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trouble and losses they were liable to suffer at certain seasons of the year 
when the fires were burning over the country. At an early day in the 
settlement of Wisconsin, there were few impediments to its progress, and 
woe to the pioneer’s stacks and fences, even his cabin was sometimes en¬ 
dangered, if not consumed, when the raging element, driven by a fierce 
wind, swept over the country. The fruit of a summer’s toil has at such 
times often been consumed in a short time. But now, cultivated fields 
are so numerous, and roads running in every direction, that there is far 
less range for the fires, and they can be controlled if set at a favorable 
time. 
There is one fruitful source of annoyance and vexation in commencing 
a farm in a newly settled country ; it is difficult to provide enclosed fields 
at first for cattle to live in, and the consequence is, that they are suffered 
to roam at large, and it requires a great deal of time to look after them, 
especially in autumn after the frosts have killed vegetation ; then they 
are wont to ramble off, frequently occasioning a search of several days 
to find them. The injury to cows that thus go for several days in suc¬ 
cession without milking is very great; still the various urgent wants that 
claim attention in beginning a farm, induce many to turn their stock 
loose, and give them the benefit of pasturage at large ; it is thought 
sufficient for present purposes if the settler can get his wheat crop fenced. 
Another inconvenience which often cannot well be removed immediately 
is, the want of a good supply of water at hand. It is generally known 
that Wisconsin is not as well watered as many of the Eastern States, and 
in most parts of the country the depth at which water is found below the 
surface is much greater than in these countries ; this is especially true of 
the prairie country, where it is seldom found at a less depth than thirty 
feet, and from that to one hundred, a depth which occasions quite an 
expense to sink a well. The task of transporting all the water required 
for family use any great distance can be estimated only by those who 
have assumed the task for a time, and the sooner a farmer can go to 
work to sink a well the better for him. Let him do it if many other things 
are thereby neglected for awhile. The winter season is usually chosen 
for this business, and it is a favorable time for the purpose. The con¬ 
siderations that direct many in selecting a place where to settle, are water 
facilities—these are indeed well worthy of regard ; but it often occurs 
in Wisconsin that some of its finest portions are, comparatively speak- 
