Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-05-27
VOL. V.--NO. 81.

ture, and is attracting the attention of the
prudent capitalist and the practical miner
as remunerative branch of business.
The iron mines of Wisconsin have not
yet been opened to any extent. but are
worthy of the attention of the immigrant
There are rich localities of ore near the
head waters Of the Rock, and on the Up
per Mississippi and its branches
LUMBERING.
To the lumberman, the pineries Of Wis
eonsin present inducements for investment
and settlement, which can be hardly over
rated. That of the Upper Wisconsin and
It's tributaries. is the most extensive. and
distinguished still more for the fine quail
ty, than the inexhaustable quantities Of
Its timber. The other localities Of the
white pine and other eyergreens, are main
ly on the " Nolf, the great northern afluent
Of the Fox, and on the Lacrosse. the
Black and the St Croix, branches Of the
Upper Mississippi The rapids of these
streams furnish abundant water power for
the manufacture of lumber. aud on the an.
nual spring rise. and occasional freshets
at other seasons of the year, the yield of
the mills is foated from the Wolf into
Lake Winnebago and the Lower Fox
and from the other streams into the Mis-
sissippi
Scarcely ten years have elapsed. since
the Alleghany pine of Western New York
and Pennsylvania, had undisputed posses
sion of the market. not only of the Ohio
Valley but Of the Mississippi and its tri-
butaries, above New Orleans at which
point it competed with the lumber of
Maine and New Brunswick.
The course of the lumber trade may
now be considered as permanently chang
ed The pjneries of Wisconsin now con
troll, and viii soon hold exclusive possess
ion of the market of the valleys of the
Mississippi and its great western afflu-
ents
AGRICULTURE.
But it is to that great body of emigrants
who are seeking n home in the West. as
cultiyators of the soil that the natural
capabilities Of Wisconsin most of all. ad-
dress themselves
The prairies of Wisconsin. unlike those
Of Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Miunesso-
ia, are none Of them extensive and arc
SO skirted and belted by timber. as to be
adapted to immediate and profitable occu-
patton and improvement to their very cen
ire.
The openings, which comprise large
portion Of the finest land of Wisconsin.
owe their present condition to the action
Of the annual fires, which have kept under
all other forest growth, except those vare-
ties of oak which can withstand the sweep
of that element
This annual burning OF an exuberant
growth of grasses and of underbrush, has
been adding, perhaps for ages, to the pro-
ductlve power of the soil, and preparing
it for the piough-share, without the life
long process which was necessary TO bring
the densely timbered lands of Ohio to the
same advanced point of preparation, for
immediate and profitable cultivation
1t Is the great fact, that nature has thus
"cleared up" Wisconsin to the hand Of the
settler, and enriched it by yearly burn
lngs, and has at the same time left suffi-
clent timber on the ground for fence and
tirewood, that explains in great measure.
the capacity it has exhibited, and is now
exhibiting, for rapid settlement and early
maturity.
There is another fact important to be
noticed IN this connection The low lev
el prairie, or natural meadow, Of moder-
ate extent, is 50 generally distributed over
the face Of the country, that the settler. on
a fine section Of arabic land. fuds on his
own farm, or in his immediate neIghbor
hood, abundant pasturage for his stock IN
summer, on the open range; and hay for
the winter for the cutting-the bounty of
Nature supplying his need in this be
half till the cultivated grasses may be in
troduced and become sufficient for his
use
It's this very rapid transition of quar-
ter section Of government land into an oLd
farm. without tithe Of the eprivations and
hardships which hang around the life time
Of the early pioneers of Ohio, which dis
tlngulshes the early settlement Of WiscOn
sin
Every description of husbaudry suita
bic to the latitude. may be successfully
prosecuted In addition to the usual r0u
tine of crops, the business of stock-raisiug
of dairy, Of wool growing aud the culture
of fax are beginning to engage the atten-
tion of settlers, with promise Of eminent
success.
The steady and exclusive prosecution
of agriculture on the fertile soil of the
mineral district, has the advantage Of al
active home market and readypay. Hith-
erto, in consequence of the tempting aud
absorbing nature of the mining business
the cultivation Of the soil has given place
TO prospecting" for mineral. Agricul
tural lands, therefore, though of the very
first order of fertility, have been neglec-
ted, and may be purchased at very low
rates.
The same general remarks apply to the
agricultural lands in the pineries Tho
Of different elements from the soil which
prevails IN the limestone region, it is east
ly worked, and Of undoubted productive
power The home market is still more
inits demands, and as prompt
Iy remuneratiye.
And of the millions Of acres comprised
in the area Of Wisconsin, by far the great