The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-12-26
nTHE GLORIOUS pINEY WOODS

OT[H UItU W COZ LttUcC ut6U, uuu
they caused us to long for a 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 & Minneapolis
Line, that led through prairie and
meadow, through bill and valley,
along great lakes and streams, and
finally into the depths of the pine
forests of Wisconsin. and SO on to
st. Paul and Minneapolis. Buying
our tickets we started, and left the
Canal and Kinzie streets depot of
the Chicago & North-W Western Rail
way, and passing through many
pleasant villages, such as Irving
Park, Desplaines, Darlington, Crys-
tai Lake and Woodstock, and reach
ed Harvard, thence to Beloit, Hanov-
er and Madison, where we are l40
miles from Chicago, and at the Cap
ital of Wisconsin, a city of over if-
teen thousand people.
The city is pleasantly situated on
an isthmus about three-fourth of a
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,
gravelly shores, and a depth sufi-
cient for the navigation Of steam
boats. Lake Monona is somewhat
smaller.
At 176 miles from Chicago, and
SO miles from Madison, we reached
the celebrated Devils Lake. This
is a beautiful body of water, surroun-
ded by PERCEPTIONS 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 ba-
sin of the Lake. On every side of
the lake yon see crock piled on rock"
in every conceivable form, and in i'm
mense columns, pillars, piles and
masses of very great magnitude and
height. The railroad runs along
the shore of the lake on a bed that
was literally blasted out of the side
of the mountain. From the car win
dows all the beauties of this wonder
full and weirdly mysterious region
can readily &c seen. This was the
home of Minnawaukene, a beautiful
but unfortunate Indian maided, and
many legends are related of her by
the simple hearted and kindly peo-
pie of the vicinity. This lake is a
favorite summer resort, and to it the
people for many miles around come
for pic-nicing, 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
Chicago, and at the southern termin
us of the West Wisconsin-Railway
From Elroy you hasten northwart
on the new and admirable track o
the West Wisconsin road, and sooI
reach the great pine woods, which
have rendered Wisconsin celebrated
the world over. Into the heat o
the pine lumber region you speed
,lpassing through the Black Rive
Falls, Humbird, Augusta, Eau Claire
Menomonee and other noted lumbei
towns, and finally cross the River St
Croix at Hudson. This river is tn,
dividing line between Wisconsin ant
Minnesota. A few miles beyond
you reach a branch to Saltwater,
fourishing town on the St. Croi:
= river. A fifteen mile ride bring
you to st. Paul, and here you res,
or push on eleven miles further, t.
) the active, busting cities of Mime
apolis and St. Anthony.
At st Paul you can make clos
connections, via the Lake Superin
q Mississippi Railroad, for Duluth
Moorhead, Bismark and other point
on the line of the great Northeri
Pacific Railroad, and also with tn
St. Paul & Pacific Rail way for Brock
enridge, Fort Garry and points il
Manitoba.
, On the line we have hastily sketch
ed, you have a variety Of scenery
. the quiet, beautiful prairie countr
= of Northeastern Illinois; the ~rollin;
farming country Of Southern Wiscon
sin; the widely romantic mountait
: scenery of the Devils Lake country
the breezy, odorous "piney woods,
with their busy mills, active town
and numerous logging camps, an
the charming river country of tn
= St. Croix valley. A greater divers:
ty country a not be found any
where in a journey of the same length
! You will find comfortable, cleanl
! and commodious dining stations an
> hotels along the line, at which ampl
, time is given for all meals.
: One management controls the rout
and Pullman Palace Szeepers ru
through to st. Paul and for MinneaJ
! OILS. 1t will be seen that this liz
runs nearly due northwest fro
Chicago to St. Paul, and is but a fe
: miles longer than an air line, and
= IS the shortest practical route Oh,
9 which q railroad line can be 6ui
betoceen these points. This assure
/ the passenger The quickest time til;
can be made, No other route is no
Il or can be made as direct.
! We are now settled down by
- quiet brook, where we daily pull fro
y the "vasty Deep the speckled bea
T ties we have heard so much about.
The Courier.