitute the fourth Senate 
 district. 
 
 The counties of Iowa, and Richland, shall constitute the fifth Senate district. 
 
 The county of Grant shall constitute the sixth Senate district. 
 
 The county of La Fayette shall constitute the seventh Senate district. 
 
 The county of Green shall constitute the eighth Senate district. 
 
 The county of Dane shall constitute the ninth Senate district. 
 
 The county of Dodge shall constitute the tenth Senate district. 
 
 The county of Wixshington shall constitute the eleventh Senate district. 
 
 The county of JetTerson shall constitute the twelfth Senate district. 
 
 The county of Waukesha shall constitute the thirteenth Senate district. 
 
 The county of Walworth shall constitute the fourteenth Senate district. 
 
 The county of l{ock shall constitute the fifteenth Senate district. 
 
 The towns of Southport, Pike, Pleasant, Prairie, Paris, Bristol, Brighton, Salem, 
 
CONSTITUTION. 21it 
 
 and Wheatland, in the county of Racine, shall constitute the sixteenth Senate dis- 
 trict. 
 
 The towns of Racine, Caledonia. Mount Pleasant, Raymond, Norway, Rochester, 
 Yorkville, and Burlington, in the county of Racine, shall constitute the seventeenth 
 Senate district. 
 
 The third, fourth, and fifth wards of the city of Milwaukee, and the towns of 
 Lake, Oak Creek, Franklin, and Greenfield, in the county of Milwaukee, shall con- 
 stitute the eighteenth Senate district. 
 
 The first and second wards of the city of Milwaukee, and the towns of iNIilwau- 
 kee, Wauwatosa, and Granville, in the county of Milwaukee, shall constitute the 
 nineteenth Senate district. 
 The county of Brown shall constitute an Assemhly district. 
 The county of Calumet shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 The county of Manitouwoc shall constitute an Assembly district, 
 The county of Columbia shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 The counties of Crawford and Chippewa shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 The counties of St. Croix and La Poiute shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 The towns of Windsor, Sun Prairie, and Cottage Grove, in the county of Dane, 
 shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Madison, Cross Plains, Clarkson, Springfield, Verona. Montrose, 
 Oregon, and Greenfield, in the county of Dane, shall constitute an Assembly dis- 
 trict. 
 
 The towns of Rome, Dunkirk, Christiana, Albion, and Rutland, in the county of 
 Dane, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Burnett, Chester, Le Roy, and "VVilliamstown, in the county of Dodge, 
 shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Fairfield, Hubbard, and Rubicon, in the county of Dodge, shall con- 
 stitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Ilustisford, Ashippun, Lebanon, and Emmet, in the county of Dodge, 
 shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Elba, Lowell, Portland, and Clyman, in the county of Dodge, shall 
 constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Calamus, Beaver Dam, Fox Lake, and Trenton, in the county of 
 Dodge, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Calumet, Forest, Auburn, Byron, Taychedah, and Fond du Lac, in 
 the county of Fond du Lac, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Alto, Metoman, Ceresco, Rosendale, Waupun, Oakfield, and Seven 
 Mile Creek, in the county of Fond du Lac, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The precincts of Hazel Green, Fairplay, Smeltzers Grove, and Jamestown, in the 
 county of Grant, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The precincts of Plattville, Head of Platte, Centreville, Muscoday, and Fennimore, 
 in the county of Grant, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The precincts of Pleasant Valley, Potosi, Waterloo, Hurricane, and New Lisbon, 
 in the county of Grant, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The precincts of Beetown, Patch Grove, Cassville, Millville, and Lancaster, in the 
 county of Grant, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 The county of Green shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The precincts of Dallas, Pedler's Creek, Mineral Point, and Yellow Stone, in the 
 county of Iowa, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 The precincts of Franklin, Dodgeville, Porter's Grove, Arena, and Percussion, 
 
298 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 in the county of Iowa, and the county of Richland, shall constitute an Assembly 
 district. 
 
 The towns of Watcrtown, Aztalan, and Waterloo, in the county of Jefferson, shall 
 constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Ixonia, Concord, Sullivan, Hebron, Cold Spring, and Palmyra, in 
 the county of JefftTson. shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Lake Mills. Oakland. Koskononoj. Farmington, and Jefferson, in the 
 county of Jefferson, shall constitute an Assembly district 
 
 The precincts of Benton. Elk Grove, Belmont, Willow Springs, Prairie, and that 
 part of Shullslmrirh precinct north of town one, in the county of La Fayette, shall 
 constitute an .Assembly district. 
 
 The precincts of Wiota, Wayne, Gratiot, White Oak Springs. Fever River, and 
 that part of Shullsburgh precinct south of town two, in the county of La Fayette, 
 6h:ill constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The county of Marquette shall constitute an Assembly district 
 
 The first ward of the city of Milwaukee shall constitute an Assembly district 
 
 The second ward of the city of Milwaukee shall constitute an As.scnibly district. 
 
 The third ward of the city of Milwaukee shall constitute an Assembly district 
 
 The fourth and fifth wards of the city of Milwaukee shall constitute an As.sembly 
 district. 
 
 The towns of Franklin, and Oak Creek, in the county of Milwaukee, shall consti- 
 tute an Assembly district 
 
 The towns of Greenfield and Lake, in the county of Milwaukee, shall constitute 
 an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Granville. Wauwatosa, and Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, 
 shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The county of Portage shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The town of Racine, in the county of Racine, shall constitute an Assembly dis- 
 trict. 
 
