Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-02-15
THRIVING WATERFOWL
Aroused from Lethargy 1t is Pushing
Rapidly to the Front.
THOSE SETTING THE PACE.
An Impetus to Enterprise by the Removal
of II Handicap--New Concerns Starting
Up-Old Ones Being Enlarged
Remarkable Business In
crease-Features.
From The Evening Wisconsin,, FEB. 1871

creaSe-Features.
From The Evening Wisconsin,, Feb. 49,
After passing from under the burden of an
oppressive bonded Indebtedness which for
twenty-five years hung dead weight around
its neck WatertOwn has pulled itself to-
gether' and from every indication is now
started on high level road to Il promising
future. Although the incubus has been but
recently removed the feeling of freedom is
apparent on every hand in the starting up of
new business ventures, increase and enlarge
ment of the Old ones, while general spirit of
confidence seems to permeat te the atmosphere.
WatertOwn is fOrty-fOur miles from Mil
waukee, on the Chicago, Milwaukee &St.Paul
railroad, and has now about II ,00G inha bit
ants. 1t stands on the dividing line of Jetfer-
son and Dodge counties, about One-third of
the residents being in the latter. The farming
territory surrounding it is considered one of
the most fruitful in the state. A crop failure
has never been known to it since the original
forest was cleared away, Farmers are all
well-tO-dO, and a mortgage is a rare docu-
Considerable barley is raised, however, in the
tributary territory, which has a radius of
from twelve to twenty miles.
iEducationally the city has every advantage
The public school system is admirable. There
are three imposing and rOomy graded school
buildings and a High school The North
western university and the Col lege of Our
Lady Of the Sacred Heart are located here.
These institutions have national regulations.
ParOchal schools are also numerous. There
are seven religious denominations represent
ed by substantial places Of wOrShip-BaptiSt,
Catholic. CONGREGATIONAL, Episcopal Evan
gelicaL Lutheran. Methodist MOravian and
German Reformed. OF newspapers there are
i've. and they are all in prosperous condition.
There are half a hundred or more secret and
SOca societies. In short Watertowns wants
i'll religious, intellectual and social ways are
amply provided for. The Cambrian is
young mems social club of considerable in
fuence g. w Norris is president, VIM. Der
vim, vice-president, and VIM. Sproesser, secre-
tary and treasurer There is an efficient
volunteer fire department.. with two steam
engines and hOOk-and-ladder truck The
two companies each have three salaried men.
The water OF WatertOwn has advertised the
city all over the country. Artesian wells fur
nish an adequate supply which contains
many medicinal qualities. There are also
two magnetic wells which possess numerous
healing properties. The parks are spacious
and attractive. That of the city occupies
full square in the heart of the city. Others
are owned by the Turner and Concordia So
cietieS. The latter is an island in Rock river
which comprises four acres Eand is q famous
place for picnicking parties locally, and in
the summer excursionists flock there Sun
days from Milwaukee and even Chicago. In
public halls there are Turner hall. which cost
$4,000; ConcOrdia Opera house, S15,000 and
the City hall, $50, COO.
But 1t is the marked revival of business and
evidence of local enterprise that the city has
become of late so conspicuous. 1t has one of
the finest and best equipped electric light
and power plants of any town of its size in
the country, and it is obtaining general pa
trOnage. 1t consists Of two 75-hOrse power
engines and a 142-horse power Corliss engine.
The capacity Of the dYnamOS is so arc and ESQ
incandescent lights. The system is the Thorn
sOn-HOustOn. in miscellaneous way there
are two breweries, planning mills, two apinry
supply factories. two fOundries, two boiler
and machine shops, two malt houses q chan
deier factory, three elevators, a shoe fac
tory, cracker and candy and cigar factories,
and several other concerns that come under
the manufacturing head in a smaller way
1t is a cause for compliment that during the
| most discouraging period of Watertown's
history there were several faithful ones who
had confidence in the city'S future. Among
these, and one who has done more to spread
its good name and fame far and wide than
any other man, is Dr. Valerius. Fourteen
years ago he established the firm that bears
his name, importers and dealers in ClydeSdale.
