Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1858-10-30
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found me al this place 10 reach it from Mil
wnukee, whence last wrote you, took the
La Cross & Miltcaakee Road at about P. NJ
and slter comfortable, but not very rapid ride
Of 54 miles, over fine farming but somewhat
billy country, reached what is called the juno.
zion, the eintersection Of the La Cross q. Aiiicau-
kee, with the Chieago ST. Paul 8. Fond du
Lac road, having a termination at present, at
point on the west bank of Lake Winnebago,
known by the euphonious name Of Oshkosh, Mt
the mouth Of the WOLF or Fox River. A dis
tance of 32 miles from the junction brought me
to this place. The opening Of the La Cross
road, was celebrated but a few days before my
arrival iB this vicinity, by general turn out
Of the leading citizens along aud near the line,
including the military from Milwaukee and the
editorial fraternity cd ibitum. After passage
over this very important route to La Cross, the
I trip was continued to St Paul, st. Anthony's
Falls, MiuueLaha, and otherplacss on the route
and in the neighborhood, and by portion Of
the company to Fort Smelling, somewhat re-
nowned of late by a swindling maneuvre iucu-
bated and consumated by this poor swindle of
an administration. Some of our editorial breth-
rem, and the officers Of the Road, to whom
brought letters, expressed the regret that my
journey had rot brought me few days earlier,
that the pleasures Of the excursion might have
been shared with them. can assure you that
my regrets on this score we're as earnest aud
sincere as theirs appeared to be. A section OF
country possessing more interest than that en-
braced in this excursion could not be named
The enjoyments of the occasion were spoken of
in terms Of high praise, Of the part taken by the
r. r. Company and Of much satisfaction at the
receptions along the route, e,nnd the objects of in
terest that lay in the path Of the party. The
La Cross Road is well built and well equipped,
and the officers with whom become acquainted,
particularly Mr.. JENNINGS, of the Freight de-
partment courteous and gentlemanly. Should
you, Mr.. Pro TEN, ever feel like indulging the
poetic reverence Of your nature by pilgrimage
10 the Laughing waters" immortaized by the
genius of LoNoFELLow, let me commend you
TO the La Cross Road.
The Chicago, ST. Paul q. Fond du Lac Road,
is one of those unfinished institutions which are
so frequently to be met With in the west in va
rious stages of development, from the serpen-
tine ridge or embaukment, with more or less
! frequent intervals, to those partially finished
and equipped, like the one in question, which
has running distance of something over so
miles, and struggling for troblous and uncer-
tain existence, and all awaiting with trembling
hope, that good time coming" The coutem-
plated line Of this road is from Chicago by way
of Jauesville, n orth to Lake Superior, with a
branch to st. Paul. The branch conception
learn, has been given up, or suspended, by o
competing line also running from the La Gross,
in North Westerly direction, and but Is or 2C
miles West Of this place.
Fond du Lac, where am now stopping, with
branch OF our tribe, who have become deni-
Gems of the place, is city, for-sooth, of no
mean pretentions 1t is nestled at the head (or
foot as you please,) OF Lake Winnebago, with
a level, rich surface, elevated but little above
ed by the mouth of the Fond du Lac River
Its principle business is numbering, and about
dozen mills cutting from 2j00O to 100000 #
of lumber each, per week. dot the margin of the
River. The logs for this lumber are cut in the
winter, along the rivers, emptying into the Lake
which give access to the piucries of the inte
rior, some $50 miles, aud are run into the lake
ard RATED by the aid of steam to the river
mouth. The city contains about 5000 inhabi
tants. It's distance from Lake Michigan, is Al
miles, and from Milwaukee 65 miles, ih north
westerly direction. 1t is the county seat o
Foud du Lac County. The lake has an exten
North and South of 40 miles, and is counecte
by river and canal with Green Bay and LAX
Michigan. The country west is Of great beaut
and agricultural excellence, composed of prliri
and oak openings. Wheat is the natural pro
duct, and the yield, when unir jured is profabl
and satisfactory. In favorable season, on
crop has been sufficient to pay for the land, from
which it was gathered The past. however
has been n most discouraging season. An ac
quaintance had Is acre tract into which b
never put cradle. Rust was its enemy.
ready market and good prices have been er
joyed, but under the present depression of busi
ness, the best wheat is worth but IS cents, an
/ saw a load sold to-day, of fair quality, at
price, which the seller said he was ashamed t
name. 1t was, he admitted however, below 6(
Trade is fiat, aud the winter will probably crow
this staple commodity down to so cents 1t
however, a cash article and about the only on
Of the locality. Money is almost out of tn
question, and every species of property bc
comes Circulating medium, of which, lumbe
perhaps is the leading one, but prices are merC
ly nominal Fond du Lac is regularly and we
built, with an intelligent and cultivated soeiet,
with its graded Schools, and some half doze
Churches of different denominations, of whic
the Congregational is perhaps the most pro-
porous and two weekly papers. 1t has one G
the finest Halls, for puolic assemblages, that W
have anywhere seen out of our largest elite
r and furnished in style Of architectural eleganc
t seldom met with. 1t was occupied on Frida
} evening by gathering of some 600 or 700 cit
zens, drawn together to listen to an addres
r. u