Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-10-25
s'The OderOus PIney WoOds.''

These words caught our eye as we were
Iazily glancing through The North and
West Illustrated, and they caused US to
long for trip to the home of the "piney
woods" Without much thought as to
where we should stop, we took our start
from the good city of Louisville, KY, and
soon found ourselves at Chicago. There
we found but one route that could give us
what we were looking for, and found that
to be the new Chicago, st. Paul and Min
neapolis Line, that led through prairie
and meadow, through hill and valley, along
great lakes and streams, and finally into
the depths of the pine forests of WiscOn-
sin, and so on TO st. Paul and Minneapolis
Buying our tickets we started, and left the
Canal and Kinzie Streets depot Of the Chi
cago & North Western Railway, and passed
through many pleasant villages, such as
Irving Park, Desplaines, Darlington, Crys-
tai Lake and Woodstock, and reached Har-
ward, thence to Beloit, Hanover and Madi-
son, where we are 140 miles from Chicago,
and at the capital of Wisconsin, city of
over fifteen thousand people.
The city is pleasantly situated on an
isthmus about three-fouTths of mile wide,
between Lakes Mendoza. and Monona, in
the center of a broad valley, surrounded
by heights from which it can be seen at a
distance of several miles Lake Mendoza
lies northwest of the town, is six miles
long and four miles wide, with clean grav-
ely shores, and depth sufficient for the
navigation of steamboats,. Lake Monona
is somewhat smaller
At 176 miles from Chicago, and 95 miles
from Madison, we reached the celebrated
DEVILS Lake. This Is beautiful body of
body of water, surrounded by precipitous
mountains on every side, except at two
points, one being at the southern end,
where the railroad enters the lake basin,
and the other at the northern end, where
the railroad finds exit from the basin of
the lake. On every side of the lake you
see 'rock piled on rock" in every conceiv-
able form, and in immense columns, pill
lars, piles and masses of very great magni-
tude and height The railroad runs along
the shore of the lake on bed that was lit
orally blasted out of the side of the noun
tain. From the car windows all the beau
ties Of this wonderful and weirdy mysteri-
Gus region can be seen. This was the
homo of Minnawaukene, g beautiful but
unfortunate Indian maiden, and many le-
gends are related Of her by the simple
hearted and kindly people of the vicinity
This lake is favOrite summer resort, and
to it the people for many miles around
come for picnicing, sailing, boating, fish
ing and other sports.
At BarabOo you reach the Baraboo river,
and from thence pass along its valley for
many miles.
At Elroy you are 212 miles from CHI
cago, and at the southern terminus of the
West Wisconsin Railway. From Elroy,
you hasten nOrthward on the new and ad-
mirable track of the West Wisconsin road,
and soon reach the great pine woods,
which have rendered Wisconsin celebrated
the world over. Into the heart of the pine
lumber region you speed. passing through
Black River Falls, Humbird, Augusta,
Eau Claire, Menomonee and other noted
LsSna6er towns, and finally cross the River
st. CrOiX at Hudson. This river is the di-
viding line between Wisconsin and Min
nesota. A few miles beyond, you reach a
branch to Saltwater, fioursihing town on
the St. Croix river. A fifteen mile ride
brings you TO ST, Paul, and here YOU rest.
or push on eleven miles further, to the act.
i've, bustling cities or Minneapolis and St.
Anthony.
At st. Paul you can make close connec-
tions, via. the Lake Superior & Mississippi
Railroad, for Duluth, Moorhead, Bismark
and other points on the line of the great
Northern Pacific Railroad, and also with
the st. Paul & Pacific Railway, for Breck-
enridge, Fort Garry and points in Mani
tOba.
On the line we have hastily sketched,
you have a variety of scenery-the quite,
beautiful prairie country Of Northeastern
Illinois; the rolling farming country of
Southern Wisconsin; the wildly romantic
mountain scenery Of the DEVILS Lake
country; the breezy, odorous epiney
woods" with their busy mills, active
towns and numerous logging camps; and
the charming river country Of the st. CrOix
valley. A greater diversity Of country can
not be found anywhere in a tourney Of the
same length. You will find comfortable,
cleanly and commodious dining stations
and hotels along the lins, ct which ample
time is give for all meals.
One management controls the route and
Pullman Palace SleepeTS run tarOuah 10 81.
PGaI and for MiaHedp0lis 1t will be seen
that this line runs nearly due northwest
from Chicago to st. Paul, and Is but a few
miles longer than an air line, and IL is The
shortest practical route 06er aohieh rail
road line can be built betloeen these points.
This assures the passenger the quickest
time that can he made, No other route 70
aOl6, or can bs made as direct
We are now settled down by q quiet
brook where we daily pull from the ''vasty
deep the speckled beauties we have heard
30 much about,-ahs Courier,