Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-11-17
MINING DEPARTMENT


the strange sounds and motions of the
boat that the mantle of forgetfulness
was wrapped around me, and the mind
carried away into the region of dreams.
In this unconscious state, pleasant and
refreshing, nevertheless, remand I'M
til the unearthly sound of the whistle
announced our approach to Bayfield,.
Bayfield, is very pleasant little
town situated on the west shore of our
beautiful bay, called by one of the
most outlandish names you can think
of, Cheguamegon. None but Indians,
[ presume, can pronounce it correctly.
Here, early in the morning, | met the
Hon. s. S. Vaughn, an active mem
Der of the committee on mining In the
Assembly last winter, and without any
effort obtained his assistance in procur-
ing good guide and the necessary
outfit for trip back into the woods
beyond the Indian reservation. He
also very kindly ordered his little
steam tug to be ready to take us to
Ashland, the nearest point to the trail
we wanted to take. Mr.. Vaughn
thought the undertaking to be one that
involved considerable risk, and one
that required large amount of phys
ical endurance, and advised me to take
at least eight or ten days provisions,
for the tract of country [ was going to
explore was far beyond the bounds of
habitation. either civilized or savage.
About noon the little tug steamed
up to the wharf, and with my guide,
provisions, cooking utensils, and other
necessary articles for the route, L was
soon on roard, and steaming down the
bay. AT my request we kept close to
land. so as to obtain the character and
position of the rock exposed along
the shore.
| was not little surprised to find
the rock to be sandstone, and it was
some little time before | was quite will
ing to acknowledge it to be the potsdam
sa dstone, for, unlike the potsdam
of this region, and that which un-
derlies the lead district, it has envelop
ed in it pebbles of quartz and patches
of slate, and in some places consider
able calcarious grains are intermingled.
However, it is not difficult, under close
examination, to recognize it as the pots
dam, Notwithstanding the large amount
Of foreign material mixed up with it.
But, what is little strange in this
volcanic region, it occupies position
nearly horizontal all along the shore,
out as far as the Apostle Islands !;
and the islands also are formed of this
same rock, in a similar position. No
| ticing this fact, | took it down as an
evidence that we cannot gainsay that
this sandstone in its normal position
once occupied the surface now occu
pied by the waters of the lake. What
has become of it? by what agency has
it been removed ? or. has it been re-
moved at all 1t is not possible that
it has sunk, as depression, perhaps
along lines of dislocation, produced at
the time that those elevations back Of
the north and south shores rose from
their original lines.
Absorbed in questions of this char
acter, [ had made no note Of time
and before [ was aware of il, the wills
tie of the little tug announced our
near approach to Ashland. Turning
with considerable interest to notice
for the first time the outcrop of the
rock on the south shore, chill Of dis
appointment crept over ME when |
found that not rock or pebble could
be found seen washed on the shore
by the lake. Instead Of rock there
was bed chow thick I cannot tell
for it extended in depth below the
water) of reddish indurated mari
This vast bed of mari, extending for
a great many miles along the shore,
and as [ observed afterward, for many
miles back from the shore, appears to
be deeomposed sandstone, the original
rock containing Gas we see it does
where we find it in its normal condi-
tion) a sufficient amount of clay and
carbonate of lime to furnish the necess,
airy material for narl
On this mari bank is all there is of
Ashland, and this is the last vestige of
civilization in this direction south,
until we meet the outposts of civiliza
ton approaching the north from the
other way. Ashland has population
of about-well, [ saw one family, and
two or three houses that looked as
though the owners had left to hunt up
some other place. saw one hog for
certain, and heard cow bell Out
side of these lines Ashland, as a VII
age does not amount to much. The
family tina. resides here are Germans,
and have lived here, [ understand,
for some time. The lady is speci-
mea of good nature very stout, good
looking. can talk good English, and is
full of fun. She fattered me some
On what she called my pluck in under
taking such a journey in the woods,
and stated for my comfort and encour-
gment that party left there two weeks
before on a similar trip and bad not
been heard from, and fears were enter
tanned for their safety.
While was talking with this fam-
ly my guide was arranging our packs,
for from this place we had to carry
everything in bundles on our backs
His bundle contained his blankets,
extra clothing, our cooking utensils,
and all our provisions. In his hand