The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-02-04
THFlAkE DISTRICT
OF BAYFIELD, COUNTY.
rs Farre,,.s State Sketches.

Ela4 F0lGEcuCc w do uiduO w IL "" ~ -
the third largest town in the county,
located little west of the country S
geographical center. Much OF III
serest remains to be considered IN
correction with other portions OF
BAYFIELD,, which as already has beer
stated, is the second largest county
in Wisconsin. AS in it's neighborlng
county, Douglas, on the west. Bay
geld's largest population is in the
northern part on or near Lake Supe-
rior, in Washburn, the county seat
Bnd in the nearby town OF bayfield,.
In these towns the lumber business
the lake traffic, manufacturing and
fishing have been the principal IN
dustries, and there have been added
within the past few years the devel-
opment of farms. All of these actl-
yities, except the last named, are
will founded and have already built
up here what N fact, if not in name.
is city with population of at least
seven Thousand inhabitants
Washburn's Fine Location.
Along the chain of great American
lakes, nature provided several UNI
usually fitting location for cities.
On Lake Superior, such sites as are
enjoyed by Superior, BAYFIELD,, Wash
burn and Ashland are not excelled
on any body of water. These outlets
TO the market of the world for the
products of the great central north
west, have already surprised all OBJ
serving people by the quantities OF
lumber, gain and ore that they have
passed on the east, and by the mil
lion Of tons of coal and merchandise
that they have received for location,
consumption or for the western and
southwestern market. Within the
short period of twenty years all of
these lakes ports have come into ex-
istence as important commercial
factors and all of them have seached
their present strength without the
support of an immediate agricultural
G., :. uance. Within the count ties
BAH Oh these ports on big Lake
Superior the south shore coun ties,
Douglas, Bayfield, and Ashland,
there are nearly three million acres
OF land. Of this great area Two and
half million acres at least are sui
table for cultivation, and if cut up
into 100 acre tracts would make
more than fifteen thousand farms.
Properly developed such farms
would bring to all of the towns and
6. ties within their counties sup
port that would increase their bust
ness ten fold and give to the lake
ports especially stimulus that is
daily growing in demand.
Much Farming Developed.
It Was for the purpose of ascer
tanning to what extent this section
is developing that | came to the
northern part CT Bayfield, county,
and already I have met with en-
eouraging facts. The truth is that
with larger TERRITORY and small
or population than either Douglas or
Ashland county, Bayfield, county
is the leading among the lake coun-
ties in the settling up Gifts territory
as whole. Further investiga ton
may cause a notifications OF this
statement, but doubt it. There
are more, many more, farming CEN
tiers like Nebagamon, Poplar and
Brule in Douglas 10 be found in Bay
field than in any of the other counties
under consideration in these sketches
Next to Washburn in size is the
town of Bayfield, With three thous-
and people, then Iron River, fol-
lowed by Port Wing, BibOn Mason,
Pratt, Red Cliff, Drummond, the
Hughes settlement southwest of
Iron River, the Finn settlement in
the northwestern part Of the county,
the new town Of Cornucopia and
other points where special atten ton
is given to farming, and where every
addition to the ranks of the farmers
is not only welcomed but is first
sought for. Nearly all OF these
towns and settlements were the out
growth OF numbering. and the saw
mill is still more or less busy, but
people you meet between stations on
the trains, and in all the towns, are
talking farming and discussing
means of getting in more settlers.
There seems to be united sentiment
Ahat the northIand has reached