Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-01-19
many of the

HOuSSS anu Id sc business DOCKS
and most of the numerous
churches being built of stone.
This stone is quarried on the spot,
having been taken from the places
when streets were made, and hills
cut down. Though as one finds
how some streets run seemingly
straight up and then as perpendic-
ularly down, they wonder if any
have been graded to a regulation
level. The stone is used in a
half-dressed state, and gives an
appearance of great solidity to
the buildings, and at the same
time makes them seem a little
sombre. Even the pretty brick
blocks and residences are capped
over doors and windows with this
same style of stone, and they look
at you with these great unwinking
eyebrows in way that is not al
ways attractive or beautiful.
Most of the homes have green
yards about them filled with
flowers, and at present chrysan-
themums makes charming show.
There are also beautiful southern
trees, magnolias, live-oaks, MINI
osa, and such as are not tropical
but dis tinctly southern.
The city proper lies in a valley.
On the west, rising straight to-
ward the low-hung southern sky
is old Lookout mountain. An
incline railroad runs to its summit
and narrow guage partly around
the crest. Two large Notes.-The
Point House and Lookout Inn are
there, and hundreds of summer
cottages are scattered all down
the woody rocky face. Indeed
many persons have their homes
out on the mountain and remain
there the year round, above the
smoke of the city, and sometimes
above the clouds. For the western
clouds as they come rolling east
ward often strike the summit and
in a moment hide the entire noun
tain. Then again they roll along
the crest and tumble down over
the mountains nose, floating off
into the vally that is shut in on
the east by Raccoon mountain, a
lesser elevation. Another time a
great cloud from the west rolls
itself up and striking the mountain
is cut through and hangs at a
kind of half mast, with the clear
light shining on the forest and
buildings above, and a cloister
like light on the base and surround
ing landscape. Natures play
ground for natures own forces
over what was once the conflict
land Of nation.
There's a sheer uplift of ridge
and rock running clear around
the opposite side of the city, this
is Mission Ridge, over which
friend and foe once fought for the
cause each thought was right.
Near the base is to-day a great
National Cemetery filled with
graves of those who were the
actor in, and the heroes and victims
of one of the greatest battles ever
fought in this our Columbus land
Our America. God grant there
may never again come such carnage
here until this old earth swings off
into its destined place on the
judgement morning. Mission
Ridge is four miles from the old
city limits, and Sherman's Heights
six. Yet SO rapidly is this new
manufacturing city of the inter-
mediate southern belt widening
tout its boundaries, that graded
streets, electric cars and dummy
lines, elegant homes and pretty
ones of less pretension, with stores
and laboratories, and butcher,
baker and candlestick maker"
headquarters reach now to the
very base of the Ridge and scatter
at intervals quite over the Heights.
The streets of the city are paved
with stone, and the water and
electric light systems compare
favorably with those of their
northern neighbors. They sup