Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-22
THE MARRIAGE.
What Our Near Neighbors Think of ConsoIi-
dation of Grand Rapids and CentraIia.

What Our Near keighbors Think of ConsoIi.
dation of Grand Rapids and CentraIia.
Wausau CenUral:-At an election
held Tuesday the people of the twin
titles Of Grand Rapids and Centralia.
| by an overwhelming vote, decided tC
| ante the two municipalities. The
lew city. which has a population of
| lver 5000, will be known as Grand
itapids. The loyal citizens were Sc
joyful over the outcome of the election
that an impromptu celebration was
held, such as was never before seen
down there. Every whistle and bell
| in the two cities was blown and rung
as never before. Hundreds of dollars
worth of fireworks were set off and
he demonstration was carried on
ilmost to extreme. The new munich
Dality will doubtless soon take on a
'apid growth in wealth and popula-
ion, for its development has
| heretofore been retarded by the fierce
rivalry between the divided cities.
Marshfield TimeS:-The benefits
from consolidation are so manifest
/ hat it has long been a source Of
wonder that the move was not made
IC DIIlSl lDCllI vi CilC SdlI l1Olll COll-
Quoting one municipal government
instead Of two is sufficient to recon-
mend the combination, and the other
advantages in facilitating advance
ment and doing away with improbable
strife are by no means incOnSiderable.
The new city will closely approximate
Marshtield'S mark in population and
will be either a formidable rival or a
worthy friend as future DEVELOPMENTS
may determine. 1t would seem better
| for all concerned now that the
| peaceful alliance has been made
between the two river towns, that
Marshfeld kiss the bride and all
Darties work in peace and harmony
| for the advancement of Wood county
and central Wisconsin.
Yes, let Marshfield kiss the bride
and hereafter drop the desire of
divorcing Wood county.
Marshfeld News:-Grand Rapids
and Centralia on Tuesday voted for
consolidation. In Grand Rapids there
| were only very few votes against
| the proposition and in Centralia it was
carried by a majority of SiXty-two.
| The new town will be known as Grand
Rapids. This will mark new era of
progress and advancement for the
| twin cities.
Stevens Point Journal:-The vote
rn the question of the consolidation
of Grand Rapids and Centralia under
one municipal corporation was taken
On Tuesday, and was carried by a
large majority. In Grand Rapids. out
of a total of about 500 votes, there
were only eleven against consolidation.
| In Centralia the total vote was about
| $50 and the majority for the PROPOSE
ion sixty-eight. The announcement
of the result, which was made late
Tuesday afternoon, was received with
enthusiastic manifestations of ap-
prOval. Every whistle in the two
lcitieS was blown, every bell was rung
| and in the evening tsere was a liberal
display of fireworks.
The new municipality will be known
as Grand Rapids and will have a
population of about 5000. The
population of the two towns was about
the same, the census of 1895 showing
only so in favor of Grand Rapids. The
Journal extends congratulations and
| DeSt wishes for the success and
prosperity of the new city.
Stevens Point Gazette:-A vote on
consolidating the cities of Grand
| Rapids and Centralia was taken on
Tuesday, and was carried by good
majority in both towns. In Grand
Rapids, 800 votes were cast, all except
10 being IN favor of consolidation.
CentraIia cast 420 votes, giving a
majority of IS in favor of consolidation.
The name CentIalia will hereafter be
d thing of the past. and the new city
will henceforth be known as Grand
Rapids. The census of 1895 gave Cen
lralia a population of 2,039, and Grand
| Rapids 2.043 Both towns have grown
considerable since then. several manu-
| featuring industries having been added
and the combined population is
| probably now between 4,50O and 5000.
| 1t will be seen from the above vote
| that there was very little opposition
on he part of Grand Rapids against
consolidating, their business men and
citizens generally being in favor of the
change, but some of the hardest work
The Centralia side. B. r. GOggins,
D. D. and W. J. Conway and dozens OF
| other prominent CentraliaiteS took of
| UlltlI COdLS dllu NOl hCu IOl lIlc IoSull
which carried by SO large a majority
yesterday.
The victory was celebrated in a joy.
Gus manner on both sides of the river
last night, two bands parading the
streets until nearly the midnight
hour, while hundreds Of men and boys
manifested their enthusiasm by blow.
ing horns and whistles. Speeches
were made from street corners,
counters and tables, and bells were
rung from schools and churches.
G. E. LaVigne and Ray Sherwood led
he bands until members thereof
became foot sore from marching. Mr..
GOggins is prominently mentioned fol
mayor of the new city of Grand
Rapids, and he will undoubtedly be
elected without opposition, if he can
be induced to accept. The Gazette
sends congratulations to the citizens
of the new consolidated city.