Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-07-24
AT MERRILL.

The editors left Wausau in their
special train at 10 o'clock Thursday
morning, and the editor of this paper
accompanied them. Rain was falling
as the train pulled out of the city and
the heavens were overcast with heavy
clouds. The short run to Merrill was
quickly made, and the editors were met
at the depot by hundreds of citizens and
business men, who acted as the
reception committee. Mill and factory
whistles blew and the band discoursed
music as the coaches were being emp
tied, and cannon echoes awoke the
rain filled air. The guests were helped
into carriages-they had to be helped
after their sumptuous entertainment in
Wausau- and the drive through the
city was begun at about eleven o'clock
Industrial Merrill was first visited,
which is situated along the west bank
OF the Wisconsin riyer, where there are
more saw mills than in any other one
city in the Wisconsin River Valley.
Great lumber piles rose on all sides, and
the evidences of thrift and business
enterprise were a continual surprise to
the editors, VITO had not known before
that Merrill was such a beautiful valley
city. The conveyances fl9d along
southwark, passing out of west Merrill
through beautiful hardwood country,
where thrifty farmers live and where
everything betokens plenty. Homes
were nicely painted, and one place was
particularly noticeable because the
entire fence surrounding it was white
washed. The country drive covered
distance of about seven miles. Return
ing 20 the city by way of the road which
passes the Scott residence on the hill,
many interesting sights were seen.
The carriages moved down the western
hill, and east Merrill was entered over
the big iron bridge below the dam,
and then all were driven to the New
Lincoln, handsome hotel built by the
citizens of Merrill The entire building
was given over to the visitors, and the
general welcome was, "come and par
take of all before you, without money
and without price" The ladies were
shown to rooms which were at their
disposal throughout the day, and the
men chatted together in the lower
rooms, passing away the time delight
fully.
The dinner, veritable banquet, was
one of the best ever furnished in the
valley and consisted of many courses
1t began at about one O'Clock il the
afternoon, and was perfect in culinay
preparation and service. At its con-
clusion the guests gathered in the hotel
rotunda, where Mayor STANCE delivered
a speech of welcome and extolled the
advantages of Merrill 1t was happily
received by the editors, and the re-
Spouse was made in their behalf by
G. w. Bowron, of Oshkosh, who was
followed by ex-governor Geo. Peck,
who delivered humorous speech.
On account of the rainy condition of
the weather part OF the program could
not be carried out Many visited the
pablo library, containing $4,000 vol
umes, and other public buildings in the
afternoon, while others were shown
through the factories and mills, also
viewing the pretty residences. 1t was
shown that Merrill is fast becoming one
of the pincipsl cities in the valley.
A reception was given the visiting
ladies in the Lincoln hotel, and during
this time the young people improved
the time by dancing in Lincoln hall
close by, which pleasant pastime con-
tinued until O'Clock. At that hour a
lunch.was served in Odd Fellows hall,
following which the guests wels taken
to the depot IN street cars and carriages,
departing for Eomahawk at 6:45
O'Clock. Merrill enteltaiued in SPLEEN
did manner notwithstanding the adj
verse weather conditions, and she left
an impression for good upon her guests
which the rayages of time can never
erase.
NOTES
Shortly after arriving at the depot TO
embark for Tomahawk, tremendous
noise was heard in one of the cars.
Among the instruments, the tone Of an
Indian tom-tom, horn, bass and snare
drum could be easily distinguished,
and s crowd was indulging in Chip
pewa Indian war dance. Secretary
Roessler was heard to say, :" 1t must be
that crowd from Wausau; they hive .
good deal of life in them, and u must
be curbed q little" He strais;htwAy
marched along the platform and il 70