Page 283 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE. 279
earth, will you go to find its equal as an abode for civilized
men ? Among the cities of this valley, is Milwaukee the least ?
and are those elements of wealth alluded to, and which fall to
her share, less bountiful than those which surr~und her sister
cities ?
Natural Advantages.
But to be more minute. The city itself has superior advan-
tages for a town, which have not been without material influence
upon our prosperity. The broad deep Bay, the happy conflu-
ence of the two Rivers, each with its valley running just in the
right direction, and just of the right width for commercial
business upon an extended scale, mhile at a suitable distance
upon either hand, are the admirably formed high lands for re-
sidences, at whose base flow living springs, and upon whose
surface wells were easily obtained of pure water, and along
whose sides, cropped out here and there quarries of stone, and
in whose banks, on every hand, is found the material from
whence the brick, for our own use and for exportation, are
made ; and which have gained us a reputation almost equal to
the famous brick of Holland.
The forest of heavy timber which surrounded Milwaukee and
still does, although the woodman's axe has made wide gaps
within it, has been a mine of wealth to the city. The cooper,
the wagon-maker, the wharf-maker, the cabinet maker, the ship
builder, and the builders of every kind, have drawn constantly
and immensely from this source. Beech, maple, basswood,
hickory, ash, elm, and oak make up the forest. Nor should
we overlook the comparatively cheap fuel derived from this
source, while the lowly and the poor among us, for a long time,
and, I think, still do, supply themsolves without cost, from the
refuse of these magnificent forests.

Another special cause may be named as one of the sources
of our growth and prosperity - a great heavenly gift, viz : the