LA CROSSE COUNTY HISTORICAL SKETCHES

St. Paul. Why did population concentrate here rather than at any one
of a score of other points along the east bank of the river, where now
there are villages whose histories date back nearly as far as that of La
Crosse ?
     This was a good trading point for Myrick because here was the
junction of four rivers; into the Mississippi from the east flow  the
Black and the La Crosse and from the west the Root River. It was from
the latter direction that Myrick expected trade with Indians who had
recently been paid cash by the government, and he was not disappointed.
However, this aspect of industry would never have made La Crosse a
town of considerable size. In 1846 there were but five houses here.3
    The next attraction that drew settlers seems to have been the
good agricultural land found at the foot of the bluffs and in the coulees
(French, couler, to run) that extend back from the prairie and down
which streams had brought rich alluvial soil. In 1843 some Mormons
had settled in one of these coulees that is still known by their name.
They were probably attracted to this region through the fact that some
of their compatriots had earlier ascended the Black River to the pine
belt and had there cut timber for use in building their temple at Nau-
voo, Illinois.
     It was the Black River pinery that constitutes the third and most
important geographical factor accounting for the growth of La Crosse.
There was no pine near La Crosse. In fact, the prairie at this point
was quite treeless and the bluffs had only growths of hardwoods; but
thirty and more miles up the Black River there began one of the finest
belts of pine in Wisconsin. A mill had been built there as early as 1819.
Twenty years later, lumbering began in earnest and saw mills were
built on the rapids at Black River Falls as well as above and below.
     Soon it was discovered that La Crosse, situated at the mouth of
the Black River, was the natural port for this pinery. Transportation to
and from the pinery was easiest by way of the Mississippi. Heavy car-
goes coming up from   St. Louis and other points had to be unloaded
from the Mississippi steamboats and transferred to other craft for the
ascent of the Black River; or in winter, to sleds for the trip overland.4
Logs and lumber were floated down the Black River to its mouth and
were here made into larger rafts for the journey southward. La Crosse
became the source of supply for not only the goods but also the men
needed in the pinery, and here the "lumber jacks" stopped after the
winter in the woods, to renew their contact with civilization. La Crosse
    3. Recollection of Mrs. Levy. Proceedings of Wisconsin State Historical So-
ciety, 1911, pp. 201-215.
    4 Set accouni oJ Dr. Engstad, p. 51.
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