Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-05-11
THE RAJ TsmAn'g JOURNAL.

After completing their visits in Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Nebras-
k, which are full of interest to the traveller,
they could return by the Ohio river or by yail
through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Our coun-
try does not afford more interesting tour
than this. The Lake Superior country is now
claiming large share of public attention. 1t
is worthy of it. Hitherto it has been COM
paratively unknown. The general impression
has been, which still extensively prevails, that
it is a cold, barren, desolate and inhospitable
region. This is an erroneous impression.
The mean annual temperature is Aid Am. The
mean temperature of summer is Cid 4m. The
mean temperature of winter is 2ld I'm. We
are in the same latitude of Montreal and the
northern part of Maine. But the cold is not
near so intense as in those regions, because of
our being near large body of water. The
waters of Lake Superior, which ''cOver an area
of 81, 600 miles, exercise powerful influence
in modifying the two extremes of heat and
cold. The ice only forms few miles from
the shore" This winter it only formed a lit
tie in the bays. .sThe temperature of the wa
ter rarely, if ever, changes, and is almost al
ways 40d Fahrenheit, the maximum density of
water. In midsummer its climate is delight
full beyond comparison, while, at the same
time, the air is softly bracing.' For the Tea-
sons above given the cold in this country is
not so intense as several degrees further south.
The mercury, in Bayfield,, has not reached 20d
"
other places of the same latitude it reached
SO and 40d below o. Draw your own concu-
sion. The climate is very uniform. The air
is comparatively free from chilly effects. All
who come here like the climate and country.
Our winters are very delightful We have SO
much sunshine and cleer blue sky. l suffered
more from cold in Pennsylvania than here.
AS to its heathfulness, it has no comparison
in our country. The South is enervating, this
is bracing and eXhilrating. Eminent phySi-
clans now recommend invalids to come here.
1t has cured people of weak lungs, dyspepsia,
scr0tula and other diseases. 1t is especially
good for these diseases. | know persons TO
be cured of them. / wonder that this is not
more OF resort for invalids. Let them throw
away their patent medicines and spend por-
tion Of time here. If they stay here six months
they Will not wish to leave. Such a thing as
fever and ague is unknown here. The enjoy
ment of good health is a sufficient inducemcnt
for any man TO come here and make it his
home. Now, if 1 could persuade any despair
ing. melancholy and cheerless dyspeptic or
consumptiye to come here and recover health,
| should feel adequately compensated. | know
many who have come here and have recover
ed their health and are stout. What is life
without health
The fishery of Bayfield, is very productive.
Its fishery, in view Of its position, has adYan-
tages equal, if not superior, to any on the
Lake. The variety of fish are Salmon, some
of which weigh as high as $50 lbs. !; Siskowit,
a very fat and delicious fish and excellent in
winter; Trout and White fish, the choicest,
and equal in flavor to the Mackerel and Shad
Herring and Brook Trout. There are other
varieties. The varieties named are very a.
bundant. Energetic men could make money
in working this fishery. All that is wanting
is small capital and energy. Lake Superior
fish the finest, because its water is the pureSt.
Farmers have stronger inducements to come
H. .la.. zl,,--
is now demonstrated that the lands lying on
the Southwestern and Northwestern coasts of
Lake Superior, and extending many miles
back, have very productive soil. My own
observation since | came here convince me
of the truth of this remark. | have farmed in
Pennsylvania, and believe that this soil will
compare favorably with the soil of that state,
and is easier, generally speaking, to cultivate.
Here within my view are thousands and thou
sands of acres waiting for the industrious
farmer. The land is now open to preemptors.
In May it will be in market and will be cheap.
1t is covered with varieties (oak, birch, pine
ash, &c., of thrifty timber and well watered.
There are large bottoms of maple land. This
timber is very valuable in view of its fine
quality. Out of the sugar maple the Indians
make thousands of lbs. of good sugar which
is a large proportion OF their living. This
soil produces the grains and vegetables of the
middle states, all of which come to perfection
here than in prairie country, because it is
protected by the snow. [ should prefer hav-
ing a farm in this locality to one in a prairie
country, because of its good timber, fine wa
ter and healthy climate. | subioin few con-
denSed facts from report lately read before
the Bayfield, Lyceum: Elisha Pike. a farmer
near Bayfield,, off OF threel acres of Timothy
and Glover mixed, cut five tons OF hay
Twentieth of last Aug. he sowed grass seed
with his turnips, which matured and yielded a
half crop. Some of the Timothy grew to the
height of 81 to feet, and some of the heads
measured inches. His Indian Corn yielded
about 40 bushels per acre. He is from Penn
sylyania and says his crops of grass, corn,
oats, potatoes, &c. good here as ever
he raised. The potatoes are of the richest
flavor and yield abundantly.- The oats is more
substantial and brings 10 cts. more per bushel
than Ohio Oats. Spring and Winter wheat
yield good crop and is strong in the straw
and fun IN the grain. The soil contains a
good proportion of lime. Mr.. Pike, from
half acre, raised eco bushels of rItabagas
and turnips. He sowed the seed the 2Oth of
June. His crop of peas, beens, onions, beets
&c, was good. He raised an onion from the
seed measuring inches in diameter. and a
beet weighing IL ! lbs. Mr.. Day raised head
of Cabbage, which when stripped of its loose
leaves, measured nearly feet in circumfer-
ence, and weighed nearly l8 lbs. From a
surface feet by lS feet he raised 1S5 bushels
of ratabagas. Rev. James Peet raised a tur-
nip in circumference 43 inches. Mr.. Arm
strong, on one of the Islands, from % bushels
of seed harvested 400 bushels of potatoes.
He picked out 55 potatoes that measured
half bushel. His corn yielded 40 bushels
per acre. But time forbids my giving any
more facts.
In wild state we have Strawberries goose
berries, elderberries, raspberries, cranberries.
wild plumbs, currants, &c, The tame cur
entS.gOOSeDcfrieSa and Sfrayyharria do ovoa,J