352 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
proper channel and flows northerly to Green Bay, having 
formed, in its course from Lake Winnebago, a series of water 
powers as extensive as can be found in the north-west; those 
in Winnebago County on the north and south channels of the 
outlet being known as “ The Rapids.” 
Wolf river enters the north-east corner of the county, and 
after flowing south-easterly about five miles, expands into 
Lake Poygan, which is about ten miles long and from two to 
five miles broad; it is again contracted into a fine stream at 
Winneconnee, and after flowing about three miles enters the 
Fox. A great mistake was made in naming the stream formed 
by the junction of the Fox and the Wolf. That the Wolf is 
actually the main stream is a fact known to every one familiar 
■with these waters, and at the point of confluence is by far the 
largest and finest stream, the Fox entering it at right angles. 
The importance of the Wolf has in no small degree been over¬ 
looked by the misnomer. Sixteen years ago the steamer Man¬ 
chester, Captain Hotaling, ascended the Wolf with machinery 
for a saw-mill, as far as Shawanaw, with no further trouble 
than cutting away a few trees which had fallen from the banks 
into the channel, a distance by the river of 150 miles from 
Lake Winnebago. Regular steamboat communication to Shaw¬ 
anaw is now established. 
Lake Winnebago is a fine sheet of water, thirty miles in 
length; its extreme width is about twelve miles. It is remark¬ 
able for the beauty of its banks, especially on the west side, 
which is indented with numerous little bays, forming points of 
land jutting into the lake in a very picturesque manner. 
Rush Lake, in the south-west corner of the county, is about 
five miles long, with an extreme width of about two miles. It 
is proverbially noted for its outlet, in which is several excellent 
water powers. 
The water communications of Winnebago County give just 
importance to its natural position. The fact that steamboats 
are brought into these waters from Pittsburgh and from Chi¬ 
cago, is sufficient indication of their extent. The Wolf reach¬ 
ing up into extensive pineries, the Lower Fox opening the way 
