Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-08-23
FROM DEIlS TO RAPIDS.
One Of the Late Editor Visitors Writes
EnteFiainingy OF the Trip.

J \
more than one hundred feet. Some Of
US had a faint suspicion that the re-
pOrterS of those days were not SO de-
voted to truth as they have grown
since, and possibly the old chief was
running for office and let the papers
which were published in the interests
of his party deviate a little from abso-
lutte facts. The old Dells house
which burned last year, had some dark
tales of murder and blOodshed. This
house was one of the first buildings in
that part of the state, and in early
days the lumbermen were won't to put
up while waiting for high water to
run their RATS through the DellS.
Bad whiskey, knives and pistols figure
in many tale of bloody encounters
on the grounds around the old tavern.
Many brave ''river rat" has met
doom there, and many hard earned
winters wages has been expended for
'blue ruin" or stolen while the victim
slept.
The DellS company had rendered
the use Of their boats to the press
association for d moonlight ride up
the river. but the moonlight schedule
was not in working order the first few
nights Of our trip, being disturbed by
the thunder showers. Most Of our
readers have seen the Dells and we
will not attempt a description. We
would however advise those who have
not been to go on the first excursion.
Monday morning our party boarded
their special train and started for
Grand Rapids. This train of five
coaches and baggage car was to &C
company us for the entire trip. This
arrangement was highly appreciated
as we were able to keep all our
belongings with us yet not obliged to
carry them when we left the car.
Our special train stopped for an
| hour at NekOOsa to give us an OppOr-
tunity to see the large pulp and paper
plant located there. This is said to
be one of the largest mills of its kind
in the world. The company pays out
| for wood and labor about $4,000 a
week. They have a water power
which is almost unlimited and their
turbines developed several hundred
| horse power from the waters Of the
| Wisconsin,, but this is only a frac-
tiOnal part of the power going to
waste. 1t will be readily seen that
the paper mills are great help to the
country, as a large share of the farms
| in the central part Of the state have
| spruce timber growing on them, and
the settlers can make good money in
winter getting out the spruce and
drawing it to the mills. The wood is
cut into sticks two feet long. These
are peeled and then the wood cut into
small chips which are ground and
made into pulp. The pulp is taken
out of a tank and run over rollers
until dry, ready for printing. Most
of the pulp paper made is used for
print paper and is about the grade
used for the Gazette. The NekooSa
mill, stock, water privilege and bust
ness is valued at 81 900, 600
About the time the editors began
to think of dinner on our first day
out, we reached the city of Grand
Rapids, the thriving county seat Of
Wood county. The west side of the
city was formerly called Centralia,
but now the whole has merged into
one city of 5000 people and lines both
sides of the river at the place where
the fall in the river is most abrupt.
The descent which causes the rapids
is about 81 feet and is claimed to be
good for 1000 horsepower. Grand
Rapids is manufacturing town aud
produces large quantities of paper
furniture, pine and hardwood lumber
and products. 1t is in the cranberry
region and the berries and potatoes
are among the principal exports.
Before reaching the place we were
told that on our arrival we were to be
in the hands of our friends, the Wis
cOnSin Valley association. OF course
the association turned us over for the
day to the Grand Rapids people. We
saw at once that being entertained in
one of the valley cities meant being
royalty received. In spite of the rain
we were escorted to the reception
rooms by brass band and large
company Of citizens. The dinner
which was to have been served on an
island in the rapids, had to be served
where there was a roof between US
and the clouds above, which were still
doing duty at the old stand. When
the ladies OF Grand Rapids BEGAN to
bring in the edibleS we were fOrCibly
reminded that we were in a land of
plenty. Just how many chickens and
quarters of beef disappeared on that
memorable occasion will probably
never be known.
In the afternoon some Of the party
kept dry, others visited the factories
and the remainder watched a good
ball game.
In the evening the editorial party
were introduced to their respective
hosts and taken to supper. Our as
| Signment was at the Witter House,
the largest hotel Of the place. We
were aSSigneda room from the window
of which we had view of the entire
rapids, a scene which we will not soon
| forget. The evening was spent in
| dancing by those fortunate to be able
to engage in that amusement. Those
| of us with uneduCated feet attended
| the reception and then watched the
| others until we realized how tired we
were, and then to our lodgings. Thus
closed the first day of our journey as
guests of the Wisconsin Valley as
ISOLATION, and the O-be-remem-
| bered day when we were guests Of the
citizens of Grand Rapids.
After an early breakfast we took the
| train for Junction City and then on
Wisconsin Central to Waupaca to visit
| the famous Chain O'Lakes and the
| Wisconsin Veterans Home.
|
$500 Reward.
We will pay the above reward fOI
any case Of liver complaint, dyspepsia
sick headache, Indigestion, COnStipa-
! ton or cOStiVeneSS we cannot cure with
| Liverita, the Up-tO-Date Little Liver
-, !,