The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-09-05
FROM STEVENS POINT TO SUPE-
RIOR-AN INTERESTING DES-
CRIPTIGr~ OF THE COUN.
TRY

The following. written for the Stevens
Point Journal, by Mr.. B. f. Atwell,
who has just returned from the survey
conducted by Capt. Pike, for the Cen
trail Company, will prove of interest to
the general reader. Itis the most CON-
plete description yet published of the
vast wilderness Though which the road
passes.
ED. JOURNAL In obedience to your
request | herewith submit few facts In
relation to the country between Stevens
Point and Ashland
After leaving the Central City, four
miles behind US we enter what may be
termed the wilderness of Wisconsin and
emerge from it only on arriving at Ash
land, a distance of $50 miles. Proceed
ing westerly we traverse valuable pine
~ tributary to the Wisconsin river, oc-
casionally finding hardwood ridges, COW
cred with Maple. Ash, and Oak Of gil
ant proportions, indicating an unusual
fertility of the soil More northerly, and
crossing both the Eua Pleine rivers, we
found the forests Of pine exceeding any
heretofore conceived opinions of this vJi-
liable timber and realized at once that as
soon as completed the Wisconsin Cen
trail would bear almost countless porta-
BILE steam saw mills to this locality, when
the developement OF the northern pinery
would really commence. The wealth of
timber observable is incalculable and will
soon be pouring Its treasure INTO the hands
of capital and enterprise. In town 81,
range 2,east, We crossed the Black river,
the surrounding country being especial
ly adapted for agricultural purposes. and
we predict that the whistle of the
plowboy and the song of the miikmald
will soon be heard echoing through this
now wild and uninhabited region. NJ
nerous rivers traverse the country and in
town 35 we cross the Jump river, in 81
the Dora Flambeau, and the Flambeau
proper in the south part of Al. From
this Point west to the Chippewa river
the excellence of the land for farming
purposes is unsurpassed; torunate are
those who take advantage OF the present
Homestead Government or state price
and secure homes and valuable posses
sions. In the vicinity of the headwaters
OF the Chippewa river We FOUND and I'M
mense bottom land, which at that time,
July 5th, was covered with luxuriant
blue joint grass. This natural meadow
needs but little preparation for the now
er, there now being nothing to obstruct
but occasional clumps of alders or will
low.
From the Chippewa we held our
northwest tern course to Bad river, strik-
ing that stream In town 43, near the
west line of range ,, west and following
the pidly flowing river we reached the
famous PenGka Gap in town A, range 3,
west.
The face of the country from the Chip
pewa to the Gap is exceeding rough,
forcibly reminded us Of our former New
Eng land home some indication may be
observed in the Bad river which has
fall Of 326 it. in distance OF five miles.
Here is wealth of water-power des-
tined to prove eminently useful IN fur
nishing motive power for the mills and
| factories ess entail to the developement
of this region About halfa mile n. w.
of the Gap" we entered the rapidly dev-
clipping iron region and found Capt. RAY
| exploring for the-'La Point Iron Go.
We passed portion of two days in
visiting the numerous openings Capt.
RAY has already made and the propo-
sed sites of several shafts which will be
sunk in not distant future, The Mi
waukee Iron Co." have large tract Of
parations to bring to an early develop
ment their possessions here. The amoul
of iron are here deposited is known to
be immense and of a quality not surpas-
sed in the world. The ore is of highly
magnetic character and a common COM
pass is of no avail in indicating direc-
ton. But very little difficulty will be
experienced in commencing the develop
ment Of the mines-the ore lying close
to the surface One large hill especially
| attracted al tentI0n 1t was situated on
Sec. 5 Of r. A II 3 W. Upon the north
side THIS hill presents a face OF slate ore
about loo #. long and from $50 to 800
f. in almost perpendicular height.
Specimens of ore, kindly furnished US
| by Capt. Ray, are pronounced by ex-
perts as containing from 60 20 y PER
cent of iron.
Leaving Penoka August lst, we fol-
lowed the line of the rapidly building
Wisconsin Central to the thriving vii
lage OF
ASHLAND.
We found this future metropolis ofthe
Great Lake beautifully located on Ash.
land Bay and possessing natural advan-
tages which are now being appreciated
and appropriated Surrounded as it is
by most valuable and extensive forests,
possessed Of a magnificent harbor, rich
agricultural lands adjoining, being the
terminus of Wisconsin's greatest thor
oughfare-the Wis. Cent.-and having
a rapidly increasing population Of the
most go ahead men in the west, Ash
land must, ere long, prove formidable
rival among the competitors for the title
Of Queen of the Great Lake. Call
ing at the Press office we found the inni-
or member of the Editorial firm of Sam
| & Hank busy as bee and full OF bright
expectations of the future of his chosen
home The influx of people to Ashland
| is great and business men are hurrylng to
and fro intent on the development of
their different branches of trade and in
dustry. We bespeak an unparalleled adj
vancement in wealth and business for
the future Iron and Commercial City"
of Wisconsin and with the sentiment
rapid growth aud prosperity be thine,
Oh Ashland we close our conmunica-
tioD.