The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-03-28
Washburn, Wis, Mar. %, 1900,
CONCERNING NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

NORTHERN Wisconsin is just now
ridin on the top wave of prosperity.
AS in all sections Of the universe
there comes time when people turn
their attention to the possible re
sources of a new country. lnvesti-
CATION follows and if the result
justifies it, investment of capital
follows. Capital and the search
for it brings the muscle, and muscle
deyelopes what there is to be
brought out of the raw and new re-
gions. This little bit of new
philosophy which we have coined we
trust will answer as a satisfactory
prelude.
When we say that northern Wis
consin is riding on the top wave OF
prosperity We do not in any way
need to qualify the statement. In
this immediate region the numbering
industry is having boom; white
and norway pine lumber is bringing
prices little dreamed two of three
years ago. Stumpage has in some
cases reached the almost fabulous
sum of $40 a thousand. Hemlock
and hardwood-considered worth
less not so long ago, is much sought
after, and is worth from $1.50 up to
$500 a thousand on the stump.
Lumber that sold for 800 thous-
and two years ago is Low worth $l4.
In fact prices ON the manufactured
article have more than doubled.
Timber land has even gone beyond
that. In some cases recent deals
show that the land is wor til four and
live times what it formerly brought.
Tracts that were valueless a short
time ago have suddenly came into
market, and are much sought after.
LAUNDERING being the main industry
and being unusually prosperous,
every thing else is moving along in
proportionately good manner.
Tens of thousands of people are
either directly employed or are de-
pendent upon the numbering in
dustry, and for the time all is well.
But pine trees are not growing as
fast as they are being cut, and the
lumber supply is already exhausted
in some sections, and is on the de-
cline 10 all other places. Certain it is
that in a few years northern Wiscon-
sin will cease to be numbering
region, and then what? A change
in modes and methods must follow
From country that is on the boom
as a numbering region what are
we going to settle down to? Will it
be to manufacturing or agricultural
pursuits-or both?
Locally we are natural manu-
featuring and shipping center, and
Bayfield, county can undoubtedly
rely considerable on this, but it will
be insufficient to take the place of
the industry that is vanishing We
are therefore confronted with the
same problem that stares at all
northern Wisconsin-that of de-
ycloping our agricultural resources.
Doubling Thomases" who have
been of the opinion that northern
Wisconsin is of doubtful value, con-
sidered from an agricultural stand
point, have been obliged TO retire
as gracefully as possible, as they have
been becoming numerically smaller
and smaller in proportion so the
aggregate whole, who know from
what they have seen that this soil
needs only to be cultivated to make
it garden spot. Of course IL takes
work to make farm in these regions;
but it is no more difficult task than
southern Wisconsin and northern
Illinois farmers had SO 90 through
with. We have land-oceans of it,
that can be procured at the smallest
possible figures on the best and
easiest of terms. Farming has not
vet become an extensive Industry,
but it is very profitable to those
who have engaged in it. We want
settlers and must have them. The
finest grasses grow here; as for
stock country it is the best, as pas
turaga is Unlimited. Hay sells at
from So to So a ton more than in
most farming communities, butter
and eggs bring fifty per cent adj
vance from what they average at
other points; vegetables are also at