Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-04-19
TO ADVERTISE WISCONSIN
The Object of the Wisconsin
immigration and Development
Association is to Advertise
the States Resources.

A fairly representative gathering of
the business and professional men of
this city, met at the council rooms in
the city hall, Friday evening, to greet
Edgar T. Wheelock, former editor of
the Milwaukee Sentinel, but now the
secretary of the Wisconsin Immigra-
tion and Development Association.
This meeting was called for the pur-
pose of having the object of this
association explained, and Mr..
Wheelock plunged Immediately into
his subject, by deploring the fact that
Wisconsin was doing nothing to
advertise its resources, or stop the
flood of people from leaving the state.
He stated that for some time past,
a large number of people were
leaving this state. not only for the
west and Canadian northwest, where
new lands with rich future were
being held out to them as an induce
ment, but also to eastern states
where the land was selling cheap, but
as matter of fact, was worthless, the
vitality having all been taken out of
it. Further he stated that Wisconsin
had better inducements to offer in the
way of cheap lands for the farmers;
and power and transportation for the
manufacturer, than any other state in
the union. "With the Mississippi
river on the west, Lake Superior on
the north, and Lake Michigan On the
east, the speaker stated, "the rail
rate could not help but feel an in
fluence which existed in no other
state of which he could think with
timber uncut, sufficient for tie next
three generations at least, the lumber
industry would continue to be a
power, and coupled with the fact that
over one half of the state was yet
undeveloped, the Badger state had
better resources, and better induce
ments to offer than any other state.
This was just the thing for which
the Wisconsin immigration and De-
velopment Association was organized:
to advertise by means of literatu
and the state press, the untold ad-
vantages of the great Badger state,
To seek to attract to Wisconsin, by
alllegitimate means desirable class OF
people, and to place before the
manufacturers the advantages to be
gained by locating within the state.
Several of the business men there
present asked questions of Mr.. Whee-
lock and it was evident froh the
manner in which they received the
proposition which was laid before
them, that all were agreed that this
was the one manner in which the
state could be properly doomed, SC
long as the state had no Immigration
bureau, through which to work.
A committee consisting of A. l..
Fontaine, l.. M. Nash, and b. G,
Eggert were appointed to confer with
the local Advancement Association.
and motion expressive of the
approval of those business men who
were present was passed in order that
the sentiment might be officially
brought to the attention of the local
organization.
The membership roll of this state
association bears the names of most
of the best known firms and business
men of the state, and seems to be the
vehicle through which the universal
sentiment for the advancement of the
state, is to find expression, and
practical application,