Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-07-23

through timbered regions will serve to
enforce this statement.
The profits of the pioneer, such as
have been so fully realized IN the lake
shore counties, and through the once
well timbered and now thoroughly cul-
tivated counties in the southern half of
Wisconsin. still remain to attract those
that have the pluck. energy and
the enterprise TO settle and till
the unoccupied 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 l
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 were small and of a primitive
kind. Today, although it still contains
hundreds of acres of timber, the portions
that are well titled, show such evidences
of agricultural prosperity, in fair lands, in
buildings and in thriving farming com
munities, as to rank it with any agrl-
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
in mineral and in agricultural and com
mercial greatness. that already exceed
the dreams of its pioneers, president as
many of those dreams were. The entire
area of the state comprises almost So
1000 acres, falling short but about
5000 square miles of eQualing in area all
of the six New England states combined.
The greatest length of Wisconsin from
north TO south is 302 miles. Its greatest
breadth, 25S miles. With Lake Mich
igan on its eastern boundary, Lake Su-
perior upon the north, the Menomonee
river upon it's northeast, and the MissiS-
sippi upon the west, it has q fresh water
coast line Of over 1000 miles. 1t IS I'M
usually well watered. The Mississippi,
with It's navigable tributaries aggregate
nearly 1900 miles of waterways within
it's 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 a variety in
landscape that for natural beauty alone
gives Wisconsin a foremost position.
Some day all these beauty spots of
northern Wisconsin will be a summer
pleasure ground for the great cities and
the south,
or this great area of 36,00O,000 of
acres. 20,000,0O0 are occupied by farms
and 11,250,000 acres according TO the
census of 1900, are improved, which, as
will be seen. is less than one-third of the
total area. The average size OF Wiscon-
sin farms in 1900, was lit acres. There
were then 1856, 1915 owners OF farms in
the state, 1888 part owners, and 1900
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 popuiatlon 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 or the state.
What has actually been accomplished IN
the way of development, can best be
realized by comparisons. Clark county,
which was organized in 1883, In 1850
had 1915 inhabitants: in 1890 it had
nearly doubled its population, being H.
7OS, and IN 1900 it showed 4 population
of -, SIS. Chippewa county, which was
organized in 1854, aRd in 1880 had To-
49l Inhabitants, In 1890 had 20, l43, anu