New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-27
MARCH RIDE IN WISCONSIN.
Of The N. Y. Tribune.

teyed the State of Wisconsin Just south of Belot, by
the rairosd from Bevidere, Elgin and Chicago. The
day wss fair and fine and the snow, which had fallen
the night previous was rapidly wasting, and he'd al
most disappeared from the carriage track OF the more
Travelled roads in spite Of a raw March wind stop
ped over nigh. to speak at Beloit-a thrifty young
village on Rock River, blessed with fair water
power--and started at 4 next morning to take the
train at Janesve, IA miles up the river for Madison,
the capits Of Wisconsin. This tr did not leave till
about TO- but the livery man insisted on starting at
IN meet H. on account OF the badness Of the roads aud
l had no choice but obedience.
The night had been fair, and freezing moderately;
but the sDow on the ground caused it to grow rapidly
colder toward and after daylight. The horses aud
wheels, which at first cut through the newyforned
crust of frozen mud and sank to the old frost, some
Fix inches below at length Travelled firmly on the top
Of the new crust but the road was so ragged that we
could barely walk, and we made the IA miles in
about three hours. had not suspected nor provided
for the searching cold and it whispered Remember
"me, in my ears very distinctly. | shall obey the
Injunction.
From Janesvle the cars run ten miles east to in
tersect the Milwaukee Road at Milton, where we
changed core, and headed north west for Madison,
which We reached little after p. M.
Madison has the most magnificent site Of any in.
land town ever saw, graceful swell ofland, say
two miles north and south by a mile and half east
and west rising gently from the west bank of one of
a chain Of four lakes, and having another Of them
north northwest of it.. These lakes must each be
eight or ten miles in circumference, half surrounded
by dry, clean oak forests or rather "timbered
"opepipes," which need but little labor to convert
them into the finest parks 10 which fair homes ever
nestled. A spacious Water Cure establishment has
lust been ere ced 10 one Of these forests the
lake south eastwsrdly from Madison, and sho VS. finely
both from the city ard the Railroad as you approach
It. The Capitol s toward the south end Of the built
up city, in fine natural park Of twenty acres, and is
not worse planned than mcst of public buildings
The University crowns beautiful eminence mile
west Of the Capitol with a main street connecting
them Ia Pepnsy vsnia avenue. There ore more
Portable private sions in progress in Madison
than in any other other place have visited, and tho
owners are mostly recent immigrants of means and
cultivation, from New-EDglsnd, from Cincinnati, and
even from Europe. Madison is gro wing very fast;
end If she can be speedily and thoroughly rid Of Some
bsInacles that have fastened upon her-gamblers and
such like vernin--she has glorious career before
her, beg her authorities to remember that Right
"eousness exalteth a Nation and city no less
and that every dollar that may be gained to either by
the federation of vicious haunts will cost her ten In
money and still more in character.
spoke two hours in the evening to the largest a.
Mmblsee had seen this winter out Of the seaboard
cities and having slept very little the night before,
repaired soon to the friends house at which was
stsyipg and before IL o'clock was in the land Of Nod
venture to say tbst not other sleeper in ADDISON
was making better time than /, when at A. II. .
slight tinke Of the door bell aroused me. Though
| could not that moment determine whether was in
America or Asis at home away lecturing, or some
other vsgrant errand knew instantly instinctvely,
that that tinkle meant me- and nobody else. 1t was
the stage summons to get resdy, and twenty
minutes thereafter, I stepped ou! into a. mean q
| snow storm a. can remember, and was soon on my
way TO Mineral Point So miles west by south of Msd
| ison.
There were three of US passengers, and We wedged
In together on the back scat and tried to be jolly but
cannot brsg Of our success. Our vehicle was q
covered prairie wagon very subst initial AMI reliable,
and We had no break down nor upset on the way.
though we repeatedly grazed the latter but the
tains were badly torn; several of the buttons that
should have held them came up missing; and the
fierce north-esster perpetualy shaped the nspping
drspery into tunnels wind-sails, pouring its cur
rents full upon u.s. and sitting our faces and garments
full Of fine, insinuating snow with GOODNESS sbs,-
| lutey provoking. ! am apt to quarrel with public
convey ances becsuse they are imPerfecty supplied
with oxygen but the ventilation Of tbs was beyond
csvil-the gale bullying out the slack curtains on the
south siee and making clear breach over a.. Thus
We stepped of slowly into the pahlees west for the
darkness and the primitive character of the road
forbade swiher advance; and, when day grizzly,
reluctantly dawned, we had made some eight miles In
trife less than three hours With light, however.
the pace improved; We stopped and warmed at the
next poet Office, eight miles further and at a little
past nine we stopped for breakfast at "The Blue
Mounds, twenty five miles on our way and said to
be one Of the highest points in Southern Wisconsin,
and think near the eastern verge of the Minsrd
region. Here Squire Brigham, sturdy pioneer from
Berkshire County, Mass pitched his tent some thirty
year, ago, and here be still sbdes in hale aud vigr.
GUS activity, living proof of the saubri,y of the
climate and the heathfulness Of an outdoor lifs He
might now choose more luxurious home but hs
prefers this, and whey little settlement is grsdu.
ally grow ng up around him, and but for the blight
ing influences Of Land Speculation, he would soon be
surrounded by dense and thrifty population.
They say this country looks beautifully In il sum-
mer vesture, but tie want Of evergreens and Of
mountains seems to me ssrious drawback. There
are not many, and large praries bet veen sdis'n
and Mineral Point the land is cuff ,enuy undulstng
or rolling" and the soil Is msnifestly good. The
timber generally spsre except that there super
duty Of dwSf oaks and other bushes which Ere hiss
doubtless kept down for ever 30 many years. Where
tie IRE Is messursbly kept out, the oaks begin to
grow; and, If they were only trimmed up and thinned
out, would gradually rise into forests STILL do not
rank beauty Of scenery among the attractions Of