 The towns of Norway, Raymond, Caledonia, and Mount Pleasant, in the county 
 of Racine, shall constitute an Assembly district 
 
 The towns 6f Rochester, Burlington, and Yorkville,in the county of Racine, shall 
 constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Southport, Pike, and Pleasant Prairie, in the county of Racine, shall 
 constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Paris. Bristol, Brighton, Salem, and Wheatland, in the county of 
 Racine, shall constitute an Assembly district 
 
 The towns of Janesville and Bradford, in the county of Rock, shall constitute an 
 Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Beloit, Turtle, and Clinton, in the county of Rock, shall constitute 
 an As.«emV)ly district. 
 
 The towns of Magnolia, Union, Porter, and Fulton, in the county of Rock, shall 
 constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Milton, Lima, and Johnstown, in the county of Rock, shall consti- 
 tute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Newark, Rock, Avon. Spring Valley, and Centre, in the county of 
 Rock, shall constitute an Assembly district: Pmri't/eJ, That if the Legislature shall 
 divide the town of Centre, they may attach such part of it to ttie district lying next 
 north, US they may deem expedient 
 
 The county of Sauk shall constitute an Assembly district 
 
CONSTITUTION. 209 
 
 Precincts nnmbered one. three, and seven, in the county of Sheboygan, shall con- 
 stitute an Assembly district. 
 
 Precincts numbered two, four, five, and six, in the county of Sheboygan, shall 
 constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Troy, East Troy, and Spring Prairie, in the county of Walworth, 
 shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Whitewater, Richmond, and Lagrange, in the county of Walworth, 
 shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Geneva, Hudson, and Bloomfield, in the county of Walworth, shall 
 constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Darien, Sharon, Walworth, and Linn, in the county of Walworth, 
 shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Delavan, Sugar Creek, La Fayette, and Elkhorn, in the county of 
 Walworth, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Lisbon, Menomonee, and Brookfield, in the county of Waukesha, 
 shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Warren, Oconomewoc, Summit, and Ottowa, in the county of Wau- 
 kesha, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Delafield, Genesee, and Pewaukee^ in the county of Waukesha, shall 
 constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Waukesha and New Berlin, in the county of Waukesha, shall con- 
 stitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Eagle, Mukwanego, Yernon, and Muskego, in the county of Wau- 
 keslia, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Port Washington, Fredonja, and Clarence, in the county of Wash- 
 ington, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Grafton and Jackson, in the county of Washington, shall constitute 
 an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Mequon and Germantown, hi the county of Washington, shall con- 
 stitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Polk, Richfield, and Erin, in the county of Washington, shall consti- 
 tute an Assembly district. 
 
 The towns of Hartford, Addison, West Bend, and North Bend, in the county of 
 Washington, shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The county of Winnebago shall constitute an Assembly district. 
 
 The foregoing districts are subject, however, so far to be altered that when any 
 new town shall be organized, it may be added to either of the adjoining Assembly 
 districts. 
 
 13. Such parts of the common law as are now in force in the Territory of Wiscon- 
 sin, not inconsistent with this Constitution, shall be and continue part of the law 
 of this State, until altered or suspended by the Legislature. 
 
 14. The Senators first elected in the even-numbered Senate districts, the Governor, 
 Lieutenant-Governor, and other State officers first elected under this Constitution, 
 shall enter upon the duties of their respective offices on the first Monday of June 
 next, and shall continue in ofRce for one year from the first Monday of January 
 next. The Senators first elected in the odd-numbered Senate districts, and the 
 members of the Assembly first elected, shall enter upon their duties respectively oa 
 the first Monday of J«ne next, and shall continue in office until the first Monday 
 in January next. 
 
 15. The oath of Office may be administered by any judge or justice of the peace, 
 until the Legislature shall otherwise direct. 
 
300 CONSTITUTION* 
 
 RESOLUTION S. 
 
 Resolved, That the Congress of the United States be and is hereby requested, upoa 
 the application of Wisconj<in for admission into the Union, so to alter the provisions 
 of an Act of Congrass entitled "An Act to grant a quantity of land to the Territory 
 of Wisconsin for the purpose of aiding in opening a canal to connect the watrrs of 
 Lake Michigan with those of Kock Kiver," approved June eighteenth, eighteen hun- 
 dred and thirty-eight; and so to alter the terms and conditions of the grant made 
 therein, that the odd-numbered sections thereby granted, and remaining unsold, 
 may be held and disposed of by the State of Wisconsin, as part of the five hundred 
 thousand acres of land to which said State is entitled by the provisions of an Act 
 of Congress entitled '"An Act to appropriate the proceeds of the sales of the public 
 lands, and to grant pre-emption rights," approved the fourth day of September, 
 eighteen hundred and forty-one; and further, that the even-numbered sections re- 
 served by Congress may be offered for sale by the United States for the same mini- 
 mum price, and subject to the same rights of pre-emption as other public lands of 
 the United States. 
 
 Resolved, That Congress be further requested to pass an act whereby the excess 
 price over and above one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, which may have 
 been paid by the purchasers of said even-numbered sections which shall have been 
 Fold by the United States, be refunded to the present owners thereof, or they be 
 allowed to enter any of the public^lands of the United States, to an amount equal 
 in value to the excess so paid. 
 
 Resolved, That, in case the odd-numbered sections shall be ceded to the State as 
 aforesaid, the same shall be sold by the State in the same manner as other school 
 lands : Provided, That the same rights of pre-emption as are now granted by the 
 laws of the United States shall be secured to persons who may be actually settled 
 upon such lands at the time of the adoption of this Constitution: And provided fur- 
 ther. That the excess price over and above one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, 
 absolutely or conditionally contracted to be paid by the purchasers of any part of 
 said sections which shall have been sold by the Territory of "Wisconsin, shall be re- 
 mitted to such purchasers, their representatives, or assigns. 
 
