The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-07-14

existence III 1900. III was created
from a portion of territory taken
from LaPointe county, the last
named county embracing the great
err part OF the northern half of the
state. having been created in the
year 1915. In the year 1854 Douglas
county was detached from La
Pointe county territory, Ashland
county followed in the year 1860,
and six years latter redivision of
territory was made between Ash
land and La Pointe counties, and
the latter county passed out of ex-
istence and was succeeded by Bay
field county. A county seat was
established at Bayfield,, primitive
building being used as the county
capitol. In 1888 this building was
destroyed by FIRE and most of the old
county records were lost. The
county then erected model brown
stone building at a cost of some
where in the neighborhood of thirty
Thousand dollars, and this building
was used until 1894, when the county
seat was moved to Washburn. Dur
ing the following year the present
court house was built, at cost Of
about $40, 000 It is of the Grecian
style of architecture, being support
ed by massive pillars. and all of
finished brown stone taken wholly
from the quarries of the County.
The principal buildings of Bayfield,
and Washburn are cons tructed of
this material, while the neighboring
cities OF Ashland, Duluth. Superior,
and the Twin cities of Minnesota
have used it largely in the construc
ton of some ST their best buildings.
It is--ae the name would Indicate, a
beautiful brown in color, of the sand
stone formation and architects and
build RS agree that it is unequaled
for it's splendid qualities. Taken
from the quarries it is soft and easily
worked, but sufficiently strong for
the heaviest building. With age it
hardens until it becomes almost like
flint. Among notable buildings in
which this stone has been used to
the exclusion of all others has been
the Lumbermens Exchange, of
Minneapolis, the Duluth High school,
William Jenning Bryan's residence
at Lincoln Nebraska. and numerous
blocks in all the leading cities of the
west.
The whole shore line of bayfield,
county from the head of Chequam-
egon bay to Flag River, at Port
Wing, as well as among the islands
of the Apostle group, is underlaid
with. brownstone, and there have
been a great many quarries opened.
Some of them have proved profta BILE
and have been in operation many
years. Perhaps the three principal
quarries are the Prentice Brown
stone quarry and the Smith quarry
at Houghton, and the Flag River
quarry at Port Wing.
laundering has for many years
occupied first position and still ranks
as the chief industry. The tens of
thousands Of acres Of timber that
have gone to the mills have furnish
ed employment to large Amy of
men for many years, and will con-
tinue to be the principal factor in
the Industrial interests for long
time to come. The cut over lands
are to be had a5 very cheap prices,
and on them here and there are
clearings, and in some instances
large farms have sprung into
existence. The people of the coun-
try build great faith upon the agri-
cultural interests, and feel that in
the course of a few years bayfield,
county will be one of the richest
agricultural centers of lorthern
Wisconsin.
Shipping, too, is most import
ant item, inasmuch as there are
mum 9rous splendid harbors on the
lake, beginning with Washburn and
ending at Port Wing,
During 1903 100000 feet of
lumber was sawed in the three big
mills at Washburn; 100000 fees
is sawed annually at Iron River by
the observation-disclosures Lumber Com
pany: 100000 to 10000, 900 at
Mason by the White River Lumber
com pany;.an equalamount at Drum
mond blythe Rust-Owen Lumber
oo OOO m Onn nOn