Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-11-27
I =. ~ i. ~ u. ~ y. ~ ~ u. y. ~.
: A PLEASANT TRIP S0UTEWARD !
= Over the New Northwestern Line
The Various Places Between this e
I City and Milwaukee. !.
~ % * ~ - ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~

"a
10 % * ~ % w~ ~ ~ ~ ~ wS
Accompanied by Mrs. Fontaine, we
made our first "trip TO milwaukee, over
the new line Of the Chicago & North
western Il. Il. by the way Of Fond
du Lac. We embarked upon the ten
O'Clock train Monday morning, Nov
em6er II. This train wa> in charge
Roberts, Engineer: Gcofac Grimes,
Fireman: Earl Lyle, Brakeman; and
Fl. e. Tanning, Baggageman. We
schedule time. The train consisted
OF engine. baggage aud mail car,
Smoker, and passenger coach, all In
first class condition AID in good order.
In leaving the city Of Grand Rapids,
We were Specially impressed with the
beautiful view Of The city that is
given when CROSSING the long iron
bridge which spans the Wisconsin
river DIT this point. The first station
that We stopped at south of Grand
Rapids was Bancroft, potato station,
from which point, we understand, the
company hauls many potatoes from
this station during the potato season.
Not until this trip have we fully
appreciated the great extent of the
Buena Vista, marsh extending almost
the entire distance from kellner to
Bancroft, d distance Of eight miles. 1t
lmprcSSes the traveller something
| similar to the extensive prarieS OF the
Dakota S. Just south Ut Bancroft, on
| the right, our attention was called to
| Mosquito Bluff which appears to rise
abruptly on the south side OF the
Buena Vista marsh and 1t has a rocky
surface foundation, which indicates
the divide between the level country
| IN Portage county, and the rolling
| prairie OF WauShara county. Almond,
another shipping point for potatoes
| In POI tase county, is pretty little
! village or few hundred Inhabitants
and impressed us as prosperous and
growing This is the place where the
bank robbery occurred few weeks
ago, the particulars Of which were
published in the REPORTER.
Wild Rose is the first station
| reached in WauShara county and
| neStleS in beautiful little valley,
which, We imagine must be very
picturesque in the summer time. The
homes and business places were freshly
| painted, and gave us an impression
| that the people were progressive,
prosperous and enjoyed the beautiful.
| WautOma, the next station, is a
| village OF about 1000 people, situated
| in valley, and is the county seat of
| Waushara county. Here the North
| western company have fine depot,
grounds, side-trackS and excellent
facilities for shipping. Wautoma,
has the ''ear marks" Of an old settled
community, and the we'll kept build
ngS, grounds and large commOdious
| barns Indicate That her people are
well-tO-do, and are making the most
Of this life. We recalled the fact that
| our old friend, James T. Ellarson
| editor and publisher OF the Waushara
Argus resided here and guided the
good people OF the community in
| religion and politics. We were disap-
pointed in not seeing his cOuntenanCe
at the station as we passed through.
South Of WautOma the first station
we reached was Neshkora, a small
shipping station; we judged that it is
a potato center, and supported by a
farming community, Princeton, the
next station is the point from which
| the Northwestern railroad was
extended up into Wood county and is
4 place OF about 1900 people, nicely
situated in a beautiful valley sur
rounded by bluffs. We Judge from
| appearances that this must be very
| pleasant place in which to live, and
associated with Princeton, We recalled
our pleasant acquaintance with J. L.
| Pennitield, who spent a great deal of
time In Grand Rapids, connected with
the early surveys and grading OF the
rOad-bed from Princeton to Grand
| Rapids. This point ended the new
construction Of the Northwestern line.
From Princeton to Fond du Lac we
passed through Green Lake, Ripon,
Rosendale and Eldorado, having
travelled ninety-six miles from Grand
Rapids to Fond du Lac. We reached
that city at l:25 .. m. and had fiftcen
minutes in which to partake of a lunch
at the lunch counter. From this
point TO Milwaukee, distance OF
sixty-three miles, we travelled over
the main line Of the Northwestern
which runs between Milwaukee and
Appleton. Here we took the chair
Car and reached Milwaukee at $3.50 p.
M, having made the entire distance
of 153 miles from Grand Rapids to
Milwaukee in five hours and a half.
On our return, we departed from
| Milwaukee at 5 p. m. and reached
home the same evening at 10 o'clock.
We consider this one Of the most
rapid and pleasant ways TO reach the
| Cream City. The scenery the entire
distance is restful, changeable and
interesting. Those of our readers
who have not taken this trip will do
well to do SO. They will find the en-
ployees accommodating, Iainstakinti
and courteous.