USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement > Part 72
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(2) By airline to Lewiston Station, 9.2; Kilbourn City, 16.8; Pardeeville, 8.1; Cam- bria, 17.4; Randolph Center, 20.2; Wyocena, 8.4; Rio, 12.7; Doylestown, 17.4; Otsego, 17.3; Fall River, 23.3; Columbus, 26.2; Hartman Station, 7.2; Poynette, 10.6; Arlington, 14.4; Dekorra, 5.5; Lodi, 14.4; Leeds Center, 16.6.
(3) By railroad to Lewiston, 9; Kilbourn, 17; Lyndon, 25; Lemonweir, 33; Mauston, 36; Lisbon, 41; Orange, 47; Camp Douglas, 50; Tomah, 62; Greenfield, 65; Sparta, 79; Bangor, 89; West Salem, 93; La Crosse, 104; Winona, 138; Wabasha, 186; Lake City, 201; Redwing, 219; Prescott, 249; Hastings, 252; St. Paul, 284; Wyocena, 8; Otsego, 18; Fall River, 24; Columbus, 28; Lowell, 37; Watertown, 47; Oconomowoc, 64; Pewaukee, 78;
480
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Brookfield, 82; Milwaukee, 91; Pacific, 5; Hartman, 10; Poynette, 14; Arlington, 19; Mor- rison, 21; De Forest, 23; Windsor, 27; Sanderson, 32; East Madison, 37; Madison, 38; Janesville, 77; Chicago, 168; Pardeeville, 8; Cambria, 18; Randolph, 23; Beaver Dam, 34; Minnesota Junction, 41; Iron Ridge, 50; Horicon, 44; Fox Lake, 28; Corning, 6; Mound- ville, 10; Packwaukee, 16; Westfield, 26; Steven's Point, 71.
Following are the abstracts of assessments of the several towns, cities and villages in the county of Columbia, as returned to the County Clerk, for the year 1879, under the provisions of Chapter 106, of General Laws of 1869 ; also the average valuation of the items in detail of personal property, and average price per acre of farming lands, together with the aggregate valuation of all property for 1879 :
HORSES.
NEAT CATTLE.
MULES AND ASSEO.
SHEEP AND LAMBS.
SWINE.
TOWNS.
No.
Av. Value ..
Total Value.
No.
Av. Value.
Total Value.
No.
Av. Value. Value.
No.
Av. Value.
Total Value.
No.
Av. Value.
Value.
Arlington
569 $57 82
$32899
2040 $10 64
$21713
7 $77 85
$545
3460
$1 98
$6838
1910
$2 66
$5081
Caledonia,
573
43 65
25012
2367
9 64
22676
5
42 00
210
2132
1 48
3158
875
2 31
2022
Columbue Town
593
46 48
27565
1458
10 27
14969
5153
1 59
8188
1218
2 29
2793
Columbus City
50 12
12680
233
12 76
2974
2
50 00
100
715
1045
129
2 20
284
Courtland
507
36 14
18323
1309
10 66
13954
4
27 50
110
6638
1 27
8406
1614
1 52
2449
Dekorra.
447|
41 67
18580
1384
9 47
13111
4
33 75
135
1594
1 43
2282
1009
2 41
2434
Fort Winnebago.
304
35 26
10720
905
9 22
8341
35 00
140.
1402
1 71
2396
914
1 87
1712
Fountain Prairie.
526
12 57
22390
1901
10 59
12
42 50
5:0
3737
1 30
4866
1883
2 15
4047
682
39 35
26838
1629
9 11
14842
32 00
160
3531
1 34
4738
1250
2 01
2516
Leeds.
527
46 25
24375
1104
13 45
14845
42 00
210
3582
1 55
5557
919
3 22
2957
Lewiston
394
45 82
18064
1285
10 35
13305
46 07
645
850
1140
891
2 46
2192
Lodi.
424
50 75
21518
1673
11 11
18592
21
61 52
1145
686
1 97
1349
870
2 81
2413
Lowville ..
410
53 26
21838
964
12 62
2
30 00
60
2788
1 73
4825
684
2 91
2002
Marcellon
30 62
13135
856
9 00
1
32 50
130
3612
1 03
3727
1008
2 32
2339
237
51 75
12265
498
14 45
7201
46 92
610
156
1 28
584
410
2 06
842
Otsego,
618
44 39
27435
1335
10 88
5
28 00
140
2477
1 45
3601
1124
3 13
3520
Pacific
114'
31 67
3610
447
9 71
4341
...
