Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-07-31
ARE HERE ON
SUFFERANCE
Pioneer Pulp Company Under
Legal Obligations to Pull
Down Plant.
WILL SHUT DOWN MILL
ABOUT SIXTY DAYS
When Construction of the New
Dam Begins On This Side of
the River.

The Pioneer Wood Pulp company
was eSta olished in 1886. Its business
is the manufacture of ground wood
pulp. Formerly it produced only
"news" pulp, that is, pulp used in the
manufacture of white paper used by
the newspapers. But, gradually, it
took up other grades Of pulp manu-
facture, principally, cooked" pulp
made out OF pine. This differs from
the other only in steaming or boiling
the wood, making it much stronger
Then it took up the manufacture of
wood board to till in the time when
the manufacture of pulp, from excess
of production, became Improbable.
1t grinds about an average of five
tons day the year round, say about
800 tons a year. To make this it
requires about 1900 cords of wood,
and this is supplied by the farmers in
the neighborhood. In clearing their
lands for farms they find this market
for their wood very great help. 1t
is often hauled quite long distance.
A representative Of the REPORTER,
in getting these facts from Geo. E..
Hoskinson, asked him il he could give
any information about the future of
the mill. Mr.. Hoskinson said:
''There isn't much to be said about
10 in ~ IN,
condition. You see we are only here
on sufferance-sort Of tenants at will.
So long as it's good will, why it's all
right. But our tenancy is of the
most slender character. 1 took over
the mill and machinery of the old
Pioneer Wood Pulp company on the
1st of January, 1901, when the general
expectation was that the new dam
would be begun in the following
spring, and the great paper mill to be
put up would be in operation before
the next New Year.
"Then Mr.. Witter suddenly died
and, of course, everything went over
for that year. Then in the following
year Mr.. Johnson died, just as sudden
ly, and that put off matters consider
ably. It was not until last New
Years day that anything serious was
attempted.
II have carried on the business
under the old name and title because
it was we'll advertised corporation
assort of trade MARYLAND, therefore,
profitable. We are advertised in
every paper mill directory in the
world.
"Well! now, Weather lam under
strict legal obligations to pull down
the mill and cart it and the other
buildings and machinery off the
premises on very short notice. Still l
do not anticipate any summary pro-
ceedings.
"My relations with the new company
have been very pleasant and Satisfac-
tory, and I see no reason why they
should not continue so. It's simply,
a pure business matter. II can run
the mill for the greater part of the
year on the overflow, or waste Of water
running over their dam, will remain
here in business. II we demonstrate
that this is not practical or profitable,
why! then I'll pull down the mill and
60 elsewhere with it,"
"Do you anticipate any shut down
while they are building their DAMP"
eyes! very likely. When they begin
the construction of their dam on this
side of the river they will have to
turn the water to the other side, and
that will shut US down for probably
sixty days."