Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-01-03

The city of Grand Rapids is nearly
the geographical centre of the state,
on the Wisconsin river, and on the
fines of the Green Bay, Winona and
ST. Paul and the Chicago, Milwaukee
and St. Paul railways. The central
location of the place is such as to
make manufacturing city of it in
time, and that it will become a flour
ishlng city, I have not shadow of a
doubt. Financially the city is in good
condition, there being NO debt, while
the bonded Indebtedness Of the county
will not exceed $40, 900. The city has
ample railroad facilities; of course
more railroads are wanted here, but to-
day a car of merchandise can be billed
from this point to nearly any city IN
the United States Other railroads will
come to the city with the development
of the country, especially the manu-
featuring interests which the great
natural water-power at this point will
create. The Wisconsin river can be
utilized no less than three times over
in less than half mile. and the horse
power has, [ think, been estimated at
rs, 900; of this about ], 900 horsepower
is now being used in running two
pulp mills, two or three flour mills,
machine shop, planning mill, a hub
and spoke factory and one or two
other manufacturing enterprises.
Factories are already IN operation
here on both sides of the river, and
while Centralia and Grand Rapids
are divided by the Wisconsin river,
they are united in one grand effort for
the advancement Of the twin cities
interests. The feeling of harmony
existing between the two towns augurs
well for their success.
These two towns may reasonably
hope to become as important CONNER
cial centres as Grand Bapids, Michi-
gan, as they are located close to-
might say-right in the center Of the
hardwood districts of Wisconsin, and
the river and railroad advantages for
bringing the raw material here and
shipping the manufactured products
all over the country, are such as to
commend them; and, as I said before,
it is only a question of time when
thousands of people will be employed
in them, for whoever heard of a town
so near the center of a great state as
this is and provided with excellent
water-power. failing to become q
great manufacturing centre? Many
towns in Wisconsin are monuments
to the enterprise of American town
builders, but none of them have the
natural advantages these have, being,
as before stated, the center of q coun-
try of marvellous resources and un.
told wealth. Here the great iron
mines can ship their ores and be man
ufactured before going out of the
state, as also can all the timber along
the Wisconsin river and its tributa
ries; rich agricultural country sur
rounds the city, and the farming com
munity are composed of better class
OF well-to-do people.
The people here have aspirations tc
become metropolis, and it is bat re-
Gently they have commenced to agi-
tate the question properly how to put
them to the front. They have always
felt that they had the location, and
that was all that was necessary, but
they now fully realize that instinct
don t tell men where to go, and to this
end they have organized a Board of
Trade, composed of their best men,
for the purpose of putting their ad-
vantages properly before the money
ed men Of the east, and now that they
have the wheel set in motion and their
efforts directed right, and men of push
and energy at their head, they will
do much toward building up the city.
1t is feasible to talk Of manufacture
ing here, for with the raw material,
cheap fuel-cheapened by the competi-
ton Of railroads and river, who never
pool their issues, the manufactured
having the same favor shown him in
the distribution Of his product willtind
himself il possession of a market OF
his own.
Before going farther I wish to say
that here is to be found fre-clay OF a
very superior quality and in mex
haustlble quantities. This is one
branch Of industry that can be honest
~ recommended for speedy develop
ment, as it will pay handsomely.
Paper and pulp mills can be estab-
lished here without number, and pay
more hub and spoke factories, tor any
factory using principally wood, fur
nlture factories, agricultural imple-
ments certainly can be made here at a
profit, as also can boots and shoes,
wearing apparel for lumbermen, ana
n, to h., OF +ln+ 10 rrrlnnt