p. 345

366 Portage Co.

of the county is forty eight miles wide and probably a hundred and fifty miles long. Th whole area of the county [may] is therefore [be assumed a] about eight thousand square miles.

This county derives its name from the Wisconsin & Neenah portage, a point often mentioned by all who speak or write about Wisconsin. At times of flood the waters of the Wisconsin occasionally cover the marshy ground at this place to the depth of three feet; and the Neenah, thus sending portions of its water to the ocean by two very different routes. The "Portage Canal Company" have dug a ditch across the portage about two feet wide and two feet deep. Capt. Cram reports that the length of canal necessary to cross this portage is seven thousand seven hundred and thirty nine feet; and that the fall from the Wisconsin to the Neenah in October 1839 was one foot and fifty five hundreths. This difference constantly varies