Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-02-24
BY VERNE S. PEAsE,


is now so much in the public eye by
reason OF the proposal to make of it
state park. With a few other
farms. all small. that may be CON-
pTised in the purchase, there are l.
zoe acres of upland. If it is thought
best 10 have river frontage ON both
streams, 1000 acres of bottom land
will need to be acquired. The entire
tract viii have a river boundary on
the Wisconsin of about fi"e miles; on
the Mississippi of about half hat
distance
On the Wisconsin river frontage
the bluffs present a face rising to an
elevation ranging all the way from
200 to 4Se feet. On the Mississippi
side there is a greater diversity of
prospect In places the BLUFFS to the
west are precipitous, rock-faced,
threatening; then there are rounded
cheeks. the eroded ends of hills that
reach well back from the river Be
tween these are rayines that bring
spring brooks down from their sources
well up in the hills. over countless
waterfalls, and empty them into the
father of waters. Upon the north
side of the tract-the Wisconsin river
side-only one ravine breaks the other
wise continuous chain of rugged
sandstone cliffs. Naturally, the hills
OF ridges, like great ribs, run from the
backbone westerly until they reach
the bottoms of the Mississippi. No
doubt they once spanned the present
chasm. but that was long time ago
when the entire section was a great
plain and before the river had made
much progress on its eternal work
of erosion.
This tract is made up Of hills and
valleys. good part still virgin for
est; for Robert Glenn has refused
these % years 10 permit a tree to be
cut 1t has been his rare plan all
tAese years to have it used as a great
pa-s. He owns about 1900 acres of
the upland.
Views To Be Remembered.
from every peak in the chain OF
bluffs that bounds the tract almost
continuously on the two river sides
a view may be had that can scarcely
be equalled in this state OF varied
and exquisite scenes. Near the north
west corner, where the bluff breaks
from its east and west course along
the Wisconsin river and becomes 3,
north and south range overlooking
the Mississippi. are two conspicuous
promontories, for years favored stands
Tor the thousands who visit this
beauty spot-'look out" and eagles
eye" Nj. Glenn thinks they mark
the extreme altitude of the property.
They certainly are the highest bluffs
on The entire course of the Mississippi
river. Standing on either of these
peaks the panorama is matchless.
From the north comes the Mississippi
majestic beyond description. Near by
ii shows its breadth of mile. but up
stream the combining hills seem to
close i'm until at 5 miles the inexor-
able law OF perspective, and perhaps
a slight change in the course, dwin-
dies the mighty current to the aspect
of 2 trout stream
The bottoms of the Wisconsin at
this point have the usual width of a
mile. but from the elevation they look
as d wooded H. with large creek
cutting through IT, On a bench north
of The Wisconsin and east of the
Mississippi. is built the historic old
town of Prairie du Chen. II is four
miles from the Glenn tract. although
the distance seems less. and is spread
ont on the little prairie OF dogs
nearly every house being visible from
TOOK out or eagles eye.
But to the east is the most charm
ing view Up the valley of the Wis
cousin is spread panorama that one
may never forget. The winding,
shifting. treacherous Wisconsin Ger.
tainly is a beautiful thing TO see from
this height. The bluffs at BGscobel
the little city and its bridge, are
plainly in sight, yet they are % miles
away: nor do these objects mark the
eastern limits of the view. The val
ley is a mile in width: the river wan
ders sleepily about in this space,
while file of hills and crags on
either side stands watch and wards
over the seemingly innocent thing.
Every grace OF curve and form. av-
cry beauty OF tint and color-all are
there and all may be drunk mo the
senses from lock out or eagles eye.
Council hill is the most delightful
point on the Mississippi side. There
the view is up and dc IA the great
river. and the prospect is a sweeping
one. On this was planted a monu-
ment by river engineers in the employ
Of the United States showing that it
has an elevation Of f,lo8 feet above
The sea BY reason of the absence OF
timber on the inland slope Of this
hill a good view of large part Of the
proposed park may b. had Here is
the most interesting group OF Indian
aac-hworks in wisconsin
Historic and TO Spare.
t,though the confluence OF She Wis
conSin and Mississippi rivers has been
richly represented in the annals Of the
Northwest since the FIRST voyager
coe down from the northeast, one
..,l~r has given tn il ,tutieuaf ziuuit