The following will give you a little better idea of what things were like in the Chippewa Valley in 1857. This article comes from the book "Sawdust City" by Lois Barland, and is used by permission only. Description of Chippewa and Eau Claire as seen by a traveler in 1857 who wrote in the Madison "Argus" and did not dare sign his name. "March 10, 1857. After battling for three days with obstinate snow drifts, ever and anon experiencing a delicious capsize, now riding, now walking or wading, now tugging away to right up our sleigh, or assist our team through a defiant snow mountain, until we were quite exhausted in strength, disheartened in spirits and benumbed in feeling, we at last reached Eau Claire, the point (as we supposed) of our destination. We made no attempt that night to acquaint ourselves with the character of our surroundings, but after an unsuccessful effort to satisfy the cravings of our appetites, hastened to emblanket ourselves within such beds as were provided for us at the hotel at which we stopped. We had no occasion in the morning to awaken, for neither of us during the night had known the bliss of unconsciousness, and as with grateful heart we welcomed the first faint evidence of day, both agreed that we had enjoyed a beautiful season of 'unrest', my companion declaring that our mattresses were filled with corncobs instead of husks. After going through the form of breaking fasts we started out to satisfy ourselves as to the real character of the great Eau Claire of which so much has been said. Taking an eminence which overlooked the town as our observatory, a single glance was sufficient to discover considerable building in evidence. We looked about to ascertain, if possible, what extraordinary local merits had prompted so sudden a growth. We were not a little disappointed to find no actual advantage except the mill privilege of the Eau Claire River, which, we were told, affords quite a little water power in times of high water. A problem yet remained to be solved. We were not long in concluding that the great modern town builder "Gas", issuing from t he mouth, and from the still more patent medium, "Printer's Ink", had been the chief agent in building the place; and subsequent observations confirmed these convictions, for no sooner had we firmly made our way into a crowd rife with town excitement and speculation, which were gathered about the post office, then, discovering us to be strangers, an abortive effort was made to inflate us with the subtle fluid which we had just suspected must exist, were just about feeling in his pocket for a "lucifer" to try whether the atmosphere would not ignite, when our attention was drawn toward an elderly man, who had just alighted from an elegant covered cutter, to which was attached a large and noble brown steed. The gentleman after hitching his horse, proceeded to take from his cutter a large mail sack, which he threw upon his arm and entered the office. He soon reappeared with the bag crammed to its utmost capacity, when my Yankee curiosity broke up him with 'Well, friend, which way with them?' To which he politely replied, 'To Chippewa Falls, Sir.' 'And how far', I continued, 'is that place from here?' 'By the present road it is about twelve miles, although the actual distance is about nine.' 'How often,' I asked, 'do you get your mail at the Falls?' 'Twice a week only'. 'Is it always as large as today?' "Quite, sir, and rapidly increasing.' "Well then,' said I, 'Chippewa Falls must be something of a town.' 'If you are a stranger in t he country,' he returned, 'suppose you make it a visit, and allow the place to speak for itself.' Thinking I had enjoyed enough of Eau Claire and receiving a favorable wink from my comrade, our team was immediately ordered, and we were soon enroute for Chippewa Falls. Passing through a belt of black pines, which extended about four miles on our road, and which indicated rather a sandy barrenness of soil, we came upon a prairie, unrivaled in beauty, and from the large and well improved farms, which we passed as we neared the Falls, judged it must possess a rich and productive soil. The roads being good, we were soon at the Falls. Crossing the river at French Town, a small village on the south side of the river, settled mainly by French, we entered the town passing first the new and splendid hotel, which would indeed do honor to a much older and large town than this; then driving immediately to the store of Messrs. H. S. Allen and Company, which company, by the way, are the proprietors of the mill and village property. Upon entering the establishment, I was at once struck with the business like appearance which it bears and I have since learned that within the last year, it has carried on business to the amount of $100,000. We soon had the happiness to make the acquaintance of H. S. Allen and E. A. Galloway, (the resident partners of the firm above mentioned) whose kind hospitality we have in turn shared during our stay. Those gentlemen, although having lived for several years outside, as it were, the pale of civilized society, still retain that characteristic polish which distinguishes the well bred everywhere. Although this is one of the first settled points upon the river, the platting of the village is of very recent date. After partaking plentifully of the choicest venison, buckwheat cakes, and numerous palatable etceteras, and reposing at nigh on beads of ease, we felt on the following day that we had been 'born anew'. We were now shown through the saw-mill, a part of which has just been rebuilt, and which is certainly the most extensive mill I ever saw, being capable of manufacturing over 100,000 feet of lumber per day. Next, visiting the boom, we found it to be a most gigantic piece of workmanship, constructed at an expense of $50,000 and which will securely hold 50,000,000 feet of lumber. The falls afford a power that can never be exhausted, and being upon the borders of the great Chippewa pinery, must render this one of the finest lumber manufacturing towns of the West; and when it is considered that agricultural and commercial advantages are equally great; that it is the county seat, and delightfully situated at the head of steamboat navigation, amid scenery both beautiful and grand; that it is to be undoubtedly the most important intermediate point upon the recently projected railroad from Madison to St. Croix, and that the United States lad office is established here. In view of all these invaluable considerations, the public may be assurred that here is the place to seek a home. For my own part, I think I may never move west, being at present enough situated at home; but numerous friends are awaiting my report, to determine the point of my location. The point shall be Chippewa Falls. Very respectfully, A YORKER" "In presenting the 'Telegraph' to our patrons we set forth briefly the motives which have prompted its publication, and the policy which shall govern its future career. The section of the State in which we live has, until recently, been overlooked almost entirely, and while many of the barren wastes in other portions of it have become thickly populated, the rich agricultural districts bordering the Chippewa River have been left an almost unbroken wilderness. But the attention of the enterprising and hardy sons of this and other states has at length been drawn to this rich and attractive country, and under their will directed efforts its many resources are fast being developed and the last vestiges of its original wilderness are rapidly disappearing. To the discerning mind, the ultimate destiny of our city is evident. Situated, as we are, at the head of navigation upon one of the finest rivers in the state; containing within ourselves every facility for extensive manufactories of every kind; with one of the richest agricultural and lumbering districts in the northwest tributary to us, and men of extensive capital in our midst, in less than five years we can and will boast of being the largest inland city in Wisconsin. The necessity of a newspaper at the county seat of this county as a channel through which publicity might be given to transactions of a public nature, and for the dissemination of general intelligence, has long been felt by our citizens; hence the establishment of the 'Telegraph'. " ++++++++++ We have more of these early Eau Claire descriptions coming in our next few installments from this book. Be watching for them. -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net