The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-08-08
MANITOWOC, WIS.
Its Situation, Manufactures, Railway
History and Prospects, Shipping
and HarbOr, Public In.
situations, etc.
Goodrich's Steamboat Line.
From the Chicago Post.

trip as well as visit places of comparative intrinsic in
terest, awaited myself of the courtesy of Captain
Goodrich to visit number of points on Lake Mich |
gan reached by this line of steamers from Chicago
Probably few OF your city readers aware Of the
fine towns along the lake above Milwaukee and !, |
brief sojourn in some of them prompts me to transfer
my information and impressions print Little need
be said of the exhirating effect of trip on Lake
Michigan especially during the weather, when
anything is preferable to remaining on shore The
splendid steamers ON the line with their superb ac-
eommodations and agreeable officials all add to the
genuine pleasure derived from the COOL bracing air
and charming prospect on our great inland sea.
Mantowoc is situated about eighty miles above Mil
waukee and is the most northerIy port Importance
reached by the steamers plying the western shore
of the Lake 1t is already town OF some FIVE tbor
sand inhabitants. and has rapidly within few
Years. Unlike many western towns. however, Mani
towoc has long been the residence of least few
white men, some having lived there for twenty
years. Several far-seeing men. number of whom
are still among It's citizens, early discovered
mercal advantages and eNerted themselves to give il
the position it was evidently intended to FILL 1t has
probably the finest natural harbor the west shore
being protected by long projecting point to the
north. and shorter one south, forming splendid
bay, accessibeeduring the worst weather The |
Mantowoc river which enptes into the lake at this
point is large stream capable of floating larger YES
sells than either the Chicago Milwaukee rivers
Man;owoc is but forty miles from Menasha on Lake
Winncbago from whence it is put in immediate con-
necton with the great lumber regions of Green Bay
and Northern Wisconsin well the entire country
westward TO St Paul and north to lake Superior The
early settlers who Manitowoc even footing
with good towns and the advantage position in her
favor correct il their anticpations gard to
her future. and had untoWard she
would to-day have occupied superior position to
Milwaukee. Some twelve ears ago the wise
acres OF the county, disregardng the advice of the
railway advocates put aplank road through to lake
Wnnelago insisting that it would all for the place
that conld be accomplished by the iron horse Not
withstandng this the projectors of the railway were
undaunted in their purpose and in 1857 graded the |
read for eighteen miles of tlanitowoc and eleven
east from Menasha, and the intervening twelve miles
OF distance were cut out aid partially graded At this
point of the work quarrel broke ont among mem
bers Of the company and long Course OF delegation
nrad xvtIc bod a..
leaving matters for the long of Years at n com
piete sandst and depriving the town of the meal
culable benefits that would have accrued from the
construction and operation of the road.
PRESENT POSITION.
Notwithstanding this however. Manitowoc is very
noufiss INA the Impression OF the stranger his
arriv al as that he has entered "A brisk and nrosnerous
town Its comparative isolation from regions to the
west has made the progress of the town almost on
tlrcy on the settlement and development the conn
try Immediately around it, and especially NIantowoc
county. The fine agricultural attractions have been
the means of inducing large European in, M grafton
largely made up Of Germans and NorwegiaI,s whose
industrious and frugal habits have transfor,ned H.
wilderness into beautiful wealthy iarmine conn
try. The effect of this is readily observable in the
business aspect of The town. Large and well stocked
stores are numerous, and everything bears the mark
of healthy legitimate trade. The various departments
OF business are all represented. Up the river west of
the town, very considerable of niariufaetur
ing is being done, and the facilities are constantly
the increase. Me5si j. Villas Co. have inst com
peted a WOODEN mill, some four miles from the town
They have present but single set and will make
about two hundred yards of cloth daily. They find
an ample supply of wool in the country about them
and with its growth will undoubtedly increase their
manufacturing facilities to meet the expanding de-
nland. The firm. Messrs. Guyles Brown 4. D.
Jones & Bro, and Mr. p. Pierce have saw mills and
cut from 100000 to 10000 each per season There
also two large Touring mills one owned I,y Mr. IT
Truman the .Manitowoc Mills" with fnur r,,,, - 81
stones, grinding 200 barrels daily and the other the
Clipper City Mills belonging to Mr. G. Dwver of
about half the above capacity Besides these there
are a number of smaller manufactures of wooden
ware, wagon material, &c doing quite extensive
trade.
for last year are somewhat incomplete but show a
marked Improvement in many respects:
Shingles Is. 900; lumber. 9722 900 feet pckets
oooooo; lath, 2lo9ooO; railroad ties 1O.o50: slaves
5000 posts, DIS 1872; broom handles SD 900: peas
1907 bushels; wheat. 32 bushels Hour SIS brJs:
potatoes, 1872 bushels; leather, 1850 pounds fish,
Cos half barrels
Few towns have so fine natural situation as Mani
towoc Built principally on the elevation above the
broad lake, it is afforded magnificent prospect and
all the surroundings mach in keeping that the
natural symmetry is unmarried The slope the riv-
er on either side provides accommodation all de-
artnens of business and leaves the residence por-
ton unmolested. The value of this VIII perhaps be
better appreciated when Mantowoc instead Of her
present size, becomes city of p 900 TO $4,000 people
as she undoubtedly viii in few years
BUILDING.