 Resolved, That Congress be requested, upon the application of Wisconsin for ad- 
 mission into the Union, to pass an act whereby the grant of five hundred thousand 
 acres of land, to which the State of Wisconsin is entitled by the provisions of an Act 
 of Congress entitled "An Act to appropriate the proceeds of the sales of the public 
 lands, and to grant pre-emption rights," approved the fourth day of September, 
 eighteen hundred and forty-one, and also the five per centum of the nett proceeds 
 of the public lands lying within the State, to which it shall become entitled on its 
 admission into the Union, by the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled "An 
 Act to enable the people of Wisconsin Territory to form a Constitution and State 
 Government, and for the admission of such State into the Union," approved the 
 sixth day of August, eighteen hundred and fortj^-six, shall be granted to the State 
 of Wisconsin for the use of schools, instead of the purposes mentioned in said Acts 
 of Congress respectively. 
 
 Resolved, That the Congress of the United States be and hereby is requested, upon 
 the admission of this State into the Union, so as to alter the provisions of the Act 
 of Congress, entitled " An Act to grant a certain quantity of land to aid in the 
 
CONSTITUTION. 301 
 
 improvement of the Fox and Wi'iconsin Rivers, and to connect the same by a canal 
 in the Territory of Wisconsin," that the price of the lands reserved to the United 
 States shall be reduced to the minimum price of the public lands. 
 
 jResoIcad, That the Lcjjislature of this State sh.ill make provision by law for the 
 sale of the lands granted to the State in aid of said improvements, subject to the 
 same rights of pre-emption to the settlers thereon, as are now allowed by law to 
 settlers on the public lands. 
 
 Kcsolvcd, That the foregoing resolutions be appended to and signed with the Con- 
 stitution of Wisconsin, and submitted therewith to the people of this Territory, and 
 to the Congress of the United States. 
 
 In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands, at Madison, the first day 
 of February, A. D., eighteen hundred hundred and forty -eight. 
 
 MORGAN L. MARTIN, President. 
 Thomas M-IIogH; Secretary, 
 
 26 
 
•WISCONSIN STATE GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Gmiernor — Coles Basiiford. 
 Private Secrdary—n. F. Hopkins. 
 Lieutenant-Gnvcrnor — XnTHVR M' Arthur. 
 Secretary of State — David W. Jonks. 
 Assistant Secretary of State — Joati W. IIUNT. 
 Treasurer — Chakles Kuehn. 
 Assistant Treasurer — Carl Habicii. 
 Attorney - General — ^ylhLl\M R.Smith. 
 J5«nA,- Comptroller — WiLUAW. M. Dennis. 
 Assistant Bank Comptroller — K. Menges. 
 Superintendent of Public Instruction — A. C. Barry. 
 As^stanf' " —M.S. Barry. 
 
 State Librarian — llouKQ-e, Rublee. 
 Superintendent of Public Property — J. II. PruesS. 
 Slate Prison Commissioner — Edw. MGarry. 
 Adjutant-General— Ayiksx Cobb. 
 Commissar y-General — y . W. Koth. 
 
 SUPREME COURT. 
 
 Chief Justice— ET^vf.K^j) V. "Whiton. 
 Assistant Justices — A. D. Smith, 0. Cole. 
 Ckrk — La Fayette Kellogg. 
 
 JUDGES OP CIRCUIT COURTS. 
 
 First Circuit — JoujJ M. Keep, Beloit 
 Second " A. \V. Randall, AVaukesha. 
 
 Third " C. U. Larrabee, Horicon. 
 
 Fourth " W- R. Gorsline, Sheboygan. 
 
 Fifth " M. M. CoTHREN, Mineral Point. 
 
 Sixth " George G.u,e, La Crosse. 
 Seventh " George W. Cate, Stevens Point. 
 
 Eighth « S. S. N. Fuller, Hudson 
 
 JVinth " A. L. Collins, Madison. 
 Tenth " S. R. Cotton, Green Bay. 
 
 U. S. District Judge — ANDREVf Miller. 
 
 " Attorney — Don A. J. Upham. 
 
 UNITED STATES SENATORS. 
 
 Hon. Charles Durkee, Windsor. 
 Hon. James R. Doolittle, Racine. 
 
 REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS. 
 
 First District— J OBii F. Potter, East Troy. 
 Second " C- C. Washbdrne, iNrmeral Point. 
 
 2hird " C. BiLUNGUUBST, Juneau. 
 
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 State TJmversitt, located at Madison, has a fund of $311,000, drawing 7 per cent, 
 interest; and this fund will soon be increased to at least $350,000 by the disposition 
 of the remainder of the University lands granted by Congress. Its annual income 
 will soon amount, from this source, to $25,000, and probably some $5000 from stu- 
 dent's fees and other sources. 
 
 Common ScnooLS. — By the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, it 
 appears that the total amount of the School Fund, on the 1st of January, 1857, waa 
 $2,047,903 74. 
 
 The State Historical Society, at Madison, possesses a library of over 3120 vol- 
 umes; besides a large number of maps and engraviugis; a fine collection of oil 
 paintings, chiefly portraits of early pioneers and prominent men; together with 
 many valuable memoirs of our early history. 
 
 Wisconsin Institute for the Education op the Blint>, Janesville. — This Institu- 
 tion was opened August 1st, 1850, and is in a highly flourishing condition. 
 
 Deaf and Dumb Institute, DeXavan, Walworth County. — This Institution was esta- 
 blished in 1852. Buildings have been erected to accommodate 60 pupils. The charge 
 to pupils of other States is $100 pet annum for tuition and board. 
 
