BORDERING ON THE UPPER WISCONSIN RIVER. 287 



distance of " Big Bull" Falls, and forms the most southerly range of hills in the 

 eastern part of the Chippewa Land District, the corner of which strikes Wisconsin 

 River in latitude 45°, and about six miles above the Falls. 



We got to the Falls early in the afternoon, and having made the portage around 

 them, devoted the remainder of the day to procuring provisions for the further pro- 

 secution of our journey. 



The village at the Falls consists of a number of very good frame houses ; and 

 from its position, with regard to the lumber trade, in connexion with the productive- 

 ness of the soil in its vicinity, bids fair to become a place of considerable importance 

 at no distant day. An effort is being made to lay out and open a road from Green 

 Bay to this place, which, when completed, will materially accelerate the settlement 

 of the country, not only by affording facilities for emigration, but also by reducing 

 the cost of provisions, which, at present, is a serious matter to new-comers, who 

 have to purchase almost everything for the first year. 



One of the finest pine regions of Wisconsin enters the District at this point, from 

 the south, and extends for some distance above Spirit River. The general character 

 of the lands bordering Wisconsin River from near its source to the neighbourhood 

 of " Grandfather Bull's Falls," has been indicated. Below that point, from a quarter 

 of a mile to a mile back from the river, ridges, bearing maple and other hard woods, 

 begin and extend back into the country for many miles, while between the river 

 and maple lands good pine is abundant. 



The rivers originating in the Chippewa Land District, down which logs can be 

 run, are " Rib," " Trap," " Rock," and " New Wood" Rivers. On all these streams 

 first-rate pine abounds, and on all of them " Logging Companies" have been esta- 

 blished. The country between them is made up of maple ridges, interspersed here 

 and there with marshes. 



"Big Bull Falls" are made by a ridge of syenitic granite, about thirty feet high, 

 traversed by a dike of greenstone, and crossing the river with a bearing east-north- 

 east and west-southwest. The river is divided by an island, upon which three 

 mills are erected. The perpendicular fall of the east chute is about four feet, that 

 of the west chute about eight feet. The rocks have a dip of 24° to the northwest. 



October 9. Seven miles below "Big Bull," a high granite range shows itself on 

 the west side of the river; and at several other points, between that and "Little 

 Bull Falls," a distance of thirteen miles, are exposures of the same rock. 



At " Little Bull" there is usually a portage made, three-quarters of a mile long, 

 on the west side of the river, but our voyageurs descended the whole rapid in the 

 canoe, with the exception of a few yards at the mill-dam. There is no perpendi- 

 cular " fall" at this place ; it is a mere rapid, falling, in its whole length of over 

 half a mile, as nearly as I could judge, eight or ten feet. The rock is a dark grayish 

 and greenish-coloured compact syenite. The range is rather low, the rock being 

 elevated, at the highest points observed, only about ten feet above the water-level. 



October 10. Nine miles below " Little Bull," a low range of gneissoid granite is 

 exposed, extending along the western shore of the river for the distance of one 

 hundred and fifty yards, bearing east-northeast, and west-southwest with a dip of 

 G° to the south-southeast. The rock is traversed by numerous quartz veins, from 