One of the great of the commodous river is
aud always Will be, for ship building The commerce
ofthe lakes is yet i'll its infancy and desirable
position for ship yards will in time become very vau
able The northern part of Wisconsin furnishes i'll
abundance those woods chiefly used in tbe copstr,c
ton of vessels and hence he advantages Manitowoc
are all the more valuable. Captain Goodrich some
time ago became convinced of its utility for this mr.
pose, and there established his yard for building al
terlng and repairing steamboats,. Already the fine
steamer Orion, and That pride OF the lakes. the North
west have been built, and one two others under
gone extensive repairs. He has a new steamer /
GndeT way, which VIII be completed spring and
called in honor of the town. the Manitowoc She is
not quite SO large the Northwest. but If possible
more elegant model, and Will probably he the most
syminetrc: and fastest steamer the entire chain
of lakes. Mr. g. 5. Rand has recently been entrusted
by Mr. Goodrich with full charge of the yard He is /
well known one of the best mechanics in the West
All the models prepared by him. and every detail
of work i'll the establishment submitted to his per-
sonal supervision. The yard is very extensive, as
many one hundred men being employed almost |
constantly. and large amount oi money expended in
wages and material. | understand that Capt: Good
rich preparing follow the M,nitowoc with apot,- |
fine steamer and a he is just the commence
ment of his steamboat king of the lakes he
will undoubtedly find h business growing so fast as
TO require more vessels than his present facilities viii
enable him To furnish, and will increase them from
time TO time His present outlay is from $4,000 to
S1O0,OO0 annually.
Besides this yard several schooners for lake trade
annually built, of them VERY large and fine
The supplies of tni er back will make this
business Mantowoc row all present proportons
within very few years, aud parties interested would
lind II one OF the best possible points for their opera
tlons.
,RBoR IMPROVEMENTS
After numerous attempts tn procure Government !
aid, the citizens Of Manitowoc raised $4,000 for
proving and making available their fine natural har-
bor Since then they have obtained aid to the
of nearly S10000o and the work is being vigorously |
pushed forward under the supervision of Government
engineers. The amount raised by the town eX-
pended III building dredge, which has been handed
over for Government use, i'll doing the work. and eff
fects actual saving of over $1,000 The present
appropriations will the bar across the mouth
OF the river builds two large piers, and make Mani
towoc unquestonably the best harbor on the
west shore of Lake NJ chigan.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. ETC.
Manitowoc has three newspapers, and, from their |
appearances and general character, | would say the
press is very respectfully represented The TrtLtne
is published by O. b. Smith 4 Co.. is Republican in |
its political tone, and 9th erwise well conducted Mr.
j. Crowley is publisher of the Pilot, which has the
general merits of It's contemporary, but is strongly |
Democratic in its political tone. The Nord,csste is
German paper supported by the large German ele- |
nent III the population The three papers appear TO
he well supported, and all of respectable class
The town schools three in number are said TO be |
in very fourishing condition. and great deal Of
interest is manifested in them by and friends
of children.
institutions the First National and private bank
of Mr. T. c. Shove. OF the former Mr.. c. c. Barnes is
President, and Mr.. c. Luling Cashier. Its capital is
sooon, ahd its general business very proffable Mr.
Shove au old banker. having been at Manitowoc for
nine years He also does good business.
The RAILWAY
sketch of the railway project from NJ aitowoc to |
Menasha is necessarily part of the early history of |
the town, and has already been given. To return
the subject vital to the interests of the town
is proper conclusion to any ,cunt of the present
status of the place. The charter the original com
,,any is still in force and all appearances any fur
ther litigation internal trouble is highly inprob-
able The President of the Company is Hon. George |
us Slce-Ifeciucnt Joseph Was uOIn
citizens of Mantowoc 1t is contemplated thar it |
would take than IS, per mile fit the Al
miles for iron which could then easily be procured by
a mortgage on the road 1t is the ultimate intention I
push this road the Mississippi, probably St
Paul. and thus open up alarge undeveioped section of
Wisconsin, and place Manitowoc in fair competition
with other lake ports an outlet for Minnesota |
From Menasha there is land grant of alternate
section for ten miles, for road Bayfield, and SUI
perior City, Lake Superior One half of this grant
is to be used for this road, and the other build
road from Portage Ripon, and thence to a
nection with the main line. Of the former Company
Hon. George Reed is also President and Hon. s. W. |
Sessions, of Waupacca. yse- President
The land grant will insure the construction of the
road from Menasha to Lake SUPERIOR beyond perad- |
venture and hence the Importance of completing the
line to Manitowoc, the nearest point the lake. Its
nd inyes hahn