River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-08-12
ADVANTAGES OF RIVER FALLS
ATTRAcTlVELY SET FORTH
Written BY N. j. WHIPPLE for The Winona
Daily aspubIiean-Herald

The fact was strikingly observable
to the writer when visiting this part
Of Wisconsin, St. Croix and Pierce
counties.
WILD DEER AND WILD PIGEONS
In the Spring of 1858, in travelling
on horseback from Prescott to Rush
River, a distance of twenty-five
miles in the interior from the Miss
issippi river, | saw in single day,
more than half a hundred wild deer.
They were feeding on the grass just
emerging from the earth, on the
hillsides. They felt SO secure from
harm they seldom raised their heads
for recognition. Few there were to
modest them or make them afraid.
Now, there are none to be seen.
Where they once roamed and were
so seldom disturbed, focks of sheep
and herds of cattle are grazing on
the hill-si6es and in the fields.
MILLIONS OF WILD PIGEONS
1t was in these primitive days
when millions of wild pigeons made
their morning flight from the
islands of the Mississippi river to
the big woods twenty-five miles in
the interior to seek their food
among the trees Of the forest, to re-
turn to their roosting place in the
evening. Now, they are gone, for
eyer. 1t has been many years since
wild pigeon has been seen, here
or elsewhere, although, they were a
migratory bird. Like the wild buff
falo they have apparently disap-
peared from the face of the earth.
The havoc of the merciless hunter
and trapper are responsible for
their total destruction. The United
States government, now; offers
quite sum for the capture Of a
pair of these once numerous swift
flying birds.
A BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE
Six decades ago where the wild
deer, and the wild pigeon were IN
harmed, and where the fox dug his
hole unsecured, lies a beautiful viii
lage. Here is seen the handiwork
Of modern civilization, mercantile
houses, h q m residences,
churches, and educational institu-
tions, and automobiles, too, in
plentiful number, are integral parts
of the thriving, busy population of
River Falls. 1t is located on the
kinrickinnic, stream some thirty
miles long which finds it's confu-
ence IL lake St. Croix. This stream,
which is hardly big enough for a
river and little too large for a
creek, with its tributaries is fed by
springs of pure, cold water, once
famous for speckled trout, in great
abundance
TROUT FISHING
Fifty years ago, our dear, good
friend NJ. G. Norton would have re-
yelled in delight could he have spent
a day in sportive toll upon the
banks of this fascinating stream.
The Whitewater in it's palmiest
days, would have been no compari-
son for the delightful sport to a
gentlemanly fisherman. Alas! We
are lingering in the past. Now, in
the immediate vicinity of the town,
there is fisherman for every trout,
but few miles upstream, good
Sportsmen continue to make fine
catches.
A TOWN WITHOUT FACTORIES
River Falls is surrounded and
lies in the very midst of as fine an
agricultural country as the most
selfish husbandnan could wish.
The town is chiefly supported by
the farming community and the
teachers and students of a Normal
school. 1t is devoid of manufactur-
ing industries, with the exception
of couple of mills for grinding
feed. There being no factories to
belch forth clouds of smoke to
CRIME the houses, hence time may
be prolonged in painting them Oft
en-. In this respect. town without
factories has its advantages to the
residential population. 1t will new
er be very large city, but will con-
tinue to be very pretty and attrac-
tive town.
Its population is almost exclusive
Ix- ,o~f0o1 TT hcc ,,anIa-,,