Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-30
CHIPPEWA FALLS.

Booming Wisconsin City-The Winter
Harvest Being Gathered-The Mills and
Their Capacity-A New Opera House
and Other NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. I'M
provements This Season.
Correspondence st. Paul Globe]
CHIPPEWA FALLS, May 25.-In most Sec
lions harvest comes in the fall. The
warm spring rains and summer sun pro-
duce "first the blade. then the ear, then
the full corn in the ear" but in this por-
ton of the world the harvest comes in
the spring The crop depends entirely
upon the energy of the harvesters and the
condition of the season. The past season
has been extremely fine, and the number
and spirit of the harvesters unusually
fine, so that the harvest has proven the
largest ever taken in these parts.
Just now the entire force is engaged
in bringing the products of their harvest
| TO market, and those who have the con-
tracts are anxious for the safe delivery of
the mammoth crop. The estimate of
this crop is in feet instead OF bushels,
and those most likely to know say that it
is fully 100000 To this city the har-
vesters first repair after their Sc
we're labors Of the winter season.
For over four months they have pursued
their laborious work, far away from the
comforts of home and the refinements of
civilization When the SHOWS of winter
begin to fade away their harvest time is
ended, and joyfully they hail the hour of
their release. Then it is that the business
men begin to look happy. Full well they
know that theirs will be the larger
part of the harvester's earnings.
very few of the hardy lumbermen value
money, except for the purpose of having
good time and disposing of it as rapid
| ly as possible, and when the winters
earnings are buttoned up beneath their
vests it is only for a very brief period,
| and as soon as it can be dispensed for mo-
mentary pleasure or necessity, away they
60 to the drive.
The 5000 people who live at
Chippewa Falls are awake to the situa-
ton and make hay while the sun shines.
Splendid stocks of goods, tastefully dis
played, and attentive clerks ready to
serve them, beguile the wealth which is
scarcely valued, from him, and unless he
has home and family the sooner gone
the better for him. Manufacture rather
| than commerce or agriculture forms the
leading pursuit of the people of
this city and vicinity. True, there
are many farms under cultivation,
but the quality of the soil is
not the finest in the world, and is much
less productive than might be wished.
An excellent power is furnished by the
falls, and in the hands of men who are
not only able but willing it has been
greatly improved: The Chippewa Lum-
Der and Boom company have at present a
very large mill, capable of cutting Co.
100000 feet annually. This and one
flour mill alone utilize the almost unlim-
tied power which the Chippewa affords.
During the past winter the company
have expended on their dam and boom
here and at Paint creek, about four
miles above, the sum of $250,000. They
contemplate during the present season
the erection of steam mill of a still
greater capacity than their water mill
They employ over 500 men at present the
year round, and must have more than
double their force with the COM
pletion Of their new mill. They
run machine shop and black
smith shops of their own, and keep their
mills and machinery in perfect repair
The company, while still retaining it's
district organization, has lately been alb
sorbed by the "Beef Slough" company,
whose stockholders own the stock in the
G. l.. & B. Co., and which thus insures
an unlimited amount of capital, for bust
ness or Improvements. Besides their cut
of 60,000,000, the French LAUNDERING
Il hox bo1o
the city, which cuts about 10000, 900 an
nually, and other smaller concerns
have planning mills, so that the
manufacture of lumber is very
large item IN the industry of the people,
mill already alluded to, and under lease
son. They turn out about l25 barrels per
day The mill is first class in every re.
spect and has all of the modern improve
ables the operators to produce an article
of very superior quality.
More mills ought to be built, as the
vast power could be brought into play
and the products other than flour. find a
ready home market among the lumber
men, who have to import vast quantities
of feed each year.
During last season S. G. F. Cobban,
ESQ.,, at the corner of Bridge and Cen
trail streets, erected veneered brick
building two stories and basement 1899
feet, the second floor of which contains
what the city has long needed-an Opera
house. Its capacity is about 1000 peo-
pie and is seated with movable chairs,
has stage twenty-four feet deep and is
furnished with box Office, cloak rooms
and drawing rooms and fine drop cur
tain and large amount of excellent
scenery. The ground floor contains three
very tasty stores. The building cost
about SIS 200, and is credit to its owner
and the city.
During the coming season the city is to
have abig building boom. In business
blocks, Messrs. Fletcher s. Brown have
already begun two-story solid brick,
66xSO, between Bridge and Bay, on Cen
trail street, to contain three stores below
and Offices and living rooms above; esti
mated cost 10000 One block below,
offspring, Jos. Lamott, G. Allen and F.
Bonville each build brick, isle UNKNOWN
of one or two stories. At present more
than forty dwellings are al
ready under contract, so that there is
every prospect of lively time all around
| this summer The vast lumber region of