Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-28

GRAND RAPIDS, WISCONSIN
Nh. CHARLES A. WAsHBURNER has jus
submitted to the United States geological
survey preliminary statement showing
that the total production of coal of al
Kinds increased from 129,975. 557 shori
tons in 1887 to 145, 1853, 744 tons in 1888
The value in 1887 was $182, 556, 1897, which
increased to S2O8, 120, 8O6 in 1883. Tn,
increased production is shared by every
important coal producing region. Penn
sylvan1a anthracite, including colliery
consumption, increased from 42,o88, 19i
short tons in 1887 to 900 in 1888
with corresponding increase in value te
$88,714, 800. Alabama, Kentucky, Colora
do, Wyoming, Washington territory ano
Montana show large percentage increases
while slight decrease Is noticed in Indi
ana, Georgia and Michigan.
REPRESENTATIVE of the farmers ALI
ance in sevea western states and terrific
ries have been holding a convention a.
Des Moines, Ia, to devise some way OF
escaping the exaotions of trust or com
bination of manufacturers who have OBJ
tanned control of all the binding Irvine IN
the country and all the raw material sup
ply for Irvine, and have raised prices over
100 per cent. The case is similar to the
lutte bag corner and the southern cotton
planters. The farmers of the west vii
try to obtain substitute for the Irvine
and failing there the alliance recommends
hand binding with other materials. This
impudent monopoly is doubly aggravat-
ing from the fact that the farmers must
com pete and have the prices of their
grain fixed IN the worlds markets, and
every such exaction places them at g
greater disadvantage than ever in the
sale of their surplus.
: DE consolidation of three large steel
companies at Chicago, with united
capital of $25 100000, will have an i'm
portant bearing not only on the trade II
the West, but relatively that in the East
Some of the ennsylvania steel mills have
already been put to their wits end tc
compete with the Chicago concerns
which are in closer proximity to the Bes
semer ores in the Lake Superior region
Only a few days ago it was announced
that the Oarnegies, of Pittsburg, had Sc
cured control of new line from CleSe-
land to the former city for the more di
rect shipment of Superior ores to their
rail mills in Pennsylvania. But this Chi
cago combination still has the great ad
vantage OF a shorter and all-water route
thinks that unless foreign Bessemer ore
is admitted free the Pennsylvania mills
must go out of business ultimately before
western competition.
No doubt they have placer gold in Low
er California in paying quantities. The
evidence seems satisfactory on this
point. But that does not mean tina
there is gold to be gathered by all tbs
thousands who may go there. Placer
gold mines require water to work them
Lower California is an arid region witt
few streams. The first thing expert
enced miners do in placer camp is tC
secure the water privileges. Most of the
desirable mining ground then passes
quickly into the hands OF companies
with large capital, and in q very short
time there is little chance in such a dis
trict for the moneyless man except as q
day laborer. The Mexicans know THEN
own rights, their own mining laws, anG
how to enforce them. American pros
peotors cannot hope to play any grat
game there. Opportunities for quick
gain are always offered to those first or
the ground in a rich placer discovery, but
it would be the height of folly for anyone
who has employment to go there now
che stories about raipstorm washing
nut more nuggets are of course purely
agurative. II they mean anything, they
mean that the rain has swollen the
streams and furnished more water tC
wash the dirt with, but this process means
the hardest kind of manual labor with
pick and shovel-such work as no day la
borer in this part of the country ever
dreamed of.
rHE need of a FUNERAL reform, as seen
by the clergy, is considered in series OF
letters published few days ago in the
Lewiston (Me) Journal. The minister
with the possible exception of the under