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Brunson, Alfred, 1793-1882 / Northern Wiskonsan
(1843)
Communication from Mr. Brunson [to J.D. Doty], pp. [3]-16
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9 saws, with shingle and lath machines, which furnish 2,000,000 feet of lumber, and shingles and lath in proportion. All t-b mills upon this river and its branches make about 5,000,000 feet of lumber annually, and shingles and lath in proportion. And hewn timber and saw logs are sent also to market, probably equal to 3,000,000 feet more. The St. Croix mills are said to yield about 5,000,000 feet of lumber, with a due proportion of shingles, lath and timber, and the Wiskonsan as mnch more: making in all about 18,000,000 feet of lumber, besides shingles lath and timber to an equal amount furnished by the Territory for the Mississippi markets. With the ainount of lumber furnished by the eastern portion of the Territory, I am unacquainted. S In ascending the Chippewa by its course, (the route I took last winter on the ice) 100 miles above the falls, we passfive differ- ent falls, over which boats and rafts cannot pass in safety: be. sides numerous rapids. The Indians pass up "d down the rap. ids in their canoes, but are obliged to portage round the falls. These falls and rapids afford great water power, and the sur. pounding country affords inexhaustible pine forests. But the impracticability of rafting it away, will prevent their use for lumbering purposes, except floating the logs singly down the stream, until the navigation is improved, or rail roads are made to connect them with the river below the falls. The 1Muni to ish, (Devil's river) or main branch of this riveiN (which is said to pass through greater and finer Pine forests than any other branch of it, and as well supplied with water power) interlocks with the Ontanogan of LaJce Superior, by means of small Lakes and low swampy lands; and could easily be connected by a canal on a summit level less than 400 feet above the Lake and the Mississippi, the two great waters being nearly on a level with each other. The Ottowa branch of this river mighIbe easily connected with Bad river, of the Lake, 3~~~~~~~~~~ ""U~~
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