Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-02-24
INDUSTRIAL POSSIBILITIES.

throughout the valley in regard to the
deings and contemplated doings OF the
Wisconsin Valley Railway and Power
Co. AS yet nothing definite can be
given out for the reason that the pro-
moters don't know where they
are going to get off, to use slang
phrase, or in other words their plans
have not matured
We made mention last week of four
bills being introduced in the legislature
asking for dam building privileges for
parties on the Wisconsin river. One Of
these asks that dam may be built by
g. d. Jones and Neal Brown at what is
known as Trappe rapids above Granite
Heights. OF the other bills one gives
the right to Alexander Stewart and
Walter Alexander to construct dam
| between Grandfather and GRANDMOTHER
rapids; another gives the same right to
E w Brooks, j. ID. Ross and c j.
Winton to dam the river at Rothchilds
and the other gives like powers to c j.
WiDton to stop the flow of water at
hnowlton. In speaking of these MIR.
LJones informs us that Mr.. Brown and
himself have interests at Trappe rapids
and that ultimately, perhaps in the
course of very few years, they may
want to develop those interests and for
this reason ask for dam building privi-
leges. AS to the intentions of the other
gentlemen he would not vouch, but
stated that where such powers and
privileges were given to few men, that
there was greater probability of some
thing being done in the way of develop
ing the vast water powers of the Wis
consin river, that are now going TO
waste. There is more harmony in such
combination than if fifty men owned
the property surrounding such water
power, and if they have not the means
to carry out the work themselves, out
side capitalists will take hold of it with
more alacrity than if fifty men had in
terests in it-diversifed or common.
In carrying out the work of the Wis
consin Valley Railway and Power Co.,
if any work is done at all, it is hardly
probable that it will be on as an extern
sive scale as has been pictured by
some newspapers, for the men behind it
have not the funds to go so deeply into
the valleys development. 1t is recog
nized by every ybody that the opportuni-
ties of extensive commercial develop
ment in this section are great
and it is possible that before
long there will be activity along
these lines for if financial men of the
valley do not proceed with the work,
capital to obtain this object will flow in
from other sections 1t is matter that
every citizen should take an interestin.
With the harnessing of the Wisconsin
river will come industries that may
place the towns of the valley in the
class to which Lowell and Birmingham
belong With the coming of industries
our population will increase and with
an increased population every man who
possesses foot of land will have that
will bring TO us a class of artisans,
tradesmen and skilled laborers that
are desirable In fact all the advan-
tages that would accrue from such de-
velcpment cannot be related, for the
vision of individuals are short.
The Fox river valley at one time was
in the same state as is the Wisconsin
river valley today, but in the last few
years transformation has been worked
and now that section presents one of
the busiest scenes of any in the United
States Men of finance of other sec
tions saw in the resources Of the Fox
river valley place to put their money
that would bring them results, aud the
numerous pulp, fibre and paper mills,
the boot and shoe factories, knitting
works and other manufactures thatdot
the banks of that river are testimonials
of the confidence those men placed in
the water powers of the Fox. The Wis
consin's resources are not limited as
are those of the Fox. We have tim
bered country with accessibility to other
forests, building material, lodges of
granite and quartz and many advan
ytages, all backed by well watered,
rich farming section with good railroad
facilities and within easy distance of
the markets.
Lord Francis Bacon said, The mould
of mans fortune is in his own hands"
The people of the Wisconsin river val
ley may, by judicious work, be the |
architects of this sections prosperity, |
advancement and industrial develop
meat, and also their own fortune, for
man rises in the scale of progression |
and Improvement in proportion to his |
willingness u sacrifice temporal for
future ricnes There is tide in the |
affairs of men which, taken at tn food,
leads on to fortune" We think the
food tide of the Wisconsin river valley |
iS nnu on