5
50 00
250
13
1 69
99
260
2 22
577
Randolph
528
51 86
27380
1606
11 30
18146
55 63
445
7559
1 18
9929
1706
2 15
3672
Scott ...
438
40 59
17779
1276
10 02
12790
4 35 00
140
4328
1 29
5475
1404
2 48
3488
Springvale.
421
28 74
12099
1308
9 30
12164
30 00
180
$139
1 24
5141
1287
1 09
1409
West Point.
448
12 66
19111
1686
10 98
18507
43 45
835
1608
2 01
3332
1439
3 21
4624
Wyocena ...
422
36 55
15425
1039
10 86
11288
4
26 25
105
1305
98
1281
634
1 93
1221
W. W. V. Randolph.
14
53 57
750
9
20 56
185
8306731
153 341 48
£6805
62278| SI 42
$88518
23699
$2 33
$56137
Merchants|All Other Total All
OOLD & SILVER WATCHES.
PIANOS AND MELODEONS.
BANK STOCK.
& Man'frs Stock.
Personal Property.
Value.
Value.
Arlington.
308
$ 4390
16
$ 9 06
$ 145
20
$ 1075
$ 1750
$ 27369
8101805
Caledonia.
295
4188
32
4 16
133
6
200
13102
70701
Columbus Town.
148
3400
3
23 33
70
17
455
28263
85703
Columbus City.
243
7205
62
29 35
1820
72
6355
600
$-10000
94350
159755
325568
Courtland
232
3296
44
13 11
577
26
685
14050
25197
87047
Dekorra ..
276
3282
39
9 95
388
33
1450
1775
12110
19826
75373
Fort Winnebago
195
2333
10
7 90
79
11
310
2957
28988
Fountain Prairie
190
3089
2
60 00
100
24
94.5
3310
22064
81445
Hampden.
212
4733
18
8 06
145
13
495
21575
76012
Leed-
129
2897
4
21 25
8.5
19
595
8150
26813
86484
Lodi
282
6728
76
15 57
1163
67
3005
25566
34162
115671
Lowville.
195
3682
13 71
110
23
623
10327
55634
263
3475
20
6 25
125
22
800
Otsego.
224
3860
23
10 78
24S
30
1285
12985
21154
88747
l'acific.
46
624
6
6 00
36
1
2625
12402
Portage ...
400
13205
221
23 36
5172
152
11243
6
13500
164593
164249
397580
Randolph
350
7495
20
9 00
180
16
630
...
150
10526
78553
Scott.
202
2631
30
5 50
165
16
210
Springvale.
215
1083
30
4 40
132
150
4635
36993
West Point
270
4406
29
9 66
280
18
577
21719
73391
Wyocena
192
2543
8
11 25
90
20
990
4940
2835
40718
W. W. Vil. Randolph.
23
765
12
27 08
325
7
945
4775
8400
16155
Total
5277
$95771
$16 08
$12981
682
$33903
506
$55275
$372694
$663682
$2137866
TOWNS.
No.
Total Value.
No.
Average Value.
Total Value.
No.
Total Value.
No.
Value.
Valne.
256
1 96
503
Portage
322
61 24
16498
647
15 12
8271
513
1 24
638
5
2 00
10
Total
103001843 75
$446279 28859 $10 63
WAOONS, CAR- RIAGES & SLEIGHS.
Personal
Property.
Hampden
5
6
14
12167
7706
Newport ..
13
14619
6
19
31
1815
25965
12360
66366
Newport ..
130
3429
76
17 04
1295
130
6435
45051
Lewiston.
227
3032
19
6 21
118
5
7
Marcellon.
5643
37080
11691
54369
Total
Total
.....
253
1 46
1 34
429
20124
481
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
The following is the report of the Committee on Equalization for the year 1879 :
TOWNS.
No. Acres.
l'or Acre.
Total Value
of Real Es-
Village and
City Prop-
Valuation of
all Personal
Property.
Total Value.
Arlington.
22783
$19 50
$444268
$ 80625
$524893
Caledonia ..
38196
6 80
259732
62920
422652
Columbus, (town).
20364
2 50
417462
80000
497462
Columbus, (city).
1751
40 00
70040
$375000
330000
775040
Courtland.
22787
16 75
381682
44235
83000
508917
Dekorra.
28620
€ 00
171720
30000
62550
264270
Fort Winnebago.
