River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1925-05-28
AN INTERESTING HISTORY
OF THE BADGER STATE
CONTINUED from page onel


stock of Europe.
Beauty is Rock Deep
The two outstanding impression:
made on a visitor to the state are the
unusual combination of beauty and
utility. There are states in which a
much greater part of the surface is
tillable. But they lack variety and
beauty of landscape and THEN
topography is flat and monotonous
Other states have rugged mountain
ranges, but possess little utility to
give balance to their scenic impress
siveness.
The scenery of Wisconsin is strick-
ingly varied. Here you come on q
massive hill, with farmhouses skirt
ing it's base as if seeking shelter
from the winds and the storms. The
next glimpse is a group of farm
buildings picturesquely guarded by
an outstanding crag of cream-colored
sandstones carved into fantastic
forms by the wind of the ages. An
other group is framed in forest on
a glacial knoll.
Lakes abound, over two thousand
of them, skirted by fertile farms.
The villages and small cities are
prosperous and well-kept with COM
Portable homes and broad lawns.
There is evidence on every hand of a
uniform degree of prosperity. To
one who loves his fellow men this
fairly equal distribution of the
worlds goods add zest to the APP
probation of the surroundings.
White Man Comes in 1884
Nor does Wisconsin lack in histor-
ic association, which is needed to en-
rich the story of any state or
country. The foot prints of history
lie along her waterways which were
the routes of the French explorers
and missionaries, the voyagours, and
couriers du bois. Given a few maps
and a couple of volumns of Parkman,
and journey down the Fox and
Wisconsin Rivers is an education in
two centuries of empire building
with all their dramatic episodes,
their personal tragedies and the ro-
p,apoa of dirooxyarxy
In 1884 Qet it be marked that this
was only fourteen years after the
Puritans landed at Plymouth Rock)
Nicolet, the French explorer, reached
Red Banks on the shores of Green
Bay, northeast of the present city of
hat name. So far as historical
records go he was the first white man
to set his foot on Wisconsin soil. He
believed he had reached the far east
md was about to greet the Chinese.
With due ceremonial, wearing "A
grand robe of China Damask all
trewn with flowers and birds of
many colors" he met what proved to
be the Winnebago Indians.
Nicolet was the precuror of long
line Of French explorers and mission
aries whose names have enriched the
history of Wicsonsin-Radisson &
Grossilier, Marquette and Joliet, AL
louez, Hennepin, Duluth, Saint Lus-
son and LIE ,Sueur. In 1878 Mar
quette and Joliet, entering the state
at Green Bay and following down the
Fox and Wisconsin rivers made the
historic trip that resulted in the dis
covery of the Mississippi.
Keystone of Middle West
For 1877 years Wisconsin, as a part
of New France, was under the juris-
diction of the King Of France, and
the Fox and Wisconsin rivers formed
the Strategic route which held the
French possessions together. At
Portage the short distance of mile
and a half separated the Wisconsin
River, which flows into the Missis-
sippi, from the Fox river, which
flows into the Great Lakes and even
tually into the St. Lawrence. This
route through the heat of Wisconsin
was the keystone of the arch of
French occupation, and was an influ-
entail factor in shaping not only the
history of Wisconsin but the History
of the entire continent.
Although French suzerainty lasted
only 1877 years, for almost 200 years
Wisconsin was distinctly French
colony. Gordons of forts were erect
ed along the waterways by the mil
itary commandants, and Jesuit mis-
sionaries built bark chapels at every
settlement. 1t was day of romance
and adventure. To these forts came
the wandering traders, the rollicking
voyageurs, dressed in buckskin and
bedecked with beads and ear rings,
the courier du bois with his retainers,
the half-naked Indians and half
breeds. 1t was a devil-may-care ad-