The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-03-16
Correspondence of the Voice of Freedom.
MILWAUKEE, Feb. 18th, 1913.

MILWAUKEE, Feb. 18th, l84S.
Dear Voice:--As we have had no snow in this
country since the latter part Of last December and
and then but four inches, can say nothing abot't
seeing luxurious sleigh-riding, which l presume
many of the good people of Vermont have, as usual
INDUCED themselves with, But, ! have seen the in~
dustrous laborer fell the tall oak the hunter shoot
the praiYie her and chase the prairie wolf! On the
borders of Lake Michigan from Chicago to Green
Bay, the land is heavily tmbered, increasing in
width as you 60 north, being about fifty miles wide
at Shebovgan, aud one at Chicago. There is heavy
timber also on all the lar rivers in the Territory
In the timbered lands the Germans and Norwec ians
have mostly settled, and they have improved this
summary winter in clearing tleir grounds. There
is an immense forest of pine timber north Of She
boygan, running west to the Mississippi rver. The
new settler on the praires first constructs him log
house. then long log hove, on the top Of which he
stacks his hay, which makes very comfortable
made by ditcling and covering the raised earth with
sods But these sod fences are Objectionable on &C
count of their forming an excellent borough for
"gophers," q species Of squirrel which commit
great depredations Oh the corn fields | believe
most people in your section are not aware OF the
productiveness of capital invested in agriculture in
Wisconsin; and as gentleman has kindly furnished
me with items which may he relied upon will g'ye
them in figures.
Eighty acres of prairie was purchased, on which
was raised crop of wheat Eighty acres of la d
at 81 25 per acre, $lOO-fencing, s230-plowing,
S1CO-seed fors sowing, $75-sowing, S8-harrowing,
S9O-harvcsting $lJO-total expense, S6l3. The
eighty acres produced twcny-six bushels per acre,
making 1850 bushels. Deduct one-tenth for thresl-
ing, leaves 1872 bushels. This at as cents per
busheI, (Which is very low price at the tarms.l
amounted to $942,4 leaving clear gain Of $40 40
over and above blowing, fencing, sowing and paying
for the lard. While am writing this another gen
raised from it a crop of wheat, and cleared S4oC
over and above sl expenses.
There are many settlers, i: Is true, who have SUI
lered by hard fortunes in the eastern States, tina
commerce POOR but, all who ore Industrious AM
economical, soon possess 8 flow Of spirits, accompan
led by success, which always eeyatcs the mind an(
renders it enterprisins Many farmers have no
til shed cir whea this season, and YOU may so
large stacks in clusters, numbering on some farm
as high as twenty, and some Of these farmers hav
erected elegant ard commodious buildings. wa
much struck at the sight Of some elegant building
in the beautiful village of Beloit. The walls c
these buildings arc made Of pebbles about the siz
Of hens eggs. I am It'd the manner Of ercctin
these buildings is the fo!lowing:-An open trough
about one foot deep is made Of boards, tie widi
and length Of which shall correspond with the in
tended thickness and length of the walls of the build
ing. The pebbles are mixed with lime water, an
The trough filled with this mixture, which stand
until the mass is sufficiently hard to admit Of rasin
this trough, lit having no bottom is easily done
which is again filled. Buildings constructed in thi
way are beautiful, cheap and durable Pebbles an
c>nrsc gravel, think, are abundant in your towr
especially in the eastern part of Brandon, on " Iiar
Scrabble" and perhaps here is a discovery whic
opens field by which the cumbrous material ma
b. turned to some account.
Homes elk men may have DETAINED the haractlr
W sin, bit if So they have probabyn not We've
he Lake scenery in the Milwaukee country. In thi
country there are not less than Forty lakes, GOVERN
from half a square mile to one fourth Of township
The wild beauty, and refreshing air around thes
axes is beginning to attract attention In scvc1a
instances where they pass out of their grayc!y bed
hey afford water power. An elegant Episcopa
College is bull: at Nashotah. The buildings stan
on the eastern shore of the "Tw:n Lakes" All tn
fifty miles west of Lake Michgan; but the qualit.
o. the land beyond this is considered superior {;
lands nearer the lake.
The poor man can, not only secure 10 himself
farm for the term Of one year, which costs 81 80 70
entering, but he can secure farm for the term O
two years without paying penny. wealthy gen
tlemNn resides in Fond du lac county, who makes
business to purchase lots for settlers, o. the 70
ISIliS' stttcl gives MN tIic IillSt
&C. of the lot he has selected, and this gentleman
makes purshasc of it, taking q deed to himself
He then gives the settler thousand dollar BON
that if within two years, he shall paythe dollar AM
twenty-five cents per acre, (the government price,
with sixteen dollars for his trouble and twelve pc
cent interest on the whole amount, he will deed t
him his land. | am told that some have receive
farms in this way, and within the two years hav
been so fortunate as to sell one half for enough It
pay for the whole.
The people of this country think that there is no
half the amount Of rain falls here that there doe
east, and it seems that nature has prepared for this
for the soil will bear double the drouth that most
the soil in the eastern States will. intend, if have
leisure, soon to give You sketch of the nature Of
the most prevalent diseases of this country. The