21861
6 40
139910
30094
170004
Fountain Prairie.
22963
14 50
332963
18000
78000
428963
Hampden
22567
19 50
440056
80550
520606
Leeds.
22652
19 00
430388
80000
510388
Lewiston
32810
3 20
104992
35683
140675
Lodi ..
18894
14 00
264516
72000
109920
446436
Lowville
22881
13 50
308893
42775
208437
Newport
14440
5 00
72200
85000
55000
212200
Otsego.
22625
13 50
305437
26600
82600
414637
Pacific ..
12985
3 20
11552
10290
51842
Portage.
2711
10 00
27110
620000
335000
982110
Randolph
23083
18 00
415494
4000
80000
499494
Scott ...
22776
11 00
250536
52000
302536
Springvale.
26049
10 50
273514
50000
323514
West Point
19726
14 00
276164
60000
336164
Wyocena.
25340
7 20
182448
20000
45000
247448
W. W. Village of Randolph.
47
30 00
1410
10000
18000
29410
Totals
$5778149|
$1304835
$1999007
$9081991
At the time of making the assessment for the year 1879, there was a certified statement made of the number of acres of the principal farm products growing at that time. From this statement it is ascertained there were growing 69,162 acres of wheat; 35,122 acres of corn ; 21,594 acres of oats ; 5,720 acres of barley ; 5,126 acres of rye; 1,740 acres of potatoes, and 1,784 apple orchards.
Following is a comparative statement of the assessments made in the county for the years 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878 and 1879 :
TOWNS.
TOTAL REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY, AS ASSESSED BY TOWNS.
TOTAL REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY, AS ASSESSED BY COUNTY BOARD.
1879.
1878.
1877.
1876.
1875.
1875.
1876.
1877.
1878.
1879.
Arlington
$629019
$655009
$489716
$186400
$474208
$527607
$525024
$521286
$524913
$524893
Caledonia
419580
429885
321472
367113
316261
314989
317235
320806
319049
322652
Columbus (town).
711603
745927
601671
508634
514524
508640
511887
497236
497462
497462
Columbus (city ) ...
832678
951206
819954
761309
742848
758974
771054
765280
775080
775040
Courtland.
541442
562292
548569 :
554661
555250
499226
499290
496633
497560
508917
Dekorra
299354
317279
264858
271095
271998
264695
263612
261371
264511
264270
Fort Winnebago.
187655
250411
158647
150940
161452
169300
170193
170554
170010
170004
Fouutain Prairie
328705
424465
420550
418835
420455
414934
420058
417034
440445
428963
Hampden
519672
526487
498442
492193
520576
508699
507783
618771
620576
520606
Leeds
552178
550510
457512
455202
456573
495774
494025
499025
510407
510388
162457
184288
134024
145853
142327
139039
144345
139225
140829
140675
Lewiston Lodi
471098
532969
514667
506019
603160
435641
457367
448537
445891
446436
Lowville
389704
396048
319070
321841
325325
350325
350659
350568
363907
363893
Marcellon
203030
240723
193970
191602
198165
208376
208607
207132
207298
208437
Newport
266597
336666
222815
2372.9
244132
239687
223300
208300
212515
212200
Otsego
465472
485396
396186
398473
384626
396696
381315
403342
414641
414637
Pacific ..
62595
74474
61868
62991
54541
54872
53789
51169
51841
51842
Portage
1160967
1150904
1098242
1082405
1074065
886555
976055
976055
982110
982110
Randolph.
544803
550204
437673
492014
523888
472565
472423
472297
499494
499494
Scott ...
295947
293915
282723
237340
301307
289457
288645
289101
302536
302536
Springvale
315493
329429
333411
343104
355093
323072
322874
318951
323525
323514
West Point ..
296733
322524
255334
260571
263549
332247
332190
334872
336178
336164
Wyocena
240751
261223
192734
190841
202070
250434
346898
245837
248715
247448
W. W. Vil. Randolph
31330
31454
34833
37401
31447
24380
33820
31175
29425
29410
Total
$9928863
$10603688 $8958941
$8924566
$9037840
$8866184
$7972448
$8944621
$9078918
$9081991
55000
363893
Marcellon
22850
7 25
165662
tate.
erty.
.
482
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
The census of 1875 as compared with 1870, is as follows :
Population.
TOWNS.
Increase.
Decrease.
Males.
Females.
