Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-02-07
For the Wisconsin Herald
The Country arfh OF the Wiscan 4,

The Country North of the Wisconsin.
Mn. EDITOR The prevailing (and one is
almos. tempted to think) stubborn ignorance Of
the public mind, after so much has been said,
written and published, relative TO the country
between the Wisconsin River End Lake Su-
perior, is both amusing and painful. have
been repeatedly asked by men Of respectable
intelligence from the eastern part of the Ter.
ritory, even as far or farther nonh than Mil.
waukie, whether potatoes and corn would grow
at Prairie du CHEN! asked ore gentleman
from Milwaukee, who was making such inquir.
les, how far he supposed Prairie da Chen was
north Of Milwaukee, He thought one or two
degrees. Bot on being referred 10 the map
and finding that line due east ant west runs
through both places, he was utterly aston.
ished.
The prevailing opinion east Of US, is, that
this northern country is made up of Hills and
swamps, each of which covers the entire sur
face. or nearly so. One Hon. member of the
Council lately said. in his place, that 40 had
made one trip to the Kickapoo country. lot did
not see level ground enough for farra. and
hardly enough to spread his ten, upon Now
the truth is If he saw the Kickapoo At all
(which is loublfuD he mus, have seen one of
the richest bottoms the world affords, of from
ooe.fourth OF mile to a mile in width and
the tops of the hills. except a. the very brows
OF them will generally afford room for fields
of from forty to one hundred acres sufficiently
level for farms. If such land could no, afford
him room for his tent. il must be a large one
But commenced this TO give you an ex.
tract of letter from ]. W. Bass, dated Chip.
pewa Falls, Dec. 18th, 1915, which. perhaps
may as,onish the " natives" if not our eastern
neighbors.
Mr.. Hays, from La Poin,e. has been here
for two weeks, and returns to-day. He came
through on The road you opened in is43, and
says il is so much shorter and better than the
road from La Ponte TO ST. Croix, that there is
no comparison between ihem. He is doing
TO Prairie du CHEN; and he thinks one half
of your estimated cost (Sl0.000) will make
good road. Mr.. Warren has travelled from
this place to La Poinie on foot, and carried his
blanket, In four days, and back in the same
length of time. An express came through 10
three days. They think the road can be short
ened at least thirty miles, when ii can be uav-
elled in three days.
The people on Lake Superior were estimated
last season a, 5000; they have nine vessels
now employed and tnore expected mex, season.
And Mr.. Hays thinks il this road was now
opened, and weekly stage on il, that the
travel back and forth, especially in the winter.
would be very great. as there is no other as
direct route to aud from that country. And
the distance from La Poinie TO Prairie du
Chen would no, be greater than it now is TO
ST. Croix. Petitions are in circulation al La
Pointe and a. this place, in favor of the road.
and we hope you will do the same at the
Prairie.
Mr.. Hays, being Indian Agent. has knowl.
edge Of Indian affairs, and he thinks that The
North Western shore of the Lake will be
bought Of the Indians next season, and says
thai hundreds Of miners are ready to go TO it
as soon as the Indian title is ex,nguished. as
it is reported to be the most valuable portion
Of the mineral region. The specimens already
found are such as TO induce the belief tina, i.
will throw Copper HarbOr and Esgle River
altogether into the shade.
VIVA, think you Of this, Mr.. Editor A
Milwaukee gentleman hearing i, said that there
were stages at Prairie du CHEN, exclaimed /:
"Wha,, DO you have stages at that place ~
Yes: and If Uncle Sam will make road from
this 10 La Poinie we shall soon have stage
roaming to tAGi place.
Copper has been discovered at different
points. on the route Of the contemplated road,
between this and the Lake. And at one place
pure silver was obtained, specimen Of which
l now have in my possession. The face of
the connuy from the Falls of Chippewa TO the
Lake very much resembles iha, Of the country
from Madison to Milwaukee. The land is
rolling, abounds with liule pure Lakes which
afford water power; the soil is good. Some
places are full Of granite boalGers. or Niger
keG8s, with now and then a tsmerse swamp.
The chief difference 10 the tSo districts. IS.
,ha, north. we have more pine, Sslssm snd
cedar tinbsr, and the soil is quite red, which