 State Prison, at Wampum, Fond du Lac County. — The labor of the convicts is let 
 out by contract, at rates from 48 to 60 cents a day, 25 cents a day being allowed for 
 apprentices. 
 
 State Agricultural Society is located at Madison. It receives $3000 annually 
 from the State, 
 
 Banks. — The number of Banks organized and doing business in the State, on the 
 1st of January, 1857, was 50, the a'ggregate capital of which was $3,290,000. The reve- 
 nue to t\\e State arising from the tax on banking capital, in 1856, was $37,564 09, 
 The total amount of countersigned notes issued to Banks and outstanding, in Janu- 
 ary last, was $1,950,967. Amount of securities on deposit with the Bank Comp- 
 troller, to redeem outstanding notes, $2,208,476. 
 
 Public Lands. — The amount of public lands disposed of by entry and location, up 
 to June 30th, 1S56, was 9,066,912 26-100 acres. The following is a list of the Land 
 Offices, with the names of the Registers and Receivers, viz. : — 
 
 Mineral Point Joel C. Squires, Register Henry Plowman, Receiver. 
 
 Manasha John A. Bryan, " Benjamin II. Mooers, " 
 
 Eau Claire W. T. (ialloway, " M. B. Bouden, " 
 
 Hud.son T. Rush Spencer, " James D. Hcyment, '* 
 
 Stevens Point Abraham Brawley, " Albert G. Elli.s, " 
 
 La Cros.s« Charles S.Benton, " Theodore Rodolf, " 
 
 Superior Daniel Shaw, " Eliab B. Dean, Jr., '* 
 
 (304) 
 
LIST OF POST-OFFICES 
 
 IN THE 
 
 STATE OF WISCONSIN, 
 
 Arranged Al^hahelically in Counties. 
 
 Adams County. 
 
 Big Spring. 
 
 Davis' Corners. 
 
 Dell Prairie. 
 
 Edna. 
 
 Fountain. . 
 
 Germantown. 
 
 Grand Marsh. 
 
 Jackson. 
 
 Little Lake. 
 
 Maugh's Mills. 
 
 Mill Haven. 
 
 Necediih. 
 
 Kew Chester. 
 
 One Mile Creek. 
 
 Point Bluff. 
 
 Preston. 
 
 Pilot Knob. 
 
 Quincy. 
 
 Roche-a-Cri. 
 
 Seven Mile Creek. 
 
 Twin Valley. 
 
 White Creek. 
 
 Wonewoc. 
 
 Bad Ax County. 
 
 Avalanche. 
 Bad Ax. 
 Coon Prairie. 
 Debello. 
 De Iroto. 
 Harmony. 
 Hi 11. < bo rough. 
 Kickapoo. 
 New Biookville. 
 Retreat. 
 
 Bad Ax Co. — Continued. 
 Newville. 
 River Side. 
 Romance. 
 Victory . 
 Tiroqua. 
 Weister. 
 Warner's Landing. 
 
 Brown County. 
 
 De. Pere (oh.). 
 Fort Howard. 
 Fremont. 
 Green Bay. 
 Mukwa. 
 New Franken. 
 Oneida. 
 Wequiot. 
 Wrights town. 
 
 Buffalo County. 
 
 Alma. 
 Fountain City. 
 
 Calumet County. 
 
 Brillion. 
 
 Charlestown. 
 
 Chilton. 
 
 Dundas. 
 
 Hi-h Clifif. 
 
 Lynn. 
 
 New Holstein. 
 
 Pequot. 
 
 Stockbridge. 
 
 CMppewa County. 
 
 Chippewa City. 
 Chippewa Falls. 
 Clear Water. 
 Menominee. 
 
 Clark County. 
 
 Clark C H. 
 Wedges Creek. 
 
 Columbia County. 
 
 Arlington. 
 Basin Lake. 
 Beaver Creek. 
 Bellefountain. 
 Cambria. 
 Centreville. 
 Columbus. 
 Courtland. 
 Bekorra. 
 East Handolph. 
 Fall River. 
 Hampden. 
 Leeds. 
 Lodi. 
 Lowville. 
 Marcel Ion. 
 New Haven. 
 Newport. 
 Oshaukuta. 
 Otseo-o. 
 Pacific. 
 Pardeeville. 
 Pigeon Grove. 
 ( 306 ) 
 
306 
 
 LIST OF POST-OFFICES. 
 
 Cdumhia Co. — Continued. 
 Portajre City. 
 Port ilope. 
 roj'iiett. 
 
 Bandolph Centre. 
 Rio. 
 
 Rocky Run. 
 SlioiieaW. 
 ■NVe.Uli Prairie. 
 Wyocena. 
 
 Crawford County. 
 
 Bell Center. 
 
 Eastman. 
 
 Hill's Valley. 
 
 Marietta. 
 
 Slount Sterling. 
 
 Ocena. 
 
 Prairie du Chien. 
 
 Rising Sun. 
 
 Seneca. 
 
 Sprintrrille. 
 
 Stockvillc. 
 
 Wattering Grove. 
 
 Dane County. 
 
 AlMon. 
 
 Ancient, 
 
 Ashton. 
 
 Belleville. 
 
 Berry. 
 
 Beverly. 
 
 Black Earth. 
 
 Blue Mound. 
 
 Burke. 
 
 Cambridge. 
 
 Christiana. 
 
 Cottage Grova. 
 
 Cross Plains. 
 
 Dane. 
 
 Peerfii'ld. ' 
 
 Door Creek. 
 
 Dunkirk. 
 
 Eolia. 
 
 Fitclihurgh. 
 
 Grand Spring. 
 
 Ilauchettville. 
 
 Lake View. 
 
