Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/704

 680 WISCONSIN 6,069 in Switzerland. The density of popula- tion was 19-56 persons to a square mile. There were 200,155 families, with an average of 5'27 persons to each, and 197,098 dwellings, with an average of 5 -35 to each. The increase of population from 1860 to 1870 was 85*93 per cent. In 1870 there were 178,669 males and 175,347 females from 5 to 18 years of age, 192,831 males from 18 to 45, and 203,077 male citizens 21 years old and upward. There were 35,031 persons 10 years of age and over unahle to read, and 55,441 who could not write, of whom 41,328 were foreign born; 17,822 males and 22,785 females 21 years old and upward were illiterate. The number of paupers sup- ported during the year ending June 1, 1870, was 1,553, at a cost of $151,181. Of the whole number (1,126) receiving support at that date, 736 were foreigners. The number of persons convicted of crime during the year was 837; of those (418) in prison June 1, 1870, 203 were foreigners. Of the total population 10 years old and over (751,704), there were en- gaged in all occupations 292,808; in agricul- ture, 159,687, of whom 50,753 were laborers and 108,240 farmers and planters; in profes- sional and personal services, 58,070, including 1,189 clergymen, 19,141 domestic servants, 24,670 laborers not specified, 785 lawyers, 915 physicians and surgeons, and 4,164 teachers not specified; in trade and transportation, 21,- 534; and in manufactures and mechanical and mining industries, 58,517. The total number of deaths during the year was 9,960, being 0'94 per cent, of the population. There were 1,818 deaths from consumption, there being 7'6 deaths from all causes to one from that disease; 487 from pneumonia, or 20'5 deaths from all causes to one from that disease ; 368 from cholera infantnm, 211 from whooping cough, 152 from measles, 186 from diphtheria, 1,016 from scarlet fever, 464 from enteric fever, 296 from diarrhoea, 265 from dysentery, and 280 from enteritis. In 1875 there were 8,162 tribal Indians in Wisconsin, including 1,522 Menomonees, 1,332 Oneidas, and 118 Stockbridges at the Green Bay agency ; 4,534 Chippewas at the La Pointe agency ; and 656 Winnebagocs not under an agent. The whole surface of Wisconsin may, with slight excep- tions, be considered one vast plain, varied only by the cliffs bordering the rivers and lakes, and the moderate undulations called " rolling." This plain is from 600 to 1,500 ft. above the ocean ; the dividing grounds between the val- leys usually attain but a slight elevation above the surrounding country, the waters of a lake or marsh being often drained in opposite direc- tions to reach the ocean at widely different points. The highest lands are those along the sources of the tributaries of Lake Superior, which, near the Montreal river, are 1,700 to 1,800 ft. above the sea, gradually diminishing westward to about 1,100 ft. at the W. line of the state. From this great watershed the land slopes rapidly toward the lake, and more grad- ually toward the south to the lower Wisconsin river, whence there is another slope toward the south drained mostly by the waters of Rock river and its tributaries. At Portage City the Fox and Wisconsin rivers approach so nearly that their waters are often commin- gled ; they are connected by a canal, from which there is a descent of 195 ft. to Green bay and 171 ft. to the Mississippi near Prairie du Chien. There are several elevations called mounds in the S. W. portion of the state ; the principal are the Blue, 1,729 ft..above the sea ; the Platte, 1,281 ft. ; and the Smsinawa, 1,169 ft. The cliffs along the E. shores of Green bay and Lake Winnebago extend as far as Iron Ridge in Dodge co., and form a bold escarp- ment not unlike the " mountain ridge " of west- ern New York in general character and geo- logical age. From this ridge the country slopes gradually. to Lake Michigan. On this slope there is a remarkable series of drift hills and circular depressions called " potash kettles," extending S. S. W. from the peninsula E. of Green bay into the state of Illinois ; one of the highest peaks in Washington co. is 1,402 ft. above the sea. Lake Michigan, according to J. T. Gardner's calculations (United States sur- vey reports, 1878), is 589 ft. above the sea. The Mississippi river at the 8. W. corner of the state is 576 ft. ; at the mouth of the Platte, 8 m. above Dubuque, 591 ft. ; at Prairie du Chien, 602 ; at La Crosse, 632 ; and at the mouth of the St. Croix river (Prescott), 677 ; and it there- fore has a descent in this part of its course of 5 in. per mile. The descent of Fox river from Lake Winnebago to Green bay is 162 ft., form- ing one of the most valuable series of water powers in the west. The Mississippi forms the western boundary of the state for about 250 m., and in that distance receives the waters of the St. Croix, Chippewa, Black, and Wiscon- sin rivers. The other principal rivers are the Rock, another tributary of the Mississippi ; the St. Louis, Bois Brule, Bad, and Montreal, flow- ing into Lake Superior ; the Menomonee, Pesh- tigo, Oconto, Pensaukee, and Fox, with its tributary the Wolf, flowing into Green bay; and the Manitowoc, Sheboygan, and Milwau- kee, tributaries of Lake Michigan. Innumer- able smaller streams water almost the whole surface ; their waters are usually clear, origina- ting in springs and small lakes. Many of those at the north have beautiful cascades or rapids ; and at the south they often run through nar- row rocky gorges, called " dells." The Mis- sissippi is navigable for steamboats throughout its course on the border of the state ; the Wolf and Fox rivers are navigable for small steam- boats, the latter having been artificially im- proved ; and many of the streams afford am- ple water power. Besides the two great lakes, Superior and Michigan, there are numerous others, especially in the central and northern portions of the state ; they are from 1 to 20 or 80 m. in extent, usually with high, picturesque banks, and deep water, abounding in fish. The