Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-06-19
Lower Grant County.
HAZEL GREEN, JAMEsTowN, sMELsER'P1
RIs.

HAZEL GREEN, JAMEsTowN, Smell sER, Pa
RIs.
The south part of Grant County, en-
bracing Hazel Green, jamestown, Smell
ser and Paris, has been less the subject
oe newspaper notice than any other sec
ton of Western Wisconsin. For this
reason our readers in other quarters can
afford to indulge us for while till we
render justice TO this region of the mines.
And first, we want TO correct a re-
port that went out long ago, represent
ing the mining region of Wisconsin as
inferior for farming pursuits. Certain
ly the lay of the mining lands cannot be
objected TO, unless by persons desiring
dead level. The lands in bounds of
the four towns named resemble bill
Lowry ocean--rolHng but never broken.
You see succession of swells and de-
pressions everywhere, and gradual IN
clination southwardly-indeed the i'icli-
nation is over gradual, the waters in
gheir respective channels flowing off tor
rent like. The streams uniformly flow
IN beds several feet below the general
ge@VeSs and present no difficulty in the
yvsw ct constructing roads Of easy grade,
i.gazsvvsgseiy, as well as in the line of
wa&sE courses. The banks are high e.
nouga anywhere to prevent destructive
overfews from copleus rains. In all
shat constitutes landscape beauty, wheth-
or in the yestments Of nature or cultiva-
ton, there can De no superior in all the
wide West. Among the hundreds of
slndulations within the scope we are de-
scribing, The eye of imagination is con-
stantly beset with visions Of loneliness
and multiplied Edens.
Most of these lands are smooth prai-
RE, and at this season are covered with
natural grass one or two feet high
This natural or original prairie grass is
fast giving way to white clover and blue
grass, and in some places we have seen
red clover. Where the fires nave been
kept off for few years, young timber
has fair start.
The supply Of timber more than G.
quals the demand in about two-thirds of
the lands of these towns, embracing
territory of 40 square miles or Sec
>tions. The remainder is either supplied
from elsewhere. or from the young and
thrifty growth Of saplings, which are
seen in clusters or groves. These
groves, if not hindered by fire, will soon
overspread whole sections with forests,
where 10 years ago all was smooth prai-
RE. The older settlers, who have wit
messed the progress Of these groves, pre-
dict that no possible advance in popua-
ton can equal the increase of timber
Most of the farms are supplied with fen
ces and buildings Of pine lumber, which
material is found preferable, even in Sec
tions where hard wood lumber is album
dant and cheap. Pine lumber is RATED
down the Mississippi and Wisconsin ri
Hers in quantities inexhaustible, in quail
ity unsurpassed, and at prices within
reach Of the humble as well as the oru-
lent.
Many heads of rayiues afford never
falling springs, and you frequently meet
with-spring water fountains in the val
leys. The estimate is, one spring &c
each eighty acre lot, averaging all over
The quality of the spring water may be
inferred from the various kinds of rocl
and clay through which it passes.
The character of the sell is indicated
TO great extent by The geological fea.
lures. The under formation is nea,
wholly limestone and clay basis
These are overspread by soil partakins
OF the same substance, though resem
bling the dark loan made by deoaye,
vegetation, TO be met with anywhere il
the Mississippi valley. The strength
and endurance of The soil in the lead re
gion OF Wisconsin, can be accounted fol
by he lime and other mineral manure
contained III it. This important consti
'uent is wholly wanting in most west
ern soils /; hence, their failure 10 hold OIL
unless aided by frequent manuring.
II is chief distinction of the mine
ral region of Wisconsin, that i, has
surface and soil of the very finest form
and quality for neutrality-suspicious. t
she general fact, tina; mining district i
worthless for the purpose of farm til
iage. The clay, underlying the soil, i
OF yellow or reddish color, and able q
itseii to support vegetation equal 10 an
eastern soil we ever saw. We hav
known the best of wheat raised On cla
recently thrown up from ten 10 tbirt
feet beneath. Il is the uniform bell,
that, by mixing the soil and clay. O,
lands ,.n,,ii L..