Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-14

and different places. They ship
from Grand Rapids direct to dealers
IN Omaha, central Illinois, and Min
nesOta.
The Green Bay and Minnesota
railroad is finished from the Bay to
Winona, on the Mississippi. No
lumber is shipped eastward on this
road, but a considerable amount
goes westward.
The Wisconsin Valley road is fin
lshed from Tomah, AZ miles south of
west OF Grand Rapids, to Junction
City, which is IA miles north of
Grand Rapids and II miles west of
Stevens Point, and is the junction
with the Wisconsin Central railroad.
The grade to knowlton, miles fur
Their, Is nearly finished, and the
bridge across the Wisconsin river at
knowlton is completed. 1t is ex-
pected within thirty days the cars
will be running to Knowlton. 1t is
said that the company has decided
to continue the road to Wausau, Is
miles from knowlton, as soon as De-
tober, and the lumbermen there will
commence pling their lumber about
the middle of June, with the view of
shipping by rail. There is so much
wastage IN running the river, and so
many lives lost, that the up-rivermen
will hail the day with JOY when they
can ship by rail (By the way, four
rlver-men have found watery graves
this spring already at Mosinee, or "Lit-
tie Bull Ealls," as it is oftener call
ed)
WHEN THE VALLEY ROAD IS COM
PLETED,
one hundred and forty-two million
feet of lumber, out of the above
total of 214,OO0,OO00 will be tribu-
tary to it. It will be the largest
lumber road of its length in the L. s.;
probably, in the world. OF the 49,,
100000 feet of logs now on hand,
100000 are tributary to that road.
The stocks of logs coming into the
four principal booms are divided as
follows:
Jenny-9,OOO,000.
Wausau-2O,0 100000.
Stevens Point-15, 100000.
Grand Rapids and Centralia-27,-
100000.
OF this 100000 feet, 56,5O0,OOO
are tributary to the valley road.
THE BOOMS.
The boom at Wausau is very
substantial structure, and will hold
over 25,OOO,000 feet of logs. The
Stevens Point boom is also well con-
structed, and will hold about 35,0O0,-
1000. These booms are artificial.
The "big boom" Of the Wisconsin
river is at Centralia, just across the
river from Grand Rapids, and is
owned by Q. Garrison & Co. 1t was
almost wholly nodded by the hand
of nature, and will hold over 1O03-,
100000 feet Of logs. On account Of
its great superiority over every other
boom of large capacity, / think it
deserves particular mention. No
floods or ice jams can force a single
log to the main river and thus escape.
1t requires 10 yearly expense" to
keep it efficient, and no sleeEless
hours or corroding anxiety about the
logs when once within it's glowing
embrace"
TIE WATER POWER
of the Wisconsin, beginning at a
point 20 miles above Jenny and ter
minating at Point Bausse, 10 miles
below Grand Rapi1s,-a distance Of
at least 100 miles,-is scarcely com
putable. Properly utilized, it would
drive the machinery of the nation.
From Grand Rapids for distance of
ten miles down the river, rapids fol-
low each other in quick succession,
which afford water privileges seldom
found anywhere.
A CHANGE
is taking place at Grand Rapids and
Stevens Point, in the mode of pre-
p airing lumber for market. By river,
every board is sent to market as it
comes from the saw. Now that these
cities have railroad facilities, the mills
are putting in plapers, pail, sash,
door, and other machinery with
which to manufacture the lumber
ready for the consumer on the prai-
RE. With the lumber planed, at
least 25 per cent, more of it can be
shipped on a car than when in the
rough, which is an item to the re-
tail dealer of considerable impor
lance.
THE RIVER MEN
this spring feel keenly the deprecia-
ton the railroads have already made
in the demand for their services.
From Stevens Point and Grand Rap
ids, very little lumber is being RATED
this spring; and several lumbermen,
whose mills are from four to ten
miles from the depot, assure me here
after they shall haul their lumber to
the railroads in the winter, and Who'll
" abandon the river as the medium
through which to transport 1t to mar
ket.