Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-11-24
MINING DEPARTMENT.

Many make it their business, and de-
pend on it for living. To become
successful packer considerable skill
ard practice is necessary, as we'll as
considerable physical endurance. The
pack-trap is piece of thick leather,
about ten or fifteen feet long, four
inches wide in the middle. tapering
down toward the ends to the size of a
small cord. Each end of the strap is
used to bind the bundle, leaving, the
middle as loop that comes over the
head and just down over the points of
the shoulders across the breast. There
is great deal in having this loop the
right size, so as to. have the pack fit
snugly on the back, To carry this
burden with the least inconvenience
peculiar attitude or position of the
body is necessary; and this attitude
can be acquired only by practice.
When first we started my pack felt
light, and as l looked at my guide be-
fore me, like dry goods peddler,
with his body bent to an angle of
about 80 so as to adjust his burden
to the center of gravity, l felt | ought
to have taken part into my pack. But
on he went, increasing his speed as he
warmed up giving me all that l
could do to keep in sight. The gentle
pace with which he started is new mer-
cling into a trot the fallen trees that
lay across our path were apparently no
obstacles to him, while over them |
often stumbled. I was no longer anx-
ious to bear part of his burden, but
would gladly transfer the contents OF
my pack to his, if by my do. ng so could
only bring him down, as the horse men
would say to a proper pace.
Starting from Ashland late in the
afternoon, night soon brought us to a
hating place, where in good earnest we
entered on the conveniences of camp
ing in the woods. 1t was at the head
waters of what was once a little stream,
perhaps little spring branch, but its
sources are now dry, and nothing left
! but here and there pool of water
the color of which could not be i'm
proved very much by tea or coffee
1t was the best we could do, however
and there was no use in grumbling.
In short time our camp fire was
started IN good condition. and from a
pole, one end of which was stuck into
the ground back of the fire, the other
resting on the back log, and little be-
yond it, hung suspended our tea kettle
On each side of the kettle, and in
front of the fire, was toasting stick
one end Of which was driven into the
ground, the other elevated just above
the fire. On the end of those sticks
my guide placed two large peices o.
pork that were twisting and turning as
though the heat had aroused some ling
ering remains Of vitality that shrunk
from the flames.
After supper cooked in this p imitive
style we spread out our blankets OIL
the bosom of our mother earth. with j.;
log of wood on which to lay our head
" it'll our feet to the fire, and oul
heads to the wind, we were soon under
the influence of nature sweet restor
rer balmy sleep. In the morning
awoke with the rain falling gently or
my face, and our blankets wet as tho
it had been raining some time our fire
also was almost extinguished, Gloomy
prospect this, thought /, as | pulled
the blanket over my head and face,
and began to reflect on the conse
quence of sleeping on the cold ground
in rain storm. But then | am not
one OF those easily overcome by diff
culties OF this kind. Although it con
tinued to rain we cooked our break fast
in the same primitive fashion, packed
our bundles with our wet blankets, aud
as soon as daylight was fully opened
were on our way.
Our course from Ashland was nearly
south my object was to reach the ives
tern end Of the Penokee elevation
and explore its northern flank to Bad
River. Along this route we should
cross the White and Marengo rivers,
and other small streams whose sources
are in Tat elevation. In this course
I expected to find good outcrops of
rock where [ could obtain the inform
alton was looking for. From Ash
land to White River, however / never
saw pebble even. We passed through
a dense forest, growing out of as rich
soil as we seldom see. The same mari
bed exposed at the lake shore extends
to the south of this forming rich sub
soil on which rests rich vegetable
mold, in places several feet in thickness.
This is one of those places where nature
acting and re-acting on her material
has worked up her primeval soil to the
highest point. of fertility, waiting for
the coming of man.
This vast Understanding its roots
into subsoil from SO to 100 feet deep
composed of all the elements necessary
to vegetable growth, and in pulv-
erized condition to that forest whose
annual sedding of leaves, broken
limbs'and falling trees have been ac-
cumulating, decomposing and forming
soil through the untold ages of the
past-must have formed physical a
sis for agrcultur of whose resources
no estimate can be made.
j. MURRIsH
Mazomanie, Nov. Oath 1871
80 - -
Kansas Crops.