 Leicester. 
 
 Madison. 
 
 Mazo Manie. 
 
 Middletou. 
 
 Jlount Vernon. 
 
 Oregon. 
 
 Pcirccville. 
 
 Pine Bluff. 
 
 Pleasant Branch. 
 
 Primrose. 
 
 Roxbury. 
 
 Dane Co. — Coniinued. 
 Rutland. 
 Spring Dale. 
 Stoner's I'rairie. 
 Stoughton. 
 Sun I'rairie. 
 Sweet Home. 
 Utica. 
 Verona. 
 Westport. 
 AViudsor. 
 York. 
 
 Dodge County. 
 
 Ashipun. 
 
 Beaver Dam. 
 
 Burnett. 
 
 Chester. 
 
 Chester Station. 
 
 Clyman. 
 
 East Lomira. 
 
 Elba. 
 
 Emmett. 
 
 Farniersville. 
 
 Fox Lake. 
 
 Hermann. 
 
 Horicon. 
 
 Hustisford. 
 
 Iron Ridge. 
 
 Juneau. 
 
 Le Roy. 
 
 Lomira. 
 
 Lowell. 
 
 Mayville. 
 
 Napasha. • 
 
 Neosho. 
 
 Oak Grove. 
 
 Portland. 
 
 Rubicon. 
 
 Theresa. 
 
 Woodland. 
 
 Door County. 
 
 Sturgeon Bay. 
 "Washington Harbor. 
 
 Douglass County. 
 Superior. 
 
 Dunn County. 
 
 North I'epin. 
 Ogalla. 
 
 Fond du Lac County. 
 
 Alcove. 
 Alto. 
 
 Fond du Lac Co. — Cont^d. 
 Ash ford. 
 Auburn. 
 Black Hawk. 
 Bothelle. 
 Brandon. 
 Byron. 
 
 Calumet Tillage. 
 Ceresco. 
 Dotyville. 
 Eden. 
 El Dorado. 
 Empire. 
 Fair Water. 
 Fond du Lac. 
 Foster. 
 Hinesberg. 
 Junius. 
 Ladoga. 
 Lamartine. 
 Mary town. 
 Metomen. 
 Moria. 
 Murone. 
 Nanaupa. 
 Newfaue. 
 Oakfield. 
 Oceola. 
 Kosendale. 
 Rush Lake. 
 Taycheeda. 
 Waucousta. 
 Wawpuh. 
 West Kosendale. 
 
 Grant County. 
 
 Beetown. 
 
 Block House Mills. 
 
 Bunker Hill. 
 
 Cassville. 
 
 Charlotte. 
 
 Dickeysville. 
 
 Ellenboro'. 
 
 Fair Play. 
 
 Fennimore. 
 
 Hazel Green. 
 
 Hickory Grove. 
 
 Hurricane Grove. 
 
 Jamestown. 
 
 Lancaster (c.h.). 
 
 Little Grant. 
 
 Millville. 
 
 Moutfort. 
 
 Mount Hope. 
 
 Muscoda. 
 
 New California. 
 
 Patch Grove. 
 
 Platteville. 
 
 Plum Grove. 
 
 Potosi. 
 
LIST OF POST-OFFICES, 
 
 
 Grant Co. — Cojitinited. 
 Rockville. 
 Siiint Rose. 
 Smeltzer's Grore. 
 Tafion. 
 ■\Vaslibvirn. 
 WyalusiDg. 
 
 Green County. 
 
 Albany. 
 
 Attica. 
 
 Bern. 
 
 Brooklyn. 
 
 Cadiz. 
 
 Clarence. 
 
 Dayton. 
 
 Decatur. 
 
 Exeter. 
 
 Farmer's Grove.. 
 
 Hoosick. 
 
 Jordan. 
 
 Juda. 
 
 Monroe (c.h.). 
 
 Monticello. 
 
 Worefield. 
 
 Nevada. 
 
 New Glarus. 
 
 Shuey's Mills 
 
 Skinner. 
 
 Spring; Grove 
 
 Sylvester. 
 
 Walnut Springs. 
 
 Willet. 
 
 Iowa County. 
 
 Arena. 
 
 Clyde. 
 
 Constance. 
 
 Dodgeville. 
 
 Dover, 
 
 Helena. 
 
 Highland. 
 
 Jeunieton. 
 
 Linden 
 
 "iMifflin. 
 
 Blineral Point. 
 
 BIoscow. 
 
 Bidgevray. 
 
 >Vyoming. 
 
 Jackson County. 
 
 Black River Falls. 
 Canton. 
 Wei rose. 
 Wound Springs. 
 North Bend. 
 I'ine Hill. 
 Pole Grove. 
 Koaring Creek. 
 Smith's Ferry. 
 
 Jefferson County. 
 
 Aztalan. 
 
 Bark River. 
 
 Cold Spring. 
 
 Concord. 
 
 Farmington. 
 
 Fort Atkinson. • 
 
 Golden Lake. 
 
 Hubbleton. 
 
 Ilelenville, 
 
 Ixonia. 
 
 Jeflhson (c.h.). 
 
 .Johnson's Creek. 
 
 Koskonong. 
 
 Lake Mills. 
 
 Milford. 
 
 Oak Hill. 
 
 Oakland. 
 
 Palmyra. 
 
 Rome. 
 
 Sullivan. 
 
 Transit. 
 
 AVaturloo. 
 
 Watertown. 
 
 Kenosha County. 
 
 Brighton. 
 
 Bristol. 
 
 Cypress. 
 
 Kenosha. 
 
 Liberty. 
 
 Marion. 
 
 Paris. 
 
 Salem. 
 
 Wheatland. 
 