Colored.
|Deaf & Dumb.
|Blind.
Insane.
Arlington (a)
822
1009
187
512
497
Caledonia.
1180
1223
43
639
584
Columbus Town (6)
952
881
71
481
400
Columbus City
607
276
331
Second Ward.
533
265
268
Third Ward.
763
371
392
Courtland
1388
1309
79
662
647
Dekorra.
709
727
18
376
351
Fountain Prairie
1286
1461
175
749
712
Hampden
1000
1012
12
515
497
2
1
Leeds
1098
1103
5
597
506
1
1
. .
Lewiston
1031
1046
15
541
505
3
2
Lodi (d)
1566
1448
118
705
743
1
1
1
Lowville
879
886
7
449
437
1
Marcellon
920
858
62
448
410 5
1
Newport.
1702
1721
19
856
865.
6 6
1. 1
Otsego.
1715
1496
219
759
737
2
Pacific
247
249
130
119
1
Portage
First Ward.
684
725
371
354
1
1
Second Ward
707
755
361
394 7
2
3
Third Ward (e).
473
905
441
464
3
Fourth Ward (f)
1117
1029
526
503
1
1
Fifth Ward (g)
964
923
...
392
2171
2166 12
1
3
5
Randolph
1157
1186
29
630
556
2
1
Scott ..
832
783
49
409
374
1
Springvale.
797
770
27
423
347
1
West Point.
949
923
..
21
486
442
2
Wyocena.
1281
1120
....
161
580
540 ..
I 4 13
West Ward V. Randolph.
61
67
6
33
34
Totals
28802
28803
925
924
14725
14078 24 18,21 25
COUNTY MAPS AND ATLAS.
The first map of Columbia County was published in 1861, by A. Menger & Co., of Mad- ison, and "compiled from the latest records and actual surveys," by A. Ligowsky and C. Wasmund. On this map Arlington is given thirty sections and Lodi thirty-six. The plat of " Wisconsin Village " (Newport) is given, it not being vacated at that time. The mechanical work of the map was excellent. It was regarded as generally correct.
In 1877, Merrill, Woodard & Co., of Milwaukee, published a large wall-map which is a very creditable piece of work.
An "Atlas of Columbia Co., Wisconsin, drawn from actual surveys and county records," was published by Harrison & Warner, of Madison, in 1878. This atlas contained a sectional map of the county, one of each of the towns, showing plainly every railroad, wagon-road, river and creek, with names of all owners of real estate, and is a valuable work.
(a) Six sections added to the town from Lodi in 1870.
(b) A portion of the town of Columbus added to the city in 1874.
(c) City of Columbus created in 1871 out of the village and a portion of the town.
(d) Six sectious taken from the town and added to Arlington.
(e) Limits of ward extended su ae to include a portion of the Fourth and Fifth Wards.
(f) A portion of the ward added to the Third Ward.
(g) \ portion of the ward added to the Third Ward.
. .
..
..
472
451
1
1
3945
4337
15
912
991
1
1397
1280
117
662
618
Fort Winnebago
1888
1903
First Ward (c).
1870.
1875.
..
483
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
CURLING.
The game of curling is so identified with the land of Scott and Burns and with the magic name of Scotland, that apart from its real merits its mention is always winsome. It is associ- ated with brae and burn, craig and loch, and with all the natural scenery of a country as romantic as any on the globe. It is, indeed, one of the heartiest and most exhilarating of sports, and binds its lovers in a genial devotion that it makes them for the time "brithers a'." It is pre-eminently a healthy and manly game, and rewards its followers with pure blood and good digestion. Though its practice is on the increase, it is far from being an universal game, and, outside of bonnie Scotland, it would be difficult to find a locality where more interest is felt in it than in Columbia County. Portage for years has had a well-organized club. There are many skilled players about Poynette and in Caledonia, and Otsego now has a good club. Con- siderable obscurity hangs over the origin of the game. Some contend it is merely Scottish ; others that it has been imported from abroad. It is certain that the amusement is not known to have been practiced, until a comparatively recent period, anywhere out of Scotland, and, further, that the old curling stones that have been preserved or discovered, indicate a mode of play so very rude and primitive as greatly to favor the notion of its indigenous origin. On the other hand, etymology favors the idea that the continent of Europe was its original home.
