Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12

two IN Centralla, the principal among
them being the Witter House in Grand
Rapids and the Hotel Lyon in Centralia
each of which has first class reputa-
| ton among travelling men.
The population of Centralia has
increased more than 100 per. cent with
in the past six years, while Grand
Rapids has also had a healthy, steady
growth.
RIVALRY BUT NOT JEALOUSY.
In olden times Grand Rapids was
supposed to hold over Centralia little
beause it was the county site and had
the most people, but now the popula-
ton and wealth Of the two places are as
nearly equal as may be, and Centralia
mas 1ully outgroWn any former iealously
that might have existed. The total
population now is 1000 neople. The
two cities are under sepera'e eitv eov-
ernments, which are pff 3tiy and
economically administered, and are
connected by a new and substantial
combination wood and iron wagon
bridge, which they recently erected at
cost of $17 50Oand which is maintained
in common. There is also a large and
expensive railroad bridge across the
river at the head of the rapids, owned
by the Green Bay, Winona & st. Paul
company. The utmost good feeling
prevails among all classes of citizens
and there is peace, harmony and an
usual general prosperity.
All the stock of the Touring mills, hub
and spoke factory, pulp mills and paper
mill and nearly all of the stock of the
furniture factories is owned bv residents
of the two cities, SO it appears that there
is wealth and energy here and that
tickle fortune has smiled on those who
staid by the old town during the Rip
Van Winkle sleep
Grand Rapids is the home of the Hon.
Chas. NJ. Webb, judge ef the Seventh
Judicial circuit, and is also the home of
j. d. Witter, our millionaire capitalist,
who has made every cent of his great
fortune here during the past twenty-five
years in legitimate speculation, princi-
pally in pine and hardwood lands and
timber and also in the banking business.
Of course he is not without enemies, as
all men Of force and decided ability are
not likely to be; but the people generally
of both cities, and especially those of
Centralia, feel kindly toward him from
the fact that his money, such of it as he
has seen fit to invest here, has been of
great service in giving courage and
prosperity to the two cities He is one
of the principal stockholders in the
Jackson Milling company, also in the
Centralia Pulp and Water Power COM
pany and the new papae mill, also
parter with Johnson, Hill & Co., general
merchants, of Centralia, who carry an
average stock of $75,0 900; also, together
with John DAILY and H. A Sampson, of
Grand Rapids, he is one of the princ-
pal movers in the new Centralia furni-
ture factory. The fact that Mr.. Witter
is a shreWd business man and drives a
close bargain and has always been very
successful financially and that for many
| years he held back his investments only
goes to show, now that he is investing
here freely, that i'll his good Judgment
there is prosperous future in store for
Grand Rapids and Centralia and they
have only just begun to grow.
Grand Rapids is also the place of resi-
dence of many others-merchants, law
yers, doctors and business men-who
are well known throughout the state,
while Centralia can codnt among those
prosperous young and energetic bust
ness men of whom she is proud such
men as G. J. Jackson, president of the
Jackson Milling company; Frank Garri-
son, of the Centralia Pulp and Water
| Power company; Nels Johnson and Geo.
| M. Hill, managers of the mammoth
general store Of Johnson, Hill & Co.. L.
NJ Nash and w. T. Jones, hardware,
cranberry and lumber merchants; also
Nash Bros. & Co., owners of the Grand
| Rapids FIGURING mill, and many others.
Many new additions to Centralia are
being made and plated and new streets
opened and graded. There is life and
activity on every side.