River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-11-06
Especial Correspondence Of St. Cloud
Press.
Northwestern wisconsin
RIVER FALLS, Oct. 10, 1874.

The state of Wisconsin is spread all
over with beauty, and thousands Of
scenes are impressed upon my MUD
and in the early times, it was thought
the great northern country was waste,
Time has not shorn the state of its
beauty, blu; many scenes have been
found that years ago were deemed to
be so far in the wilds that a century
must pass before explorations would be
made where they are now fully settled
countries, aud where cities have grown
up. In the northwestern portion OF
the State, Pierce County bears an i'm
portant part, and in the county the
town of greatest importance is River
Falls. 1t is beautifully situated on
both sides of the Kinnickinnic river.
1t is on the level plateau, except the
gorge made by the river, aud the
broad street, with the ever attendant
mercantile houses give to the place a
pleasing look, aud scattered on the
main, as well as other streets ere,
manufacturing establishments that
make no mean figures in place of g..
600 inhabitants. These latter estab.
lishments are all fostered by the people
and all pointed to with pride. Below
the town are Touring mills that grind
more wheat than is ground 10 the coun.
try. The flour is hauled by teams to
the railroad at Hudson, 10 miles, and
from there is taken to the east. The
river is not large, but it is beautiful,
and the falls are very numerous and
with close, high banks of rock, and
the bottom as solid as stone quarry
it is well adapted to the building of
dams. 1t is said that 10 every half
mile there is fall enough TO give pow
er sufficient to run large amount of
machinery. 1t is beautiful stream
and all along its banks are scattered
the pine and birch thus giving to the
eye the grey and green, to relieve the
brightness in the ripple of the waters
in their rapid course
The Normal School building for the
northwest is at this place and is nearly
completed. OF the many beautiful
places in aud around the village of
River Falls, 1t is to be hoped that no
other persons except the Commissioners
would have thought of making the 10.
cation that was decided upon here. 1t
is situated in the southeast portion Of
the town, and it will be very fine
building when complete. 1t is built
of good brick and well, but to the
front Of it is pond which, in wet
weather, will cover village lot and is
never dry. The only use it can be
put to will be to make receptacle for
the debris of the building. In any
event it must be an eye-sore "a plague
spot where there should be health aud
beauty of position. 1t should have
been pleasantly located at thousand
places in the vicinity if the Commis-
sioners could not find a place at some
railroad point in the State TO establish
a Normal School. 1t is ii miles to
the nearest railroad station from River
Falls, and it must seem out Of. the
way TO those who will have occasion TO
visit the place for educating purposes
A visit was made to the trout pond
of Leyings Bros. & johnson, two miles
southeast of River Falls, and it has
given me new ideas in regard to the
fnuy tribe. They commenced four
years ago to make preparations for
their future enterprise by buying 40
acres of land for 81 900 and digging
a race about half mile in length.
Afterwards they built Il high board
fence around about 4 acres of the land
taking in the spring that supplies their
ponds. A house has been built over
the Matching department, where nearly
all the work is done, through which the
water runs TO the various ponds below.
which are Eve in number. From year
lings to three years old they have an
Infinite number Of trout, and they now
treat them according to the best plans
laid down by Seth Green aud others
At the early time in which they con-
ceived the enterprise the labors aud
writings Of Seth Green on the subject
Of rearing trout we're unknown in this
portion Of Pisrce county, at least, not
TO Leyings Bros. x johnson, but they
proceeded as their own good sense ind.
Gated. They purchased trout from ad.
jacent streams aud from them they have
reared their present stock, over half a
million, from one TO three years old.
They are selling trout to all the cities
and villages in this vicinity at IS cents
per pound. They will deliver young
trout after the st Of March next at
$50 per thousand. They deserve great
credit for the enterprise, and il is to be
hoped they may be satisfactorily rewar-
dcd for gu outlay that already exceeds
$4,000 II will be but a few years un.
I'll fish ponds will be as numerous as
butcher shops aud the health of the
people will be greatly improved by a
diet Of which fish shall be portion. II
is not expected that the eating OF fish
Sill make Websters to order, but it may
assist, and until man can eat two or