The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-07-21

through timbered regions will serve 20
enforce this statement.
The profits of the pioneer, such rs
have been so fully realized in the lake
shore counties, and through the once
well timbered and now thoroughly cul..
tivatcd counties in the southern halt OF
Wisconsin, still remain TO attract those
that have the pluck. energy and
the enterprise to settle and I'll
the unoccuped lands of the central
and northern portions Of the state.
No county in the state today bet
ter illustrates the truth of this assertion
than the county of Clark, with which |
have been familiar from its earliest days.
Originally Clark county was densely
timbered with both pine and hardwood.
Even thirty years ago its beginnings in
agriculture We're small and of a primitive
kind. Today. although it still contains
hundreds of acres of timber, the portions
that are we'll titled, show such evidences
of agricultural prosperity, in fair lands in
buildings and in thriving farming COM
muuities, as to rank it with any agri-
cultural section of the state. What is
true of Clark county is true of Chip
pewa. and what was true of these coun-
ties twenty years ago or more, is true of
the counties that lie to the north of
them, that are still in the earlier stages
of settlement.
The Empire State.
Wisconsin is one of the most magnif-
cent states in the Union. Its resources
are extraordinarily numerous and varied.
Its original wealth of pine timber, which
was the lode stone that attracted the
early fortune seeker, has practically dis
appeared, and pine numbering has been
followed by developments in hardwood,
On mineral and in agricultural and COM
mercial greatness, that already exceed
the dreams of its pioneers, president as
many of those dreams We're. The entire
area of the state comprises almost 3d.
100000 acres, falling short but about
5000 square miles of equaling in area all
of the six New England states combined.
north to south is 800 miles. Its greatest
breadth, 25S miles. With Lake Mich
igan on its eastern boundary, Lake Su-
perior upon the north, the Menomonce
river upon its northeast, and the Mssis-
sippi upon the west, it has a fresh water
coast line of over 1000 miles. 1t is UNI
usually well watered. The MissiSSippi.
nearly 1900 miles Of waterways within
its borders. Twelve hundred and forty
lakes, varying In size from Lake Winnie
bago, thirty miles long, to the beautiful
fresh water ponds that abound in north
ern Wisconsin. furnish unfailing advan-
tages for agriculture and Il variety in
landscape that for natural beauty alone
gives Wisconsin Il foremost position.
Some day all these beauty spots of
northern Wisconsin will be summer
pleasure ground for the great cities and
the south.
OF this great area Of 36,00000O of
acres, 20,000,000 are occupied by farms
and 11,25O,000 acres according to the
census Of 1900, are improved, which, as
will be seen, is less than onc-third of the
total area. The average size of Wiscon-
sin farms in 1900, was 1T acres. There
were then 1856, 795 owners OF farms in
the state 1888 part owners, and 10000
tenant farmers. These figures suggest
what many people are apt to overlook
that Wisconsin still is rich in undevel-
,oped agricultural resources. While we
have grown rapidly, our population hav-
ing more than doubled since 1870, there
Is still room, without crowding, for hun
,dreds of thousands Of enterprising men
IN the northern sections of the state
lWhat has actually been accomplished in
!the way. Of development, can best be
srealized by comparisons. Clark county,
which was organized in 1853, in 1880
had 1915 inhabitants; in 1890 it had
nearly doubled its population, being IL
tG0S, and In 1900 it showed a population
of %, S4S. Chippewa county, which was
organized in 1854 and in 1880 had 49,
itUl llIuuultdHis, III lOJo nuu -o,Ito, anu
In 1900, 33,037, although. meanwhile, the
new counties Of Sawyer and Gates had
been taken from its territory. Sheboy-
gan. Racine, La Crosse and Dane coun-
Ties are representative counties of south
ern Wisconsin. Sheboygan county In
1880 had 4,206 and In 1900, 50,345. RAJ
cihne, county in 1880, had 3o,922, and in
1900, 1854. La Crosse county In 1880,
had a population OF 27,O73, and in 1900.
42,977, while Dnne county, in 1880, had
1928, and in 1900, 69,435. While these
figures show that all parts of Wisconsin
developed rapidly. the largest percentage
of development was in the newer section,
the northern portion of the state. Tay-
Tor county, which was organized In 1875,
had but 2311 people in 1880, and in 1000
1t had 11,262. Price county, which was
Organized in 1880, had 1S3, and In 1900
1t had over 5000. The development that
was inaugurated through northern and