The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-05
Sketches Of Western scsaery, &c.-'-Ro IL
BY HON. d. p. THOMPSON.
CONCLUDED.

CONCLUDED
For one hundred years, at least, therefore, mas
this prairie, under the hands either OF the req
men u their white successors, been IN nearly
constant cultivation and still, little OF no abate-
ment of its productlyeness Is as vet percePtlpie.
The estimate of Its products for 1860, IN wheaF
alone, was 800 600 bushels, without reckoning
the large additional amount raised III Honey
Greek Valley, which by the avenue Leading
through the interlapplng mountains on the Wes'.
is poured into this valley tor market, or manu-
| iacture into -four. Corn, oats: potatoes, and
the grasses, are, or can be, also raised here to
any extent which the profits OF the market may
warrant. And there is yet another feature OF
this warm valley worthy of especial notice, and
thai is, its fine grape-grow!ng capacities The
southern slope Of every bluff around the whole
prairie is capable OF producing hourishlns
and profitable vineyard, an aggregate "f all
which might be made to supply the whole State
of Wisconsin with the choicest OF native wines.
Several Of these slopes are ready occupied with
vineyards, and the most advanced OF them--that
of Mr.. John Kehl--nes's him in the sales OF
grapes and wines, over $1,000 per annum
a valley Of fifty square miles, which, though
but u little more than molety OF its resources
have been developed by cultivation, is yet thus
productive, and thus fed by surrounding lnlcts
of trade should certainly, Of itself, support
large and Aourshing village; and II does go in
the one, which, from some policy, not very ap-
parent TO The public, has been legally divided
into the two closely contiguous villages OF Sank
City and Prairie da SAC, situated on The south
eastern border Of the prairie, and stretching,
f9r nearly two miIes, along the right banks OF
she Wisconsin.
The united population Of these nomlnalIy two
villages now opportunities 1000, d large proper
zion Of whom Hre G4rnans from the Rhine
an orderly, Intelligent. and patriotic people, who
are here. rs we'll l8 elsewhere in this STATE. be-
ginning to constitute Il very important element
in its growth and prosperity. Each OF these
villages has it's half score Of stores of different
kinds, its proportion Of milis, tounderes, distll
Ierie3. mechanics shops, tayerns, good dwelling
houses, school houses, ard meeting houses
among the Latter OF which, the huge aud mas
sive Roman Catholic Cathedral, in Sank City,
sowe,s up rs II conspicuous landmark cor all toe
surrounding country.
Sank City Ia also The scat of Il bank OF dis
count and deposit. which under the judcons
and skilful management Of its cashier, George
B Burrows, and its president, ID. X. Tenney OF
Madison. has fully withstood all the late Auctu-
atoms III the currency of the West, and now
stands among the best and safest institutions of
the kind in the whole State of Wisconsin.
The only drawback to the growth and pros
perity OF this place, is to be found n it's seclu-
sion. or distance from good nayigable waters and
railroads. TIE Wisconsin, it is true, il large
river, and immense quantities of lumber are
yearly RATED down it from the Northern pine
rcs to the great benefit, no doubt, o! this and
other towns below. But its channels are 80
shifting, and its wide spread waters are for the
moss part Of the year SO shoal as to render it
almost wholly useless Tor steamboat navigation.
or any other purpose save those Of rafting lum-
oer. And the nearest railroad station, that Of
Maz 1manie, on the Milwaukee, aud Prairie du
Chen railroad, il eight miles distant. And it
Is this circumstance alone tina, prevents the place
lrom the rapid growth Of the most favored vii
lagos OF the State, and this also. alone prevents
this romantic and fertile valley. and its pretty
villages, from being better known to tic pablo
ABROAD, ana known, toe, as 04.e Oi the most de-
s!rable PAGES sOr settlement and residence in the
whole Western country. Aud even lis it is, the
farmers on the praries. and all classes in the
villages, are steadily advancing in the road to
wealth or Independence. The place, therefore,
is sare Of u healthy and permanent growth. till
such 'ilne shall COME as come they eventually
VIII, wien the business and products of the
place shall command IL more Immediate railroad
communication : and t;.en Sank will indeed have
bright future before her