Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-08

The many readers of the REPORTER
will be interested to read the follow
ing article by Edward Decker, state
representative of the Milwaukee
Journal, who has recently become one
of Grand Rapids citizens.
No particular section of the country
can peer into the future and paint for
itself brighter picture than Grand
Rapids. 1t has more TO develop and
more natural resources to do it with
than most of the cities in the WlScon-
Sin Valley. But we must not forget
there is not so much room at the top
as we have been taught to believe.
Only five per cent of those who en-.
gage in business make Of that business
a pronounced success. Less than five
per cent of the towns which are
ambitious to become great commercial
and industrial centerS can realize their
ambition. There are now but six
towns to which the signs of the times
point as possible center of trade and
industry. Grand Rapids in my opinion
is one of six. What respective position
in the world of trade it will occupy
twenty-five ears hence | will not as
sufficient to point out the economic
for her possible place among the
possible six. The factor which domi-
mates the problem Of modern city
building are transportation. raw
material, power, market and business
energy. Of these the prime factors
are power, raw material and tIanSpOr-
tation. These three, and the greatest
of these is transportation. The absence
of one is serious handicap. The
absence of two renders the proposition
extremely doubtful. Given the ele-
mentS of transportation and market
with reasonable amount of business
energy commercial center, a distri-
buting point, may be built up. Add
raw material and power and you have
the essentials for manufacturing
center. Few locations are so fortunate
as to possess a combination of all.
There are score of forces and con-
ditionS natural and artificial which
modify the general laws of trade and
industry, II the resultant of all
these forces is in the direction of any
certain point that point may become
city. But even then the price of
success is eternal vigilance. Sentiment
has little place in business transaction.
1t is the dollar that dominates. There
is sharp competition and there always
will be, but trade will settle down to
it's natural channel and enterprise
ultimately will inherit it's own. 1t is
to the manufacturing industries that
Grand Rapids should pin her faith.
The surest foundation for permanent
city is the employment of labor. There
is no tariff on the importation Of raw
material and as usual thing it pays
it's own freight. The employment of
5000 men in manufacturing industries
means an additional population of
$4,000. 1t means better market and
increased business for every one within
the radius of it's influence. 1t means
greater tonnage and better freight
rates. 1t means all the difference
between a struggling country town
and pOpulOus city. Has Grand
Rapids any of the natural or artificial
advantages which are essential to the
success of manufacturing center?
There is no question about it's trans
pOrtation and it has growing market
but how about raw material and
power, the other two essential ele-
ments. The raw material product
from the soil waits the hand of
enterprise. 1t is not always necessary
to have the raw material at hand to
make success of manufacturing
enterprise. With the market and
transportation the raw material may
be imported and a handsome profit
made on it's manufacture. The power
question is one that in the near future
will speak for itself. To an unpre-
JUDGED observer acquainted with the
facts and conditions of the situation
it seems that Grand Rapids is pos
seSSed of the necessary advantages to
make her the manufacturing city of
the Wisconsin Valley Theory is
alright, but there is nothing quite SO
convincing as the facts Of experience.
What has been done in the manufac-
uring line is Of much more importance
than what one thinks might be done
in that line. Take for instance those
industries which have been tabliShed
here which use the raw material at
hand. 1t is plain to see that its
future is largely in the hands Of its
own citizens. Ii they are ready to risk
the pennies they may win the pounds,
They must not however lose sight OF
the fact that their success depends
very largely upon their immediate
surroundings. Grand Rapids is nc
longer on the frontier, but has rail
roads. schools, churches and we'll or
ganiZed rural society. The price OF
land is not high and taxes are low. 1t