Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-06-07
WOOD COUNTY

The residents of Grand Rapids
frequently boast Of the wealth and
advantages OF the city, forgetful of
the facts that the sturdy county back
Of it has very much to do with its
prosperity.
Wood county has been noted since
the date of its organization for it's
intelligence and thrift, combination
that does not always travel together.
There are many intelligent people
who are not thrifty and there are
some ambitious people who lack in
telligence, but the early founders of
Wood county possessed both and the
legacy has been handed down from
father to son.
The growth OF the county in the
past twenty-five years has been sur
prise to all and this display OF pros
perity has not been confined to the
cities and villages Of the county. This
is natural because so much new avail.
able soil hasbeen opened to cultivation.
While these conditions are true it is
also true that the population OF the
county has radically changed. Here
and there neighborhood is found
where the old family names of a
quarter OF a century ago are familiar,
but in many sections new faces and
new people speak of the evolution
which is constantly going on in the
county.
The people Of the county are we'll to
do and they furnish substantial con-
sistency for the county seat and other
business centers.
The name "Grand Rapids" in an
early day lent an air Of country life
and GOODNESS that is always refreshing g
and that for many years made the
place unusually attractive to the
homesteader and early pioneer, who
sought quiet life in town. During
this peaceful term, the streets and
highways were devoted to grazing
purposes and the cows on the lawns
were about as common as the dande-
lion of today.
There are slabs in the cemetery
which mark the premature decay and
untimely death Of politicians who
possessed the hardihood to defend a
COW ordinance. This OF course was
hnf hn dnu Of cfn
electric light and water works.
A campaign OF education was in
augurated but in attempting trans
formation of old time custom much of
the trade was diverted to other
villages Of the valley. The mail order
houses are field accountable for much
loss Of country trade that formerly
came to Grand Rapids. but much o..
this loss is due to the fact that in
many respects village practices are
maintained.
Wood county is the garden spot of
the state. 1t has rich soil but not
largely under cultivation. The bulk
of It's trade, however, belongs to the
county seat city. II the business men
OF Grand Rapids combine in crusade
for business In this territory which
belongs to them they can capture it
at moderate expense and benefit
both themselves and the farming
community.
The unfolding Of events in the near
future may help to solve the difficult
problem. In the meantime patience
and conservative action should
govern.
A farmer stopped in front of hard
ware store last week and said to the
proprietor as he entered his place OF
business. 81 want ploughshare but
don't suppose you will sell me one,
because l bought my plow in Chicago"
On being assured that that made no
difference he became interested in
plows and looked at one on the floor
the duplicate of the one in his wagon
and asked the price.
When $40 was quoted with an extra
plowShare thrown in he punctured
the atmosphere in several languages
and called himself all kinds OF fools
for paying s11 in Chicago, 60 cents
freight and 35 cents for an extra plow-
share when he could have bought the
same outfit at home for $40,
Why did he 20 to the city for his
plow? Because he lacked information
concerning the home market Why
did he lack information concerning
the home market? Because the hard
ware man failed to furnish it.
1t would surprise our merchants to
know the amount OF trade that goes
from Rudolph to Stevens Point each
week. Do these conditions spring
from lack of coed roads leading to
our city or lack Of a cash market in
our city.
The people in the country want the
goods. They have the money to pay
for them and they are buying more
today in outside markets than ever
before.
What the city needs is an enthusias-
tic and persistent campaign On the
part Of her business men in every
line. Keeping eyerlastingly at it
1Ho