Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-08-18
An Interesting Letter.

Inere are SO many interesting places
and objects in the vicinity Of Hudson,
[ thought perhaps you would care to
have pen picture of the most nota-
bic. [ will tell you of a journey l
took the other day in company with
five others.
Our destination was River Falls,
twelve miles distant and at nine O'Clock
we were on the road, in the morning
of one of those perfect days which
are SO rare in summer but which SEEM
ed to have been manufactured for
our special comfort and enjoyment.
One can have no adequate idea either
by reading or by the telling of the
beautiful scenery, magnificent farmes,
comfortable and even elegant homes in
the vicinity of River Falls. Riding
along in our open carriage, the fields
of golden grain in front of us as far
as the eye could span, behind US, at
the right and at the left of US, the
green mounds, charactistic of this
region dotting the vast ''feld Of the
cloth of gold" like sparkling emeralds,
it seemed to me the loveliest sight
ever eye could behold A line Of
Barbara Fritohie ran in my mind
continually--"Fair as the garden of
the Lord" We reached River Falls
about noon and after riding through
the principal streets, we went down to
the Falls to eat our picnic dinner. All
the business houses are on one long
street and the many fine brick build
ings attest to the wealth and enterprise
of the citizens. The Normal School
building is grand red brick edifce,
very much resembling our Howe High
School only much larger. The
grounds are large and hastily arranged
The cost of the building was $4,000
and it would decorate any city in the
State.
One fact impresses me so favorably
with the towns in this section of the
Countrywide people take so much
pride in identifying their homes
There is scarcely a home but an
abundance of shade trees embellish
the yards, while flowers, swings, rustic
chairs, vases and fountains are scatter
ed with lavish profusion. River Falls
is no exception and the many beautiful
homes are delight to view. The
Kinnickkinnic River ''winds about
and in and OUT of this little city per-
forming threefold duty-afording
an abundance Of water power for the
numerous niIls,-giving the individ-
ual priscatorially inclined chance to
practice his art (for the trout are
abundant)--last but not least, salts
fying the esthetic nature in the shape |
of waterfalls, ravines and willow firing
ed banks. We spread our dinner at
the foot of one of the falls, in the |
center of a ravine Swallowed on both |
sides by immense rocks formed like the |
Delles Of the Wisconse. A towering !
-four mill, the largest l ever saw
froWned down on US from the rocks |
overhead, while the river dashed itself
into foam at our feet and then tired of |
its noisy passion, silently glided away
through the sweet fields of cleaning |
grain. It was all so grand was sorry
when the time came to continue our
journey.
We next visited the Poor Farm Of |
St. Croiz County. which is not as the
name would indicate in the richness of
soil or its situation. 1t is eight miles
from River Falls in the very center Of
Kinnickkinnic valley, the river of the
same name, traversing its $50 acres
A moro DELIGHTFUL view could not be