Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-05-26
FOR DULUTH.

OK tbs WAY, MAY, 18th 1870.
Slowly but surely we're pIOddiDg along.
We crossed the st. Croix at TayIor's Falls,
q place, in connection with st. Croix
Falls, of great note in Judicial history,
aud of considerable note to the northwest
generally. But we should fail to do our
duty as travellers or journalists if we
failed to say a putting word about
ST. CRoIx FALLS,
which certainly contains more land to the
acre than any other village or city eyer
saw or read of in the west. As we ap-
preached the suburbs we discovered guide
boards at different points on the sides of
the bluffs, which were set up on high
poles, the object of which was not only
to guide the weary traveller, but, as we
fou nd to our establishment, and no less
amusement, to designate the streets of
this romantic village. One thing further
attracted our attention, aud that is that
though the plated vilisge is covered
thickIy with tall brush, and though the
streets run over high steep bluffs and pre-
cipitous cliffs, in some places, and through
a swamp or quagmire in others, money
enough has been expended by somebody
TO cut the brush and clear them away
Now any man who owns a vacant lot
there can have tie pure sales.--future of
knowing that be has a small patch of
timber growing for the benefit of some
future generation. The man and woman
now living will never live even to dream
of a time when they will be occupied by
business houses or any other. In short,
st. Croix Falls consists of big hotel,
few houses and very few business places,
such IS stores or shops, and rough,
steep mass of mounds and rocks. And
now we cross the river to
TAYLoR's FALLS
which 10 another city under hill, on the
side of hill, and on the top of hill.
This being al the head of navigation, is
Of necessity, a smart little village, and
ought to be much more so, for when we
look at such a magnificent
WATER POWER,
"a this, which can scarcely be equaled in
the whole county, we may wonder that
this is not place that might well vie
with Prescott, Hudson or Hastings. OF
this st. Croix Falls claims her share of
credit and renown, but the "power" has
not built up place, nor has the place
built up or improved one hundredth part
of the power. The stream is very dark
and turbid, and gees dashing and thun-
dering along in its rocky chanrel down
a hundred to two hundred feet below the
highlands on either side. The rapids
commence six miles above here where the
river may be a hundred yards wide, but
grows much narrower as you descend,
until at the toll bridge it does not much
exceed as many feet in width. Last night
OUR CAMPING GROUND,
was at the head of the rapids, at an old
abandoned place on which stands barn
in a very diIspidated condition. The
road from the Falls thither is called hard,
but is, nevertheless both sandy and soft,
nearly the entire distance, with very few
inhabitants living along the way. At
this there is no wonder. since no man
can live here on what he can raise. But
was told that there were fiue farms a
few miles back from the main road, and
many good farmers. and among thum
stock raiser who was uoted for fine cattle,
and, with many other things,
BACHELOR,
who lived exclusively alone, and kept
dairy of fifteen cows. ssThree miles
round" would carry me to his farm, so |
mounted my faithful "CharIey" to seek
a ''bschelors retreat" And now as l
rode quietly along could fancy that /
saw my prospective host, aud hear him
repeating his favorite
SONG.
Give me some green retired spot.
Far from the worlds deceit.