The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-12-28
Wisconsin Correspondence.

Wisconsin Correspondence.
REEDsBURG. SAUK Co, DEC. II, 1876.
Ed. PRESS The PRESS reaches us
weekly, and we may speak Of it much
as the weary and thirsty traveller
speaks Of the oasis, with its glad well
come offspring and herbage. AS time
passes we still try to fill our allotted
stations in life, and look for the COM
ing of the PRESS as for an old friend,
who comes with good intent and
| sound counsel to helpus And who,
when so many portentious elements
are threatning our freedom, prosperity
and perpetuity as Nation, does not
feel the need o:wise counselors and
cool heads to help US over the threat
ming danger, and save to us the liber-
ties descended from the wise and pa.
triotic of the past? Let the voice of
the majority be prudently obeyed and
our destiny will yet be glorious. Let
the will of a corrupt minority prevail,
and-good bye proud birdl
We have deferred our promised
notes on this section of the country
until we could write nnderstandingly
and truthfully of it. Although it has
some good business features, we can
not recc.,u;nend it rs AN agricultural
countr, he soil is mostly sand, dot
ted here and there with patches OF
heavy, clay, ,,,not very, productive.
Wheat and corn arc. very uncertain
crops here. Corn is the best. paying
cereal raised ,as it generally commands
a high price, but the yield, per acre is
what you might, estimate Of north
ern latitude, on, a light soil. When
husking they have TO reach dovn after
every; ear. Cattle, hogs and horses
are, not raised in large quantities.
Sheep do better as they can subsist on
short pickings. Society here, is good.
School and Church privileges are ex-
cellent. People here generally man
age their business affairs with wise
and successful economy, prudently
avoiding time purchases, and seem
more social, happy and contented
than do those of some more favored
localities, where the opportunities for
acquiring wealth are more numerous
and varied. must also accord to
them uniform uprgh:ness and integ-
rity not especially characteristic of
more western life. There is not that
unsuitable grasping after wealth here
that engrossec the whole mind of the
West consequently fewer failures and
steady progress. The climate is heal
thy. The weather is exceedingly |
warm for few weeks in summer,and |
excessively cold in winter, with plem-
,y of sleighing. Reedsburg is our
business center, and is a town which |
it is pleasure to sketch either in de-
tail or outline. 1t is situated on the
river. is on the &. Il N, w.
Railway, and is full! of earnest busi-
ness men, who are leaving their i'm
press upon every department of life
secular, religious and educational.
Aggressive effort is visible in all de-
Not even these days OF
climatic and commercial depression
serve TO check the constant flow OF
GUINNESS here. The surrounding
country is not the best TO be found, as
have already more than intimat, d
therefore, it may be inferred that its
business men have had more to 90 |
with the making OF the town than any
ldyantage of surroundings. 1t has q
Drigtt new l,ok. yet it was founded
N 1852. Frequent applications of
paint aud a general iiay supervision
keeps ii looking fresh, young and |
1t has population OF
,tont two thousand, is well laid out
and ia.tefully built, has some fife
residences OF modern styles one Il at
cost twenty-five thousand dollars, In
churches. schooi-houses, homes, parks
md all eIse, il has the impress of care
aste aud good sense. Its WATERPROOF
,r gristmill erinds GOO bushels oiM'n-
,sota wheat daily, besides custom
work. 1t has several firms for lie
ale of general merchandise, one of
W lich makes sales of Sc, enty thou
and dollars worth of goods yearly
ou may query how sill ihis can be in
he midst of a country of such meager
gricultural returns? One word eX-
'lains it: IIoPs. About six thousand
'ales OF hops are annually marketed
,ere. This is the great hop center,a aud
he market is strongly influenced by
the success or failure Of the crop here.
The business is managed with great
kill, and il is the chief Stimulus to
he financial and commercial life of
Its merehauts paid out
,ver two million dollars in 1867 for
'Ors alone. Almost every farmer
ere has from one TO five acres in hops.
minister is employed
? hO ieels it 10 be his duty TO preach
gainst their production, but such an
ne soon finds new light under the
ressure of pecuniary exigences, or
caves Tor other fields of usefulness at
ie expiration OF his first engagement.
here are some points on which all
cnomi nations here agree, viz: raising
{ hops! There is DO intoxicating
ropsrty in the hop; ard if worldly !.
inded brewers will mix them with ,
,rley and other stupi flying ingredi-
ITS, that is their lookout. Tie ten
,nces of the trade are not soul in
iriug themes from the pulpit. Our o
,pendence on Omnipotent goodness