Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-07-07
THE EDITORIAL EXCURSION.

| our purpose to speak richly Of the excursions
taken by our party, noting particularly
those things which it appears to us will be
| of general interest to our readers and
which may have the effect of directing their
attention to the great advantages and i'm
portance Of that portion of the State visited
! by US. It wag a wise thought Of the Presi-
dent of the Association to confine the usuaI
annual excursion this year to the limits Of
our own State, for but few of the editors
from other sections Of the State, and espec-
Tally from the southern and eastern portions.
had Just idea Of the resources of central
Wisconsin and Of the grand future which is
| in store for ii when the natural advantages
it affords for q transit route between the
two great water systems Of the continent,
the Lakes on the east and the Mississipri on
the west, shall have been fully improved.
And here we wish TO speak a good word
We would like to make it many-for the
thrifty young city Oh Oshkosh, which will
hereafter be remembered by us, not so much
for It's wonderful energy and prosperity. of
which the half has not been told. as for the
munihcent and free-handed hospitality of
its people. During our stay there the COM
fort, convenience and pleasure of their guests
were most assiduousty cared for, and no act
Of thoughtful attention was neglected or
forgotten. For an example of the genuine
American town, combining the refinement
md wealth Of the east with the indomitable
energy OF thewest, commend us to the good
city Of Oshkosh.
The last three days of the convent ion
having been devoted to the proposed excur
sions, early on Wednesday morning we
gathered on board the steamer Pi9, ess
which makes tri-weekly trips between Osh-
kosh and New London, aud were soon gaily
steaming up the Fox River. Passing
through the beautiful lake Butte des Morris,
we entered Wolf river and about a mile
above the Junction of the two streams, drew
up at uie Winneconne dock, where we were
War2.Iy greeted by the cheers of the people
ard the discordant screams of half a dozen
steam whistles. The northern division of
tne Milwaukee & st. Paul Railway was ex-
tended to this point last year, and village
| Of several hundred inhabitants has sprung
| up upon what was last season q cultivated
farm, Tivaling in size the older village on
the opposite shore. This place is beautiful
~ located, and has good country about it,
Possessing also the advantages of railroad
communication, and being situated at the
| junction of two nayigable streams it is
| town. We found here Mr. VIM Sanford, who
has an extensive stave factory in the new
village, and Rev I. f. Allen, both formerly
of WATERFOWL, the latter Of whom Joined our
party for the day.
Leaving WinnecOnnP, we entered tie
bea itiful little lake of the same name. and
thence passed into. the larger Lake POygan,
where we soon came upon the Blooms" OF
tbo 81 y " I'll -
one of the objects of the trip to see Here we
found 1000 acres of logs measuring 100,
600, 000, feet, inclosed in two boomg. A
boom is made by en- compassing large
space Of water with long timbels, fastened
together at the ends and secured in their
places by piles driven into the bed Of the
lake. Into this Enclosure the logs, each
one bearing its owners registered mark, are
foated. These logs are cut upon the upper
waters of the Wolf and its tributaries, and
their owners, after marking and tumbling
them into the water, have no further care
concerning them till they receive their "a fits
at the Booms. 1t is the business of the
Boom Company to see that the logs are
hoated, down the river, ass orted and rafted
for this they receive from ! to 90 cents per
thousand feet.
are then foated through a narrow race at
its lower end. This race is formed of tim
begs fastened in the same manner as de-
scribed before, and from each side inclos-
ures extend, each large enough to allow the
building Of a raft. Every person owning
logs has one Of these Enclosures assigned to
him. and men standing at their entrances
examine the marks upon the logs as they
Ana Z IA II
spectiye Enclosures where they are RATED
-Four hundred men are employed by this
Company. They live in houses built upon
RATS or piles, and a happier or more con-
tented lot of men than these, who live, eat and
sleep upon the river, We never saw. They
had prepared a very inviting looking din
ner for US, but We were obliged to forego the
pleasure Of eating it through want of time.
Above the Bo0ms " met the feat NJ logs
and to the most of us it was novel and
exciting sightto see the bot plunge through
them A s'Iog jam at one place detained
us nearly an hour, but we reached Fremont,
where we were to meet the down boat, on
time, and were obliged to wait there nearly
two hours, as the Northeastern, viii Oh
makes alternate trips with the TrgreSS, had
been detained by an extensive clam" above
What few crackers herring, and like edi-
bles were to be found at Fremont, soon dis
appeared, and we left the people of that lit
tie burg with empty larders, if not fun
pockets. At two o'clock we were aboard
the Northeastern, Captain John Arson, for
merly of this city at five we landed at
Winneconne, and did hearty justice to an
elegant and b0untifulire generously pro-
vi ded by the citizens of that place at the
Lake View House, and at seven were back
at Oshkosh again, thus ending our trip
upon this noble stream whose deep and even
channel penetrates the very heart of our
piDeres. and affords q convenient outlet for
the boundless wealth they afford.
The next morning at six we met again
on board the Berlin city, which had been
detailed to take US to Green Bay. As we
pushed out into Lake Winnebago the mist
and rain hich had obscured the prospect
disappeared, and we were afforded fine
views of the opposite shores and Of the beau
tiluI city we had left behind. About ten
mil s out we were met by tie Ijtand City,
a lake boat which had been chartered by
the citizens of Menasha for the occasion
1t was well loaded with ladies and gen.
tlemen from that en- terprising place, who
had come to Did US welcome. For a few
miles the boats were fastened together, and
the passengers of each passed freely to and
Fl As we neared the foot of the lake
ii c boats were uncoupled, but the IS
LmE City continued to escort US till we ha
arrived at Appleton. The lake discharges
its waters through two outiets, about half
mile apart, which unite again little
NOR. than mile below. Menasha is situated
upon the eastern channel, and Neenah upon
the western between them lies Doty's Is
land, SO named IN honor of Gov. Doty, who
lived there many years ago. We ran down
to Neenah, turned about, returned to the
lake and went down to NenaSha. The Fire
Department was here drawn up to receive |
us, and bells, cannon and cheers signifed
welcome. Carriages were provided, aud we
were enabled to cross the island and make |
Neenah another visit. Our space do not |
allow US to express all we would ike to gay |
in regard to the natural advantages which |