Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-01-18
OUR AGENTS.
Grand Rapids ant Ccntrdtih
" They train shall be one"

''NJ N'~N'N'' ''NN'NN W ~''~'
And why not?
Decausc," says A., "naturc
makes us two. The river scpcratc:
us in spite Of ourselves"
lNot exactly ! The river docs in
deed form dividing line between
the two collections of houses 4
street does the same thing. That the
river does not divided us, who Hrl
in the houses, is manifest. We
grasp each others hands every day
We cross and recross, are in and out
of each others dwellings,, shops,
stores, and mills, at all hours. Our
physicians are as much at home on
one side as the other. Our minis,
tiers are passing and rcpassing this
so,called natural boundary just as it
il were mere street crossing. Our
churches recognize no such division,
Our sabbath schools do not.
"But," says b, 1T costs money
to cross the river, and this cost is q
barrier to union"
VIII it cost more to cross the river,
after uniting the two places III one
corporation, than it does now? Shall
we not the sooner lave a free bridge,
and much sooner a second free
bridge !?
But Mr.. G is afraid "wc shall
loose one post-oflicc."
Likely, but with q free bridge,
that is a loss that will not be felt
moro than week or two by any one
and that loss would surely hasten
free bridge, ga oonsumatioh devout-
ly to be wished" Besides. a post
Office is real bond of union, while
too Offices imply and mean separa-
ton much more than even the river
does.
Mr.. ID however, is afraid that "thc
people of Grand Rapids, having the
balance of power, will be sure, in all
of common or public con
Germ, To favor their own side" BE
not afraid, my friends Of the western
side. The star Of empire is toward |
the west. You will in all probabili
ty, by virture Of your better soil,
more eligible building sites, equally
good access to the water power and
by reason Of the fact that all our tim
Der is OH your side Of tho river, near
ly all our cranberrics, our best hay
and far the largest and best
half of our County, say yon will in
all probability soon out Number the
other side. Meanwhile, there are
upon. the eastern shore, at least
enough Of fair minded and honorable
folk, to make with you, majority !
wherever ii is at all clear that your
interests are imperilled.
But why after all" say dozen
voices, "should the !wa.n bc one
city ?"
]. Two heads are better than one
2. In unity is strength.
8. Il is more economic.
4. a free bridge would soop re-
suit as above suggested.
5. We could have a fine graded
school, free to all not interfering of
course with district primary schools.
s. Both would feel more able to
make improvements and more would
be made.
7. There would be brought to-
gcther i'll council larger number Of
enterprising men-men Of business
and sagaeity, better things~ouId be
attempted and done. .
s. Most of all, it would be q step
toward that unity and good will !
that community of interest and trater,
nal fellowship which is the distin-
feature Of our civilization.
Who can forbid the bans "IfI
any one knows of any just cause or
why these two should
not be made one, let him now declare,
it, or ever after hold his peace
Il. NJ. w.
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