Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-02
Mis-. Valley Water Power.
The Future OF the Twin Cities Pro,ri=
sing.

sing.
For sometime past the "Industrial
Department. of the Milwaukee & St.
Paul Railway Company, through an an
nouncement in THE WESTERN PAPER
TRADE, has been calling attention to un-
developed water-powers, on the line of
its road, on the Wisconsin River, which
are especially adapted for operating
paper mills. On inquiry of Mr.. Luis
Jackson at the head of this department,
it was learned that Centralia and Kill
bourn City had especially fine water
powers, and knowing that many of the
readers Of THE WESTERN PAPER TRADE
are interested in information concern
ing such powers, a representative was
sent to make personal inspection
which resulted in the following des-
cription.
CENTRALIA AND GRAND RAPIDS
are located directly opposite each other
on the Wisconsin River, 27O miles from
Chicago by the Chicago, Milwaukee &
st. Paul railway, The Green Bay
Minnesota d st. Paul and Port Edwards,
Centralia & Northern also having
stations. The towns are connected by
a truss bridge and they are quite COM
monty known as the "Twin Cities"
Together they have a population of
about 5000 and contain a number of
manufacturing enterprises, among
which are two pulp-mills, one paper
mill, two furniture factories, two -four
ing mills, one hub and spoke, and one
bedspring factory, q foundry, two
electric plants, two nationa! and one
State banks. Grand Rapids is the
county seat of Wood county, and both
towns are equipped with especially
good schools and church Accommodations.
The rugged character of the river
course makes the location most attrac-
tive, naturally,
The Wisconsin River has series of
rapids and water falls which aggregate
a total of 50 feet within a distance of
thirteen miles. That is, there is de-
scent of that amount available for water
power purposes and the estimated
motive power is 22,S00 horse power.
There is total fall of 30 feet within
the corporation limits, q distance of
of about one and one-half miles, Of
which there is now used about 1900
horse power. Fully developed, this
fall would produce about 5000 horse
power and the cost for dams and canals
would be in the neighborhood of $780,
000 The most important single power
is undoubtedly
THE NEKOOSA WATER POWER
which was very recently purchased
from I. e. Nash by the Nekoosa Paper
Co. This company has just been organi
zed with capital stock Of $35O,000, of
which A. W. Patten, and John McNau-
ghtOn, of Appleton, Hon. VIM. F. Villas
of Madison and 7. Z. Nash are princi-
pal stock holders. \ dam of timber
and stone will be built across the river
and a pulp and paper mill erected.
The property consists Of $50 acres and
is located eight miles below Centralia
on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
and the Port Edwards, Centralia &
Northern railways. The river is $50
feet wide at this point, having granite
bottom and high banks on both sides,
and a fall of twenty-three feet within
the property limits. The motive force
is estimated at 5000 horsepower. The
location is especially adapted for paper
making and commands low freight rates
to all the principal cities of the West
1t is also convenient to wood supply,
popular wood being obtainable from
local sources and large tracts Of spruce
being located within forty to eighty
miles and easily reached by rail.
PORT EDWARDS.
is the next point up the river having
water-power which is estimated at
1890 horsepower, the fall being nine
teen feet. This power is partially utili-
zed by the J. Edwards Manufacturing
Co., in the manufacture of lumber
CENTRALIA PULP AND WATER POWER co.
owns the next power which has sixteen
feet head and $500 horsepower. At
present only twelve feet of the head
producing $500 horsepower is used
which operates the paper mill of the
company, having an output of 10000
pounds of roll print paper daily, and
also the pulp mill having a capacity of
twelve tons. The site is composed of