Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-08-06

had but 1881 miles of railway, all
told, yet it was but thilty-two years ago.
Look at your map OF Wisconsin and
realize what this vast region was. 1t
has within its borders today some of the
most thriving of our agricultural coun-
ties, with populations bigger than most
of the southern counties had in 1872.
The ride on the Wisconsin Central
from Withee to Stanley passes Lombard,
Thorp and EusYold, three small cenJeTs
for trade, and the evidences Of agri-
cultural thrift are ali about TO account
tor them.
Stanley and Its Railroad.
Stanley is city. 1t has 100 popula
ton, with good schools, churches and a
library, beautifully housed. OF 2.000 vol
umes. This building and its books were
the gift of Mrs Saii.e +. Moon rs n
memorial TO her husband. the iaGe d. Ii.
Noon, formerly president of the North
western Lumber company, whose large
numbering operations gave Stanley its
first real imptus. But | am NOT writing
Of cities and will dismiss this one. flour
ishing as 1t is, with the remark that as
the center for radiating rural aud inter
urban telephone lines, and rural malt
routes, and the southern terminus If the
Stanley, Merrill u Phillips railway it is
eXerting an important influence that CN-
tends far beyond its corporate bounda-
rieS.
This railroad. started as logging road.
now interSeCtS. at new station called
Hannibal, in Taylor county, tWcnty-four
miles from here. with the Eau Claire,
Chippewa Falls X Northeastern. another
embryo trunk line that is already con-
pleted some miles TO the eastward eff that
junction. The Stanley road is being
Strengthened, made permanent and viii
be extended northward to Glen Flora,
Gates county, this season. | mention
these details of railway advancement to
emphasize striking contrasts with thirty
years ago.
Stanley IS, as l have remarked. a
thriving little city. 1t is The Second
City of Chippewa county. All about
il are beautiful. thrifty farms, wei
stocked with cattle. There are many
improvements III progress upon these
farms and the creamerieS and cheese
factories to the south, in Chippewa com
ty and to the southeast, in Clark county,
are the monuments by which 10 read OF
the progressive successful farmer. But
n few miles northeast of Stanley the new
railway enters Taylor county. and the
settlements look newer. The frame
house IS succeeded by the tidy log house
as You 60 on a few miles further, bat
even here there is a nice little frame
schoOlhouse. set upon a slightly hillside.
wilderness, among logging camps and
sideways. logs and hemlock bark. But
ii is all good land.
Telephoning Train Reports.
One little innovation in raiIr0adin
that noticed here shows how these re-
gions pioneer in science. even white the
WoodSman's axe IS Ie>oupdug in the I'M
Subdued forest. Al Sidetrack junction.
about half way to Hannibal, really the
midway station. aud called "BallinSer"
on the map--for aught know ii may
some day bc 4 second Altoona-the train
stopped, the conductor 8iichted. unlocked
a box attached to a telephone pole and
proceeded 10 report his TRAM hy teieunoae
10 the genera! office az Stanley. I make
no jest. There was scjeniaa s.=N.&caue,.
in this proceeding. Some uf the great
railroads are making experiment. III
sending train orders by word Of uuu.h
over telephone wires, II perhaps for
bodies changes of great Importance. es-
pecially TO the telegraph operator. who
can be dispensed with under this sy>-
TEN, aud even IL an operator IS required