122 NOTES ON THE NORTHWEST. 



Prairie Du Chien. The timber in Iowa county is upon the 

 borders of the Wisconsin and Pekatonica Rivers, and in 

 beautiful groves scattered here and there upon the surface 

 of the prairie. In all the prairie country it is expected that 

 the growth of timber will be increased as settlement pro- 

 gresses, by the exclusion of fires, and the breaking up of 

 the prairie sod. The lead ore region of this county extends 

 from the Illinois line north to the Blue Mounds, 36 miles, 

 underlying the w^hole county, longitudinally. But a small 

 part of its mineral lands has yet been opened by the spade 

 of the miner, and it will be a long time probably before the 

 richest lodes will be reached. Most of the lead taken in this 

 county is carried to Galena for shipment to m.arket. 



The lead region extends easterly to the waters of Sugar 

 River, a branch of Pekatonica, about seventy-six miles, geo- 

 metrically, east of the Missisippi at Cassville. With the 

 change in the geological character of the country, there is 

 also a modification of its topographical features and scenery. 

 The surface becomes more even, and gradually assumes the 

 appearance more decidedly of a plain country. 



In the southeastern part of Wisconsin, the proportion of 

 prairie country is increased, though about the upper banks of 

 Rock River, Fox of Illinois, and Maple, all of which head 

 within it, as well as upon the small streams, there is a sufl^i- 

 ciency of good timber. Racine, the southeastern county, 

 bounded by tlie Illinois State line and the lake, contains a 

 large portion of beautiful and rich prairie with a gently un- 

 dulating surface, which is now dotted with numerous thriv- 

 ing farms. It has two prosperous and growing villages, 

 Racine and Southport, the former containing more than 2000 

 inhabitants, the latter nearly that number. The population 

 is stated upon conjecture, without precise information, as 

 the growth of these lake towns has been so rapid, that the 



