Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-01-21
TRANSFORMING THE VALLEY


not the development of wealth, great
as that is-but the development of the
people. Ii one had to say what lessons
the tillers of the soil, both east and west
are learning and need most to learn
these would be selected: irrigation and
drainage. 1t will be surprise to some
to learn that there can be more land re
deemed by drainage than by irrigation
in the United States.
Wisconsin has 7,OOO,OO of acres to be
redeemed or improved by drainage
The cost of this work is estimated al
s66, 900, 900, while the profit from the
work would be S114, 600, 900. There i:
no other way in which so great an in
crease in the productive power of the
agricultural lands of Wisconsin can be
effected as by drainage. There is so
much territory in the Wisconsin valley
that is in need of the engineer and i'm
migrant. The land cries out for build.
ers, developers, practical men, and
great reward awaits them. 1t has phil
osophers and politicians, and profes
sional men of all the old sorts The
farmer himself is of necessity broad,
intelligent, progressive type of man,
and above all a worker | hear many
bitter complaints on the grounds that
foreigners are buying up all the best
lands, as their standard of living is such
that they can afford to payja price for
land that would bankrupt a native
American.
As applied to country districts, the
great question is therefore-and is by
far the most important and far reach
ing question relating to rural life in the
north-can we ultimately develop a
rural population with high standard
of livingy Closely akin to the question
of living is the question of moral and
social development of the north woods
population. As traveller moves north, if
be keeps his eyes, or rather lis ears
open, he becomes more and more i'm
pressed at the change in the common
conversation of the every day citizen.
Like other parts of the north, the Wis
consin valley was settled by people
from great variety of sources and has
not been without its share of the tough
element. Under the magic of prosper
ity, however, worthless characters have
given way to model citizens Every
where in the lower valley one meets
with the retired farmer, but there are
two distinct classes. One has moved to
town where his wife keeps boarders
while he loafs around the stores For
this reason there is sharp distinction
made between tired, and retired farm
ers, but the former are in the minority
No view of drainage can be appreci-
ated which regards il as merely an
adjunct of agriculture. 1t is social
and economic factor In much larger
way. There will be no one sided in
dustrial life. 1t forbids land monopoly.
There we have the elements of a new
society. We can expec: no millionaires
to grow from such surroundings. but
neither should there be any paupers.
The drainage of large marsh is not
and can never be an individual enter
prise. Before there could be single
bushel of potatoes coaxed from this
rich, but water soaked soil, there had
to be an organization of labor. The
change is wonderful. The wild duck
and p.askrat have given place to the
prairie chicken and the rabbit, and
where the wild rank marsh grass dotted
with cat tail recently hourished, now
wheat and corn fields are crowding out
the wild and worthless.
There are two factors that are playing
a prominent part in the development of
the Wisconsin valley, first, the water
power; second, the dairy industry
Harvesting the Wisconsin river and its
many splendid waterfalls to make them
give up their power, to turn the wheels
of the machinery of progress, is an en-
terprise that ought to be promoted to
its utmost. Cotton and cattle are the
two products that are indispensable.
The people are prosperous because Of
the rich hardwood forests, of the ever
richer fields and farms, of the lumber
and fruit, of the waterpower and mills;
nearly every form of wealth produced
is near by. The north woods have
taught men to take conditions as they
find them and make them pay. They
make money more easily than they save
it. The day when blind luck was wait
ing at the next turn of the road is past
There are two distinct classes of settlers
in new country; in the west they settle
up the country, in northern Wisconsin
they settle down in the country. The
difference between period of settling
up aud period of settling down is the
difference between adventure and devel-
opment.
The soil deserves higher compli-
mens than that implied 10 naming the
crops to-which ii is especially adapted.
IL is suitable for the safest, surest, and
most profitable institution of our north
ern empire-the little diversified farm.
The old scarlet coated lumber jack"
has given mp the fight and acknowledges
that his zone is narrowing and his
habits changing BY A. Decker, Grand
Rapids, in Milwaukee Sentinel
FOR CONTRACTORS
AND BUILDERS.