The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-12-05
nlStk River.

tics of Black River, We're furnished, at
our: solicitation, by II. j. I. Houston,
a resident there. re Numbering bust
ness, it viii be seen, IS fast assuming
more healthy condition, ard continued
promises a better Eeweld for
toil.-Ps. du. Pct
BLACK RIVER, the corresponding
name Ct which, in the Ninnebago Ian
uuaee. is NE-sHAB-A-DAn, and the Chin
pewa name of which is WA-Bo-sE-pax is,
said to have its source in an immense
swamp the dark waters of which give.
color and name to the river which drains
it. About 40 miles from its mouth
Black River enters, and in q course cf
some 40 miles, traverses in well dcfir-
ed but somewhat rocky channel, very
interesting country of dense forest, more
than half of which is white pine: the
rest is motley of oak, ash, birch. white
and sugar maple, butternut, bass, sc,
occupying soil of great fertility. The
surface of the country is level or slight
ly undulating, aiiofding excellent wates,
and an abundance Of game; while tie
river presents immense facilities for the
manufacture Ct the present and pros
pectiye productions Of the entire coun-
try. This region is known as the Up.
per Pincry.
Descending distance of some. %
miles to the Falls. the river is confined
in higher and more precipitous bank
with channel no less rocky, and flows
with increased descent The country
it traverses is mostly a level, sandy pine
barrens. producing in abundance
great variety of delicious fruit, sm'
which the whortleberry is the NEST esn-
spicuous. From the Falls to tie mouth
both the river and the country it meae-
ders, is strikingly different from the last
described. The river flows with gentle
current between ailuvial banks, firs,
over gravel, then over succession OF
sand bars, (which in low water serious-
~ obstruct navigation, till it reaohos
the Mississippi Hbottonls" where it d
vides into several insignificant channcls,
the present navigabie one of which Is
called the New Chute, reaches the '.-Fa-
tier cf Waters" l3 miles above la
Cross, ard can be nayigated only with
RATS Of limited size.
Black River is nayigatcd with b as
carrying from GO to 100 barrels, Is far
as the Falls. The aluyial bottoms or
more wide, more than half Of which are
praiiies--Benches of prairies CT oak
openings next appear, On which a1c
some excellent locations for farms.
Beyond, the country is extremely lfol-
en-, but te,ti.e in grass and oak, being
well adapted to grazing; aud abounJs
in game, and chTystal streams affordine
the finest trout.
The lower saw-miil. 80 miles from tie
mouth Of the river, owned by r, 4 T.
Douglas, is built on, and near the mouth
of a small tributary; has one sav, ge-
ceives its legs from the river, and mas
water sufficient to run it about IL hours
in the "A.
! Next above is Nichols mill, distant
, about % miles by water, which answers
the above description. c
On a creek 5 miles farther up. is r b.
inson's mill; has plenty of power, and
receives its logs trom the creek " hicl
drives its machinery. On the same
creek above, another mill is in prcgrces
of erection by Mr.. Edmunds.
Five miles farther up the river. GO
Squaw creek, is the establishment II
Shepperd s. Valentine, which auswcrs
the description of the first named mi'
except that it possesses rather erratcr
amount of water.
One mile above, Perry s. Becls op-
crate. Mill as first described.
/ Two miles above on the main fiyes.
Patterson & Brockway arc buiIding a
mil ma. H
One mile ascending, ard 20 from the
mouth, are the Falls; where, on the
main stream is Sraulding's double mill.
Its capacity for business is prohabiv un-
surpassed. A turning lathe and od,o-
machinery is attached to the mill
Two miles above is John Lewis mill
similar to the first named.
-Four miles farther up is the Mcssrs,
Halls mill, on Pine Greek; has plentr
of waite, SID is supplied by the creek
! With 'oSS.
/ On stream enc mile farther up. is
Morrison mill, similar to the last named
On the river : miles farther up. is The
establishment of Baker x Co. with 2
saws.
One and half mile above, johnson 4
knight hays a new mill on the river.
Five miles father up is VIM Lewis
double mill ON part of the river. The
three last named mills have an ahnnd-
ance fpower, and ere supple ,pi;h
logs from bocms constructed ia then
ponds. Retwecn the two lastnamcd, no
less than new mills arc being bolt
of them on the riyer-the dan.s ST.
which, in connection with those alrep
erected, will slack water much uf tue
toughest section of the channel.
Eight miles above VIM. Les
Cunningham creek, is Mr.. Wood's ea-
adjustment, and two ard h,i: nl-e
farther, also on creek. is Q Neii'e
These creeks furinU tho lattar rort M