APPENDIX. 569 



It is evident that a far greater amount of labor was a few years 

 ago engaged in mining operations ; but the intrinsic value of the 

 lands has operated to detain the present population, which may 

 be considered as permanent. The lands are beautifully disposed, 

 well watered, well drained by natural streams, and easily brought 

 into cultivation. Crops have everywhere repaid the labors of the 

 farmer ; and, thus far, the agricultural produce of the country has 

 borne a fair price. The country appears to afibrd every facility 

 for raising cattle, horses, and hogs. Mining, the cardinal interest 

 heretofore, has not ceased in the degree that might be inferred 

 from the depression of the lead market ; and it will be pursued, 

 with increased activity, whenever the purposes of commerce call 

 for it. In the present situation of the country, there appear to 

 be two objects essential to the lasting welfare of the settlements: 

 first, a title to their lands from Congress; second, a northern 

 market for the products of their mines and farms. To these, a 

 third requisite may be considered auxiliary, namely, the establish- 

 ment of the seat of territorial government at some point west of 

 Lake Michigan, where its powers may be more readily exercised, 

 and the reciprocal obligations of governor and people more vi- 

 vidly felt. 



Mr. Brigham, in whom I was happy to recognize an esteemed 

 friend, conducted us over his valuable plantation. He gave me 

 a mass of a white, heavy metallic substance, taken as an accom- 

 panying mineral, from a lead of Galena, which he has recently 

 discovered in a cave. Without instituting any examination of it 

 but such as its external characters disclose, it may be deemed a 

 native carbonate of lead. The mass from which it was broken 

 weighed ninety or one hundred pounds. And its occurrence, at 

 the lead, was not alone. 



From the Blue Mound to Fort Winnebago is an estimated dis- 

 tance of fifty-six miles. The country is, however, entirely in a 

 state of nature. The trace is rather obscure ; but, with a know- 

 ledge of the general geography and face of the country, there is 

 no difficulty in proceeding with a light wagon, or even a loaded 

 team, as the Indian practice of firing the prairies every fall has 

 relieved the surface from underbrush and fallen timber. After 

 driving a few miles, we encountered two Winnebagoes on horse- 

 back, the forward rider having a white man in tie behind him. 



