 |
Physical Characteristics |
|
The area embraced by this county is about 414,000 acres of land. It is estimated that fifty per cent of this may be called "openings;" thirty per cent marsh; fifteen per cent timber; and five per cent prairie. The chief disadvantage of the soil, in both the prairie and openings, is its extreme sandiness.The timber is oak, hickory, maple, bass and ash. The eastern part of the county has the most productive soil, and the marshy portions are admirably fitted for cranberry culture, and for hay raising; immense crops of the former are harvested in the southeastern part. Wild fruits grow in wild profusion, which argues the successful production of the cultivated kinds. Large deposits of marl are found, which is valuable as a fertilizer. There are considerable beds of the quality of clay that produces cream-colored brick, and which is also adapted to the making of stoneware. The principal crops are wheat, rye, oats, corn and hops. About 15,000 acres of wheat are sown annually. The character of the surface is generally level, though there are some bluffs in the northern and central parts. The region is well watered, lakes varying in size from one acre to a section of land, being scattered profusely over it. Lake Poygan encroaches on its eastern boundary, and covers about four sections of land. The Fox cuts off the southeastern corner, and is its largest river; it flows in a northeasterly direction, and no stream of any size enters it within the limits of the county. Pine River, which drains the northeastern half and enters Lake Poygan, is the stream second in size; it affords fair water-powers. Willow Creek which performs the same office for the central and southeastern section, and has its outlet but a short distance from the Pine into the same lake, is next in importance. White River and Pine Creek are tributaries of the Fox, and drain the southern portion. All these streams offer facilities for manufacturing. Both lakes and rivers abound in fish. It is said that, "at one time there were so many fish below the dam at Poysippi that people took them away by wagon loads, catching them in their bare hands, and throwing them into their wagon boxes as fast as they could pick them up." By the boring of artesian wells, water can be obtained at a depth of from fifty to one hundred feet. Almost every farm has a fountain or flowing well. The Wisconsin Central Railroad passes through the western tier of towns.