OF WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA. 



149 



doubtless, from the decomposition of the felspathic granites and argillaceous schist, 

 on which the whole reposes. 



Towards the heads of the streams, the standing water is often so great, and the 

 surface covered to such an extent with erratics, as to be scarcely habitable, except 

 by a race, like the Chippewa Indians, content to subsist on fish, wild rice, and the 

 sugar of the maple. It is but here and there fit for agricultural purposes ; and 

 these arable tracts are chiefly confined to narrow strips, bordering the larger lakes 

 and streams. 



In striking contrast with the above is the soil overlying the igneous ranges,* 

 rich, black, and of remarkable fertility, but often low and wet, and embarrassed, 

 like the preceding region, with large, loose blocks of stone. 



This section of country is chiefly inhabited, at present, besides Indians and half- 

 breeds, by men exclusively engaged in the lumber trade. 



The importance of this trade may be judged from the following statistics, collected, 

 in 1847, by Mr. Randall. 



The lumber is chiefly manufactured on the Wisconsin, Black, Chippewa, and the 

 St. Croix Rivers, and their tributaries. 



On the Wisconsin River are twenty-four mills, running forty-five saws, and saw- 

 ing about nineteen and a half millions of lumber, worth, at the mills, about six 

 dollars a thousand, and three millions of shingles, worth two dollars a thousand. 

 The total value of the lumber on the Wisconsin for that year was, therefore — 



On Black River and its tributaries there are thirteen mills, running sixteen saws, 

 and turning out six millions three hundred and fifty thousand feet of lumber 

 annually ; one and a half million of shingles, and forty-five thousand feet of square 

 timber, say — 



The analysis of soil from the vicinity of a trap ridge near the Falls of the St. Croix, yielded — 



19,500,000 feet, at $6 per M. feet, 

 3,000,000 shingles, at $2 per M., 



$117,000 

 . 6,000 



6,000,000 feet, at $6 per M., 

 1,500,000 shingles at $2 per M., . 

 45,000 feet square timber at $25 per M., . 



§36,000 

 3,000 

 1,125 



Water, ...... 



Organic matter, ..... 



Silicates insoluble in hydrochloric and sulphuric acids, 



Alumina, soluble in hydrochloric acid, 



Oxide of iron, soluble in hydrochloric acid, 



Silica, soluble in hydrochloric acid, 



Carbonate of lime, ..... 



Magnesia, ...... 



Chloride of potassium, with a trace of chloride of sodium, 

 Alumina, soluble in sulphuric acid, 

 Loss, and inorganic acids not determined, 



2-25 

 7-25 

 81-44 

 1-14 

 1-50 



0- 05 



1- 40 

 0-37 



0- 15 



1- 83 



2- 61 



100 00 



