The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-28
From The NeiDWk Daily advertiser.
Prospects and Aspects In WiscOnsi

ADAMS SAUK COUNTY, WISCONSIN,
August 20, l849. {
Having crossed the Wisconsin, will now attempt
to give you some idea Of the country and matters
and things in general !" coming under my notice
in middle Wisconsin.
At Green Lake had the pleasure of meeting
friend, who accepted seat in my buggy for this
place, which is about sixty miles southwest from
the lake, by the course of the road. The roads
through this section of country are splendid, and
you must agree with that there is some pleasure
in driving fleet horse over such roads, without the
constant fear Of running over tDousn and children
Soon after leaving Green Lake we struck the old
military road leading to Fort Winnebago.
Kingston, on the Keesnaynic, or Grand river, in
Marquette county, is the only town we passed Of
any Importance. As we approached this village
our attention attracted BY the large and beau
tifu Touring mill erected by Mr.. Snow. It is the
largest and best building in the county, being
about fifty by seventy five feet the ground, and
four stories high 1t is only two years since this
place was hrst settled, and now they have in addi-
ton to the above mill good saw mill, public house
stores, &c, and it will become place of consid
cradle business on account of location and water
power There are several other towns sprin eing
up along this stream.
Fort Winnebago, the old military post at the
Portage, looks like deserted village. The old
store Houses Of the suffers and fur.traders are
closed and sadly dilapidated; but new state OF
things Is about taking place. and every thing about
there will soon wear more cheerful and business
aspect. A few Struggling aborigines still come
there to exchange their urs and other articles for
whisky and tobacco.
About one hundred Irishmen are at work remoy-
ing the sod, and making ready for the dredging
machine building at Oshkosh, and will be put
in operation at this place this fall The canal that
will connect the Wisconsin and Fox rivers will be
one and half mile long, and eighty feet wide. The
Wisconsin is four feet higher than the Fox river,
and the water will be let in by lock The Wis
consn at the Portage is 400 yards wide, the water
quite dark colored and from four to eight feet deem
There are numerous islands and shifting sand bars
In the river but 1t may De easily navgated in ordi
nary stages Of water. A steamboat from Galena
made weekly trips to the Portage during the months
of June and July past without any difficulty The
lumber trade on the Wisconsin is becoming very
important, and will be great source of the pros
perity Of the State. am told that on the upper
Wisconsin and it's tributaries the pine is inc Exhaust
ible. There il already large amount of capital.
and several thousand persons employed in the lum-
of this place. and making i very profitable
After crossing the Wisconsin at the Portage, we
found ourselves IN Sank county, and after follow
ing up its western bank ten miles, over ts rich and
beautiful bottom lands, which average about two
miles in width, we took a southw course to Ad-
ans the Baraboo, ten miles distant On the
west side of the Wisconsin, hills and mountains
appear and rise in the distanc and the whole
country between this and the Mississippi is repre-
scnted as being quite billy and broken. The lands
In the valleys and along the rivers very rich
and fertile.
Sank county lies on the north side of the Wiscon
sin river, between Portage and Richland counties,
and is thirty miles long from east to west and has
an area of $40 square miles. There has been large
immigration to this county the last few years. and
Its population is estimated from five to six thou
sand
Tho fret seuIemen, of this county was made al
prairie du Sac, the river, % miles northwest
from Madison; and the town, which still bears that
name, has beautiful locs ton, contains five or six
hundred inhabitants, and is a thriving place. The
prairie is 8 miles wide, extends Is miles along the
Wisconsin, and is called ''Sac Prairie' account
IL hat nf saluNl IA 80 L..
prairie of any extent in the county; the other por
tons of the county are represented as quite rough
and broken and not equal to those the east side
of the river for agricultural purposes vet Possesses
doubtless, great mineral wealth. Besides copper
Lead and iron, there found valuable quarries of
gray and white marble, and 1t is supposed coal will
be found in abundance when sought for. With
these resources Of wealth. this county in time will
contribute largely to the general wealth and pros
perity of the State.
Adams, from which date, is the county town.
and has beautiful location the bank of the Bar
aboo, Is hourishing place, with population of
five hundred, and has been settled only two years
dam has been built across the river which affords
an abundant water power, and already there are
two Touring mills, two saw mills, and other ma
chinery in motion. Pine is obtained on the head
waters of the Baraboo, and the logs oa ted down
in high stages of water, and sawed at these mills
where lumber sells readily from IS TO Sl2 DER
thousand. This town, which IL built on both sidcs
OF the river contains about l25 buildings many of
which would be an ornament 10 any eastern town
This State has a constitution, some features of
which may appear ultra radical, with the people
oil the older States; however, majority Of her peo-
pie have sanctioned it, and are willing TO yentur,
on the experiment. They have no usury laws and
"any rate Of interest agreed upon is lawful" "No
State debt to exceed 300 6o0"-''A homestead
exemption of forty acres and house'-ssNo hank
ing institutions. l."
Wisconsin has in perspective a large fund for
public schools" and probably larger than any
other State in the Union One thirty sixth part Of
thq yhfl. tofo h,,,, A. -.
township, amounts 10 nearly and a half million
of acres which is set apart for the use of common
schools. grant Of forty six thousand acres was
made by Congress TO the State for the university,
which has been established at Madison, and the
lands have been selected by the Legislature
While at Green Lake had the pleasure of meet
ing Professor Root, State superintendent of public
schools he is very energetic and enthusiastic in his
present vocation, and better for this import
ant duty the legislature could not have selected
He visits every county in the State and lectures ON
the subject OF public schools, showing the import
ance and advantages 10 be derived from an irme-
date and proper organization Of the school system
throughout the State, and urges upon the trustees
uf each district the importance of commencing
right; Of erecting commodous, convenient, and
well ventilated buildings, and Of employing the
best teachers in the land; and last though not
least, of allowing such teachers adequate cop~nso-
lion.
There is no section Of country, not except
ing California at this time that offers greater in
ducement or encouragement for the emigration of
intelligent and industrious young farmers and me
cbanics, than the middle counties Of this State
While foreigners settling in the heavy timber
lands in the north and eastern part Of the state
the farmers of our eastern States will wisely seect
and settle upon the beautiful prairies and CAL
openings which are all ready for his plough. and
where he can put IN his crop the fret year. The
first crop will sell for enough to pay for the farm
and expense of his fencing, and his land will am.
nually double in value for years TO come
During my rambles have met and converscd With
hundreds OF persons who have removed here from,
the Older States, and have not yet found one who
would admit himself dsss tisfed or disappointed in
ms change; on the contrary, they have told me.
almost without exception, that their circumstances
have been much improved by emgrating, and that
they could not be easily induced To return to their
eastern homes.
Thousands Of young men in eastern cities
and towns, who are in want Of business, could find
employment and encouragement out here, where
there Is extensive field for enterprise, and where
they would soon find themselves improved and
benefited, mentally, physically and pccunisrily.
Yours, truly, w
The late Danish blockade caused such AN sccu.