Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-06-03
brought on from severe bruise of that

brought on from a severe bruise of that
member.
Two of Nekoosa's business men anx-
ious to play a practical joke on some
city fellows who were fishing down here
this week, secreted all their fish. At
night they thought they would repair
to the place and get the fish, and be-
hold, someone else had taken them.
Their surprise was unbounded.
Aleck White of Centralia who has re-
Gently moved to Nekoosa has pur-
chased a lot from the company and will
build a house upon it Immediately.
John Buchanan has in course of con-
struction a new residence upon his lot
recently purchased from the company.
Rev. A. l.. McClelland, and Rev. F.
S. Wheeler of Grand Rapids, left We'd
nesday for Friendship to attend the
LemOnweir convention.
Mr.. Forbes, editor of the Westfeld
Union, who recently visited here, had
the following to say about Nekoosa {:
"NekOOsa is a town especially interest
ing to the people of this and Adams
counties, thew having contributed largely
to its population. It is fully fifty india
rubber miles from Westfield, as anyone
will be convinced who drives over the
devious way" on roads that for sand
and croOkedness will vie with any. 1t
| is situated on the west side of the Wis
consln river, i'll the midst of as desolate
a reglon-with the exception of par
| tial oasis here and there-as ever laid
out of doors. Yet it is a prosperous
| burg of some 600 inhabitants. Ofcourse
everything is accessory to and supported
| by the big paper mill which furnishes
| constant employment to over 200 men
and few girls. Wages range from 81. %
to $500 per day, paid promptly every
month, hence there is no complaint of
| scarcity of money, which is the common
| thing in rural towns that are dependent
| upon the produce trade ofthe surround
ing country. The village was plated
IN swamp, half covered with water,
but by clearing and draining it has be-
| come dry. The village is incorporated
ana the streets are being graded and
| lots filled SO that in time it will be made
a pleasant and attractive village site.
| One bad feature is the want of good wa
| ter, there being, as we were told, only
| two wells in the incorporation deemed
| fit to supply water for drinking and
4 culinary use. To attempt description
| OF the great paper mill would take more
1 time and space and more information
! than the writer was able to CLEAN in one
! brief visit. 1t is said to be one of the
largest plants in the country, but we
only guess when we say that not less
than million dollars has been expended
on the plant. Anyone unacquainted
with such manufacturing establishments
could not fail to be astOniShed at the i'm
mensltv and complication of machinery
that enters into a great paper mill. Run
by the same power, but independent of
the rest, is what is called Sulphite
mill, OF which there are but few in the
country, which turns out a peculiar
kind of pulp essential as mixture III
producing the finer quality of paper
The main building is some 80 fl. square
and five stories high, and lighted by
electricity presents beautiful appear
ance at night, but one who attempts to
explore its internal mysteries needs be
armed with a Dantean insurance policy.
The Sulphite is cooked in broad pans in
the basement, a very pit of Tartarus,
and as one ascends the sulphurous
fumes increase inintensity. We reached
the third story but were compelled to
retire. Yet the workmen become so
accustomed to the hadean surroundings
they scarcely notice it, which reminds
us that possibly the fires of the old or
thodoX pit might become endurable af-
| ter sufficient period of probation