New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-05
TIE WONDERS Of TIE NORTH.
WEST.

Graphic Description of n Portion OF the
Baraboo Vaiiey-A Wisconsin Hop
Picking Season-The DEVILS Lake as
it Appeared seven Years Ago.
We have been permitted by Judge Whit
aker to use the following extract from a
lett sr written to his wife seven years ago,
from part of the country which has been
the wonder Of visitors for half a century,
though it has but recently grown into q
fashionable resort. The lake referred to as
being so difficult of access ~ that time is
now an important railway station on the
Chicago and Northwestern railroad, running
from Chicago TO ST. Paul, Lacrosse, etc;
PRAIRIE DU SAC, Wis, August 81, 1868
Ny DEAR WIFE-Only think | have just
got your letter OF the eleventh OF August,
directed to ne at st. Louis. l am very
glad that 1t was tOrw 1rded, for il shows
that my little wife was mindful of me, and
that one little week seemed, in my absence
quite long time. ! wrote you last week
lust as We were on the eve of leaving for
the Devils Lake" most curious wonder
of nature about fifteen miles OFT, among the
highlands, for the country here of hill and
prairie resembles very nearly what we read
Of the highlands and lowlauds of Scotland
In going from the village we passed for
some eight miles through beautiful undu-
lating and highly cultivated region. This
became finally mountainous, and for some
six or seven miles extremely rugged We
passed two springs OF pure cold water, when
we stopped and the silver cup was called in
requisition, and now you would see finely
cnltivated farms among the hills, occasion
ally large space OF forest, and again
broad region covered with rocks OF enor
nous sizs. Climbing thus, say from 800 to
hoy he nf ha
could, IN the course of the ascent, take in a
view, say for the distance of thirty miles of
prairie lands beneath, which, seen by the
light of setting sun, presented scene of
unusual beauty. Among these hills, and
by the side of rapid river, We come to
cloth mandatory, removing somewhat
from the romance of my picture, and
here purchased for you pretty shawl.
the product of one of the looms. Leaving
the factory We come suddenly upon the
village of Baraboo, containing, say, from
1000 to 1000 inhabitants. This ia the county
seat of Sank county. The suburbs, because
of the broken nature of the lands, might be
deemed picturesque. The great feature of
this country, however, is the number of hop
yards, which meet you at every step of your
progress, requiring at this season thousands
of young men and girls in gathering. A
hop yard at this busy time reminds one of
the descriptions We have of the vineyards of
France. Sometimes you would see as many
as 100 girls employed together in their pleas
ant occupation, making the scene joyous
enough by their singing and laughter. These
girls are employed for compensation
equivalent to the number of pounds picked
by them, and earn sometimes as much as
81 per diem. Hops are worth, say from
forty to fifty cents pound, so that an acre
of ground which frequently yields from
1000 to 5000 pounds, brings in an annual
product of say $1,000, and sometimes even
more. In fact, the product of this country
last season from hops alone exceeded
81, 500,0 900. These hops are carried south to
Illinois and Missouri, and there form the
base of the immense quantities of beer of
the brewefies thence shipped to all parts OF
the United States.
The farmhouses are generally small, and
it is q problem how the young girls, who
are from twelve to twenty years OF age,
lodge overnight. I learn, however, that
they sleep. say from thirty to forty, in
single room, and are made comfori BILE.
Sleep comes to them easily, too, for their
employ, though light, 10 constant, and there
~ NO labor more healthful, more soothing
TO the nerves, or more strengthening than
hop picking. In distance Of five miles,
on our excursion, We passed in wagons item
in eschl not less than $50 of these girls on
their way TO ehe hop yards, where they had
been engaged. At this season families are
unable TO procure domestics at any price,
because the girls prefer to 10 hop picking.
A price double what can be made in q hop
Jard affords no inducemsnt; and If one asks-
the reason the reply Invariably is, I'VE
have Jolly times in the hop yerdsr' A. We
rode along in our open carriage, We were
constantly greeted With, There 90 more
hop pickeran Mr.. Underwood and John
were II .ehs front seaS Carrie and myself
- The qoeond, and Lucy cd EQsn y the
third, 81 IN this ''jolly" time al tcekus
II S afP - = q. q conduct yeu. . Il.
sisi esliSS1, ~ mn 30 - - ~ sbsvs
/. ~ 5fiif1o.. 4nneo ~ conttnn6d % 3
j. Sfsddsl hid1df II about 100 net sbsvs