Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-05-19
MINNESOTA GORRESPONDENCE.
SALTWATER, Min, Nav

SALTWATER, Min, May 5, 1858.
MKssRs EDiroRs Having foated away from
St. Paul, and set tied in d new place, it may not
be srniss to make a few aotes of what see around
me.
S,il]lraleg IS on the west side of lake St. Croix,
and about tygo miles below the head of the lake
Il is small village, not 50 large, think, as Dodge
vile stuck in a cove in the hills. There are four
hotels, only two of which are now open. There
are four OF fse dry goods and grocery stores, and
far too many saloons, bowling alleys, &C. and
regret 10 say they are too well patronized. There
is but one solitary church-a frame building 80
by 30 feet, -yirn a steeple and bell stuck in the
foot Of marshy hill, liable to be covered up by
a land slide, a thing not unusual here tits occu-
pied by Rev. Mr. Whitney, n. 5 Presbyterian
The place has only school house. frame
with bell. It is more eligibly situated than the
church, being on bench OF ground overlooking
the village It is occupied on the sabbath alter
natey by Elder Weber. Baptist and Dudgeon
Methodist the former of whom resides here
There are two s2w mills here; one driven by
steam and the other by water, carried in spouts
halfa mile, nearly The Territorial Prison is
said TO be at saltwater but the stranger always
has to enquire of the old inhabitants where he
may find it. II cannot be seen from the village
unless the top of the Wardens house. just OBJ
servable from the landing, may be called seeing it.
Il is however, quite distinct from the middle OF
the Lake as one comes up on boat Having
learned the direction, your correspondent went
out in that direction and saw it, but returned with
less dread Of a State Prison than common fame Is
calculated to inspire. The thing is inserted ingen
iously in the mouth of deep ravine, and one can
step on the top OF the walls from one side and end
without difficulty, nor can the earth be removed
50 as 10 make il otherwise, unless another wall be
built to support the hill for the sandy nature Of
the ground would cause it 10 run in and fill it up
again Inside Of the yard the walls are from 5
10 20 feey high. bur not very smooth. man
with pretty good claws on his hands and feet
might climb it. and a half hour S swimming would
land him among the Badgers. The walls are
three feet broad at the top but the south walls are
owing TO Inc springy nature of the ground. and
the pres sure without now almost the shape 81
an S. Within the wall IS a substantial building.
containing twelve secure cells, and considerable
other room. so If young men should happen 10
get locked up in OF them over night his chance
OF escape would be slim, otherwise not difficult
AT all But sirs, though Minnesota in most re
spects has exhibited her wisdom in all her move
menJs. general consent says in putting the Peni-
entary in this i ole IN the wall she has disgrace
ed herself The horrors Of penitentiary life must
be ten fold increased by the thought of being
.t.ust into that low vet place; and though this
might be rhougbt to impose an additional re
straint on vice, it certainly argues want of hu
mainly on the part OF the Territory,
Lake ST Croix is beautiful sheet of water
tbout twenty-five miles long, and from 10 two
broad, running nearly due north and south. The
and on both sides is nearly all taken up, and
| farms and villages are being opened and built VI
/ very rapidly Your Wisconsin town. six miles
| below this. formerly called Willow River
| what name for a town now changed 20 Hud
son. is beautiful little place, and is rapidly I'M
proving Il has a Land Office, which IS doing Z
/ good business That and Prescott, at the mouth
Of the river, will sooa be large villages, perhap.
cities +.