Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-06-17
THE HERALD.
LANCASTER, SATURDAY. JUNE II.
THE MINES.-No. 1.

topography, or description Of IFS general sur
face. By this means we can pass more safe
and understandingly from one locality to ano-
ther, and be able more readily TO perceive their
RELATIONSHIP short, we shall not be cropping
our way in the dark. With this design, we
shall commence with the bluffs Of The Missis.
sippi, as they are evidently the ruling, as well
as the mos, highly wrough: and distinctly
marked, of all the various and ever-varying
features Of the surface.
These bluffs rise from two hundred TO two
hundred and fifty feet in height, Sometimes
standing out in all the holiness cf broken
sea-cliff; and again, retiring to considerable
distance from the margin Of the river, the as
cent is more easy, grass-covered, and studded
with trees and shrubbery. Sometimes the
whole bluff is made up of regular succession
Of steps or benches; at others, one broad leaf
Of table.land spreads out at various distances
from the base, forming the only interruption in
m otherwise perpendicular elevation. The
strongest point Of relief, and the one which
often forms piece of highly imposing sceue-
ry, are the deep rnptures or shattered openings
by which the line Of bluff is frequently parted
or rent asunder.
As we leave the river in RICH, line, either
cas-, or west, our course is rapidly intercepted
by deep channels ploughed through the rock.
We will leave our direct line, to follow one of
these gaps to its origin or commencement
Perhaps brook of drninutive size is ripping
its way among huge blocks of detached rock,
that have been dislodged, by the action of fros.
and rains, from the jutling sides and sharp
points above. AS we progress, one after ano.
other Of tho sparkling springs arc passed, Of
which the brook we are tracing is formed; the
hills upon either side have become lessened in
height aud increased in slope, and vegetation
has supplied the place of rocky banenness.
The ravine up which we are passing (fer 1t is
now nothing more) is made the receptacle of a
fas, succession OF smaller ones. both constant.
ly decreasing in size and indentaiion, until they
are completely lost in the level of the ridge
beyond.
Rcsuming our right line, the ravines grsdu-
ally become less aud less in depth, the ridges
spread out wider and wider, and we begin 10
fancy that the general level Of the country is
gained, when suddenly the ground again be-
comes broken, the hills, torn and distorted, APP
pear heaped upon each other, the gush and
gurgle Of a rivulet is heard below, rocks are
,hrea.enipsly poised upon the peaks, others
have been displaced and hurled into the narrow
valley, more than a hundred feet below. We
are passed this barrier, and after crossing some
harsh points. hewn TO a variety of patterns, as
many ravines (perhaps in as many different
direcdous) carclessly and awkwardy excava-
ted, roughness rapidly gives place to uniform
i.y, the depressions become broad and shallow.
and tho whole surface wears the appearance of
high agricultural susceptibility. We have
now reached the predominant characteristic Of
The Mining District-a rolling county. With
Jus, sufficient, general descent to carry off the
surface waters handsomely, every square foo,
arabic, yes, highly productive, we are, at the
same time, surprised, as we pass along, a, the
unending variety and picturesque softness il
Indeed, many parts appear more
like well executed etching in picture. than
any result OF the ordinary workings of nature.
We have travelled. perhaps for miles, over
this description Of surface, when we find our
selves upon some main divide" or summit I
between two considerable water courses. We
will once more leave our right line, for the
purpose Of obtaining more accurate knowl-
edge Of these "divides," which are easily de-
Unable from the almos, exact level which they |
preserve. Blu, good loos-ou, ahead is requi-
site, or we will be following some lateral ridge
or spur, and never detec, our mistake, until, |
miles away from the ground we ought to have
taken. our path comes to an abrupt, blunt ter
mination- point of bluff facing. perhaps. one
OF those rivulets Of which we have spoken
We will no, turn towards southwest, for it
would only be to take survey of increasing
iuegulari,y, growing more wild and confused
as we advanced, until soon we would find our /
selves upon one of those topping, esagged
points Of the Mississippi bluffs, which over
looks. for miles, the peaceful meanders Of the
river below,
Bu, we will turn towards the northeast; and
as we 20 along, larger and still larger stretch
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