Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-03-14
For she Wisconsin Herald
The Chippewa Country.


Mr.. EDiToR:-When replying to
Mr.. Brunson's article on the ssCoun-
try North Of the Wisconsin," / hard
ly expected to call down upon my de-
voted head the whole vengence Of that
gentleman, in an article occupying
nearly four columns Of your paper.
But as I am not yet totally annihila-
ted, and as my object from the begin
ing, was the same as that expressed by
Mr.. b., namely-to disabuse the pub
lie mind in regard to that country, l.
again ask the privilege Of brief re-
ply. / look upon many portions
of Mr.. Brunson's last article as wholly
personal, and considering such in a
public discussion not on4y ungentle-
manly, but entirely destitute of inter-
lest to your readers; therefore my an
swer to those parts may be summed up
las follows:-There seems to be an is
sue Joined upon two points-the navi-
gability ofthe Chippewa river, and the
adaptation of the country in question
Ito farming purposes. The peculiar
kind of logic Mr.. Brunson uses in ma
king my assertion that the "falls Of
Chippewa is just abors as much the
head of navigation on that river, as
BARRIERS mill is on Grant," mean, that
the two streams arc OF equal size, is
best known to himself. But so it is,
and by simply changing the rule, we
find that streams of the same size, are
all navigable--a fact which, when gen.
orally known, will be productive Of
very beneficial results. However well
Mr.. hrunson may be able to sustain a
position Of this kind and it is certainly
one peculiarly his own, as no perver-
sion Of language ever construed my re-
mark into such meaningless must
beg leave to differ with him upon this
point.
Because a plank, a canoe or even
a raft drawing some five or six inches
of water can be foated from Barber's
mill or the falls of Chippewa to the
mouths Of those streams, it does not
necessarily follow that they ale nayi-
gable in the common acceptation of
the term, or that they are Of equal
size, although Mr.. Brunson intimates
as much. | am aware that the Chip
pewa river is navigable, generally
Throughout the summer for canoes of a
light draught. So is Grant. ! am
aware that there is sufficient depth Of
water in the Chippewa during the
spring freshet for steamboats,, did no
other obstacles prevent their running
up. So then is Grant. ! am also
aware that the Chippewa is navigable
for keel boats that could carry fifteen
tons, for / once went up it in one, and
Though there was not more than one
fourth that amount Of load on board,
we had to drag her over sand bars in
several places, and in one or two in
stances, to make two trips. / am fur
Their aware that this famous stream is
navigable for RATS, for ] once saw a
number Of them stuck on bar, where
nearly day of prying had not sufficed
to get them of-although they were
RATED but six plank deep. All these
/ admit; and if putting them together,
they make what IS commonly called
navigable stream, 81 acknowledge
the corn" This Chippewa seems to
be favorite stream Of Mr.. BPS, or at
least be expresses much feeling in re-
gard to its navigabiiity. But perhaps
this has something to do with his fu-
ture location of the seat of Govern
ment, thereby giving an opportunity
TO test his judgment.
There is, however, another test to
be applied. lnhis opirion ethe Chip
pewa river is as large and empties as
much water into the Mississippi as the
Wisconsin does" And this, after hss-
ing carefully examined both streams
II have consulted many persons on this
Subject who are acquainted with both,