Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-11-19
NEWS NAN VISITS
COUNTY SEAT
MarshfieId Editor Thinks Grand
Rapids Has Made Some
Wonderful Changes in the
Past Year.


Wonderful Changes in the
Past Year.
a ride to Grand Rapids on Conduct
or PeltOu'S train is just like going
down toboggan slide only you don't
have to walk back if you have got the
price. Ii YOU havn'U you might aS
we'll hit the les or write home for
money. You have often heard it re-
marked that when people grow old
they become forge ,ful. Mr.. PeIton is
one Of the oldest conductors on the
road and we have yet to see a paSsen-
ger that rode on his train that he for
got 10 collect fare from. All people
look alike 10 him and you might as
well try to beat d boiled egg as ~ try
TO beat him out of the regular fare.
He makes two runs day and gets his
three meals and nights lodging at
home. 1t is just good exercise for
one of his age and he can't expect to
get a much easier job when he goes
TO paradise.
On both sides of the track between
here and the Rapids are evidences of
the forest fires. Not that there is
much of forest between here and
therefor the country is becoming
cleared and in helping this last cause
along the fires were great help. A
squint at Arpin and Vesper through
the car window showed their streets
lined with teams and the number of
new buildings up and oChers started
bespoke prosperity at either place.
1t must be said of Vesper that it is
fast coming to the front as d busting
little village. A fine creamery was
built this summer and work on a
brick foundry or factory is just com
menced. Game Warden Cole is
erecting a fine brick residence and
the appearance of the whole place is
one of thrift. 1t is the new settler and
the opening up Of ne W farms that are
milking these places grow and it is a
pleasure TO note enterprise. Farther
down the line and before you can see
the smoke of the paper mills, the train
whistles and comes to a halt. Tie
passengers peer out to get a glimpse
Of the depot but there is none. 1t is
l., ot
Years ago when John Anderson ran
the train, so the legend goes, a beauti-
ful little schooIma'm appeared there
every Friday night and stopped the
train with her bushes, Ever since it
has become a recognized stopping
place, but not Of enough Importance
Un put on d time card.
H. has hf eu nearly a year since we
saw the county seat aud we must ad-
mil it is grOwiDg-not the. county but
the scat. Our business took US to The
court house and We stood at the eu-
trance which commands good view
Of the surroundings, there was much
about it TO cause admiration. There
isn't enough water in the river just
now tp keep its bottom wet like in
times Of old, for the water uoW is
made &c grind. The big dam and the
paper mill beSpeakS the energy OF man
and the creation Of wealth. it took
many years for the people Of Grand
RapidS to make use OF this great God
given resource and now since the
river is harressPd and its thousands
uf horse rover UTILIZED, they begin to
see aud fee| their greatness. 1t has
been the cause for new factories, new
business enterprises, new awakening.
AS we stood with our back against the
court house wall and looked over the
city in the direction of the setting
sun. we saw nestled in the heart of
one of the best farming and dairying
sections in the state, Marshfield, It
was then we realized more fully the
wisdom Of the great architect on high
in His bestowal of riches to his people.
Like the Christmas stocking these
two dual towns have got their share
and that is why we believe it selfish
to even ask or hope for a river like the
grand old WiScOnse. If Marshfield
had it-but what's the use we haven't
even got a bed for river. We have
something just as good and besides
there is danger of river drying up
while our harvest comes with the
and our COWS get fresh in the
spring, Anyway Grand Rapids looked
good to US and without the aid of a
telescope one can see the pin feather
of prosperity sticking out everywhere.
Another five years will make a great
change in the place.
Inside the court house there are the
same faces that have been there the
past four years, but when the new
comes, alas, all but Ahheuser Busch
Bever will get into their blanket. In
the late election the voters approved
of the idea of his staying there an
other two years. and Saturday, when
we met and he was reminded that there
was something wrong with his face,
he said it was the Taft smile. Philip
Bean, who has so faithfully gaurded
the county strong box during his
years of service. was found at his desk.
When his successor is qualified he will
step down and out of Office with all
the honor due an honest official and it
is understood will retire to private
life in a little home he has purchased
in the city limits of Grand Rapids.
Passing out we went into the coun-
ty clerks Office where Geo. Davis,
with the assistance of his wife, con-
ducts bureau where ambitious hun
tiers and Young men 90 crazy with the