Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-05-24
OUR THIRD EPOCH
WHAT ABOUT 1T?

Rapids and Wood county. The first
epoch was the coming of the fur
trader and lumberman. Tie second
epoch was the coming of the home
steader, home maker and practical
farmer The third, which is now
at hand, is the adapting ourselves to
the conditions and circumstances
which now surround us. We may
scheme and plan but we shall sue
ceed in the end only as our program
conforms to the instincts Of develop
ment springing from the heart and
soul of things. Nothing is more
valuable to this city just now than
knowledge Of social, economic and
business tendencies.
We may formulate plans which ap-
pear to be theoretically sound and
even scientific: but if they do not run
with the grain of events they can
have only slight value. Tue principal
object is to establish more and better
homes in our city. The shop and
manufacturing plant is only a means
to this end. 1t seems hard for us to
comprehend that the home is the
Foundation of everything that is
desirable.
The turning of the Wisconsin
river from it's natural course and
securing from it eight thousand horse
,r,st -; l,o Of hn
home maker no matter how willing
his spirit, how strong his arm or keen
his mind.
The perfect link between the
POWER OWNER and the POWER USER
has not yet been forged.
If at the meeting called for next
Thursday some arrangement can be
devised that will make it possible for
more laboring men to secure per-
manent homes and permanent employ
ment in this city then our greatest
problem will have been solved.
Implanted in the breast of every
true born American citizen is the
desire for home No matter what
his life or occupation may be he never
ceases to the last to yearn for a bit Of
land he may call his own. The dream
may fade as the irkSOme years 60 by
and in the majority of cases it is never
realized. But it is always there.
The merchant at his desk, the clerk
behind the counter and the mill
hand at his task are alike affected
when the spring time comes and it
seems crime to remain indoors.
These dreams are sometimes modest
and generally grow more SO as pos
sible realization seems more remote.
There is deep pathos in the city
dweler for chance to get closer to
the bosom of mother earth. A little
home and garden means much.
The home maker Of this city is the
man of destiny. In his individual
pursuit of wealth and happiness he
lays the foundation Of Grand Rapids
and brings prosperity varying but in
degree and direction to all his fellow
citizens. Should he be driven away
by lack of employment then will
come stagnation and decay.
There is probably no more interest
ing period in the history Of this city
than that period of three years
through which we have just passed.
This period goes back within the
memory of US all. 1t started when
we were in the debatable land in the
twilight of our present prosperity
which has increased steadily until
the present time.
Now what about the future That
is the question which presses i'm
mediately home to every business
man.
The whole state seems to be in a
process of fermentation and the busi-
ness man of Grand Rapids who does
not consider the economic future Of
his time, who does not look abroad
and understand as best he may those
things loses sometime in his reckon
ing.
There is future and future
which is indeed one that we will have
to consider most seriously.
There are three prime factors in
our city today. Power, labor and
transportation. Can we unite these
forces or factors? That is the
question.
You cannot repress the energy of our
neighboring cities. They are not going
to sleep and let us have itall. We have
got to be up and doing. But after
all what pleasure it is to live in a
country where there is such an in
tense spirit, so much enterprise and
such high spirit of development.
We are just entering a new political
campaign and we are amazed at how
few issues there are to be discussed
before the American people. The
fact of it is we are one people; we
have not much to divide us: we are
one in sentiments; we are one in feel.
ing; we are all for America. We feel
that we are blessed in being denizens
af this sphere, in being residents OF
this country and OF being citizens OF
Grand Rapids.