Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-03-08
THE NEW WISCONSIN.
Where will be its MetrepOlisg AshIand's WOnd or
fal growth. The IrOn ore Industry.

L
1t is conceded by business men in the
Northwest that large city is to be built
on the great Superior Lake. whose
shores nearly touch the sources of the
Mississippi river and whose water con-
nections reach all the city ports of the
North and East. The extensive lumber
interests, the new aud increasing iron
ore industry, and the phenomenal
growth of the Northwest. make large
commercial emporium one of the necess-
tiles of the future. But 1t Is vet an un-
certainty where the great future city
shall be developed, though tits believed
that the chances are narrowed down to
Duluth, West Superior and Ashland.
These are now in the race for metro
politan honors. The last may be first,
after all. have never visited the two
first named cities, but after few weeks
residence in Ashland, am able to give
few facts concerning the rapid growth
of the place that may not be unnterest-
ing to the general class of readers of the
| HERALD.
Firstly, the great timber belt of Wis
consin, commencing about the 44th
parallel of latitude and extending to
the 47th, in Wisconsin, has been worked
mainly in the southern and central por-
tons; the great tracts of the far North
were rarely disturbed by the wood
mans axe, but the timber was gradual
ly cleared until within few years the
the logging aud lumber business is of
necessity forced into the northern part
OF the state, giving new life to that por-
ton and creating for it the title of the
New Wisconsin. The state has, in fact,
been developed only at its f0ot-it has
had case of elephantisis, or enlarge
ment of the feet-but now we can ex-
pect corresponding growth at the
head.
Again. the large iron ore industry
of the last two years gives another i'm
pulse to the New Wisconsin. Tho Pc
mckee iron range lies entirely in Ash
land county. and portion of the
Gogebic range ditto. These ranges
are covered with thousands of locations.
1t is impossible to tell what an immense
industry this will be in the near future,
though it is certain to be great. The
reckless speculation in stocks is mostly
over now, the wild cat claims are most
lY deceased, and the actualo ore industry
is now being pursued; ore is being
placed on the dumps, is beng shipped,
and every effort is being made to devel-
ope the mines.
Ashland is the point to which the
great proportion of the ore will be
shipped for treatment.
This explains in part the splendid
boom Ashland bad last year, and that
is likely to continue for some time to
come. The city. with these prospective
benefits of the lumber and iron ore in
dustry, has in two years jumpted from
an obscure Iudian village on Chequa-
megon bay to city of $4,000 popula-
ton. Its story is like one Of Longfel-
lows's legends Of enchantment of the
North, so sudden and curious has been
the transformation. As to some facts
concerning the place-not that have
been classifying the record in what |
have said but because figures can't lie:
Town residence lots are worth from
$3.50 to $500; lot is 25x150. the aver
age price is $780, do not know what
business lots are worth, but it is safe to
say they are not cheap. During the
past year, 1887, the city was organized
and elected its first mayor and council.
During this year, 566 buildings were
erected, which, with the building of
iron works, factories, machine and car
shops, etc, together with two of the
largest ore docks in the world, and the
largest blast furnance IN the United
States. swelled the Improvements for
the year to the magnificent sum of
50, 234, 100.
The business of the city has kept pace
with its growth, aud the increase in
1887, is fully fifty per cent Besides
the 4S6 dwellings, costing 1892, $50,
which were erected during the year,
there were 90 business houses. costing
S206, 900; Is manufacturing institutions,
in which S433, 500 was invested; 10
hotels and boarding houses, worth $685.
600, and 10 public buildings that cost
1854, $50. There was invested in coal
and lumber docks, SS3, 700; in car shops
ore docks and railroad improvements,
S69S,500, and in pubic Improvements,
S197.700. Five saw mills manufactured
S0.000,000 feet of lumber. of which Co.,
900. 900 feet was forwarded to market
via the Great Lakes, and the balance
used to supply the home do mand, for
filling orders westward by rail or kept
in stock in the yards. There was also
forwarded by lake, 1.040. $50 tons of
iron ore, the product of the Gogebc
range. which is situated from thirty 10
fifty miles east Of aud tributary to Ash
land. The ore was shipped from the
mines to Ashland over the Milwaukee.
Lake Shore & Western and Wisconsin
Central railroads. and by vessel from
their mammoth ore docks, (the largest
10 the world.) and built at cost of
nearly one million dollars. There was
received by lake. l56 600 tons of coal.
$4,000 barrels of oil, 5000 tons OF steel
rails, 1000 tons Of hardware and 500
500 tons of miscellaneous merchandise.
There was also received and forwarded
by rail 8 1874, 459, 474 pounds of freight.
Real estate transfers footed up oger
5000, 000 The wholesale business.
in its infancy, amounted to upwards of
Sl.000,0 600. The commerce of the port
" Ashland is already Immense. Illus
trated in 1887 by the arrival and clear
ance of 1854 vessels. Of which .79S
,yere steamers and -00 ryar.. s,iI IT,,