Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-22


at the iuncture of the Two streams, the Kim
nickinnic and the South Fork of the Kinnic-
kinnic, both short streams, without any
swamps or marshes on them, and fed by liy-
ing springs which do not vary summer or
winter, but give US at the Falls about COO
horse power, with dams built mostly of rock
| by the great Architect of all things. The
GOO horse power in Ihe immediate vicinity of
1 River Falls is divided up as follows first, on
/ the main stream, the two rapids on Ponce
/ rows and McGregors land, 40 horse power,
unimproyed next G B. Cox Prairie Mills
/ 40 horse power next Cox & Green's Green
wood Mills, 30 horse power; next Fosters
/ 40 horse power, partially improved next Q.
I B. Cox d Co., 40 horse power, partially i'm
1 proved next o. S. Powell's, I40 horse pow
er. partially improved: next estate Of Eli
/ Foster. 100 horse power, unimproved. On
/ the South Fork we have first, Burnett's 10
horse power. improved next Shorts Is
horse power, improved next Bankers 40
horse power, being improved. These, with
several small powers on Rocky Branch, con
stitute our natural advantages as a manuiac-
turing point.
In connection viii. this we are right beside
a fine timber section, with the best of hard
wood for manufacturing purposes, and teams
can make two trips day for logs and wood
and We have good rock for lime and for build
! ing purposes Now consider that River
Falls is in the heart Of the best farming lands
in the St Croix ' alley, and is easily accessi-
bic from every direction, and you can see
what are our natural advantages. Now it is
easy TO see from the location of this power,
the uses TO which it should be put. First,
portion should be applied to the manufacture
OF the wheat in the county tributary here, the
necessity Of shipping flour instead of wheat,
and using tie bran and shorts with the straw,
and thus keeping the land in good condition,
having previously been shown. The next
work portion Of this power should be put
to, is 10 assist the mechanic in man ufacturing
our excellent timber into all kinds of articles
for the use of the farmer. Some will say,
why not do it in the woods? Why do it at
River Falls any more than in the woods, or al
Prescott or Hudson? We answer, because
River Falls has a surplus Of power more
than is necessary to grind the wheat that will
naturally come to her. In the woods they
have no more power than is necessary TO
manufacture the lumber, aud any one can see
that there must be some power between the
manufacture of lumber in the woods, and the
mechanic who manufactures that lumber into
1arf= r.,sFn
Moving. Reaping and Threshing Machines,
| TO assist him, or he cannot do these things
aud compute with other sections that hare
natural power. In order to Successfully
| engage ia manufacturing, we must identify
our interests-work together. The mea in
the Big Woods must use their power TO cut
the logs into lumber, let it season, haul it 10
the Falls. where we will cut it up with our
circular saws, orr giger saws, our hub, mort
ising and spoke machines, cur fork, rake and
broom handle machines. then lot it be taken
in the rough 10 Prescott, Hudson or other
/ points, where it can be finished, ironed and
/ painted and sold at less expense than at the
4 Falls. for the reason that putting the articles
| together here would make them more bulky
and expensive to handle.
| Again, portion Of our power should be
used to manufacture wool and assist the far.
mer to cheaply clothe himself and his family
/ Thus, Mr.. Editor, have stated what think
are some of the advantages of River Falls,
and the uses they should be put to to benefit
the largest number Of people.
Now let us look at the Big Woods, large
section, which all are more or less interested
in. What are its advantages ? They are
many in favor of the poor man. He can start
/ with less capital. In fact, he has a crop al
ready 10 harvest tn the shape of lumber. and
as it is required to improve the prairie, and
for manufacturing purposes, it is growing
more valuable every day. 1t is generally
better adapted TO grass growing than the
prairie, and is better supplied with stock wa
ter, and has small water powers, at different
points. sufficient TO work the timber into lum-
Der as fast as the wants Of the country de-
mand il. What is the best way to develop its
resources. Let the farmer clear what he does
clear. well clear faster after he gets start
than be can market his valuable timber uR-
derbrUsh and make pasture go into stock
improve your water powers unite your in
terests as much as possible with the prairie
and manufacturing sections. as they must, to
a great extent, make market for your lum-
Der, wool and surplus grain and manufacture
it for you, as you have no more power than is
required for cutting lumber and custom
grinding.
Is the forcing into existence of a little Wiz
Iage without any natural advantages, at the
expense of all the other sections in the woods,
going TO benefit the whole section of timber.
ed country We answer no. Right the re-
berse. Do Mr. Dale, Mr.. Magee, Mr.: Otis,
Mr.. Shade, Messrs. Lewis, and many others
on the Rush, Trimbelle and Isabel rivers wish
10 be taxed TO build up artificial town
with no natural advantages. and force bust
ness away from themselves And when men
have to go to this artificial town to do legal
business, much valuable time is lost if there
is another place where other business requires
them to go. and where they might transact
their legal business also. Every man in the
woods loses in this way, except those imme-
diately around Ellsworth.
This artificial Ellsworth is in the hands of
few men who have bunowed there. and ex-
pect TO build town and live from the plum
der in the way of taxes and what little men