Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-01-13


factories, cabinet ware works, tanneries,
and score Of other industries in this
immediate locality, and then instead OF
seeing our people striving for labor for
mere pittance, we would see them,
boys and girls, young men and women,
at work at the loom or tending the
spindles which would give to the Chica-
go, Milwaukee, Cincinnati and st.
Louis markets, fabrics a: lower figures
than the same can be procured In
the east. i. es.o SSH
We have brought this matter before
our people because we have felt so con-
strained, and believe it to be duty no
longer to be deferred. A correspond
ent of the Chicago Times has written
to that paper the following in reference
to what has been done at GAINESVILLE
within a period of twelve months.
What GAINESVILLE has done, we can do
if only we have the pluck and deter
mination. Shall we not call meeting
and at once, organize for action, and
thus show to the capitalists Of the
country that we have place in the
very centre of the state where their
money is wanted, and where an invest
ment will pay better than at any other
point. The following we clip from the
Times:
EVANSVILLE MANUFACTURING INDUS
TRIES.
A correspondent of the Chicago
Times publishes in that paper of the
1st inst, letter descriptive Of our
neighboring city of GAINESVILLE, which
is becoming remarkably prosperous,
through it's manufacturing industries.
After briefly describing the city the
correspondent speaks thus of one en-
terprising Company
Prominent among the manufacture
ing industries Of this beautiful inland
city is the GAINESVILLE Cotton Manufac-
turing Company. It is the pride of
the town, and to visit that city with
out paying our respects to that thirty
ING establishment would be looked up
on like visiting Niagara Falls, without
looking at the cataract. 1t is a model
institution, to -hich not only James
vile. but the whole West may we'll
point with pride The building is con-
structed of brick-similar to those
made at Milwaukee-its dimensions
being 54x255 feet, three stories in
height, with an attractive and impos-
ing bell tower Of 60 feet in height in
ms centre, This company was organ
lied in August, 1874, and commenced
building their factory, which was COM
pleted on the LIST day of January fol-
lowing On the LIST of March last they
commenced putting in the machinery,
and On the 1st of May following, card
ing and spinning were begun, which
one month later was followed by put
ting the 200 looms Of the establish
ment is operation. Hence it will be
seen that in little over nine months
from it's organization, the company
were in operation and placing their
products on the market. Chicago is
looked upon as marvel of enterprise,
vet it would bother her to point to
single feat that would equal the work
of constructing the GAINESVILLE cotton
mills. The factory is supplied with
10000 spindles, and 200 Shooting
LOOMS and produces on an average
from $4,000 to SO, 600 yards per week
Of a quality of goods that are pronoun-
ced by such adopts as Marshall Field,
of the firm of Field, Letter & Co.. Of
this city, as equal if not superior to
the best class of Eastern manufactured
good. The first floor of the factory is
devoted to weaving, the second to card
ing and spinning, and the third to
mule spinning and dressing. 1t is an
acknowledged fact, that this factory is
supplied with the best system Of ma
chinery in the United States, it being
selected from the most approved man
ufactories both Of this country and
Europe. The enterprise having prov
ed success, and the demand for their
products even in these times of de-
preston largely exceeding the capacity
of their mills, the company have de-
cided to build an additional mill imme-
diately, of capacity to work 200
more looms. The institution employs
lis hands, and consumes 2, 500 pounds
of raw cotton per day. The officers
of the company are chosen from the
more solid and enterprising men of
GAINESVILLE; the Board consisting of
o. B. Ford, j. j: R. Pease, T. S. Ell
dred, w A. Lawrence, Peter Myers,
DIR. Henry Palmer, A. j. Ray, L. B.
earle, and Jacob Fisher, of which O.
B. Ford is President; J. J. r. Pease,
Vice President; Addison J. Ray. Sec
rotary; F. S. Eldred, Treasurer. Ad-
olson j Ray is the financial agent of
the concern, and Chester Ba1ly occu-
pies the position of Superintendent of
the manufacturing department. Mr..