Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-12-10
Wisconsin,.

OoacefhtHy PERSONS and Ftdces.
From the Lumbermau's Gazette.
Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, is a thriv-
ing little city of $500 inhabitants,
nesting on the banks of the Wisconsin
river, at the grand rapids, from which
it takes it name, We are especially
indebted to Hon. Thos. Scott, State
Senator, and j.. P. Powers, attorney at
law, for valuable facts and statistical
information concerning the lumber bus
mess on the Wisconsin river, in addi-
ton to those already cleaned at Wau-
sau and Stevens Point.
The Hon. Thos. Scott is interested
in, and the controlling spirit of several
numbering and milling concerns from
Jenny Bull Falls in the head waters Of
the Wisconsin to Port Edwards, below
Grand Rapids. Without giving his
estimates in detail, we condenSe them
Ne estimates that there is on hand on
the Wisconsin river about 80, 800, 600
feet Of logs, and about 81, 600, 900 feet
.ot lumber, against 10, 900, 900 feet of
logs, and 10000, 600 feet of lumber at
the close of last season There was
shipped from the river during 1873,
10. geo, eco feet of lumber, almost ex-
cinslvely by river. During the season
just closed there has been shipped by
river about 50, 0U0, 900 f-et of lumber
and by rail 12,000, 600; total ship
ments 1O2, 100000 feet, making the
amount manufactured during the past
season on the river, 119, 600, coo feet.
There will be in all probability from
70, 900, 600 to 30, eco, 0OU feet shipped
out by rall during the coming winter
and spring months. owing to the in
creased planning mill facilities, leaving
about 70, 600, 900 to go on the market
at the opening OF the rafting season
next year. The Indications are that
there will be about 50, 900, 800 feet Of
logs cut this winter, about the sane
amount a; last season.
We would explain that in the winters
OF 1871 and 1872 there were large
stocks OF logs put in and on hand eau :
M Il decrease III the amount logged
last winter In conversation with
prominent mill men both at Stevens
Point and Wausau, we were. assured
that the logging operations would not
be as extensive this winter as last, many
insisting that there would not be one
/ half the amount cut But we find,
after consulting our note book. and
comparing it with Mr. Scots estimate
that the prospects are that there will
be as much done liz the woods the com
ing winter as was done the past winter
This conclusion viii no doubt surprise
many mill men that say they will do
but little, but we think they will find
that our estimates will be verified next
spring. We find that there is dispo
Sition among the mill men to contract
for logs to stock their mills the coming
winter instead Of 10 eging. The log
gers seem to act on the umption
that the bottom Of low prices has been
reached and that lumber will 90 UP
next season. Hence we have the fact
that there has already been pine land
stumpage sold at 81 per III. higher
| price recent Oh the Wisconsin river
than the same stumpage could be sold
for last wear
The probabilities are that there will
be about one hundred million feet OF
lumber manufactured on the Wiscon-
I sin river next season. OF that amount
about sixty million feet will 90 to the
Mississippi markets. The balance OF
the cut will 90 out by rail. 1t should
be borne in mind that in estimating the
lumber business of the Wisconsin riv-
er, we have included the mills on Vel
low river, a tributary Of the Wiscon-
sin, but have not considered the rail,
road mills that have just commenced
operations on the northern extension Of
the Wisconsin Central Railroad. The
prospects are that within the next l.
months that railroad will be pretty
we'll lined with saw-miIls, adding to the
already overstocked market
Now we remember that the great
State of Michigan is likely to cut as
many or more logs this winter thar
last, and that throughout the State OF
! Wisconsin, as far as we have visited
the different numbering localities the
cry has been retrenchment at least t.
the amount recommended by the Ma
.tional Lumberman' Association--0ne.
third, taking the last two years as a
basis But when we come to look ov.
er our note book at the end of the can.
vass, we find that the naked truth i:
that there will be as much logging
done the coming winter as was done
last winter, as far as real preparation,
can be taken as guide fer estimate
: True, in some localities, we believe
there will be quite a reduction in oper
ations, but TO sum up the situation as
far as we have personally investigated,
we really find that the only hope fol
/, lumbermen, as they will not help them
: selves, is shat Divine Providence viii