Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-11-21
OUR PROSPECTS

|
OUR PROSPECTS. 3
The question is sometimes asked, wheth-
er we may reasonably expect our town to
progress in population and business as fast n
future, as it has done during the past? The
answer TO this question, in our opinion, is
not left to mere conjecture; we give an affi--
native answer, and think that an appeal to
the existing condition of things will lullyjus-
tify such conclusion.
list. Southport has not hitherto increased
IN population and business facilities, further
than has actually been required by the wants
of the country. Its growth has not been at
tended with any undue excitements or ex-
pecta'ions ofan imaginary character-storcs,
mechanics shops, and the various trades, have
steadily multiplied because they were actu-
ally wanted to supply the demanls of the
country.
2nd. The portion of Territory wh;ca ma
turally depends upon Southport for mark
ct and place Of business on the lake, is ca
pable producing nineteen times more wheat
and a like propo ton of other agricultural
productions, than il ever vet has done That
the portion of country of which we speak
VII continue 10 improve rapidly from year
to year, is beyond reasonable doubt; and
IN proportion that its agricultural and other
resources are developed and improved, in
the same proportion Will increased business
| facilities of our town be required.
| 1t is clear that Southport viii continue to
advance unless some unforeseen Circumstance
beyond the reach OF present calcullton shall
interrupt its progress.
PRoGREss OF SETTLEMENT.-That our
readers abroad may understand that the RI
| pid growth ofour towns on the lake shore is
not proportionably greater than the advance
of the country, we refer the reader to Stats
teal facts. In 1888, Racine county had
population of 2054. In lS4o, population
of3475. In 1912 population of 53lS. The
present population of Racine county is pro-
badly $500.
Again, in the year 1888, the entire popu-
laton of the territory was Is, l40 In the
year lS40, the population had increased to
30,747. In 1912 the number of inhabitants
was 46,97S. Since the census Of July 1912
it is estimated that the number ofinhabitants
in the territory has been doubled. Captain
| Ii.
mates that at least $4,000 emigrants have
come to Wisconsin the present season by
way of the lakes. In view therefore of the
tide of emigration which has been pouring
into the territory, it is not surprising that
Southport as well as other towns On the lake
has progressed rapidly in population and bu-
siness.
TIE CoUNTRY-The situation of South
port for commanding the trade of fertile
and extensive section of country, is such as
must inevitably render it a town of CONNER
cial importance. Without in the slightest
degree encroaching upon the limits of a
territory which can be reasonably claimed
| by neighboring towns on the lake shore, we
have sufficient extent of country which can
be accommodated by a less distance of ira
vel at this place, than at any other. AT least
| one half of the southern tier of counties in
Wisconsin, extending west TO the Mississip-
pl, or at least SO far west as trade can ever
be drawn to the lake; and also the entire
northern tier of counties in Illinois, will find
a more natural channel to eastern markets
through Southport, than any other town on
the lake. Beloit is at present the largest
town in the interior of the Territory, situate
On Rock river.-Beloit is now. and doubt
less will continue to be, the great empori-
um of interior trade for considerable ex-
tent of country. Beloit is situate only six
miles south from a line drawn due west
from Southport-hence its intimate connec-
ton with Southport, so far as an outlet to
eastern markets is concerned, must be APP
parent to all.
Again, Galena is the chief emporium of
trade On the Mississippi above st. Louis
Galena is situate about twelve miles south
of a west direction from this place, distance
fiom Southport l35 miles A line drawn
from Southport direct TO Galena. would in
tersect Rock river at Beloit to a mathemat-
ical fraction. There is probably not in the
whole western country more eligible route
for constructing good road, than from
Southport 10 Galena by way of Beloit The
intermediate country is mostly prairie, gen
orally well settled, and the time is not far
distant when this route will become one of
the greatest thoroughfarcs west of Lake Nj
chigan.
| Observation-Disclosures is at present the
staple agricultural production of the country
in the vicinity of Southport. The first wheat
TO any amount exported from Eastern Wis
consin was in the year 1912 This year,
the amount of wheat exported has been
more than trebled over that of last year. and
there Is every reason to believe that the
amount Will be increased in the same ratio
Tor many years to come. But small pro-
poIt on of the lands adapted to wheat, have
yet been put under cultivation, and the inn
mense resources of the country in an agri-
cultural point of view, have yet been but
partially developed. No longer ago than
in 1910, considerable quantities of flour
were shipped from Chicago to Southport, to
supply the wants of the inhabitants-this
year Southport has exported 10000 bushels