 Wilmot. 
 
 Kewaunee County. 
 
 Kewaunee. 
 
 La Crosse County. 
 
 Bangor. 
 Burns. 
 Burr Oak. 
 Half Way Creek. 
 La Crosse. 
 Windoro. 
 Neshonoc. 
 Onalaska. 
 
 La Fayette County. 
 
 Arsvle. 
 Bashford. 
 Benton. 
 Cottage Inn. 
 Darlington. 
 
 La Croxsp, Co, — Continued. 
 
 Elk Grove. 
 
 Fayette. 
 
 Georgetown. 
 
 Gratiot. 
 
 New Diggings. 
 
 Shullsburgh. 
 
 SpafTord. 
 
 White Oak Spring. 
 
 Wiota. 
 
 Yellow Stone. 
 
 La Pointe County. 
 
 La Pointe. 
 
 Odanah. 
 
 Whittlesey. 
 
 Manitowoc County. 
 
 Branch. 
 
 Clark's Mills. 
 
 Cooperstown. 
 
 Eaton. 
 
 Francis Creek. 
 
 Hika. 
 
 Manitowoc. 
 
 Manitowoc Rapids. 
 
 Maple Grove. 
 
 Meeme. 
 
 jMishicot. 
 
 Neshoto. 
 
 Newtonburgh. 
 
 Niles. 
 
 Two Rivers 
 
 Marathon County. 
 
 Knowlton. 
 Little Bull Falls. 
 Wausau (c.h.). 
 
 Marquette County. 
 
 Berlin. 
 
 Dartford. 
 
 Germania. 
 
 Grand Prairie. 
 
 Green Lake. 
 
 Greenwood. 
 
 Harrisville. 
 
 Kingston. 
 
 La Cote St. Marie. 
 
 Lake Maria. 
 
 :Mlntyre Creek. 
 
 >Lackford. 
 
 Blarkesau. 
 
 Marquette. 
 
 INIontello. 
 
 Moundville. 
 
308 
 
 LIST OF POST-OFFICES. 
 
 Marquette Co. — Continued. 
 Keslikoro. 
 Newton. 
 Ordino. 
 Oxford. 
 Pakwaukee. 
 Pine Kiver. 
 Princeton. 
 Kock Ilil]. 
 Koslin. 
 Stone Hill. 
 Thchorah. 
 ■\Vestfield. 
 West Green Lake. 
 
 Milwaukee County. 
 
 Butler. 
 Davis. 
 Franklin. 
 Good Hope. 
 Granville. 
 Greenfield. 
 Hale's Corners. 
 Lamberton. 
 Milwaukee. 
 New Berlin. 
 Now Keoln. 
 Oak Creek. 
 Root Creek. 
 Ten Mile House. 
 "W'auwatosa. 
 "West Granville. 
 
 Monroe County. 
 
 Anoielo. 
 
 Bisi Valley. 
 
 Clifton. 
 
 Glendale. 
 
 Jacksonville. 
 
 Leon. 
 
 Mount Pisgah. 
 
 Puckwaua. 
 
 Kidireville. 
 
 Sjiarla. 
 
 Tomah. 
 
 Oconto County. 
 
 Clarksvillc. 
 Marriiiette. 
 Oconto. 
 Stiles. 
 
 Outagamie County. 
 
 .Aiiplcton. 
 
 Kllinsrton. 
 
 Freedom. 
 
 Greenville. 
 
 Hortonville. 
 
 Outagamie Co. — Ccmtintied 
 
 Kaukauna. 
 
 Keshena. 
 
 Lansing:. 
 
 Little Chute. 
 
 Medina. 
 
 Sliaw-wu-no. 
 
 Shiocton. • 
 
 Wakefield. 
 
 Ozaukee County. 
 
 Cedar burgh. 
 Fredonia. 
 Freistadt. 
 Grafton. 
 Mequon River. 
 Ozaukee. 
 Sauk villa. 
 Ulao. 
 
 Pierce County. 
 
 Clifton Mills. 
 Diamond Bluff. 
 Pleasant Tiew. 
 Prescdtt (c.h.). 
 River Falls. 
 Trim Belle. 
 
 Polk County. 
 
 Osceola Mills. 
 
 Portage County. 
 
 Almond. 
 Ba direr. 
 Buena Vista. 
 Eau Pleine. 
 Grand Kaijids. 
 Iron Creek. 
 Lone Pine. 
 Madely. 
 Flover (c.h.). 
 Saratoga. 
 Stevens Point. 
 
 Racine County. 
 
 Burlington. 
 
 Caldwell Prairie. 
 
 Caledonia. 
 
 Caledonia Centre. 
 
 Dcnoon. 
 
 Ives' Grove. 
 
 Kansasville. 
 
 Mount Pleasant 
 
 Norway. 
 
 Pan Van. 
 
 Racine. 
 
 Raymond. 
 
 Racine Co.—ConiimiecU 
 Roche«!ter. 
 South Bristol. 
 Sylvania. 
 Trowbridge. 
 Union Grove. 
 M'aterford. 
 Wliitesville. 
 Yorkville. 
 
 Richland County. 
 
 Ashland. 
 
 Buckeye. 
 
 Cazenovia. 
 
 Cincinnati. 
 
 Fancy Creek. 
 
 Forest. 
 
 Loyd. 
 
 Melanchthon Creek. 
 
 Neptune. 
 
 Orion. 
 
 Port Andrew. 
 
 Richland Centre. 
 
 Richland City. 
 
 Rockbridge. 
 
 Sextonville. 
 
 A'iola. 
 
 West Branch. 
 
 Woodstock. 
 
 Rock County. 
 
 Afton. 
 
