Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-02-25


A tour of inspection through the An
heuser-Busch breweries was of interest.
The buildings of this mammoth con-
Germ cover 81 acres of ground. They
make l., 900 barrels of beer daily and
employ 300 men. We were shown
what is claimed to be the largest artifi-
cial ice machine in the world with
which the Busch people make 500 tons
of ice daily.
In South St. Louis marks of the ter
rible cyclone are still in evidence on
every corner. Whole squares remain a
desolate waste, and a few bricks scat
tered around are the only monuments
left to tell of the large structures once
standing there, blown away as if made
of paper. Scarcely building remains
that is not patched, and the pranks of
the wind can be followed by these
patches, lines of new brick or stone on
the old showing the extent of damage.
A true conception Of the forces in that
fated cyclone cannot be obtained even
after its pathway of destruction has
been visited.
Saturday night, Feb. Is, at o'clock,
a special train of ten Pullman buffet
sleepers, baggage car and two engines
pulled out of St. Louis over the Frisco
Ry., having aboard $50 souls, newspaper
people every one. Car Falkland" was
mo6o tho IoD,o of 1V;CooDOiD;C Jaloro
ton, in with Mississippi and South Da
kota, and a happy set they proved to
be. 1t is not an unusual thing for the
writer to awaken in one city every
morning and 60 to his work in another,
but it has been long time since we
have taken breakfast at Monett, Mis-
souri,, dinner at Fort Smith, Arkansas,
and supper in Paris, Texas, as was the
case Sunday last. All day Monday the
iron horse sped on and AZ hours con-
tinuous ride brought the train into Gal
weston. Comment upon the country
passed through must come later, if at
all, other than to speak Of the broad
stretches Of rich soil, large cotton plan
tations and numerous nursery groves.
Farmers were blowing in their fields,
winter wheat cropping out green and
fresh, and niggers were basking in the
sunlight around their rude cabins.
Cactus, that any northern housewife
would be happy to cultivate as house
plant, grew in spots along the railway
line in Texas as thick as summer weeds
in our Centralia garden. Tropical
foliage begins and every turn is an eye
opener to the north born boy.
GALVESTON.
Galveston is a peculiarly attractive
city by the sea. Situated on Galveston
island, (which is 40 miles long and - to
4 miles wide, it claims a population of
$500. Bounded north and west by
Galveston Bay, east and south by the
Gulf of Mexico, it is the principal sea-
port of Texas and fifth largest export
ing city in the United States. All rail
roads enter over trestle works crossing
the bay, two miles long. Galveston has
many modern buildings and numerous
old colonial structures; it follows up-to-
date customs in some things and sticks
by proverbial manners in others. 1t is
this striking contrast of the old with the
new, chasing each other up and down
on every thoroughfare, that has made
our four days stop here so interesting.
The place is worthy of extended notice
and will receive such.
The Texas press and Galveston board
of trade have given royal welcome to
the editors, as the following clipping
from the Daily News would indicate:
WELCOME TO THE EDITORS.
This week Galveston tenders the Ma
tional Editorial association the freedom
of the city. Where there is grass in
public places the editors will be allowed
to walk on it. They will be permitted
to play i'll our front yards and halloo
down our rain barrels. What they want
is theirs without the formality of asking
for it. We have no latch strings hang
ing on the outside which the stranger
must pull, for the doors are already
open. These editors are the greatest
people on earth. They are nation.
state and city builders; the most aggres-
sive, self-reliant set of men and women
the country produces. Any community
would be glad to welcome them, and
Galveston is doubly glad. We have
something to show them; something for
them to 60 home and talk about. So
the editors will readily see that Calves
ton has reason for wanting them to
swing on our front gates, bathe in our
surf and play tag with us in our princi-
pal streets. Welcome, thrice welcome,
We editors.
Readers may not be as interested as
we are in the program prepared for our
entertainment in Galveston, but here it
is:
Tuesday Forenoon-Promenade along
Gulf beach and surf bathing.
Tuesday, p. m--Business session.
Tuesday, p. m.-Nisit to wharf.
Tuesday, p. m.-Business session.
Wednesday, a. m.-Business ses-
sion.
Wednesday, p. m.-Take cars to
Woollam's lake. Oyster roast.
Wednesday. s p. m.-Reception at
Gartein Verein. This garden is the
property of private club made up of
the best people of Galveston and is
rarely thrown open to large body Of
strangers. Itis an open air summer
club and the gardens are rich in tropical
plants. Its beautiful place