Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-07-15
A FEW FACTS ABOUT
OUR GROWING CITY

l
Grand Rapids ranks high among
the manufacturing cities of Wiscon
sin. According to estimates tn,
number of manufacturing establish
ments is about 20. The total numbe
of wage earners is about $50 and MAJ
soon be largely increased. The
amount paid annually in wages i.
about S250,00O The annual value Of
the manufactured products is about
81 100000. An interesting Industrial
fact is that the total estimated
value of manufactured products OF
all Grand Rapids lumber concerns
from the earliest day to date is sc, 800
900. The lumber industry is still nc
inconsiderable feature. Grand Rapids
makes paper, pulp, furniture, lumber,
boxes, cigars. shoes, refrigerators,
all kinds of machinery, tables and
furniture.
4 Important additions to Grand
Rapids manufacturing interests this
/; year are expected.
/ About 100000 bushels of grain is
bought annually from farmers, some
of it shipped to various markets and
some consumed in the local market.
This alone means payment of about
$3.50, 900 year to farmers for grain
alone, while other products purchased
annually by Grand Rapids buyers
| from farmers amounts to about 800,
1000 and live stock, dressed beef and
other dressed animals purchased by
Grand Rapids buyers from farmers
amounts to about 100000.
| The retail mercantile trade in all
lines is in very healthy condition of
growth and the aggregate volume is
evidently greater now than eyer
before. It is the subject of remark
among those who have tried the
experiment that goods by Grand
| Rapids merchants are cheaper than,
and equal in quality to, goods Of the
same kind sold in larger nearby cities.
| The postotfice sure measure of
business development shows most
encouraging increase of revenue
Grand Rapids Bank deposits are
about 100000 The bank deposits
are now about 500, 900 more than the
bank deposits were five years ago. !;
/ Railroad business, passenger and
freight, at Grand Rapids. if indi-
cations can be relied upon, has been
steadily growing in volume. The
/ Chicago & Northwestern has an
excellent passenger depot. The Wis
consin Central ise prosperous and
extending their already large number
of tracts in the city to reach the
different shippers. The ST. Paul rail-
road is doing a large business as usual,
while the Green Bay s. Western, the
pioneer of railroads in this city, is
| getting it's full share of business
These four roads are all represented
here by men who it is pleasant to
meet and do business with.
The latest public improvements in
Grand Rapids have been of higher
grade than any in the past, and
important work is contemplated
with probability that all such in
provements will eventually be under
| the direction of a Board of Public
Works.
| Grand Rapids has Fire Depart
ment of which it is proud, and
generally excellent municipal organi-
zations in all it's departments.
Grand Rapids hotels are excellent
in every respect and large investments
have recently been made in improve
mentS, with a new hotel in the course
of construction.
Our water, light, power and trans
missions of intelligence respectively,
are up to high standard
From the standpoint of ethics,
morals and education and in pursuit
of literature and art Grand Rapids is
entitled to high rank, in some respects
is far in advance in educational
facilities. The schools, churches. the
vigorous and fiorishing civic, patriotic
and benevolent societies, the magni-
fcent library, live newspapers speak
Il for themselves.
The Womans' Club is great ethical
force and campaign to benefit the
city on which nature has showered
her richest gifts.
| Grand Rapids has a gratifying
present stability and bright prospects.
Industrially the transition from
unskilled to skilled labor, the increase
of the scope of manufacturing
interests and the adoption of improved
! methods and machinery with facilities
for reaching markets has furnished a
safe foundation for the material
fabric OF prosperity: and general
development cf this section, which
promises the upbuilding of a pleasant