Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1875-04-15
Letter from wisconsin.
La Crosse, WIS. March 81. rs.

LA CROSSE, WIS, March 81, rs.
EDS. HERALD: We people, SO near
the north end of the Mississippi, are
not SO excited in regard to new rail
roads. but we are looking with great
anxiety for the coming annual period,
when the Father OF Waters will burst
his shell, rid himself of his chains and
become again the joyous and peaceful
highway of nations-a highwsy for
men, maidens, old and young, white
and black-a highway without ups
and downs, or tax or toll; path broad
and safe. When the people no longer
see great signs, or the strange hand of
indication stands up from the water,
as of formetime, when Solomon's
ships traded with Ophir, or men went
to the waters for romance aud fable,
hugged the shore by day and prudent
y cast anchor by night; and then,
like Hemer's heroes, when they re
turned to Ithaca, had the music of ST.
rene mingling with the fears of their
hearts, and the alarms of monsters
and cruelties of giants on their lips.
But, these days have passed /; the deep,
brown waters of the Mississippi have
yielded up nearly all their secrets, and
the wonderous stories of Indian
times, too strong for haunted house
or deserted graveyard, are no more
In the stead of marvellous sounds is
heard the clatter of the rushing pad
dle-wheel and the song issuing from
the sable gronps on the forecastle,
echoing their 'yo-h to fellows on
the coming shore.
These moving palaces are quiet, hap
py, moving homes for hundreds
Whether it was the insect on a float
ing leaf; the beaver or bear, upon
log, padding down and across these
streams, that suggested the idea of
such water travel to man or not, we
do not know; or whether the Indians
continued practice of clasping tree
with one leg and arm and propelling
themselves wit theh other, gave the
needed suggestion as to the mode of
applying force, we cannot now tell !;
but we do know, that the second step
in navigation was that of lashing two
or more logs together and floating
them in triumph by the use of hand
and paddle. This kind of navigation
is carried on to great degree of per-
lection on the Upper Mississippi-in
this land of such magnificent pineries.
Acres of these RATS, bearing small
dwelling houses for the occupancy of
the raftsman, ,are floating and propelled d
by us every day.
The formidable and repellant waters
of this river not only furnish employ
ment for hundreds, and is the great
highway of commerce, but does its
part in the advancement Of science,
the progress of discovery, the spread
OF civilization and the incubation Of
Christian principle and religious truth
to thousands. The God of Many Wa
ters owns this river. He appoints its
bounds and governs it's tides. He
urges its mighty waves to madness.
He breathes the fury OF the tempest
until in wrath it laps It's boundries
and overleaps its banks. Then He
ispeaks, as in the voice of the Master,
and bids 1t be still. tits, by His hand,
peopled With coqntIePs inhabitants OF
the fnuy kind, and sown in richest
products OF beauty and wealth, and
mystery and power. What ia there
more sublime than its moving calm
What is there more terribly grspd
than its spring tide OF ice and water
power, when 1t moves its acres by, or
rises In travelling iSebergs, and passes