Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-12-28
THE ADVANCEMENT H0e'N
TIVE PROPER METHOD
Milwaukee Journal

The business men Of the Wisconsin
river valley have gone about the work
,of attracting immigration and capital
in the proper way. They will do their
<own business, not ask the state to 90 1t
for them. Men who do that deserve to
succeed. 1t is far better than asking
for an appropriation from the public
treasury to be used for their benefit.
The future of the northern part OF
the state will be bright one II the
right kind of work is done. There are
large tracts of unoccupied land that
can be made very productive. The
znercnantable timber having been taken
off, the purpose OF the lumberman has
,heen served and the lands are band
rOned, ultimately to become the proper
ny of the county for unpaid taxes,
Then they disappear from the taxroll
and are no longer a source of revenue
- the county, but dead property. A
settler upon each tract OF such land
would be worthto the county ten times
Ahe value Of the land, and it would be
economy OF the right sort to give such
settlers homestead rights to such land.
There is enough waterpower along
she Wisconsit river to turn all the mill
wheels in the country. The sawmill
has had it's day in great measure. and
can make room for other industries.
There is room enough for hundreds Of
mills without crowtiing any of the pres
.ent establishments. For half cent
sury the sawmill has been almost abso-
lutte monarch of the river. The pi0n-
Ger lumbermen obtained possession Of
she water powers, and as general
ahing refused to divide with later COM
sers except at exorbitant rates. The
consequence has been that capital was
Kept away. whea the proper policy was
40 attract it by cheap, or even free,
grants of power. Meanwhile the vast
stores of water have been running to
waste
,aAs in the case Of settlers on the va
cant lands it is certainly .the proper
policy to attract capital In the shape Of
manufacturing establishments. Such
An establishments. Such an establish
zaent brings people to help operate it.:
At is assessed and begins to pay taxes;
1t needs homes for its employees and
subsistence for them. Thus the water
powers and the vacant lands can be de-
Heloped together. The new farmer can
cell the produce Of his farm to the new
population. This fact appears to have
aided in the determination of the bust
mess men of the valley in reaching
their decision. Thu Journal con gratu-
eonclusion and on their determination
20 go about the business of developing
Iheir section in the proper manner.
Alta meeting OF the directors of the
Wisconsin River Valley Advancement
Association.
Committees will be appointed on rail-
ways. highways, manufacturing, COM
gmerce, industries, telegraphic and tele-
phone service between the cities OF the
valley, mineral.and building stones
timber resources, water powers and ag-
riculture, men being selected with
view of especial fitness for the work in
hand. w. 81. Bradley stated.that while
nearly $4,000, 900 more are being ex-
pended to obtain 10000 horse power
3rom the water at the 500, nearly twice
the amount could be obtained on the
Wisconsin river BY expanding $500. 900.
The plan for an electric railroad the
power to be generated by water from