Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
( Written by J. w. Cochran. I

| ~ fO"eto"tS HbH/e L1teC CtcT'
Written by J. w. Cochran.
| There are two little cities IN N orUIIor II
| Central Wisconsin that for the past
twenty-five wears have been much
written and talked about, at different
times and in different ways, but of
which and of whose present dolngs
little of the truth is generally known
except among their own favored and
happy citizens, for such they are, and
all acknowledge themselves to be.
These cities, Grand Rapids and Cen
tralia, are situate in Wood County upon
the east and west bank respectively of
| the Wisconsin river, and immediately
adjoining each other. The Wisconsin
river is rugged, dashing, grand old
stream, $50 miles and more in length,
and at the point where these two cities
lie snugly, safely built upon its shores,
it's breadth is about forty rods, and it is
interspersed with huge powders of
granite varying IN size from the size of
a sentry box to meeting house, and
islands containing acres Of land surface.
So firm are its bed and banks, that even
in the midst of it's swiftest rapids and
strongest currents it's waters can be
securely and easily damned and con-
troled for manufacturing purposes.
There is a gradual fall of altogether
about thirty-fve feet in the distance Of
two miles within the limits of the two
cities, and on either bank of the river
within that distance are almost unlimit-
ed water powers in succession, one
| below the other. Some of this power
has been in use for many years. More
has been put to use recently, but a
large part yet remains open for invest
ment and development.
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
Nearly a half-century ago, before the
land along the upper Wisconsin river
valley had been acquired from the
Indians, except a strip one mile in
width on either side of the Wisconsin
river, pioneer lumberman named
|
here, built saw mill, the first one, on
the west bank of the Wisconsin river,
in what is now Centralia. Within the
next succeeding ten years came Geo.
Neeves, John Rabln, Orestes Garrison
and Tim Hurley, each of whom built
sawmills within the limits of the two
cities and commenced the manufacture
of pine lumber. They were each in
course of time, before disasters came
upon them, considered worth their
huudreds of thousands of dollars.
A new county was carved out of Port
age county, which at one time took IN a
large share of the northern part of the
state, named Wood county, and Grand
Rapids was designated ao the county
site, which distinction it still retains.
THE FIRST RAILROADS.
There were no railroads in Northern
Wisconsin in those days and Grand
Rapids could be reached only on foot or
by stage from Galena on the Mississippi
or Fort Winnebago on the lower Wis
consin and later on from New Lisbon on
the main line of the Chicago, Milwaukee
& ST. Paul railroad. This condition of
affairs continued down to the year 1872,
at which time the Green Bay, Winona
& st. Paul railroad, running east and
west across the state from Green Bay to
Winona, and crossing the Wisconsin
,i,-n lc
was completed. Two years later, on
the 4th of July, 1874, the Wisconsin
Valley division of the Chicago, Milwau-
kee & st. Paul railway, which division
the main line, north toward Lake Su-
perior along the Wisconsin river valley,
was completed to Centralia, and has
since been extended to Minocqua, more
than 100 miles further notrh, and into
; the Park region of innumerable lakes.
Within the past year the Port Ed
wards, Centralia & Northern railroad
has been built and equipped from Cen
,tralia to Marshfeld in the extreme
: northwest corner of the county, con-
: meeting there with the Wisconsin Cen
trail railroad, and opening up for manu-
= facture large and valuable and hereto
) fore inaccessible body of pine and
hardwood timber in the center of this
, county, which is tributary to these two
cities.
, AN ERA OF HARD TIMES NOW LONG PAST.
For fifteen years or more prior to the
advent of railroads here, Grand Rapids
was thriving and sometimes turbulent
lumber town. 1t was considered the
| best town in the pineries, and its streets
) were thronged with lumbermen, loggers,
: choppers, log-drivers, teamsters, river
men and pilots all of whom were max
ing money, or receiving large wages,
: and spending monev freely on whatever
, most pleased their fancy for the time
r 1t was a great town in those davs and
| Centralia shared little of its fame abroad
: though her people were never much
; given to harboring envy or i'll will.
, Fortunes were made in a few years and
| as quickly wasted without jealousy
| envy, or mourning, and but little
) thought was taken of the future.
Following the extension of the rail-
| roads further north into the pineries in
1874 and 1875 came the general hard
times and panic, which spread over the