Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-08-13
Rough Notes from a Jaunt up
the st. CrOixs

he nrst tnlng tnat aIfcStS tio ataoh-
ton of the voyager up the st. Croix is
the remarkable clearness of The water,
presenting vivid contrast to the muddy
Mississippi. 1t is fed almost entirely by
springs and trout brooks, which accounts
for its limpid phreness.
After leaving the levee, and turning
the point of the lake, one obtains the
best view of Prescott. He secs but very
little of the town while on the Mississlp-
ri, simply the business part of it; but
surveyed from above it, has quite pleas
ant appearance. 1t is, in fact, the best
site for q town in the Valley; and if only
the people arouse from the lethargy into
which they seemingly have fallen, it will
become a stirring point.
The lake is about mile in width, and
its woody banks approach and recede
from it, forming numerous coolies most
of which contain excellent springs that
send their silvery little rills amid the
rocks into the basin beneath. The oaks
along the sides Of the bluffs resemble
very much the old orchards of the
East, and one instinctively searches for
the farmhouse and well-sweep, which
alone are lacking to complete the picture.
Hudson shows to good advantage
from below, and is very go-ahead sort
of place. It's business men are acted
for their enterprise, and public projects
are carried forward with zeal aud en-
orgy worthy of imitation. 1t is little
older than Prescott, and contains about
1000 inhabitants. Here are published
two newspapers, the Times and Star,
given to local and miscellaneous
reading, and ensuring st. Croix county
fair representation in the editorial galaxy
VI the state.
Saltwater lies at the head of the lake,
aud is the headquarters of the lumber
trade of the Valley. 1t boasts of many
fine buildings,-stores, hotels, and saw
withstand has one of the oldest and
most substantial papers, the Messenger,
in Minnesota.
At Saltwater the lake begins TO mar
row, and we soon are in the river. AT
the mouth is the hugo boom, but, as the
season for log catching is past, the major
part lies high and dry on the shore.
Words would fail to express the charm
ingness of the scenery. We viii not at
tempt to describe it, ADLER hands than
ours having long since given to the read
ers of the Journal graphic deliniation
of the weird beauties of Nature, here
scattered with lavish hand
Osceola is a thriving little town, hav-
ing n fine location overlooking the bluff,
aud plenty of room to increase. Here is
issued the Press, live local sheet, de-
voted to tho welfare Of the st. Croix
Valley in general, aud Polk county in
particular. There is good saw-miil at
the landing, with wheel 81 Net in d.
ameter, the water being conveyed from
the falls in flume elevated on trestle-
work. Much has been said in favor of
Minnebaha, and hundreds of people an
nually visit the truly magnificent water
fall; but, few who 20 up and down the
81. Croix are aware that, only quarter
of mile from tho landing, there is a
cascade equally sight-worthy. Though
not having the amount of Watcr large
portion going INFO the race TO the mill,
yot it is glorious spectacle 1t falls i'll
series of rapids some rods, and then
perpendieularly about 40 feet, the rock
hshind being arched, not sufficiently so,
however, 10 pass behind. Here, shut in
10y overhauging rocks and trees, the pure
element pours in ceaseess torrent, send
ing beautiful little creek into the lake.
Tho way 10 the falls is extremely difficult,
being chokei up with thickeis. and the
ground Of spIingy nature, we'll adapted
TO receiving impressions, as we ascer-
tanned on several occasions. The citizens
of the town should take measures to
oper road and build stairs, so that Wis
itors could readily find their way to them.
Such an undertaking would cost but lit
tic, and, doubtless, b.. the meaus of at
rracting quite number who would not
otherwise take the time and trouble. We
should consider it, were this plase our
home, duty TO ourself TO 60 down un-
der the falls at least twice week.
Through the courtesy of ISAAC FREE
LAND, esq, we were driven some 10 or
IL miles into the country, passing by
some of the model farms of the county.
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