Ladysmith news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-16
Wisconsin
LadySmith,
Economy in Natural Opportunity.

in the limelight the advantages possess
ed by Rusk county We have been
energy, that people wouldn' appreciate
this work. Perhaps not-but we hold
it duty to those who do appreciate
it
Among other thing discussed have
been the water powers which will soon
be harnessed, as the oratorical Chaun-
cey Depew would say, under the logic
of events and the imperious conditions
of the situation.
The time of this Harvesting has come
in two instances and will soon come in
others.
The effect of this exploitation and
appropriation of natures bounties so
lavishly deposited in Rusk county,
means an Industrial activity that will
make the Fiambeau valley the Fall
River Of the West. There is no escap-
ing this fact Industry and commerce
avail themselves of the economies of
nature This is always true. It ac-
counts for the formation of vast cor
porations. and it accounts for the sub
sidence of the earlier prejudices that
prevailed against them for the simple
reason that it meant economy in pro-
ductIon.
In this economy nature has taken a
hand-she has done so in Rusk county
most bountifully.
Let US see something of what this
means. Let all questions of freight of
our raw material to distant points to
be manufactured be set aside, also
freight on goods back to the great
northwestern markets. We want now
TO look merely at the economy of these
water powers as such.
And in doing this We will also leave
out Of consideration the fact that the
Flambeau is one of the most static
rivers in the world mot subject to
f1oods) and that the solid bottoms and
banks do away with hazard in the per-
manency Of dams. These things affect
very materially the cost of power. But
we will look at the matter from the
most unfavorable position, under which
water power has az advantage of more
than so per horse i.ower per year over
Now we will try to get at the value OF
our great water powers in Rusk county
of which their are over $4,000 horse
power of over 2, 900 each.
5O,O00h h. p. at $40 per year. $500, 900
This indicates an annual saving over
the cost of steam power of half a
million dollars per year. An annual
saving is worth what it will capitalize
for at usual interest rates. Taking five
per cent as basis we have:
so, 900 h. p. at $40 per year. $500, 900
$500, 900 capitalized at 5 per
cent Observation-Disclosures. $40, 900, 0CO
Which indicates an economic value
of SO, 900, 900 in natures gift to Rusk
county in water powers alone. There
is no getting away from the above
figures. They are the conclusions ar
rived at from the old and most unfavor-
able conditions
ITEMS AFFECTING VALUE.
Affecting the value of these powers
are:
1. The stability of power plants. 1t
is well known that static rivers are
desirable 1t is desirable that bottoms
and banks be impervious, which is the
case on the Flambeau.
2. Cost of construction. With high
banks and material on the grounds,
powers can be developed here cheaper
than elsewhere.
3. Distance from material. These
powers are in the midst of the finest
of hardwood timber known to the
northern country. The Flambeau val
ley above Rusk county is a forest OF
this valuable timber ready to be foated
or raaea to thess.