Pennant, who made his celebrated tour through Scotland in 1771, thus speaks of the game: " Of all the sports in this part, curling is the favorite. It is an amusement of the winter and is played upon the ice by sliding from one mark to another-great stones from forty to seventy pounds in weight, of hemispherical form with a wooden or iron handle at the top. The object of the player is to lay the stone as near the mark as possible and guard that of his partner which has been well laid before, or to strike off that of his antagonist." This is so far not an incorrect description of the popular Scottish sport as it must have presented itself to the observant eye of the Welsh naturalist, one hundred years ago. The progress of curling in Scot- land, since the beginning of this century, has been very marked. Still in many of the more purely highland districts, it is even to this day almost as unknown as it is in England. Indeed, to a comparatively recent period, the great bulk of the Scottish curlers were to be found south of the Forth. The Royal Caledonian Curling Club, which was established in 1838, has done much to introduce the game further northward, as the northern men are proverbially loyal, and now we believe there are few parishes, except, of course, in the highlands, without a curling club. In this country, the love of the game is fast spreading over the length and breadth of the land, and the Grand National Curling Club is nobly doing its duty toward fostering the spread of a knowledge of the game.
Before the Reformation in Scotland, curling was generally practiced on Sundays ; and in former and more feudal days, when the nobility were principally resident on their estates, it was customary for one baron and his tenantry to challenge another. Year after year, the friendly feud was waged on the icy board with somewhat of the ancient hereditary keenness. Now, however, it is parish vs. parish, or district vs. district, for a boll of meal or coals for the poor of of the parish or the district. Toward the close of the old or the opening of the new year, the curler began to look out for his sport. Frost in some seasons sets in as early as Christmas, and continues through the months of January and February. How anxiously the aspect of the sky and the direction of the wind are watched when the day has been fixed for some important bonspiel. And how gladly is the brisk, keen, frosty air of the eventful morning welcomed by the expectant combatants. Three days hard frost is required to fit the ice for playing. Arti- ficial curling-ponds exist in some places and have the advantage that. a single night's frost fits them for use, while a fresh coating of ice may be secured each morning. These ponds, however, require considerable outlay to keep them up, and are, necessarily, of limited extent, and, though excellent for private games, are unfit for the ordinary bonspiels, where considerable numbers are engaged. During some of the calm days of severe winter weather, when the hills are snow-covered and every leaflet and blade of grass is crisp to the footfall ; when the sun
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perchance begins to look through the cool. bracing air, and to shed its beaming warmth on the . smooth mirror of the frozen loch, it is a joy to engage in the game of curling. The recollec- tions of such days, with their memories of battle and victory and, perhaps, the inspiration also of the festive gatherings when the play is over, has prompted many a local poet curler to sing in honor of his loved pastime, and many pleasing ditties are the result of such inspiration. No sport is so productive of sociality and good feeling as that of curling. It binds class to class. All distinctions of rank and social positions vanish before the all-absorbing interest of the game. On the icy fields may be seen, either as spectator or eagerly engaged in the contest --
"The tenant with his jolly laird, The pastor with his flock."
The Scottish poet, Graham, the author of the " Sabbath," in the true spirit of a curler. thus describes the crisis of a game of curling :
" Keen, keener still, as life itself were staked, Kindles the friendly strife. One points the line To him, who, poising, aims and aims again ; Another runs and sweeps where nothing lies. Success alternately, from side to side. Changes, and quick the hours unnoted fly, Till light begins to fail, and, deep below, Till player, as he stoops to lift his stone, Secs, half-incredulous, the rising nioon. But now the final, the decisive, spell Begins. Near and more near, the sounding stones Come winding in, and some, bearing straight along,
Crowd jostling all around the mark, with one Just slightly touching. Victory depends L'pon the final aim; long swings the stone- Then, with full force, careening, furiously Rattling, it strikes aside both friend and foe, Maintains its force and takes the victor's place."
COLUMBIA COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.
This society was organized in June, 1854, as an auxiliary to the American Bible Society, its object being to promote the circulation of the Bible "without note or comment," and in English-those of the commonly received version. It was provided in the constitution of the society that any person contributing $1 or more, should receive, if called for within one year, a common Bible in return, and those contributing $15 at one time, or $20 in two payments, should be members for life. It was proposed to keep a good supply of books on hand, and appoint agents to make collections, and see that every family was provided with a Bible. Branch societies have been formed in Lodi, Rio, Leeds Center, Kilbourn City, Poynette, and Pardee- ville ; but at this time (1880) only those of Leeds Center, Rio, Poynette and Pardeeville, are co-operating. S. M. Smith is President ; E. J. S. Wright, Secretary ; and W. T. Parry, Treas- urer. The first President was Rev. Mr. Miner ; Secretary, Rev. W. W. McNair ; Treasurer. Dr. C. G. Culloch.
