Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-08

Hc. " Hut tL HUS, uHI A'bue "
,cantS.
Our readers are nearly all acquainted
with the geographical location of Mer-
rillan, but comparatively few of them
are aware Of the rapid strides this here
tofore unknown town is making towards
assuming position that will rank 'er
as /. town OF no mean Importance on
the route of the great thoroughfare
from the Mississippi to the Lakes
We have space this week but to notice
briefly what we saw while on flying
visit to the above named place last
week.
Mcmillan is situated at the junction
Of the Western Wisconsin and Green
Bay Railroads, about half way between
Grand Rapids and the Mississippi.
The character of the country in its
immediate vicinity is not very favorable
for agricultural pursuits, but from | to
miles west of there one Of the finest
agricultural regions in the State con
sisting of rich prairie and hardwood
lands, is ready to reward the labor of We
honest tiller of the soil with its boun-
teous products. We have heard many
speak of the unsurpassed fertility of
/ that section of the country, and al !,
spoke as with one voice that nature
! had lavished her treasures to make it
the very paradise Of the northwest.
And our disciples of Nimrod and Isaac
Walton can here revel in the killing of
prairie chickens, and speckled trout
for the prairies are covered with the
one, and the brooks filled with the 9TH
err AS at Grand Rapids, the lumber
interest here is at present the principal
one. There are at present 6 saw mills
in the immediate vicinity of MERRIAM
and to supply them there is at least
5000, 900 feet Of pine timber within
miles of town-mostly owned by ket-
chum & Co. and Merrill Bros. Ground
has been sold for the erection of a
foundry, planning mill, and sash and
door factory, within 100 rods Of the
railroad crossing We believe the
firm interested in the above industries
is Sidney Clark & Son.
At the present writing there are, by
actual count, 80 buildings being
constructed at this place, one of which
the r. r. Eating House in particular,
we wish to call the attention of our
people to-. 1t is Is feet by S7--meas-
uring the extreme length and breadth,
and is being cons tructed, under the
supervision Of Victor Martin, Grand
Rapids man. 1t is being finished off
in elegant style from top to bottom.
1t has 50 bed rooms above, and has
large dining rooms &c below. Mr. Mar
tin has a large force under his command.
and is crowding this the work forward.
lie intends soon to commence the cree
ton Of Junction depot 60xs0 feet.
The religious and educational inter
ests of the place are we'll cared for.
Religious services are at present held
in the School House, but a church to
, be occupied by the NJ. Z. Society will
be erected this summer. The site has
already been procured. The building
will be 40 by 60 feet. Their School
House is "A by 10 feet, and well finished
and furnished In this connection we
wish to add for we can find no
, heading more appropriate for it than
, "relgious and educational,' that the
) sale of Intoxicating liquors is prohibited
by the town authorities and conse-
quentsy, the evil Of incompetence is al
most wholly unknown.
There are many other things we would
like to call attention to, but our space
{ is somewhat limited, and we will con-
clude by giving list of the business
firms of the town
L. G. Merrill FIGURING Mill and
Real Estate.
Merrill Bros & Putnam; Hardware
Merrill d; LOOMS; General NJ er-
chandise.
Merrill Bros; Lumber and Real
Estate
H. Ketchum & Co.; Lumber and
Real Estate
H. Ripley; Flour and Feed.
NJ \. Holden; Boots and Shoes