 Avon. 
 
 Bass Creek. 
 
 Beloit. 
 
 Center. 
 
 Clinton. 
 
 Cooksville. 
 
 Kdgerton. 
 
 Emerald Grove. 
 
 Evansville. 
 
 Fairfield. 
 
 Footville. 
 
 Fulton. 
 
 Inmaiisville. 
 
 Janesville. 
 
 .lohnstown. 
 
 .lohnstown Centre. 
 
 Ley den. 
 
 Lima Centre. 
 
 Magnolia. 
 
 •Milton. 
 
 Nidaros. 
 
 Osborn. 
 
 Rock Prairie. 
 
 Shopiere. 
 
 Spring Valley. 
 
 Suninierville. 
 
 Teotsa. 
 
 Union. 
 
LIST OP POST-OFFICES. 
 
 309 
 
 St. Croix County. 
 
 Baker's Station. 
 Brookville. 
 Falls of St. Croix. 
 Hudson. 
 
 Kinnick Kinuick. 
 Somerset. 
 
 Sauk County. 
 
 Barahoo (c.h..). 
 
 Dellona. 
 
 Delton. 
 
 Garrison. 
 
 Giddings. 
 
 Ilarrisburg. 
 
 Jonesville. 
 
 Laval ie. 
 
 Loganyille. 
 
 Marston. 
 
 Merrimack. 
 
 Otterville. 
 
 Prairie Du Sac. 
 
 Reedsbiirg. 
 
 Howell's Mills. 
 
 Kussell's Corners. 
 
 Saudiisky. 
 
 Sauk City. 
 
 Spi'ing Green. 
 
 "VVilsou's Creek. 
 
 Shawana County. 
 Embarras. 
 
 Shelioygan County. 
 
 Adell. 
 
 Beech Wood. 
 
 Cascade. 
 
 Cedar Grove. 
 
 Edwards. 
 
 Elkhart. 
 
 Gibbville. 
 
 Greenbush. 
 
 Hingham. 
 
 Howard's Grove. 
 
 Onion River. 
 
 Plymouth. 
 
 Rath bun. 
 
 Russell. 
 
 Scott. 
 
 Sheboyr/an (c.h.), 
 
 Sheboygan Ifalls. 
 
 "VYinooski. 
 
 Tempelean County. 
 
 Gatesville. 
 
 Montoville. 
 
 Sumner 
 
 Walworth County. 
 
 Adams. 
 
 Allen's Grove. 
 
 Big Foot Prairie. 
 
 Bioomfield. 
 
 Darien. 
 
 Del a van. 
 
 East Troy, 
 
 Elk Horn (c.h.). 
 
 Geneva. 
 
 Geneva Bay. 
 
 Grove. 
 
 Heart Prairie. 
 Houey Creek. 
 
 La Fayette. 
 
 La Grange. 
 
 Little Prairie. 
 
 Lyons. 
 
 Millard. 
 
 Richmond. 
 
 Sharon. 
 
 South Grove. 
 
 Springfield. 
 
 Spring Prairie. 
 
 State Line. 
 
 Sugar Creek. 
 
 Tirade. 
 
 Troy. 
 
 Troy Centre. 
 
 Troy Lakes. 
 
 Utter Corners. 
 
 Vienna. 
 
 Walworth. 
 
 Westville. 
 
 White Water. 
 
 Washington County. 
 
 Addison. 
 
 Aurora. 
 
 Barton. 
 
 Boltonville. 
 
 Cedar Creek. 
 
 Fillmore, 
 
 Hartford. 
 
 Kewaskum. 
 
 Meeker. 
 
 Newburgh. 
 
 Richfield. 
 
 Schleisingerville. 
 
 Staatsville, 
 
 Station. 
 
 Toland's Prairie. 
 
 Wayne. 
 
 West Bend. 
 
 Young Hickory. 
 
 Waukesha County. 
 
 Big Bend. 
 Brookfield. 
 
 Waul'esJia Co.—Conlinued. 
 
 Brookfield Centre. 
 
 Delafield. 
 
 Dodge's Corners. 
 
 Dousman. 
 
 DupUiinville. 
 
 Eagle. 
 
 Genesee, 
 
 Hartland. 
 
 Lake Five. 
 
 Lannon Springs. 
 
 Lisbon. 
 
 Maple ton. 
 
 Marcy. 
 
 Menominee Falls. 
 
 Merton. 
 
 Mouches, 
 
 Monterey. 
 
 Mukwonago. 
 
 Mugkego Centre. 
 
 North Prairie Station. 
 
 Oconomowock. 
 
 Okauchee. 
 
 Ottowa. 
 
 Pew auk ee. 
 
 Pine Lake. 
 
 Prospect Hill. 
 
 South Genesee. 
 
 Summit. 
 
 Sussex. 
 
 Vernon. 
 
 Waterville. 
 
 Waukesha. 
 
 Welsh. 
 
 Waupaca County. 
 
 Crystal Lake, 
 
 Evanswood. 
 
 Hobart's Mills. 
 
 Lind. 
 
 New London, 
 
 North Royalton. 
 
 Ogdensbnrgh. 
 
 Readfield. 
 
 Rural. 
 
 Scandinavia. 
 
 Waupaca. 
 
 Waushara County. 
 
 Adario. 
 
 Blurton, 
 
 Cedar Lake. 
 
 Coloma. 
 
 Corfu. 
 
 Dakota. 
 
 Hancock. 
 
810 
 
 LIST OF POST-OFICES. 
 
 Waushara Co. — Omtinued. 
 
 Lincoln. 
 
 Jlount Morris. 
 
 Oasis. 
 
 Toy Sippi. 
 
