The New York herald., 1850-04-29
Our w,seonsin Cerrss9 bndenee.

Fovn pu Lac, WISCONSIN, April Is, 1850.
IT,. c,opth and BSsimess ProsE scts of Fond DIV Lac
n. Po,itio,.-7hs SOilarA Climate-Raaroads
oud Cawals- -Emigratiex
believing few Words relative to this section
may be interesting 10 some of your numerous
readers, especially in the West, have taken the
liberty of giving you an account of our town and
country. Fond du Lac, or the " Fountain City,"
as it is called, in consequence of the abundant sup
ply of pure limpid water, obtained by digging or
sinking Artesian wells to about sixty feet which
gushes up to the surface, and be carried the
highest rooms of the hotels or dwellings,, is
situated at the southern extremity Of Lake Winne-
bago. Il was laid out as early as 1886, by the Fond
du Lac Company, on the Loocheerah, or Fon du
Lac river, at the site of an old village of the VIM
nebago Indians. Its location is beautiful, on
prairie gradually rising from the lake, with scat
tered groves and clumps of trees and near II is the
race ground Of the Indians, where they ran their
horses A high and steep ledge of limestone rocks
extends through the country, in sight OF the town,
from the northeast to the southwest, which ap-
pears to be the dividing line between the heavily
timbered land ON the east and the prairie and
openings on the west.
The town is on the Fond du Lac river, one mile
from its mouth, which is navigabe for steamboats,.
One is sneary.completed, called the ID: b. Whitacre,
furnished in good style and in speed will rival the
Hudson river boats. She is of light draught of
water and will carry three hundred tons burthen,
She is intended to run between this place and Fort
Winnebago, and will leave here every other day.
touching al Zaycheeda, Menasha and Neenale, on
Lake Wnnebago, and Askash, and Strong's land
ing, and other places on the Fox river From this
place TO Fort Winnebago, including Lake Winnie
bago, il is about one hundred and thirty miles, and
10 Green Bay about sixty miles.
In about year from this time the improvements
on the Fox river, between this and Green Bay,
will be finished, when we shall have water COM
muncation direct with Lake Michigan, and can go
10 Buffalo, Chicago and other lake ports, by water,
and We shall, in fact, be lake town.
Early in May last, the Board, in pursuance OF
law, placed under contract to the lowest bidder,
the construction of the Portage Canal and the ne
Cessary locks to connect the Fox and Wisconsin
rivers, and also, the Improvement Of Fox river, and
Rapids Depere and Rapids Croche. These contracts
were all let on terms highly favorable to the State
They amounted to the following:-The Portage
Canal and lock- $37 ,2O0 the Rapid Croche, ell 200;
the Rapid at Depere was taken at the nominal sum
Of 81 by individuals, to secure its favorable loca-
ton to their interests.
The Improvement of Winnebago Rapids, through
the competition of individuals interested in the diff
ferent channels, was not only contracted to be
made without expense to the State, but gratuity
the State works. With such a set of people,
is it to be wondered at that the State is in a
thriving condition, and that the rush of emigration
10 il is great! Besides this improvement, we have
charters for plank roads, which actually icing
made to Shebboygan, forty miles, and Milwaukee,
sixty miles; also, one running to Beaver Dam, on
the Rock river; thus giving good road for farmers
desrous of going to those places with their own
teams, and at saving of great expense and time
over the old fashioned roads. Books are also open
for subscriptions to the Beot and Zaycheeda Rail-
road Company. This road is located through the
valley of Rock river, and will connect this town
with the Chicago and Galena Railroad at Beloit,
on Rock river, on the boundary line between this
State and Illinois.
With all these advantages, added to the finest
agricultural region in the world together with a
fine, healthy climate, and enterprsing set Of
inhabitants, Fond du Lac bids fair to become a
place of considerable business and importance.
Two years ago, the town contained about three
hundred inhabitants. There is now in the village
a resident population of near two thousand. The
whole county, in 1910, contained but one hundred
and thrty-nine il 1872, it was two hundred and
ninety-three; since then, the increase has been
Unprecedented.
Extensive mercantile establishments, taverns,
churches, mechanics shops, and handsome dwell
ings, constitute the town. In the vicinity are also
gris and mills, breweres, tanneries, &c., &c.,
&c. More business is done than in any place of
its size in the State. Money commands good
interest, running from ten TO fifty per cent per
mum; for, i'll this State, our wise Legislators have
acknowledged the progressive spirit of the age, and
hold that money is like any commodity article of
merchandise-it will, according to its scarcity or
abundance, command more at time than AT
another, and have therefore left the interest to be
fixed by individuals, who certainly better
judges OF what they can afford 10 pay for money,
than others can who know nothing of their wants
business, or circumstances.
But under the impression my letter is as long as
you wish 10 publish, | shall close, and take an
early opportunity of writing again, and giving some
facts worthy Of being known about this section o
country, as the attention of the public and business
men, in the West particularly, Is being directed to
this region and few facts, plainly stated, may
benefit some of your numerous readers.
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