Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-03-10
From me La Crosse Republican,
LAUNDERING Operations

To the obvious detTiinert of the lumbermen
of Wisconsin, exaggerated statsmepts have
been put in circulation, as 70 tie extent OF
numbering operations IN this State during the
present winter. Ganv of these statements
originate with sillv-heaied item-makers, v no
wish to excel rival 'sblowhards" in startling
announcements. One cf these iil-advised and
nQnseasical reports aRpeaged in last eyenings
Democrat, credited to the Ora I'd Rapids Plot,
to the effect that logs sufficient 70 make tlao
kajsdyed o..ish feet of lumber, and tpep,tg ,fyc
millions of shingles, VIII be got out this win
ter on the Wisconsin, river. Tie DeaazeTat
recently spiurged away with a similarly ridic-
ulous statement in reference to numbering op-
erations on the st. Croiy. These exaggera-
ted statements all serve to create the false
impression abroad that the supply of lumber
viii be SO enormous as to be greatly reduced
in value; whereas knowledge Of the real
facts would have contrary tendency. We
have during he past few weeks taken pains
to ascertain the extent and character of Wis
consin numbering operations, and especially
ou streams that are tributary TO the Mississip-
pi river; and the following is the result Of
the Investigations. f.. 80. ~.
THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI a.. -a.
On the upper Mississippi, above st. Paul,
the total quantity of logs that will be ''put
in viii not vary much from forty millions of
feet, Of which about thirty millions will be
sdriven;" but much of this will be manufac-
tured at Minneapolis, st. Antho ony's Falls and
st. Paul, and considerable portion of it will
be needed for home consumption, as very lit
tie or no lumber was manufactured at those
places last year, on account Of the low water
and scarcity Of logs. .- e.. ...--+11.
THE ST. cgoIy
While the snow in many portions of the
and especially il the north eastern
part Of Wisconsin, has, during the present
winter, been of great depth, il has been scarce
on the st. Croix and its tributaries, in coHse-
quenqe Of which the quantity of logs Is much
less than was anticipated, and will not be far
from fifty millions OF feet, of which fully one
half viii be manufactured on the ST. Creix.
,,.,..... :, THE CHIPPEWA. r. .......
The quantity Of legs "put in this winter
will probably amount to eighty millions of
feet, of which about one half will reach the
Mills the coming spring, and be manufactured
1t Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, henomonee
Eau Gala, Waq5eek, ard other places in the
Y ALLEY of the Chippewa, from WHICH no logs
Fil be issued. --.a.....-
1Hh BLACK RIVER.
In the early part Of the winter the exten-
IiEe arrangements for numbering indicated
that an unusually large quantity of logs would
be prepared; but instead of seventy or eighty
aillions, as expected, the actual quantity
put in" viii not exceed ffty-fve millions, or
perhaps fifty millions, of which about one
half Will eonic s4G i'll logs a2d luHbcr this
ear.
TIE WISCONSIN, RtrkR.
, The Wi&HQnsi4 iumhermen viii put in about
eighty 5!ii., ,9ns. ali Of which will be manuf4c
cured on that river whic;a will send no logs
to market -..- ..... a.a,. .-.. "a
..--..r ... .. THE RESULTS. .r-5 ...- e.. re ..,
These estimates are based upon the best
sources Of Information to which it is possible
to gain access. The footingS show hat on
the streams cmptyiag iutQ the Mississippi, the
total of logs put in this wear will be about
three hundred millions of feet. of whicii fully
one third will be required for consumption IL
Wisconsin and Minnesota. By the latest quo
tafions of the st. Louis markets, the most or-
dinarr and common qualities of lumber sold
for twenty doll aud the best quality reach
ed as high as thirty f;e dollars. We predict
that before the year 1864 passes away, a fur
thcr advance of twenty-five per cent will be
realized Large orders for southern markets
aud loy &rmy purposes, in addition TO an in.
creased home consumption, viii serve to make
lWnAer legal tender at unpvecedently high
prices. t."1 &-i