Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-09-26
Down at the County Seat.

County seat the past week and was
much pleased with what he saw. We
repubiish his impressions as follows:
1t has been long time up to last
Saturday since we visited the county
seat. On that day combining business
with pleasure we sought the Port
| Edwards depot and placing our back
against Marshield and our face to the
rising sun We headed for the twins
whose skirts are washed and divided by
the majestic Wisconsin river. In the
absence of Pat Lyons, Pat Hayden
handles the lever on the engine that
pulls the passenger train and he does it
with a skill worthy his noble profession.
John Anderson kindly relieves and
punches the tickets of passengers while
general manager Hopkins is ever
present hustling for business. This is
the safest road in America to ride on
and the traveller can rest assured that
there will be no collision from ahead or
behind as but one train twice day
each way completes the service. They
do not have buffet or chair cars but
pride themselves on having as good a
road bed and as good steel rails as made.
| The amount of business they do i'll Il
year is considerable and increasing
yearly in every department.. 1t is
giving satisfactory returns to its pro-
Electors and may some day become a
part of a great railroad. Its present
officials are hustlers and by their gentle
manly way of doing business this little
thirty mile orphan is becoming more
popular in railroad as well as in ship
ping circles each year.
| Arriving at the twins we walked over
| tho fret 70 COO tbo cooonH inn
the big bridge that spans the river that
| divides them, we soon found ourself
reading the sign on the Reporter office
and as all newspaper signs have an
irresistible pull with us, it was the first
building to enter. Editor Fontalne was
found busily engaged in thrcshing over
exchanges. Thinking no doubt that it
was some delinquent subscriber that
had come in to square himself on the
books, he fell over chair to greet us;
but imagine the far off look on his face
when he gazed on the proof. A SYM
pathetic explanation followed on our
part and he very soon appeared in a
double column smile. The new home
of the Reporter is an elegant one and
is kept up with a taste and nicely that
reflects credit upon the workmen and
entire management. 1t is equipped
with the latest faces in type and styles
! of presses and the work turned out is
up with the times. After an hour of
entertaining visit, we sought the court
house where lives and breathes the
first set of Republican officers that has
graced that building for years. Our
first meeting on entering the west wing,
was with county clerk Ksycki. We then
paid our respects to the rest of the
county officers who were all found at
their respective posts of duty. There
is very difference with them now and
when they first raised their right hand
last January and swore to be faithful
and efficient workers for the people of
this county. Everything was new to
administration. Their tasks under the
is no longer that way. Many criticisms
of their efficiency were advanced but
| they have proved worthy of the conf
dence reposcG in them. No set of
officers have given better or more
satisfaction. Every book and record is
up to date and they have way and
| manner of serving the public that
makes it pleasant to do business with
them. The affairs of the county are in
good hands. County treasurer Berg
goes about his work in a jolly mood
while just across the hall from him can
be found Nash Mitchell with knitted
brow, deciphering tangled descriptions
on deeds and mortgages. He is very
attentive to work and a MuldoOn in
every sense Of the word. Possibly the
busiest official of any up to the present
time, has been Philip Ksycki. The TAX
ing of the census and much new work
has kept him so busy that he has
Icn0 nIIrh hod fn fn hIc
meals. But the rush is over now and
he occasionally finds time 10 take sun
bath and visit with friend. Philip has
proven himself an apt scholar and
takes to the duties of Ills office like a
duck to water Sheriff Lindahl has
three prisoners boarding with him now
and divides his time looking after them,
serving papers and attending generally
to the wants of the wicked. He also
keeps an eye on the new jail and
sheriff's residence which is fast nearing
completion. 1t will be ready for
occupancy some time in October, when
John is expected to give a house warm
ing. Clerk of court, w. J. Shea, is on
the sick list, suffering from an ailment
of the throat. He was not in office, but
was ably represented by Mr.. Wheelan.
From present appearances the affairs of
eLiS OOuIi'y M0IO NJ OA CO''Ci 'OohON
after and will stand any amount of
| criticism from any source.
| The hands on the town clock pointed
to half-past two when we left the county
government building for drive over
the city. This was in acceptance of a
proposition made by Editor Fontaine,
and for nearly two hours we enjoyed a
delightful ride. The two cities cover a
large acreage, but in every quarter
visited, signs of prosperity and advance
ment were visible. Many new resi-
dences have been added there this
summer and there are scenes of general
thrift on every hand. We believe the
two places are just waking up to the
birthhood of their importance and that
bright prospects are in future store.
They have at their door natures grand
est achievement, the immense water
powers of the Wisconsin river. BIron
to the north three miles and Nekoosa to
the south eight miles have utilized the
power that the people of the twin cities
have allowed these many years to lay
idle. By the use of huge dams, these
waters are controlled and made to turn
| thousands of wheels and sing the song
of prosperity The difficulty at Grand
Rapids is that the daming has been too
much among capital and not enough on
the river. But the disagreement we
understand is about on the verge Of
settlement and when that time comes
the day should be celebrated in history
by their people The residence portion
OF Grand Rapids is very beautifully
situated on an elevated plain some 100