Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-07-08
WHAT HAVE WE TO OFFER7

OuOCi piiSc. EdCu udS us 6uSduUdkcS
and disadva ntageS. No one section
can justly lay claim to being the one
and only paradise. But diverse as
may be the charms and allurements
OF the various habitable regions OF
these United States just SO diverse
and more are the requirements and
demands of the assimilated people
therein. Grand Rapids has certain
advantages for certain people but she
does not possess all the advantages fol
! all the people, First of ali we are
striving to become a manufacturing
city.
Now what resources has Grand
Rapids to offer to manufacturers? A
city may attain highly exalted and
digni6ed position in he world, solely
through its merits as a center fol
trade. commerce or manufact uring,
or even because uf some superior
adaptation to the arts or sciences, yet ii
must be admitted that the more
qualifications city possesses foI
insuring success, in all pursuits of life,
the more promising it's chances are
for greatness. II city commands
a superior location and facilities
creating demand and supply and the
ability to control both, it must attract
in the course OF time capital and
labor. The advantages Grand Rapids
possesses as manufacturing point
are not excelled by any location in the
state. The great timber resources
along the Wisconsin river and its
tributaries, contain thousands and
thousands of acres of hardwood
timber, all Of which is very accessible
to Grand Rapids. This is one OF our
natural advantages that can be
turned to account for the purpose OF
increasing our population.
There is not one county in the state
in which the immigration question
has not been recently agitated to a
greater or less extent and the result
has been the formation of numerous
local movements, looking to the
further advancement Of particular
localities, through the aid of ever
increasing numbers Of desirable
settlers.
These movements, and the state at
large, fully recognize, from the results
of the last twenty years experience,
the substantial promotive qualities
of energetic settlers. We point to
them in the Wisconsin Valley with
pride, knowing that every county in
the state, as well as our northern
neighbor, Canada, has maryeled at
the progress shown in its wonderful
development.
Can Grand Rapids now afford to
rest from it's efforts with the laurels
alreadv won? The sentiment of our
business men is strongly against such
a course and the reasons are plain for
the necessity of renewed efforts in
fostering immigration more vigorously
than ever before.
The principal factor responsible for
the prosperity which Wood county
has enjoyed has been that we have
had the ''goods, THE lands and
business openings to draw immigra-
tion and capital in our direction.
The resources of Wood county are
practically unlimited and the variety
of splendid opportunities still Offering
to every class of new comers is not to
be excelled elsewhere in the valley.
But even natural immigration is no
longer voluntary quantity,-there
must be push behind the movement
as we'll as attraction ahead and with
genuine attractions, such as this
county can boast Of, more push is the
prime essential to our greater success.
The central counties of the state, SO
far as the fight for immigration is
concerned, are therefore surrounded
by energetic. enthusiastic and per-
SiStent bodies of men who are scout
ing for every available settler to be
had. We do not decry for one
moment the legimate inducements
which any other section or sections
are offering to intending settlers.
The industrylshown in their promo
tive work. in going after the business
and keeping after it, is to be admired.
But if Grand Rapids is to maintain
the prestige she has gained and is to
lead in these immense movements for
increased population, we. too, must
go into the field and against keen
competition secure the same proper.
tionate share of settlers as in previous
years, and If possible a greater share.
It was the existence OF these condi-
tiOns around us which led to the
organization OF the Grand Rapids
Advancement association.
Full recognition had been given tC
the sectional, commercial and special
class movements in their work OF
fostering Industries but it was force
fully realized that these movements
Individually would not exert the
powerful influence which could bt
created alone by united effort.
Chamberlain's Collie. Chelera and Diarrhoel
Remedy.
This remedy is certain to be needed