 I'liiinfield. 
 
 Saoraniento. 
 
 ?axi'ville. 
 
 Silver l^ake. 
 
 Ppriii'jT Lake. 
 
 "W a u torn a. 
 
 "VViilow Creek. 
 
 Winnebago County. 
 
 Alicnnia. 
 
 Black Wolf. 
 
 Butte des Morts. 
 
 Campbell. 
 
 Delhi. 
 
 Eureka. 
 
 Fisk's Corners. 
 
 Groveland. 
 
 Koro. 
 
 Menapha. 
 
 Neeuah. 
 
 Winnebago Co. — OonPd, 
 Nepeupkun, 
 Nek a ma. 
 Omro. 
 Oshkosh. 
 I'owaickum. 
 Vinland. 
 ^Vaukau. 
 AVeelaunee. 
 Weyauweya. 
 Winchester. 
 Winneconne 
 
 For the foregoing List we are indebted to J. 11. Colton & Co 'g Oenerai Post-Office 
 Directory. 
 
LIST OF NEWSPAPERS IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. 
 
 Place County. 
 
 Appleton Outagamie 
 
 Baraboo ^ Sauk 
 
 " " Democrat 
 
 '* " Republic. 
 
 Bayfield La Pointe 
 
 Beaver Dam Dodge 
 
 Name of Paper. 
 Crescent. 
 Standard. 
 
 Bayfield Mercury, 
 Republican Journal. 
 
 " Sentinel. 
 
 Beloit Rock.. 
 
 Ferlin Marquette 
 
 Ceresco Fond du Lac. 
 
 Columbus Columbia 
 
 Elkhorn Walworth., 
 
 Fond du Lac Fond du Lac. 
 
 Journal. 
 
 Collegian. 
 
 Courant. 
 
 Home. 
 
 River Times. 
 
 Republican JournaL 
 
 Reporter. 
 
 Reporter. 
 
 Independent. 
 
 Herald. 
 
 Union. 
 
 Freeman. 
 
 Fountain City. 
 
 Times. 
 
 Advocate. 
 
 Express. 
 
 North Star. 
 
 Gazette. 
 
 Fox Lake Dodge 
 
 Green Bay Brown. .«. 
 
 Geneva Walworth 
 
 Hudson St. Croix 
 
 Janesville Rock 
 
 " " Standard. 
 
 " " Free Press. 
 
 " " Farmer. 
 
 " " Educational Journal, 
 
 Jefferson Jefferson... 
 
 Jeffersonian. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Burr Oak. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Tribune and Telegraph. 
 
 Herald. 
 
 Patriot. 
 
 Juneau Dodge 
 
 Kenosha Kenosha 
 
 Kenosha Kenosha 
 
 Lancaster Grant 
 
 Madison Dane 
 
 " " Farmer. 
 
 " " Argus and Democrat. 
 
 " " State Journal. 
 
 ff jj j Den Norsk e Americanerj 
 ' t (Norwegian.) 
 
 " " Staats Zeitung. 
 
 " " Madison Zeitung. 
 
 " " Western Fireside. 
 
 Manitouwoc Manitouwoc 
 
 Tribune. 
 Herald. 
 
 Democrat (German). 
 Nord Western CGerman) 
 (311) 
 
y/g 
 
 312 
 
 
 NEWSPAPERS, 
 
 Place. 
 
 ^<- 
 
 County. 
 
 Menasha... i. Winnebago. 
 
 Mjklwaukee Milwaukee. 
 
 Mineral Point Iowa., 
 
 Name of Paper. 
 Advocate. 
 Free Democrat. 
 Daily Wisconsin. 
 Daily Sentinel. 
 Morning News. 
 Banner. 
 See Bote. 
 Tribune. 
 
 Ozaukee Ozaukee.... 
 
 Plattville Grant 
 
 Plover Portage..,. 
 
 Portage , Columbia., 
 
 " " Democrat. 
 
 INIonroe.... Green Sentinel. 
 
 Oskosh Winnebago Democrat. 
 
 " « Courier. 
 
 , Phoenix (German). 
 
 Advertiser. 
 
 Independent American. 
 
 , Herald. 
 
 Badger State. 
 
 " " , Republic. 
 
 Port Washington Ozaukee Advertiser. 
 
 " " Zeitung (German). 
 
 " " Republican. 
 
 Prairie du Chien Crawford Courier. 
 
 « « Patriot. 
 
 Prescott Pierce Wisconsin. 
 
 Racine Racine Advocate. 
 
 '' " Democrat. 
 
 « « KirkTidenbe. 
 
 Richland Centre Richland Observer. 
 
 Ripon Fond du Lac 1 Herald. 
 
 Sauk City Sauk Pioneer. 
 
 Sheboygan Sheboygan Evergreen City Times. 
 
 " " Lake Journal. 
 
 " " Republicaner (German). 
 
 Minmus Boett (German). 
 
 Herald. 
 
 Pick and Gad. 
 
 Superior Chronicle. 
 
 , Democrat. 
 
 Chronicle. 
 
 An zieger (German). 
 
 Register. 
 
 Spirit. 
 
 Weganawegan. 
 
 ShuUsburg. La Fayette. 
 
 Superior Douglas... 
 
 Watertown Jefferson. 
 
 Waupacca Waupacca. 
 
 Weganwega " 
 
 Whitewater 
 
 Walworth Gazette. 
 
 Note, — The Author returns thanks to the Press generally for past favors, and would request a continuance 
 of their kindness for Ihe future, by forwarding him copies of their papei'S containing important local infor. 
 matinn, care of the Publisher, by which be will be enabled to post up more fully on the various localitiea, 
 in future editions. 
 
 THE END.