p. 627

Milwaukee

of the river, in which distance the river is bordered
by impassable marshes. Immediately back of
the town the land rises about one hundred feet,
affording many very beautiful situations for
residences, commanding a full view of the town & the
bay with its shipping. Along the front of these
hills there are a great many springs of pure
cold water, sufficient, if collected into a reservoir
to supply the wants of a large town. The
river is sufficiently large and deep to keep a harbor
free from accumulating sand, and to afford room
for almost any amount of shipping: the depth
of water varying from fifteen to eighteen feet
agreeably to the soundings of the United States
Topographical Engineers. Piers are however
necessary to confine the water to one particular
channel at the mouth, and thus enable it to
carry off the sand washed up by the waves