The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-06-03

through Lake Pcpin, and are now at the
head Of it, Rsd Wing lying at the upper end,
and Reeds Landing at the lower, both on
the Minnesota side.
We made Winona last evening about Q
O'Clock, and - . storm was coming up, we
remained there for it, to blow over. Some
fears were entertained for the safety Of the
boat when it came upon us, and not without
reason, for a severer wind never blew about
my head than that, and this morning, in
passing up the lake, noticed steamboat
without pipes, which the gale twisted from
her. went to the Post Office, and 30 part
ly through the town, at Winona, but in the
darkness, and my necessary haste to get
back TO the boat, | could see hardly any
thing Of it, and may say that the extent Of
my observation was limited to what / could
see by the flashes of lightning. 1t is town
very much ia general character like La
Crosse, and the most important point that
l have yet observed above it. According to
the table OF distances before me, it is fifty
four miles below Lake Pepin. l inquired
about the population, Of several persons who
live thcre, and they generally put it at about
three thousand; but / do not believe there
are more than about two thouand. The
town is eligibly situated, on a handsome fat
bottom just about large enough for decent
little city, a few feet above the river surface,
and encireled by an ampitheatre Of high
bluffs. am told that food like that Of
1851, however, would overflow it.
Reeds Landing promises to be g point,
and is improving fast. may say the same
of Red Wing, There are not many houses
in either place, bat they are erecting good
buildings fast. One thing which is greatly
to the advantage of these towns, is their To-
cation at the extreme ends of the lake. The
lake is so wide and so subject to strong
winds that the boats cannot readily be per-
suaded to stop at any point along either
shore, but want to get through it as soon MS
they can. Consequently the last places they
commonly lnnd at from either direction are
these towns, which gives them so much ad-
ditional Importance. Some fresh looking
villages are scattered up the sides of the
lake, and many beautiful sites for them
sites similar to that of Winona-exist there
But the names what u disparity in the
taste which bestowed them ssReed's Land
ing" There is nothing euphonious or taste
ful in that. 1t speaks to no ear, grati6es no
sense. "Rad Wing" is both musical and
significant. 1t tells Of the forest, the wild
bird, pcture-language and new race OF
men. There are many elements of poetical
beauty in it. Would that such names were
oftener bestowed. Such things keep alive
and cultivate the finer thoughts and the
higher feeings-the pritual and better part
of man.
We passed (" Maiden Rock" or Lovers
Leap" which is called the alf-way point Of
the lake. 1t is n broad, square, but not very
lofty elevation of rock, and i; is based upon
q not abrupt slope of earth Of equal height
with itself, which carries it back some little
distance from the shore. There arc many
loftier, broader, more striking and impress
siye rock bluffs along these northern shores
of the Mississippi than the celebrated Maid
en- Rock.
But Lake Pepin Lake Pepin! In the
wide world | do not believe there is more
charming scenery than this sheet and its
shores. 1t more than met my expectation
and yielded me hours Of quiet and happy
pleasure. Its length is thirty miles, and its
width about four miles. 1t is not straight,
but two curves arc made in its course, which
separate it, so far as the vision is concerned,
into series Of three beautiful bays, aver
aging ia size ten miles BY four. The bluffs
are almost OF an exactly uniform height, and
generally fiat upon the top, with level sur
face enough upon the crown for o large
farm. The sides of but few of them are
either rocky or precipitous, but they gener-
ally slope gently down, some wooded to the
very edge of the fresh-lipped waters, and
some destitute of trees, smooth and grassy
green. At intervals on either shore the
bluffs take circuit inland, enclosing in their
gentle sweep piece Of rich, smooth bottom
land, partly wooded and partly turfed, like
little prairie, perhaps half q dozen miles long
BY couple Of miles wide. Lake Pepin US
surely as the human heart can be touched
by the witchery Of romance, SO surely shall
We be honored Of song and renowned in the
annals Of beauty.
The Mississippi at this point, as it leaves
the lake, is not more than two-thirds as wide
Us it is below, if indeed it be more than half
as wide. It Is not very much wider, it seems
to me, than the Des Moincs and hence to-
wards it's sources it is continually narrowing.
Since writing 50 far, have been out into