New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-07-14
From The Grant County Herald.
" iscOnsIn-Ifs Mines.

to devote one chapter to consideration of It's
topography, or description OF its general surface
By this means we can pass more safely and under
standlngly from one locality to another, and be
able more readily to perceive their relations-ln
short, we shall not be cropping our way in the
dark. With this design, we shall commence
with the bluffs OF the Mississippi as they are evil
IDENTIFY the ruling, as well as the most highly
wrought and distinctly marked, of all the various
and ever-varying features of the surface.
These bluffs rise from two hundred to two hun
dred and fifty feet in hight, sometimes standing
out in all the boldness of broken sea-ctf and
again retiring to a considerable distance from the
margin OF the river, the ascent is more easy,
grass covered, and studded with trees and shrub
berry. Sometimes the whole bluff is made up of
a regular succession of steps on benches: at 9TH
ers, one broad leaf Of table-land spreads out at
various distances from the base, forming the only
interruption IN an otherwise perpendicular ecva-
ton The strongest point Of relief, and the one
which often forms a piece of highly imposing
scenery, Is the deep ruptures or shattered open
lngs by which the line of bluff is frequently
parted or rent asundcr.
As We leave the river in right line, either
east or west, our course is rapidly interrupted by
deep channels ploughed through the rock. We
will leave our direct line, to follow one of these
gaps to It's origin or commencement. Perhaps
brook of dimlnutive size is rpplng It's way among
huge blocks of detached rock, that have been
disodgcd by the action Of frost and rains, from
the iuttng sides and sharp points above. As we
progress, after another OF the sparkling springs
arc passed, of which the brook we are tracing Is
formed: the hills upon either side have become
lcssencd in hight and increased in slope, and We
getation has supplied the place of rocky barren
ness. The ravlnc up which We are passing (tor
it is now nothing more is made the receptacle
of fast succession OF smaller ones, both con-
stantly decreasing in size and indentation, until
they are completely lost IN the level of the ridge
beyond.
Resuming our right line, the ravines gradually
become less and less in depth, the ridges spread
general level Of the country is gained, when sud
out wider and WIDER and we begin to fancy that the
denly the ground again becomes broken, the hills,
torn and distorted, appear heapcd upon each other,
the gllsh and gurglc of rvuet is heard below,
the rocks arc th-eaGcningly poised upon the peaks,
others have been displaced and hurled into the
narrow valley, more than hundred feet below.
We are passing this barrier, and after crossing
some harsh points, hcwn TO a variety of patterns,
many ravines perhaps in as many different
dircct!ons) carclessly and awkwardly excavated,
the roughness rapidly gives place to uniformity {;
the deprcssions become broad and shallow, and the
whole surface wears the appearance of high agrl-
cultural susceptibility. We have now reached
the prcdominatlng characteristic Of the Mining
Distrct--a rolling country. With Just sufficient
general descent to carry off the surface wa
tiers handsomely. every square foot arabic. yes.
highly productive, we are, at the same time, sur
prlscd, Us VIC pass along, at the unending variety
and picturesque soltncss 1t comprises. Indeed
many parts appear more like well executed ctch-
ings 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 ourselves upon some main "dlvide' or
summit between two considerable water courses.
We will once more leave our right line, for the
purpose Of obtaining more accurate knowledge
Of these " divides" which are easily definabe
from the almost exact level which they preserve.
But good lookout ahead is requisite, or we will
be following some lateral ridge or spur and never
detect our mistake until, miles away from the
ground we ought to have taken, our path comes
10 an abrupt blunt termination-a point of bluff
facing, perhaps, one Of these rivulets of which
we have spoken. We will not turn toward south
west, for ii would only be to take survey of in
crcasing irregularity, growing more wild and
confused as we advanced, until soon VIC would
find ourselves upon one of those topping cragged
points of the Mississippi bluffs, which overlook,
for miles, the peaceful mcanders Of the river
below.
But we will turn toward the northeast: and
as we 90 along, larger and still larger stretch Of
country, rich in soil and mellow in scenery, opens
before us. Upon either side, and at short dis
tances only, we can cast our eye down some long
line of gentle depression, with other and smaller
ones all the while opening into it, the rises be-
tween which appear actually TO interlock. The
encroachments that these main deprcssons make
upon our road, render it quite serpentine, often
forming heavy, and sometimes even right angles
to the general direction OF the ridge. AS we adj
vance still further, the scope Of undulating coun
try becomes more and more extended, until the
.. divide" which we have followed for many
miles, is imperccptibv lost in another and gene
rally more important one, running, perhaps, in a
counter direction to it.
II we were TO return again to the line upon
which we left the river, it would only be to OBJ
serve the same features of surface, again and
again displayed, except that the bluffs of each
successive tributary of the Mississippi, would be
found less bold and precipitous, and that the
country beyond sooner regained its general eleva-
ton and uniformity; and would finally find our
selves more fat;gned with monotony, than we
had before been with exertion in c!anlbering over
the country adjacent to the great g Father OF
waters.
rALC!NED PLASTER-The subscribers,
u Age:s the sale Of Prospect Mills superior quality Cal
cins Plaster, have hand and constantly receiving nli
supply. 49,, c,,., -. ,,d H..
be eyer-d aiioat without cag. and The