The river next to the Wisconsin iu importance is the Far, or Neenah Rirer, whose head-waters lie to the east of the great bend of the Wisconsin. From the portage above-noticed between the two rivers it runs northward to the Buffiulo and Puckawa lakes, which extend from west to east. Issuing from these lakes the Fox River runs north-west, until it is joined from the north by the largest of its affluents, the Wolf River. The united river passes through a small lake, called, from the tumuli which occur iu its vicinity, tho .Grande Buttes des Morts Lake, into Winnebago Lake, which is 32 miles long and nearly 10 miles across in the widest part. It leaves this lake at its north-western extremity and soon afterwards forms a series of rapids, which obstruct navigation. The remainder of its course lies to the north-east, and it falls into the most eonthern recess of Green Bay. The rendering the rapids below Lake Winnebago passable by steam-boats, is a part of the scheme for connecting the Mississippi with Lake Michigan, noticed above.
Of the other rivers we shall only mention three, which fall into the Mississippi,—the Black River, the Chippewny and St. Croix rivers. Black Ricer rises in the Ocooch Mountains near 20' N. lat., and flows first south, and then south-west to its junction with the Missis sippi, about 91* 30' W. long. It drains a valley, iu which the sur rounding hills are covered with fine forest trees; and above 15,000,000 feet of pino lumber are annually sent down the river to the Missis sippi. The Chippeway, the Ojibway of the Indians, rises near some of the tributary streams of Lake Superior. The main stream is formed by the union of several email streams, -which issue from numerous lakes near the Michigan boundary. It flows in a generally south-western direction to the Mississippi, which it enters near the foot of Lake Pepin. It forms in its course numerous rapids, one series of which extends for about 24 miles. Above 28,000,000 feet of pine lumber are eent down this river annually. The St. Croke River is noticed under Misstssirrt RIPER, vol. iii. col. 821. About 20,000,000 feet of pine lumber are annually sent down the St. Croix. The other rivtra of the atato are very numerous, and though not of much value for navigation, are of the greatest importance for mechanical purposes.
The number of lakes which are dispersed over the state between the Mississippi River and Lake Superior is very great. In some parts north of 45° N. lat., they cover more than half the surface, moat of them varying from 2 to 10 miles in circumference ; but there are also several larger lakes. The larger are the Flambeau Lake and the Tomahawk Lake, each of which sends its waters to the Chippeway River ; in the same district are lakee Courtoreilla, Chetac, Red Cedar, &c. The country south of N. lat., contains comparatively few lakes, with the exception of the low tract of country which lies between the great bend of tho Wisconsin River and Green Bay, and is drained by Fox River. This tract contains numerous lakes, among whit* is the Winnebago Lake, through which Fox River flow., and which is navigable for steam-boats, several of which ply regularly upon it. The lakes Buffalo, Puckawa, and Buttes des /aorta, formed
by expansions of Fox River, have been already noticed ; Fond du Ica is another expansion of Fox River, which opens into Great Butte. des Mort. Lake, and is remarkable for its picturesque scenery. South of the Wisconsin are the Four Lakes, through which the Guosekahawn River flows; on the isthmus between Third and Fourth lake., Madison, the capital of the state, is situated. Lake Michigan, which bouhds the state on the east, is noticed under CaNana.
Numerous railways have been projected for this state, and several Lave been wholly or partly constructed. Madison is the centre of the state railway system. One of the chief lines in operation is the Milwaukee and Mississippi railway, which connects Milwaukee with Madison, and will eventually be continued to the Mississippi. Another great line connects Chicago, on Lake Michigan, in Illinois, with Fond du Lae. In all there were, on the 1st of January, 1855, in Wisconsin 11 lines of railway, having 2S3 miles of road in operation, and 710 miles additional were in come of construction or projected. )'lank roads have been laid down from all the chief lake ports to the interior.
Geology, Misterology, rocks of the north and north-western portions of the state belong entirely to the eruptive and metamorphic series; except in the immediate vicinity of Lake Superior, where are strata of what Mr. Owen describes as Potsdam sandstone, but which Mr. Marcou thinks clearly identical with the New Redesandatono of European geologists. In this north-western section are valuable dykes of copper-trap. Ent the prevalent formation of Wisconsin is the Silurian, which is described as extending along the entire course of the Mississippi in this elate, from the St. Croix to considerably east of the Chippeway, along Lake Michigan, and to occupy almost the whole of the southern moiety of the state. Of this extensive tract Lower Silurian strata occupy by far the largest portion. The lowest of these strata is the bard crystalline sandstone, known as Pots dam sandstone; in the western part of the state it is of considerable thickness, and is characterised by containing a larger number of Liars& and Orlricula than is found in any other part of America. Above this occur strata, chiefly of blue-limestone and blue clays, with, in some places, layers of sandstone. The limestones are mostly meg nesian, in which are included the Galena limestones, which supply the lead veins that constitute so important a part of the wealth of south ern Wisconsin. To this division of the Lower Silurian strata chiefly belong the rocks which border Green Bay. The St. Peter's shell limestone, or the upper division of the Lower Silurian strata of America, is also said to have been recognised in some parts of Wisconsin. Upper Silurian strata form a comparatively narrow band, extending along Lake Michigan from Green Bay into Illinois : these strata con sist entirely of limestone rocks. In the extreme south-eastern angle of the state, south of Milwaukee, they consist chiefly of light gray limestones, and are designated Mr. Owen the Red Cedar River Formation.