Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-07-20
soutssaWestern wisconsin.

From the Madison State Journal.
Most conspicuous among objects of
special interest in the lead region, are
1.-THE mounds. With a single exception,
their height is nearly uniform, about
six hundred feet above the level of the
Mississippi river. This exception is |
the Blue Mound more particular de-
Iscription of which, with a glimpse of
surrounding scenery, will be given.-
The Platte and Sinsinawa Mounds are,
next to the Blue, most prominent and
striking of any others in the state
Their origin was not due to any upheay-
| al Of the underlying strata. Originally
centers of elevation, or the highest lands,
their present isolation is due to the de-
nuding agencies Of atmosphere and wa
ter which have broken up and Transport
ted to lower levels the Intervening and
at one time continuous strata, of a YER
ticle average thickness Of several hum
bred feet. They. are made up of well
defined layers, Identical in external APP
pearance, chemical composition, order of
superposition, and fossil contents at cor
responding levels although at present SO
widely separated and apparently isola-
ted. In these particulars they CORES
pond with the adjacent mounds and
highlands of Illinois and Iowa. Their
upper layers are outliers-landmarks of
earth's o!den boundary, which from their
position and perhaps greater hardness
of texture, have withstood the erosion
of time and tempests while surrounding
rocks have crumbled to dust.
Towering high over adjacent prairies
and openings, they are visible in clear
atmos phere at great distances, We may
travel all day in sight OF and towards
them, without making any sensible
change in their appearance and when
at last we approach them, SO easy has
been the ascent, that one feels disap-
pointed 10 find them only crumbling led
ges, denselv covered with vegetation
a feeling however, that gives way the
moment we ascend to the top. There is
so much to deepen the impressions of
fancy in travelling through such region,
that too much of surprise is expected
looking up their ragged walls.
The Blue Mounds differ from the 9TH
ers in nothing saving much greater
height, and being capped with an i'm
mense layer of flint, or hornstone. Ri
sing thousand feet above the Wiscon-
sin, they overlook all other points, and
} from the western and highest mound af
ford view which jewellers in the plains
might travel far and be well paid to
witness. Standing here in clear day,
and looking south and westward, the
three Platte Mounds stand out in relief
from an annarepily leve, nlain and al
though over thirty miles distant, are
close neighbors in the landscape. Far
beyond, and close down upon the hori-
zon, are Sinsinawa, Pixies Peak, and the
highlands back of Galena, Sherald's
Mound, and the highlands in Iowa and
bold bluffs and points marking the course
of the Mississippi are visible, trending
far to the northward. On the north
long stretches of the valley of the Wis
] consin, the highlands Of the Pine and
; kickapoo, and the bold bluffs of the Bar
aboo, come into view and on the east
and south forests and prairies at an in
!, definite distance, shut in the landscape.
An uninterrupted view of more than
, fifty miles in nearly every direction is
here obtained, over the valleys Of the
Pecatonica, Galena, Platte, Blue, and
innumerable lesser rivers and rivulets,
to say nothing of those northward, trib-
g utaries Of the Wisconsin. Their course
are traceably by the long and serpentine
windings of forests, which stand in
beautiful relief in contrast with inter-
vening prairies. The observer looks far
down into the deep gorges and upon the
rugged hills of the adjacent streams
he sees the beautiful blending Of prai-
RE and woodland, now dense and matted,
now light and fleecy-the dim outlines
of villages and hamlets scattered over
! the wide expanse-the shadows Of fleet
ing clouds and numbefless objects of
minor interest. On all sides waves of
verdure, sparkling in the sunlight, meet
the eye and enchant the senses. But
, description of such scene is tame and
incipid. 1t should be seen-and is
past question, the finest landscape view
in Wisconsin,. 1t will become celebra-
ted in time. T.
: ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILRoAp.-This