The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-10-27

sonie modest, by no means high, posi-
tons. in Wisconsin.
The Minneapolis critic notes that
not long before he read on a hotel
register in the east Hon. -, former
state treasurer of Wisconsin" (that
wasn't the office, but it would be cruel
to identify the traveler). The critic
then adds:
wisconsin is made up of an intel
ligent and sensible people. You had
better try and give q few of your
Hons" pointer to leave their title at
home"
There are two explanations. The
hrSt is, the travellers sought to impress
somebody with their Importance for
vanlty's sake. which is, of course ride
ulous and reprehensible. The second
is, that they added their titles in or
der to secure better service from the
hotel officials. 1t is we'll known that
IN Great Britain every one loves
lord. The assassin on his way to put
some obnoxious cabinet officer to the
knife, takes his hat off when he hears
the band playing God Save the
Queen" But, however much tempta
ton there may be to pose as titled
gentry for the sake of personal COM
fort, we suspect the un-American thing
would be hooted mercilessly if the per-
petrators were exposed.
Captain fainter and Big Concern.
In 1896 the Knapp, Stout & Co.
company Curious nance celebrated
it's fiftieth anniversary on the lawn Of
Senator StOut'S home in MenOmOnie.
1t was then recalled that in the year
1916 Captain William Wilson and
John III. Knapp bought half inter-
est in little sawmill near the mouth
Of Wilson creek 1t was crude af-
fair, but from it dated the great cor
poration. Flags and bunting, a May
pole for children on the bank of the
rushing river, an Indian tepee, occu-
pied by a dozen Chippewas, were set
tings of the semi-centennial; and
there was a dinner on the lawn with
music by st. Paul orchestra. There
was a programme of q dozen tOasts.
The original partnership agreement be-
tween Knapp and Wilson was read,
and four men told How and why I
became a partner" The first account
book used was exhibited and a st.
Louis partner told How the lumber
has been sold" Aleck Moose, the In
dian head man, made speech and the
pipe of peace was smoked. There
was Indian and white man dancing in
the evening, and the german favors
were pike poles, peevies, cant hooks,
ETC., in dainty diminutive.
The recent death of Captain fainter
recalls this big concern. Wilson &
Knapp paid $4,000 for their half inter-
est in the mill in 1916, and Andrew
fainter paid $4,000 for a fourth in
terest in 1850. Three years later
Henry L. Stout father of Senator
Stout came in. In 1854 T. B. Wilson,
son of the original Wilson, was the
first of a line of relatives and con-
nections to join the business. By 1882
the capital stock was increased to
$4,OO0,0O0
In the early days Prairie du Chen
was the nearest market for supplies
and for sale of the output. Connection
was by river on a keel boat or by the
Indian trail.
The young firm spent all it's surplus
in pine lands, which the partners saw
would become valuable. In 1868 pur-
chase was made Of over 10000 acres
of Qater) Governor Washburne; and
in 1S79-SO Cornell university, railroad
companies and others parted with over
100000 acres to the concern. If the
latter purchase had been solid patch
it would have measured twenty-six
miles on each of four sides. Of late
years the concern has turned it's eyes
southwark In the five years before
the celebration over 100000 acres OF
pine lands were bought in Missouri
Arkansas and Mississippi. 1t has saw
mills at five points. The boasts of
Sc hot ifc ifxy hOC
not been confined to the partners. In
it's territory are hundreds of employees
who have paid for their homes and
own farms.
Moreover, this concern, unlike many
others, has worked it's timber in Wis
consin where the greater part comes
from and thus kept at home it's bene
fits. one of which was the payment of
$1,5OO,OOO taxes to the state in thirty
years.
Lead Industry Revived.
Dodgeville is to be congratulated on
a revival of the lead mining industry.
1t reports that the output is $4,000
week, seventy men being employed.
Years ago, when mining was the main
occupation of the citizens, only lead
ore was taken from the ground, and
when the leads turned into blackjack
or dry bone, the old mine was aban-
doned and a new field was looked for.
Now the principal mining is done for
blackjack. The old shafts which were
used by the early inhabitants are
cleaned up and work is started where
their labor ended. There are at pres
ent about fifteen mines in active opera
ton within a radius of three miles of
the court house. At present the aver
age mine is producing about $3.50
man per day. The shafts are all the
way from thirty-two to one hundred
feet in depth.
Wealthy Families of Milwaukee.
Compiling the number of million