6 FORESTS OF WISCONSIN. 



In tliis drainage the several rivers share as follows: 



Per cent. 



Chippewa river (vsdth. Eed Cedar at 6.3%) 28.4 



Wisconsin river 31.0 



St. Croix river 13.7 



Wolf river 7.4 



Black river 6.8 



Menominee river (Wisconsin side) 5.7 



Oconto river 3.4 



Peslitigo river 3.2 



Small rivers to Lake Superior 9.3 



Small rivers direct to Green Bay 0.9 



Besides furnishing ample drainage, the basins of the Chip- 

 pewa, Wisconsin, St. Croix, and Black rivers, which drain 70 

 per cent, of the entire area, are covered with the most perfect 

 network imaginable of small streams especially suited for pur- 

 poses of driving timber. The rivers emptying into Green Bay 

 also "drive" quite well, but have required more improvements, 

 while those running into Lake Superior are in great part unfit 

 for driving. 



Ownership. — Of the 18.5 million acres of land contained in 

 this north half of Wisconsin a little less than 7 per cent, is im- 

 proved; 24 per cent, is held by actual settlers, the greater part 

 of which falls to the counties along the southern and south- 

 western edge of this district; the United States hold about 5 

 per cent. (2 per cent, being Indian Reservations), the State 

 holds less than 2 per cent., the railways little over 5 per cent., 

 the counties about 1.5 per cent, in tax deeds, and about five 

 times this amount conditionally on tax certificates. Of the 63 

 per cent, owned by private non-residents, fully 80 per cent, is 

 held by lumbermen. This amounts to 50 per cent, of the total 

 area under consideration or 25 per cent, of the land of the en- 

 tire State. 



