The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-04-13
MEMORIES OR SAWYER
People Stranded in Washington
Found Him Responsive.
CHEAP LANDS AND SHEEP.RAISING.


$4,000 Year-SoIne Interesting Fig
.ures Concerning the Great State of Wis
consin-On1y Three States Produce More
Butter Than the Badger State.
Madison, Wis, April 1O.-Nith the
death of Philetus Sawyer comes
memories to the public men who fig
.ured with him. He was a very gener
Gus man in the sense of contributing
right and left to all good things
brought to his notice. 1t is said he
had a special generosity fund of 1000
a month. which was always over
drawn.
Henry Casson used to tell how the
old man in his Washington library
showed him bunch Of Il o U.s."
package a number of inches thick.
They were the ''prOmises to pay" Of
scores Of Wisconsin men, stranded,
perhaps, at the national capital for
some reason in hard luck. Most of
them are waste paper" said the old
man to Mr.. Casson. Il knew that when
[ took them. But they needed it more
than |; they are welcome"
The LaFoHette Issue.
OF course everyone is asking what
the effect of the death of Mr.. Sawyer
will have on the possible candidacy
of Mr.. LaIFclIette. The first thought
was that it would tend to keep him
III retirement yet longer, on the the
DRY that some of the young mans
critics would cry Dead Lion" to him.
But in view Of Mr.. LaFOllette's will
ingness to fight at any time during
Mr.. SaWyGr'S life it occurs to many
that the ancient political feud between
the two will be allowed to sleep in
the grave with the veteran statesman,
to whose public service, no doubt, Mr..
LaFOllette would pay tribute if he
were called upon, and if it were need
ed. History may never know the
truth as to the interview that Sepa-
rated these two men. | have diligent-
ly sought to learn what fair-minded
and well-infOrmed men think of the
charge that Mr.. Sawyer sought to in
iect money as a lever into cOntrO-
VerSy. Now and then there is one who
intimateS, what is true that many
magnates of the early school in the pi-
Oneer country uncOnsciOusly came to
believe that money talks" on all sorts
of occasions, and that they were bru-
tally frank about it, but in this in
stance the alleged tender was so absO-
lutely small that most men believe the
controversy was misunderstanding
purely. The old man was halting and
haZy in speech. The young man was
sensitive and high-strung. For some
time previously he had resisted the
strong, masterful control of the vet
eran. The outcome was a sorry cpl
sOde-eSpecially sorry for the old man,
because not one that he alone could
clear up. The episode reflected favor
ably on the integrity of the young
man, but it's publicity less so on his
Judgment for it left the issue one Of
conflicting testimony and never a wit
ness i'll all time can contribute an iOta
TO sustaining the Old mans contention
But time, even unaided, rights things,
and the memory of the plain, bluff,
unaffected Philetus Sawyer, who did
so much good with his money and who
achieved so many things for his state
and Wisconsin people, will linger in
the traditions of the state a century
after its history is clear-cut in the pub
lie mind.
Money in Raising Sheep.
There is q fascination in Sheep-rais-
ing even for those Of us whose only
stone wall prospect is four-stories
high. A Minnesota paper tells of a
man in Luverne, that state, simple
story, but suggestive. Six years ago
he purchased a tract of stony land and
he invested $14 in sheep. From that
day to this he has kept an account of
his sheep business.
He charged his $14 flock with all
expenses and after selling his wool last
spring the credit side showed a profit
Oh his S14 Investment of s., 400 for the
six years. In addition to the flock on
his own place, he has several small
tlOcks. At that time sheep were cheap
and for the best ewes he bought he
paid only 81 per head. Today the price
Of sheep ranges from 81 to So per
head
The farmer says that he would not
take $500 for 100 Of his ewes, and add
ed that if farmer in this country will
invest $40 in sheep this year and keep
and care for them for ten years and
give the profits Of the flock to him
he would buy the best Quarter-section
farm in Rock county and make him Il
present of it.
100000 Acres Wisconsin Land.
There are some interesting facts as
to this state of Wisconsin in which
we live in the literature put out by
the state immigration board, the rail
roads and other land companies. 1t ap-
pears that the state has over 81, 900, 900
acres of land surface and over 1000
600 acres of lakes. 1t has 10000, 900
acres in farms of the most productive
character; it has $500 miles Of rail
roads. There are 106 Incorporated cit
les with population ranging from 5000
to 10000 each, in Wisconsin
Its agricultural products axe worth
over $500, 000,0 900 and it's manufactured
products nearly $300,0O0,O0O q year
It's iron, copper and lead mines are
enormous and a source Of constantly
increasing wealth.
Only three states produce more but
ter each in a year and but one more
cheese. It's dairy products alone are
worth over $50, 100000 a year, and Its
dairy industry has been developed IN
the last twenty years. Prior to thai
time it was grain growing state. i
has now 951 creamerieS and 1,57(
cheese factories.