English Shire and draught horses. 1t was Of
| small consequence then, but to-day DR.. Valer-
| ius u Co. are as sound with European banks as
in New York, and in the latter accepta BILE as at
| the Bank of WatertOwn. The enterprise is
| far-reachIng one, and requires vast capital.
! 1t consists OF the importing of blOOded stock
! to this country, and the exporting of Ameri-
| can horses in return. Upward of 100 men are
| employed and agencies distributed all over
| the W eStGrn states, while there is q perma-
nent purchasing agencyi in Europe with head
! quarters at Aberdeen. Scotland. DR. r.Valerius
| Is. perhaps, the most extensive importer and
| exporter of horses in the world to-day. He
! has ample stables at Watertown. which he
/ uses as depot for distributing the stock to
| his agents. The method by which he trans
! acts business is OriGinat, and by it he is en-
| abled to buy and sell cheaper than those
/ working in more limited lines. For thatmat-
| ter there is nothing in the world Of like ma
! ture that even apprOXimates in extent the
! business of DR.. Valerius & Co. In view Of
! the fact that he is still young man, in the
| prime Of life, there is no anticipating the
| climax of his enterprise.
But DR.. Valerius is not confined to this
| great business alone. He owns considerable
| interest in the Bower Cab company of Mil
waukee, and is a leading stOckhOlder in the
| Watert0Wn Brick & Tile company. The latter
was recently incorporated with H. Mulber-
| ger, president; DR.. Valerius, vice presi-
dent; H. Mulberger, Jr secretary and
tendent. A number Of other prominent
| business men are interested in the enter
prise. The capital stock is nonlinal-S30 600.
| Twenty-SeVen acres have been secured. and
| building will be commenced at once. The
! clay is almost ineXhauStable and Of excellent
| quality. Watertown brick are famous all
| over the state for tensile quality. Besides the
| common building, fancy brick will be made,
| work on which can continue the year round.
Between Is and 100 men are employed. The
| annual output will be about 100000.
The Watertown Shoe Company is no small
advantage to the city. They manufacture a
full line ofladies' fine shoes, and fine market
for them in this state, Michigan Minnesota
and Iowa. Milwaukee is good market Up
wards of 60 hands find employment. These
turn out about 200 pair day. The weekly
pay role is about $500. The business was
established five years ago, with a capital OF
S25 900. This was increased to last October tC
$4,000. Steam and water power are used. ac
COrQlng TO necessity. In6 OmC6fS are w IN
Gorder, president and manager; G. E
Schmutzler. secretary and treasurer. Those
interested are Watertown folk. and take a
pride in the completeness of the plant, it be
ing fitted out with the most modern machine
ry, while the product bears comparison will
the best goods in the market
twenty-five years ago S. M. Eaton and j
p. Green formed partnership for the manu-
facture Of mineral waters. They named il
| Badger State Bottling works. Three years
| latter Mr.. Eaton succeeded to it alone, anC
| subsequently took in partner, his son Frank
The business has gradually grown until i
| now is of considerable Importance among
similar concerns in the country. The pro
duct is quite large, and of superior quality
1t comprises mineral water-the natura
water for which WatertOwn is famOus-ginge
ale, lemon and cream soda, birch beer, Orang
and pear cider, weiss beer, and all kinds o
carbOnated beverages The compan,
| competes with the best goods il
the line, and the wares are in ex
cellent demand. They are shipped all owe
the country. A branch of the business is th
wholesale and retail dealing in ice. Th
Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul refrigerato
cars are supplied by them.
The Ph. Heinrichs Company, manufacturer
of mill and furniture work, extension am
| parlOr tables, stands, etc, is one of the oldes
concerns in the city. Originally started by p
May, it has passed through several owner
ships. It is now twenty seven years old
; and with the yards covers about two acres
The machinery is of the most imOrOVei