Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-09-02
The Lake Superior Countryside Cop.
per Regions

serve thatpeninsula, Keneenaw point jut-
TING out in the form of an immenst horn
from the south shore of Lake Superior,
and curving to the northeast until it
ends in an irregular point. This much
sought-for ,ornucopia is eighty miles in
length, an6. forty-five in width at its
point of junction with the main land.
Its most interesting feature, scientific
cally, picturesquely and economically
considered, is belt or range of ''met-
aliferious trap" which extends along
the entire length of the peninsula, diff
fering at different points in structure,
as well as in the character of Its metal
llic treasures. Beginning at the head
of Keneenaw point, this range runs
west twenty miles, then, turning to the
southwest, crosses Portage lake near
its head, and the Ontonagon. river
twelve miles from its mouth, and Is
then prolonged into Wisconsin, being
$50 miles in length, varying from one
TO twelve miles In breadth, and attain
| ing from 500 to 400 feet Along this
belt evidences of primitive disturbance
and upheavel are everywhere seen In the
shane of more or less PERCEPTIONS bluffs,
at which the twisted or broken strata
of the original formation are often stri-
kingly exposed. Here, from Lac La
Belle. on the east, to the Ontonagon
river on the west, copper mining, both
ancient and modern, has been princl-
pally carried on, although large num-
her of mines have been opened, two or
three with good results, between the
Ontonagon and Montreal rivers. This
range NAV be conveniently considered
as comprising three districts, the Eagle
river Tor point, as it is here designated, J
Portage lake, and Ontonagop, each of
which has certain prevailing external
peculiarities.
Passing from any point along the
north side of the peninsula east of the
mouth of Eagle river, we ascend 800 or
600 feet the first mile, and 200 feet the
second, which brings us to the summit
of the range. Along this whole line,
about thirty miles, the crest of the ridge
consists of q vertical wall of naked
trap. two or three hundred feet high,
which faces the south.
From the foot of this vast column up
heaved, the ground again rises gradual
" to the south, until it forms a second
parallel range of about the same eleva-
ton, thus making long, narrow valley,
through which flow in opposite direc-
lions the Eagle and Little Montreal riv-
ers. From Mount HoughtOn, ON the
east. which rises like a dome to the
height of S64 feet, and its neighbor
the Bohemian mountain, near Lac la
Belle, along the entire route there Is a
succession of commanding and magnifi-
4 a., l.. 20, hot
from the summit of the cliff at the old
Waterbury mine, which one may jour-
ney long and travel far to find surpass-
ed. The observer stands at the middle
of the are of vast curve which bends
on either hand to the south, enabling
him to take in at one glance the entire
boundary ridge, as well as the whole
picturesque valley.
Al Portage lake, in the second district
the landscape, though not so bold, is
no less attractive for its picturesque
ness. This lake, which cuts through
the whole breadth of the top range
! resembles in form, and in many OF itl
surrounding features, the long, narrow
crooked Scottish lochs. its lofty encom
, passing hills now preciritous, now slo
ping, its dense forests ard its quiet wa
tiers combining to produce an effec
which it would be hard to parallel ever
: in that famous region. On the north
; east side of the lake, in the vicinity o
: the mines, succession of knobs, points
and headlands, rising to the height o
200 feet, is seen, above which towel
projecting lodges and bluffs of tral
rock 400 feet farther. On the south
west side, the ridge is not so high, bu
| it is more PERCEPTIONS. The beds o
trap constituting the mineral range have
total thickness of about mile and /.
half at this point, and as you go up thu
mountain ON either side, they protrudt
here and there from the soil, the inter
walls being covered to slight deptl
with earth.
!, Passing down the mineral range for
ty miles, we reach the Ontonagon dis
trict Here also the ridge attains ,
height of 700 feet; the ascent from tn,
, lake is however gradual; and the soutl
face of the summit is about as precipi
tous as at the point. The descent t.
the lake is so easy that barges find thei
way up and down the Ontonagon river
distance of twelve miles. From th,
bold cliffs of the range at this point, thu
view is almost unlimited, and at few
, places, as at the Agogebic lake % mile
further on, truly magnificent. Her,
one has a view to the northwest of tn,
Porcupine mountains, a spur to tn,
mineral range, rising 1,400 feet abov,
the lake, with their wild gorges, dizz,
! precipices, sheltered lakes, and gloomy
impenetrable forests; while on eithe
hand, as far as the eye can reach, fores
crowded heights, softening into indis
tinctness with the growing distance
! succeed each other In every varyin,
Z form and relation Towards the Blacl
Hill in the Montreal river region which
: lie blue and cloud-like upon the hori
: zon, the range is more broken and ir
regular itself into success
: sion of rounded, isolated groops, in
stead of parallel chat s as heretofore.
When good roads are open alone
these ranges connecting one distric
, with another, can conceive of nothin,
this side the Rhine or the Alps NOR,
,, imposing, exciting and satisfying in tn,
way of travel, than carriage or horse
back ride festina Lente-from Lac l.
, Belle to the Agogebic lake. That i
the only way to f'do" the mineral re
! gion. would by no means be under
stood as disparaging a mere steamboa
excursion up tho lakes. 1t is excellen
of its kind-the wide expanse of water
bounded here and there by long range,
of mountains: the pI1re insnirinfy. al =.