Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-12-15
THIS SECTION
OFFERS RICHES
Milwaukee Journal Advises the
Young Men to 60
North.
WOOD COUNTY ONE OF
PLACES FOR SUCCESS
Is in Line With c. C. Fackard's 5
Advice Given in Wood
County Reporter.

the REPORTER interviewed G.. G..
Packard, who had just returned from
Oregon, on the chances OF young
men succeeding in the west. The
interview was published. It will be
remembered that Mr.. Packard's adj
vice was in substance, that young
men should not 60 west but to remain
in Wood county or northern WiScon-
sin. Since then a number of young
men have cOnversed with Mr.. Packard
on the subject. The question gener-
ally asked was. "Mr Packard. how is
it that you advise against going west
when SO many hold the contrary view"
Il speak from experience: Others
generally speak from imagination, I,
is Mr.. Packard's answer. The Mil
wlukee Journal bears out MIR. Pac-
kard' S view when it says: o
Accounts from Grand Rapids in
the La Crosse Chronicle represent
that Wyoming sheep were brought
to Wood county, pastured for time
on cut-over lands and sold at a profit
of 50 head. The Chronicle remarks
that this profit is exceptional but
that good and steady profits are
certainty from such pasturage.
"The Superior Telegram comments
that the north country is to become
an empire of wealth; that the emf
grafton to Canada northwest is not
warranted while the rich fields at
home are not availed Of. It urges
the papers, especially OF the north. to
state the facts and impress steadily
the great cut-over lands, instead OF
devoting so much space to insincere
politics. ,t.
"All this is very true and The Jour-
nal has fully appreciated all this for
years and has done its little part.
ssThe writer and prominent lawyer
OF Appleton, some twelve years ago,
spent some time after trout about
Kirton. North of that station they
came on cut and burned over. tract
OF 1000 acres or more, covered with
rich clover and grasses, free of brush,
hay marsh adjacent and well watered.
Its availability for pasturing sheep
and cattle was discussed and the facts
now revealed were all foreseen.
''There is no doubt whatever that
those cut-over lands are rich fields for
stock raising and after that for ,agri-
cultural purposes proper. They will
produce abundantly all sorts of grain
and fruit suitable to the climate.
Acres and acres of luscious bIueberries
wasted for lack of pickers. The few
apple trees at the station were loaded
Strawberries and the other berries
burdened the earth where but little
cared for. Waterpowers abound.
''All that is lacking is little intel
ligent energy to be applied by settlers.
These are deferred by the preliminary
labor of clearing, and the exploded
traditions of the lumbermen who saw
on their back tracks nothing but a
desOlate waste. And it was a waste,
but in quite another sense.
Sheep, and perhaps preferably,
Angora goats, will clear the land.
Cattle, cheese and butter will follow,
and then the crops! The older por-
tions Of the state were easier cleared
and more beautiful than the cut-over
and desolate lands behind the lumber
men; but there is % more wealth in
them, for the labor and capital ex-
pended.
"Go north, ye young manv'