, 1860-11-07
business here in tsry dull month, our shi]
1ncnts hare been, for October, as follows:


nTneep' ~ so
N6Efs NO. ---...-..--...--......-.. tU0
!lules. No-.....-.-.----'.-.--.-.-..
AoIeGs NJ.
lad Ar Co., ygls.-rts Soil and Resour-
ccs-The La Crosse, E1ro4un and
muscoda II. II.
Correspondence Chicago Tribunc.]
La cRossE, Wis. Oct. 81, 1850.
Allow me through your columns to call the
attention of your many readers to region Of
country in Wisconsin, that in my opinion has
been much neglected 4 few days since, had
occasion, in company with several other gen
tlemen, all like myself, members Of the Board
Of Directors Of tho La Crosse, Viroqua and
Muscoda Il. +. Co., or officers in connection
Herewith, to make my second yisitto Viroqua,
the county scat Of Bad Az County. Our busi-
ness was attendance upon meeting Of the
Board Of Directors Of our Company, called for
the purpose Of taking proper steps to have
survey made for the purpose Of asccrtaining
whether good route for Railroad can be
found between Ii Crosse and Muscoda, on the
Milwaukee and Mississippi r. r. A reconnais-
aacc Of the route had been made by our Chief
Engineer, Nj. VIM: Oryin Baker, who llas had
much experience in Railroad engineering in
rough countries. His examinations satisfied
him that rood and feasible route could be
found on the desired line.
Your readers urc doubtless aware, that the
system Of railroads designed for Minnesota
converge on tile Mississippi at Ia Crosse
they are also probably aware, that, by follow
ing the lines Of the Chicago and Northwestern
railway to GAINESVILLE, mud thence Of the MIL
Yankee and Mississippi, ria Madison, to Lone
Rock or Auscoda, o direct route is Ind In tho
direction Of In Crosse, leaving gap Of G5 OF
10 niics to all II il the design Of the La
Crosse, Viroqua, and Mnscoda r. R., to fill the
gapthus giving Chicago adircct communication
With the Minnesota railways, as they arc about
10 be constructed. This route will be at least
thirty miles shorter than any route now used
between La Crosse and Chicago. This fact
makes it an important route for the latter place.
4 few words as to the naturc Of the country
through which this road is to pass. speak
more particularly Of Bad Ak county, q with this
ain better acquainted. Of Rlchland county
know bat little, and that is by Information
derived from others. 1t is said 10 bc a fine,
country, rich soil and good water und timber.
1t already possesses q fair population,-near
10000
Tic general impression gained, Of Bad Az
county, is an unfayorable one. 1T is looked
upon as a back-woods country, out of the way
and out Of tho world. 1t ia looked upon as u
rough, hilly county, Of rather poor soil, and
destitute Of Prairies and watcr-in fact coun-
try where man must dig out an existence by
hard labor, and get poor one at that. Such ]
AM warranted in SAYING is the general i'm
preston, for having been somewhat of a tray-
cler on tho Mississippi. Ihavc heard It's charac-
ter fccly commented upon by travellers as they
were passing by Its western border. There
has been mneh misrepresentation on this point,
and I think it has all arisen from the " Bad " in
its name
Without going into the history Of the name,
OF why 1t was given to this county, and the
river w1icl, runs through, it, will tay that
"Minncsheiki'' is said to be the Indian word
for " Bad Az" and the probability is that an
other year will not clapse before tho name Of
Bad Ak will be changed for that Of the pretty
sounding Indian name" 3finncshciki." The
people Of this county feel that there is some
thing rcrulsive in the name" Bad Ak" aud in
asmucll as they have just as fine md as rich
soil as there is in Wisconsin, they propose
hereafter to have as good a name. They be-
licyc there is really something In name, and
thcy want good one.
THIS county lies On the Mississippi, midway
between the Lacrosse & Milwaukee and the
Milwaukee & Mississippi railroads, and be-
tAscn the counties of Lacrosse and Crawford.
1t contains about q townships Of territory
being over COZ, 900 acres Of land. Of this near
" one third is prairie, quite rolling and very
rich. ! do not know where have ever seen
any prairie soil that looks richer, or that bears
heavier wheat 1t is rich black, vegetable
mould, of elaycy texture and basis, and such
rs has been tested seems 10 be enduring and
wears well Near one-third Is oak openings OF
ridge land, covered with oak undcEgrowth OF
grt,bs, These ridges arc quite broad in many
places, furnishing good locations for farms;
there have bccn opened up many ridge farms.
c1ayey loam-ag good wheat soil, and which has
80 far turned ont excellent crops Of wheat.
The balance Of tic county is covered with
heavy iuaber-oak being the prcdomInating
kiln1. This timber is valuable because Of its
ncarness to good prairie, md the land Is rs
good MS the prairie. aye, even better for corn
Though the timber ia heavy, the land is easily
titled, owing probably To the fact that the root
Of the treee. lie deep in the ground, which nd
rits Of tue soil being plowed close to ahe
stusnps. Taken rs whole there Is hardly IN
acre Of waste land In this county. Though
somewhat rough, It's slopes and lill sides I'D
NIT Of cultivation nearly to the top.
such parts Of this county IS are unfit for the
plough are most admirably adapted to rcar'
ing Of sheep. In fact, much Of Northwestern
Wisconsin to my mind, is admirably adapted
to sheep husbandry.
The population Of this county is II 500, In
1s55, It numbercda little orer4, 600. La Crosse
was then about 1000, as WAS Monroe, lying
east of La Crosse These latter hare had the
benefit Of railroads to stimulate their growth.
In Crosse being possessed ofmuch good farm
ing lands and several emau villages as well rs
the city Of La Crosse, numbers L, while
Monroe with smart village or two, but more
poor land, 1sas but 8,40o. To my mind Bad
Az l.as more than kept pace with her neigh
bors, considsHng her secluded position.
There Is estimated to he in this county this
ycar, at least 100000 bushels cf surplus
wheat, seeking market Of pork, there will
be enough for home consumption, and possibly
little for sale. Cattle and sheep arc begin
ming to receive attention, md hut ? few years
will elapse before the hill-sidcs w&pbe covered
with large herds Of lowing cattle and tlocks Of
bleatiug sheep.