Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-08-12
Meeting Of the Wisconsin State Teach
ers Association.-Po Portage City and its
improvements.


day of last week, the 9Th, and centinu.
ing three days. The number of teach
ers in attendance was quite large-larg
er than was anticipated, because it was
supposed the hard times would have 6
tendency to influence many to stay al
home. The exercises during the SEES
sion were mostly Of an interesting char.
acter; these were addresses, essays, re-
ports OF committees appointed at the
previous annual meeting, discussions
and miscellaneous business. The dis.
cusslon OH the proposed revision of the
State school law, was the most import
ant of any; the plan proposed contem-
plates some radical changes in our pres
ent system Of common school manage
ment. The form this plan assumed in
the convention, will, doubtless, be Civ
en- i'll full, in the next number of the
Journal Of E0ucation, and will be Civ
en- to the readers of the Tribune de- TEL
egrdph in due time.
The addresses and essays delivered,
and the reports made during the session,
were generally well written, evincing
much thought and research; to say how
ever that none of them were exception
able in language and style, would be
giving an unfaithful account Of the meet
ing Of the association. One or two of
the written productions read before the
association, abounded in rather coarse
illustrations, and had too little regard to
good taste and refinement. The discus
sions were mostly conducted with that
gentlemanly bearing, which should al
ways characterize courteous and we'll or
dered debate. But here, also, were a
few slight exceptions; there are always
inevery large deliberativeb body, whether
educational, political, or religious, a few
garrulous persons who are moro de-
lighted with their own speeches, than it
is possible for any one else to be. We
do not mean that the meeting at Port
age city, had Affections of this kind,
more than meetings of this or any other
sort generally have; indeed we think it
enjoyed great immunities in this partie-
ular The Teachers meeting at Portage
City, will, without doubt, give new i'm
petuS to the educational movements in
the State. No class or profession among
us have interests SO important commit
ted to them as the instructors of the
youth Of ourcountry.
While at Portage City, during the
session Of the State Teachers Associa-
ton, we were indebted to J. Mansfield,
Esq, formerly of Kenosha) for car
riage ride through the principal streets
of the city, and to the various points of
interest in the vicinity. Many people,
we believe, labor under misapprehen-
sion as to the situation Of the town. sup
posing it to be located on lew ground,
subject to inundation, and unhealthy.
Such, at least, had been our impressions,
from the statements we had heard res
pectlng the place. On the South side
of the Fox River, there is a low flat, but
not too low for agricultural purposes;
on the North side of the river, where
the main part of the town is built, the
ground is high, rolling, and admirably
adapted for building purposes. The soil
is rather sandy, but is far preferable for
a town site in this respect, than a clay
or prairie soil.
The old Fort Winnebago, one and a
half miles easternly from the business
part of Portage City, is one of the most
delightful situations, by nature in the
State A level flat of ground, elevated
some twenty feet above Fox River, was
here selected by the United States Gov
eminent for military port. The build
lngs erected by the Government, are
mostly still remaining-some eight or
ten in number; they are, however being
neglected and falling to decay A level
table land Of some forty acres, adjoining
the fort buildings, and skirted by q
grove of timber, called the ''parade
ground" is surprisingly beautiful. The
view from this elevated GROUND can
hardly be excelled anywhere in the
State. A range of country of great ex-
TENTS spread out to view on almost ev
cry side for many miles; the Fox and
the Wisconsin Rivers which approach
each other within the distance of mile
and suddenly diverge into nearly oppo-
site directions; the course of the Bara-
boo River along the foot of the Baraboo
oluffs-the low hills and the bluffs many
miles distant which are seen West and
North, altogether present panoramic
view well worth journey of a hundred
miles, or more, to see.
There are several other elevations of
gentle ascent, and easily accessible by
carriage, in the more immediate yicin-
lty of Portage City on the North. from
which the scenery afforded is equally
beautiful, and the range of country at.
torded lis quite as large, as is seen
from the table land at the Fort. Much
has been said during the past few
months, about moving the State Capitol