Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-07-22
Communication.
FC, the Herald.
Chippeua FaAs, June 81, ls43.

and as relief from the gloomy picture
then gave Of the road through which, by the
error of our guide, we were led to travel.
will now inform you that from Black River TO
this place, a distance Of about seventy miles,
we found one of the best natural roads ever
saw. Ittook some time and pains to find il,
TO be sure, and few creeks crossed our path,
but much less than is common for new and
unexp lored country. presume we were the
| first white men who ever drove teams through
the same route; and though the road will no
doubt be improved and Strengthened, when a
I few bridges are built, and the face of the coun-
try better understood, yet, upon the whole,
there are but few roads through new counties
better than the one we travelled.
| Ehad expected some Indians to mark out
the route, but they were deferred from it by
the continued high waier-higher in this coun-
try than has been known by white men--and
it was supposed here. because we were SO
long on our way, that we had turned back
But they little understood the character of our
company for perseverance.
This route is through an almos. entire prai-
rie there being only few tbickeis TO cut
our way through. Having no guide or marks,
| started by the compass, as near north west
as the make Of the ground would admit Of
From Black River we wound our way up the
valleys of its tributary branches by gradual
ascen, for about eight miles, when we passed
a gap 10 the dividing ridge between the waters
of Black river and Mount Trompalau river.
From this gap we assembled the ridge and ira
yelled some seven miles and descended 10 the
valley. We should, as we afterwards found,
have kept down the valley from the gap to the
right keeping heridge on our right, and The
creek on the left, ill we reached the main val.
ley of The Mt. Trompalau, and then, bearing
north, went to the place where we finally had
10 cross the main river. Steering north Up
another branch Of The same river, we found a.
mother easy ascent over the ridge dividing the
waters OF the Nj. T:ompaau fiom those of the
La Clare-ihence down the valley Of branch
of the La Glare, iii we reached the main riv-
er, and thence down the main river, to good
crossing-thence up a sand ridge and valley
till we crossed The ridge between the La Glare
and the Chippewa. from the top Of which,
wc saw Mr. Wauen's barn, fifteen miles dis
tani, and FIVE miles north Of these falls, both
being in direct line, nearly due north from
us. We soon descended the ridge to a sandy
plain, left the lake to our left, thence turned
n. w. and left the plain at a point projecting
into the river bottom, and following trail
reached the falls. We ferried across this riv-
er on Durham boat, as we did at Black river.
But Mr.. Burnett has flat nearly finished, to
accommodate travellers.
We travelled abou. twenty miles in the Mt.
Trompalau valley-ab thirty in the valley
of the La Glare, and some eight or ten in the
valley of the Chippewa. The Mt. TromPa-
lau, where we crossed it, is about twenty feet
wide and four feet deep atths time, the whole
country being flooded, and several of its
branches six, eight, or len feet wide, had banks
three or -four feet deep, and all of them boggy
and mirey bottoms. Along these streams,
Irish turf or Yankee peet, can be found in
great quantities. The land is generally SAN
dy and Of poor quality. AT the head of every
stream we have passed since we descended
into The valley of Back river, is Tamarack
Swamp, the roots of which give the water
black cast and a bad taste.
In descending the valley Of the La Clare
jest at the poin, where we reached the main
river. we shoala have taken the sand plains
near the river. but not knowing the ground
and fearing swamps, we kept along the side
Of The ridge to our left. BY this means we
run into a swamp and had to go six miles
round to avoid it. If any future traveller Of
this road will mark this, be may avoid the
swamp by keeping near the river. was di-
rected BIZ the Indians 10 keep the timbered
country on my righ:, and travel 10 the prairie
found their directions correct, and no Une
should cross the La Glare ill he can see a
plain bush prairie ridge in the n. W., leaving
the timber TO the right
This country if full Of mounds Of fantastic
shapes, from the tops Of which we looked out
our road. The scenery is generally charming.
The elk and deer tracks were very numerous.
Some of,he company saw elk, bot we killed
none, having had butthe eating of'wo fine deer.
The La Glare. where we crossed il, is about
eighty yards wide, and being high, was four
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