River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-03-04

CITY Situated on tie knRickitmie Riuer-
4 Place Where Business Thrtres-OpeII-
iags for More Capital.
RIVER FALLS, WIS, Special Cores
pondence. Feb. 25.-TwO hours ride
from st. Paul on the River Falls and
Ellsworth branch of the Chicago, st.
Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad
lies the city of River Falls, the busl-
ness center of a flOurishing farming
country which is devoted largely to
grain and stock raising, many of the
farmers making speciality of blooded
stock, and some of their herds have
achieved a wide reputation. The city
occupies sheltered position, sur
rounded by bluffs which protect it
from the severer storms. Its surface
combines moderate gradients with eX-
cellent drainage, permitting sanitary,
street and lot Improvements without
the necessity of excessive taxation.
The Kinnickinnic river, IA clear and
sparkling stream, flows through the
city, having within its limits an aggre-
gate fall of seventy feet, and giving
fine water powers, which were early
used in milling interests. Four flour
mills produce annually 100000 barrels
of merchant flour, which finds a ready
market in the East. These, with
steam planning mill and machine shop,
consume eco horse power of water and
steam, leaving 200 horse power yet to
be employed. The early settlers were
from the Eastern states, and brought
with them TO their new homes the in
situations of religion, education and
commerce to which they had been ac-
custOmed. Asa result, their families,
comprising the bulk of the population
of 1900, take pride in model High
School building, well equipped, and
State Normal School, which have no
superiors for theirrespective purposes.
Over $50, 900 is expended annually in
these schools, the larger part of the
burden being borne by the state, less
than One-third OF the cost being levied
on taxable property in the city.
Church privileges are abundant, the
leading societies being the Congrega.
tional, whose new edifice is furnished
with modern improvements in heating
decoration and seating; the Methodist,
whose place of worship is an excellent
frame building lately thoroughly re-
fitted; the Episcopal, Baptist and
Catholic, the latter having large and
flourishing membership. The literary
and social instincts of the people have
caused a gOodly number of secret
societies to be established, the A. f.
and a. NJ, the L. Q. o. F., the \. o.
u. w, G. A. r., w. C. L. u. and /.
o. G. L. all have flOurishing Lodges,
and the Masonic fraternity have also
a Chapter. The River Falls JOURNAL,
having a circulation of 1900 and a
liberal advertising patronage, offers to
its readers a weekly summary of local
and general news 1t is worthy of
remark that the commercial men of
River Falls, most of whom are old
residents, have achieved a reputation
for business honor and integrity
second to none. Beginning modestly.
they have acquired competence, en-
larging their business facilities as
opportunity offered, and now own
substantial business blocks of brick or
stone. Failures are unknown, except
among Adventures coming to the
city for temporary purposes. Besides
the milling interests, variety of
manufacturing establishments gives
profitable employment to numbers of
workmen. Among these may be
mentioned a machine shop, carriage
and wagon shop, lately much enlarged
to meet the demands upon it, a lumber
mill, four cooper shops, a saw mill,
marble works, two harness shops,
three tin and hardware shops, five
blacksmith shops, two furniture stores
with shops attached. and five agencies
for the sale of agricultural machinery,
a large number of all classes of farm
ing tools finding ready market. The
Bank of River Falls has been estab-
lished for several years and does a
general banking and insurance
business, having good number OF
deposits from the thrifty farmers of
the vicinity. The hotels of the city
have a fine reputation and afford
comfortable accommodation to tran
sients, while three livery stables give
ready means of transit to those desir-
ing to extend their travels off the line
of railroad. Amusements are not
neglected. A neat public hall, provi-
ded with accommodations for theatre
troupes, concerts, etc, is usually well
patTonized for good classes of enter
tainments. The great interest felt in
education, and the extraordinary
facilities afforded by the state and
public schools have attracted pOpu-
Iation having more than ordinary
degree of literary culture, and hence
the professions have a good represent
alton. The leading schools of medi-
cine have able representatives, and
two law firms have well-established
footing. The Normal School profess
sors and teachers, and those of the
public school add greatly TO the
character of the society of the place.
Two book stores deal in the best
standard literature, the leading
periodicals and the usual lines of
fancy articles. Y large sorghum mill,
situated in the east part of town, has
won a national reputation for the
excellence of its products.
Although nearly every trade and
profession is represented, there are
many good openings in business for
persons with moderate capital as well
AS those possessing greater means.
Among the immediate wants may be