New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-09
FROM WISCONSIN


| On the 18th of August last, while on Lake
| Michigan. just before landing az Milwaukee, the
| Joint action Of OyercOat and great deal OF ex-
| ercise in the way Of shivering could not succeed
in keeping me warm. | attributed the circum-
stance 20 the strong breeze on the lake; but after
landing, and taking the cars for Madison, was
happy to get OFF the ears az the different stations,
TO thaw out little in the sun. l was Il good deal
amused to hear fellew-traveler remark that this
would be very fine climate if one could only keep
| from freezing TO death in midsummer. That week,
however was so much colder than usual as still to
| be known by the name of the cold week IN Au-
| gust" am not at all sure that the trains on the
Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad are slower
than those in other parts of the West; but on that
particular day, / had serious apprehensiOns OF
meeting with the same accident that is said TO
| have befallen middle-aged passenger on one OF
the Michigan rOads-dyng OF old age.
| The Village Of Madison, which is shortly TO be
incorporated into a city, has site which for
| beauty may challenge comparison with any other
! considerable town in the United States Ii stands
| on the southern part Of what may be called an
| isthmus which separates Third and Fourth Lakes.
| These lakes are two sheets of water surrounded
| by the most enchanting scenery that so level
country is capable Of and containing each several
| thousands of acres. They are connected some
distance above the town by narrow channel,
which has been Strengthened for milling purposes,
| and neat little steamboat plies every summer on
other of these lakes being transported across
| the neck upon wagon.
The growth of the village is taking place mostly
| toward the south, the upper part of the neck
| is except a narrow ridge, too low to afford any
very desirable village lots. For the more efficient
| drainage of this lOw-ying land, the channels be-
| tween Third and Second aud between Second and
| First Lakes are being Strengthened; as in this
way the level Of Third Lake will be reduced some
two or three feet. The town proper stands on
ground of considerable elevation, and the Uniyer-
sity Buildings have perhaps the finest site in the
whole place From the front windows full
view of both lakes may be had, and an avenue,
running dagOnally from the park, is directly or
nearly so in front.
am inclined to believe, from my own observa-
tons, and from the explanations afforded me by
an officer of the institution that our friend Bayard
TaylOrs criticism of the obliquity OF the college
facing was somewhat hasty. The buildings them
selves make no pretensOns to elegance, and only
two out of FIVE are so far completed. The middle
one not yet erected, is to stand on high ground at
the head of all avenue which meets the avenue
from the park at an angle of eight degrees Yet,
far from producing the effect OF 0sketoneSs II may
so speak will think, give it bold and picturesque
appearance This effect however, was not the
object in view in locating the avenue; 1t was
for the purpose of giving the central and principal
building more commanding site on the greatest
elevation, as well as to accommodate the nature
Of the ground. There is q boldness OF idea about
this obquity, which although accidental, as be-
lieve cannot but satisfy after more Lengthy e1-
animation.
Not so with the State-hOuse. The architect of
this building as be would style himself although
he las no title to the name, had A voice, as i I'M
in lsvir nnt he "a N he
and accordingly to show off his own building
qualifications to the best advantage, laid out four
streets running at angles OF fOrty-fve degrees from
the four corners of the public square This ar
rangement has the effect of splitting up, very In
| conveniently and tasteessly, some OF the finest
squares in the town, which, to say the least If BAD
lie has designed building of pseudO-Greek ar
chitecture. with a dome which has the modest
appearance of an umbrella whose handle is hidden
| i'm the building; and the edifce itself will, for
monstrosity, bear off the palm from any other de-
formity that exists or ever existed This ls worse
still.
But our hero was not content with having spoiled
the City plan, and with having maddened every
unlHcky mortal Who might chance to look up any
one of the eight streets which center upon this
creation of his genius, but he must needs put the
climax of absurdity upon it in its decidedly unique
facing He has set the building, which is a long
rectange in its general FORM with its face fronting
one of the diagonal avenues so that dizziness
waits upon every beholder; and park otherwise
most beautiful, is completely spoiled. This is
| indeed, worst of all.
The responsibility Of the Madisonians extends
only TO their letting this scOurge of their town
remain. 1t was built years ago, when the now
almost matured State wac in its territorial infancy
1t is to be hoped that new edifce, at least de-
cent, will soon replace this heap Of rubbish.
Some of the buildings here are built Of a sand
stone, a considerable quarry Of which is found
near the village. i have never seen any other
sandstone precisely like this, and, think, none so
beautiful II is of light, delicate tint, yet OF the
greatest richness Incompatible as these two quail
ties may seem. 1t more perfectly satisfies the eye
than even the beautiful Caen stone which is begin
ming to be used at the East. The fact that the
University buildings are of this material, atones TO
q considerable degree for their plalnness; and the
circumstance of its being cheaper than brick, aud
as cheap as any other building stone found there,
has rendered ii the constructive material tor many
| stores and residences.
The village is supplied with gas and with good
water. and there is little in the manners of the in
hsbitants to remind one that it is Western town.
There seems to be little doubt as 10 the issue OF
the suit between the two claimants for the seat OF
| Governor. There is not a shadow OF doubt IN the
| public mind as 10 the legal and moral right OF
BashfOrds claim. Ex-Governor BarstOw, II he
persevere in his present policy, will only have sue
ceeded in drawing upon himself, if possible,
greater detestation than heretofore On the part OF
the more intelligent and rightmlnded OF both par
| ties. Tie almost unanimous feeling is that he has
Overeaped the mark.
! The day succeeding the one on which arrived
in Madison proved equally chilly with its prede,,
| cessOr. But the warmer weather that followed
convinced NE that these days were marked excep-
tons 10 the general state OF the mercury. l. am
informed by the inhabitants that the Summers here