Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-10-31

Go esd OlISh them selveS in the wilder
ness were so unfayorable that haC
they failed. no one who was acauaint.
ed with the circumstance would have
been surprised. The fact that 90 pei
cent of the colonist did succeed and
are now well on the road TO permau
ent independence and prosperity will
not soon cease TO be a source of wonder
to many people who live in and neal
the village of Sherry Wood count v
Wisconsin.
The facts are these: About eight
years ago a company owning large
tracts of land in northern, or. more
properly speaking, the north centra
part of Wood county, tried the expert
ment of setting colony of Hollanders
on their land. The men selected for
the colony we're In nearly every case
without means, some of them not hav.
ing enough money To procure house
hold neceSSaries to begin life upon the
land purchased on time BY perverse
freak of judgment or a strange lack OF
foresight these coloniStS. who were
permitted TO select their purchases
from large tract, almost to man
chose pine stump land where the orig
inal timber had, in many cases, liter
ally covered the ground.
1t is we'll known fact that a pine
stump is permanent institution if
strenuous means are not adopted to
evict it from the land. Even our en-.
ergetic exterminator OF bears and con-
founder Of nature takers who presides
at Washington would find ample op-
portunity for the exercise of all his
Yirile puShtulnesS were he to tackle an
acre OF pine stumps. Their soundness
and grasp of situation, the soil being
the situation, is proverbial. For
more years than men, care to wait
they will stand untouched by decay
and ScOrnful of wind, weather and
tooth of time. Hardwood stumpS will
rot in few years and they can be
disposed of with ease. Pine stumps
cling TO the old home.
This explains why the Hollanders
were not considered wise when they
selected pine slashings instead of good
hardwood land when they were buy
ing. The difference was all 10 favor
of the latter as it was necessary to
earn the money to pay for
the land from the land itself
No one will ever be able to en-
plain why they made the selections
they did, but they made it and that
settles the matter.
Now for sequel. A single incident
will illustrate the situation today.
One Of the early colonists purchased
forty acres of land. He had no money
no stock. no team, he ran in debt for
the land he bought, and that land was
covered with pine stumps. A few
days he walked into the office of the
owner Of the adjoining eighty acre S
and wanted to purchase it, Offering S
first payment 81, 900 which he b. d
saved. He has it cleared and undo
cultivation; be has a fine herd of COW S
and receives Su bstantial check FRI m
the cheese factory every month: e
has good buildings on his farm and is
ready to undertake to clear 200 per
cent more land of the same kind.
OF the fifty odd membe of the col
ony of Hollanders, 80 per cent succeed
ed in establishing themselves upon
the land they selected. Those who
came early now have fine, we'll titled
farms, good herds of cattle, and they
are adding to their acreage by purchas-
ing more land. Those who came later
some Of them as late as two years
are making good progress toward ulti
mate independence and freedom from
debt. A ride through the towns
where these cOlonists are working fur
nishes ample proof of the correctness
Of the theory that industry, frugality
and patience are all that is necessary
to win success in the new Wisconsin.
/ took that ride today. / even saw
one farm that is being cleared by a
widow and her two young daughters
The head Of the family died before be
had fairly made beginning His
wife has carried On the work, and,
while she has not made as much pro-
gresS as her Stalwart neighbors, shehas
some fine hay and pasture land, sew
eral cows, and is in comfortable Cir
cumstances, At least she does not
Complain.
1t must be understood that the soil
Of northern Wood county is so good
that it does it's part toward solving
theproblem for the hardy homebuilders
This section of the county is in what
is known as the ''Colby loamy clay"
belt which extends from the center of
Wood county up to and including a
large part Of Taylor county. and the
northern part of Marathon and Clark
counties. This belt is considered one
of the most fruitful of any 10 the
state and the older settlers of this
section are prepared to debate with
all comers and without a limit as TO
time in favor of their OVID assertion
that there is no better soil on earth
than the Colby loamy clay.
However that may be, it is certain
that all kinds of grasses and grains
raised in Wisconsin are successfully
cultivated here. Also the dairy in
dustry has been firmly established, so
firmly established indeed that the
farmers are depositing their money
10 the bank and becoming the capita
lists of this section of the state. The
best evidence Of this fact is found in
an interview with o. 6. Lindernan
oocbior of tho pooricap Nafiopo