Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-03-22
Brief Account of Geo. N. Wood
and A. L. Fontaine's Visit
to Fond du Lac.
GREAT GROWTH OF
NEIGHBORING CITY
Former Grand Rapids Citizens
Are Pr0SperinE in Oshkosh.
Officers Reelected.


cago & Northwestern railway, fol
Fond du Lac to attend the fifty-frst
annual session of the Wisconsin Press
association. We arrived there at ]
O'Clock, registered at the Palmer
house, where the association had its
headquarters.
Wednesday afternoon was occupied
in listening to excellent papers read
and general discussion Of thoughts
brought out by various papers. At 4
p. m. the association adjourned tC
visit the Daily Commonwealth print.
ing Office and inspect that plant, one
of the largest in the city. We found
this Office well equipped throughout
with the latest improved machinery
and well arranged in every particular
This establishment is the property OF
the P. b. Haber Printing company.
We next visited the Electric Light
& Railway company's plant and en-.
joyed a trolley ride over that line, a
distance OF nine miles, passing
through North Fond du Lac. The
cars were strictly first class in every
respect and the road bed, ties and
iron in harmony with the rest Of the
construction.
After leaving the city limits, this
company run their cars at rate OF
about thirty-fve miles per hour.
making the distance of twenty miles
between the business portion of Fond
du Lac to the center of thelpopulation
IN Oshkosh, including all stops, in
one hours time. The fare is only
twenty-five cents.
Wednesday evening the people OF
Fond du Lac gave the editors and
their wives a banquet and dance at
the Palmer house which was greatly
enjoyed and appreciated by all present.
Four toasts were responded to by
Clarence Powers, of the Daily Re-
porter, of Fond du Lac, G. w. Bowron,
of the Oshkosh Northwestern, B. j
Price, of the Hudson Star and Times
and Thomas Reed, OF the Appleton
Post. A local orchestra furnished
music the entire evening. About l5(
guests were present.
Thursday morning Mr.. Wood and
the writer took the suburban car for
Oshkosh to call upon our old towns
man, J. r. Chapman. Unfortunately
for us, he was out of the city. We
made an inspection of his business
place, found that he had a handsome
store building on one oftne prominent
corners in the heart of the city The
front and side display windows were
filled with fine assortment OF
diamonds, jewelry and hand painted
china. We next visited their new
high school building of which we had
read great deal, and through the
kindness of the city superintendent,
Prof. SimOns, we were shown
through all parts of this elegant
building. While it cost more money
than ours, and it is larger in it's
extreme dimensions, we must say
that the Grand Rapids Lincoln high
school building has some advantages
over it. While in the school building
we had the pleasure of listening to
an address by Professor Du Bots, of
Atlanta, Georgia, who is reputed to
the country and the author of many
excellent books.
Before leaving the city we met
Messrs. John O'Brien, recently of
Grand Rapids and A. G. McCOmb, one
of Oshkosh's prominent real estate
men and formerly teacher of the
schools. After pleasant
visit with these gentlemen we re-
turned to Fond du Lac, arriving
there 10 time for dinner.
Thursday afternoon we attended
the closing half days session OF The
meeting during which
excellent papers we're read and dis
cusSed and all the old officers were
reelected for another
year. At the close of the session the
editors were invited to inspect
Grafton Hall, and were delighted
with their visit there. Bishop
Grafton received the party most
and conducted them
throughout the institution. Dainty
refreshments were served and the
editors made to feel perfectly at home
while there. This school is a great
credit to the Episcopal church Soc
iety, and the city OF Fond du Lac is
better for having such an Institution.
While greatly surprised with the
growth, progress and improved con-
iitions which we found on every
hand in comparison with the con-
1itions existing several years ago on
OUR last visit. There was a business
air Of confidence, activity and growth
,n every hand. North Fond du Lac
s city by itself. Solid brick blocks
nave been erected, large shoe and
'ther factories gone up and large
influx OF people have settled and given
lew encouragement to the latent |
energies of a few years since. A |
stranger is Immediately impressed |
With the favorable changes in Fond |
lu Lac. We were pleased to note the |
ignS OF prosperity on every hand and |
We sincerity hope that the fOndest ex-
,ectations of the city OF Fond du Lac
no -