Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-09-13
GOOD WORDS, BUT BELATED.
C. F. Carr OF The New London Press on His
Visit to Grand Rapids and Nekoosa.
CIR ANNIOOR.

ChAN NOOK.
We left KilbOurn Monday forenoon
and arrived at Grand Rapids at noon
in the midst Of drilling rain. Our
train stood few minutes at the big
cranberry marshes at CranmOor, but
as the rain prevented the party as a
whole to leave the car. a basket of
vines covered with the green berries
was secured and passed through the
cars for our inspection. they being
quite novelty to many Of the party
who had never viewed a cranberry
vine.
Our next stop was at Nekoosa.
This place is situated on the west
bank of the Wisconsin river seven
miles from Grand Rapids. Here is
the last of the rapids of the Wiscon-
sin river, which have been harneSsed
by dam $50 feet long. 20 feet high
with 81 foot base. The population
is LOCO. The paper mill is a million
dollar plant and one of the largest
print paper mills in the country: has
IA pulp grinders, four paper machines
112 to l2S inches wide. two Sulphite
digesters Of 30 tons capacity and en-
plOys 300 hands. This town was
started in 1898. The output of print
paper is so tons per day and the
monthly payroll is $4,000. The mill
is being greatly enlarged by a new
addition 146X166 feet and a new 12S
machine being added. All the ma
chimes were runningat full blast. TO
inspect the different processes from
the rough wood to the finished paper
is interesting.
GRAND RAPIDS.
We arrived at Grand Rapids at
about noon. We were met at the
depot by the band and the reception
committee with carriages, whence we
were conveyed to the Masonic and
| FOreSters' halls where the ladies of
the Methodists and Congregational
churches had prepared an elegant din
ner. We were quartered at the
Masonic hall. Here some one Sug-
geSted that the Oldest editor and
youngest in the state stand side by
side which they did: being Sam Ryan
of the Appleton Crescent and Mol.ie
Bonner the ii year-Old editor of the
Wisconsin Leader at PlOver After
dinner Mr.. and Mrs. J. Cameron
claimed the editor and wife as their
guests while in the city, Mr.. Cameron
being one of the city'S prominent
merchants. He and his jolly wife are
superb entertainers and made our
visit in the city very interesting and
extremely pleasant.
Since the union of Centralia and
G rand Rapids the city has a popula-
tiOn of 5000. 1t is fast becoming a
manufacturing center. The river al
this point is capable Of a great water
power, in less than a mile it has a
fall Of 80 feet. The surrounding
country is being pretty we'll settled
up by farmers. The city is making
extensive street Improvements by
matchmaking. The citizens are
proud of their cooperative electric
lights and telephone systems. which
were thoroughly explained by the in
tercSted stockholders. The people
had an elaborate program prepared
but owning to the rain it could not be
carried out. La the evening a grand
ball was held. the hall being artiStical,
ly decorated. Among the decorations
was a monster quill pen composed OF
cOlOred incandeSCent electric lights
Each OF our party was presented with
handsome souvenir portfolio of finely
| executed plates Of scenery and views
about the city.