FISHI CULTURE.
Three-fourths of a mile southcast of the village of Lodi, on the East Branch of Spring Creek, may be found the fish ponds of James McCloud. Others are near. In the park of Mr. McCloud are five ponds stocked with fish. Within this park are about a dozen springs, out of which gushes the purest spring water, which maintains almost an even temperature through- out the year. In April, 1875, Mr. McCloud made two ponds, in one of which he put 1,000 young brook trout or fry, and in the other 5,000 fry of the Atlantic salmon. In the fall of the same year, he made four more ponds, one of which he stocked with brook trout one year old ; one with white and black bass, and with the bass he also put in four sturgeon. One pond he stocked with catfish. In November, 1875, he put into his hatching-house 10,000 spawn of the the California salmon, which hatched out during the winter. A recent writer, who visited the
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ponds, says : "The fish had been fed during the morning, and Mr. McCloud thought his pets would not, on that account, evince as keen an appetite as usual. We approached pond No. 1, and peered over the bank, eager to catch a glimpse of the beauties. Not a fish deigned to show himself. The water was clear as crystal, with here and there a few aquatic plants and grasses. These were distinctly visible, but where were the fish ? Mr. McCloud knew the secret of bring- ing them up to the 'dress parade,' and a few spoonfuls of the liver thrown into the water, brought in full view the flashing forms of six hundred brook trout, that would weigh from one- half to two pounds each. And such a scramble as ensued for the dainty repast that was fur- nished them is easier alluded to than described.
" In pond No. 2, a little larger than No. 1, were five hundred Atlantic salmon, whose speckled, glistening sides seemed to reflect every hue of the rainbow, as they lazily swam to and fro. The white line on the lower part of their fins added greatly to the elegance of their appear- ance. Every motion could be observed in the depthis of the limpid stream as readily as the gyra- tions of gold fish in a crystal globe. The casting upon the waters of some of our stock of liver had a similar effect as in the former case, and proved that their prison life had not seriously im- paired their relish for food.
" In pond No. 3 were about 1,000 California salmon, which seemed to enjoy their food as well as the more common varieties.
" We approached pond No. 4 by means of a plank, level with the water, and, while upon this plank, Mr. McCloud held a spoon containing some pieces of liver about two inches above the surface of the water, and now began a scene that I was not prepared to witness. We knew, for Holy Writ tells us so, that " the ass knoweth his master's crib," but we were not aware that fish knew their master's spoon. So tame had the little fellows become, that they leaped out of their natural element to gobble the contents of the spoon as eagerly as a pack of hungry wolves would go for a flock of sheep. When the hand was placed gently in the water, it was quickly surrounded by the confiding little creatures, and the experimenter was convinced in this case that a nibble was better than a bite.
" The fifth or last pond of the series was devoted to native fish. All I know of the number is that it was legion. Bass, perch and suckers dwelt in commendable unison herem.
" These facts demonstrate that fish culture may be prosecuted with every reasonable assu- rance of success. Whoever has a spring or brook on his farm can, with very little outlay and trouble, have this greatest of luxuries at all times at his command, for they thrive equally well in hard as in soft water."
Several years' experience enables Mr. McCloud to speak knowingly of fish culture in Columbia County. He says :
" My fish are all doing well, except the Atlantic salmon, which have not been a success. They prospered for the two first years, when they commenced dying. I have lost the most of them. The surviving ones are not over one-half as large as the California salmon. The latter are the fastest-growing fish in the ponds, and I think are doing the best of any. They com- menced spawning at three years old, and are all healthy so far. The brook trout are also healthy and are doing well. The water in my pond is hard, or limestone water. I find the brook trout get their full growth at about four years old. They began spawning at two years of age. They are the tamest and nicest fish to take care of that I have ever raised. The bass and catfish do not require as much care as trout and salmon, as they eat a great variety of food that the latter will not."
RAILROADS.
A brief outline of the changing interests of the various branches of railroad passing through the county will serve the purpose of preserving the essential features of their history. The present Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company has grown up out of the former La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad Company, now the La Crosse Division of the present line of road. It will only be necessary to refer to the lines belonging to this mammoth corporation which affect Columbia County.
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