Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-11-30
WISCONSINS OFFERINGS.
Opportunities Found in This State
Which Cannot Be ExcelIed.

| state 10 the National Farm Land con-
gress, which was held in Chicago.
Nov. 1920 last, was w. III. Mylrea OF
Mausau. He delivered an address on
Home Waking Opportunities in Wis
consln. We have printed copy OF
The address in pamphlet form before
us while we are today at our task OF
wearing out lead pencil. There is
| good stuff in it, but it is too copious
TO copy in full, so will content our
selves by picking out the leading
| points expressed by the speaker.
| wisconsin is a state of diversified
industries, as well as diversified farm
ing. Because of its diversified indus
tries, its many factories scattered
| throughout the state in small manu-
featuring cities, there is a home
market for large percentage of the
| products of the farms.
There is an area of about 10, 600, 000
| acres In the northern half of the
state that is practically unsettled, ex-
cept In the immediate vicinity of the
| towns that are located at short inter
walls on various lines of railway. 1t is
this area that the attention of the
| home-seeking public is invited.
Our climate is very similar to that
OF New England. A misconception
prevails regarding it, which should
be corrected. The climate of North
ern Wisconsin is characterized by it's
clearness, dryness of atmosphere and
freedom from abrupt changes of
temperature. The four seasons are
well defined. The winters are not
colder than are necessary to preserve
the snow and good Sleighing, and
severe drops in temperature are not
frequent. The weather is such that
crews work in the woods every day in
winter. The snow settles to one
fourth its total depth. The springs,
summers and autunnS are all that
sould be desired for human and ami
mai comfort and prosperity. The
growing season may be summed up in
the fact that all tender crops like
tomatoes, corn and melons mature in
Wisconsin. The water is pure and
clear and free from alkali. The soil
is mainly a clay loan based on sub
soil of clay, intermingled with smaller
areas of lighter soil. Both are very
productive, and have been enriched
by the vegetable accumulation of
centuries. 1t is adapted to the sue
cessful growth of all farm crops and
to dairying and stock raising. Garden
vegetables and fruits have an excellent
growth. The drainage, for the most
part, is very good
The whole area is well supplied
with railroads. There is no difficulty
in securing homes within two to eight
miles of a flourishing city or village.
Most of these cities and villages have
4 ffal -.
future growth and Industrial activity.
The city of WauSau is an example of
what improved water powers will do.
The Wisconsin river falls 80 feet at
this point and the power, in addition
to lighting the city and operating ten
miles of electric railroad, supplies
power for many factories. Five miles
up the river is paper mill upon
dam having l6 feet head. This plant
consumes $40 cords of pulpwood in %
hours. Three miles south of the city
limits dam and paper mill are being
built which will cost upwards of
81, 5000. What this plant means to
the surrounding country may be
judged by the fact that it will require
among other things car load of lime
and sulphur each day, as well as 400
cords of pulpwood. About 400 men
will be employed.
Senator Villas once said that when
the water powers of the Wisconsin
river alone are developed there will
be greater population upon the
rivers length than upon any equal
amount Of territory in the Northwest.
The influence of such industrial actiy-
ity upon social conveniences, agricul-
tural prosperity and farm. values in
their respective districts are too OBJ
yious to need comment.
The area mentioned is in one of the
best rain belts in America, the rainfall
varying little from year to year. The
abundant snowfall protects the crops,
so that winter-killing is unknown.
1t is common remark that the
seasons in Northern Wisconsin are
TOO short. Nature is wiser than man.
1t is matter of common knowledge
that as one travels north in summer
the hours of day increase. The hours
of sunshine are considerably greater
in Northern Wisconsin than in states
from 300 to 400 miles south. The sun
rises earlier in the morning and sets
later in the evening. Between May l
and Sept. / there are 60 more hours of
sunshine in northern Wisconsin than
in Chicago in the same length of
time. 1t therefore follows that the
nights are short, lengthening the time
for plant life to grow.
In no part of the temperate zone of
this continent was there ever such
forest growth in amount or density
as in Northern Wisconsin. The soils
which produced these immense forests
and have been continually enriched
by the falling leaves and debris are
undoubtedly able TO reproduce in
crops for the farmer the same riches
that they did for the lumbermen.
Land is one of the most staple values
known to man. There are no factor
les creating acres of land. The num-
Der of acres to be occupied are the
same today as when Columbus first
landed. With good lands and equit-
able government, combined with mod
ern inventions, the future is bound TO
show an increase in population by
leaps and bounds as the world has
never seen.
For the production of clover the
undeyeloped area is already famous.
Peas, which belong to the clover fam
lily, are proving profitable crop in
this territory. Peas need plenty of
moisture and cool nights, these two
requisites favoring this locality. The
yield of small grains is not excelled
anywhere. There is no soil in
this section which is not adapted to
some form of farm life. The poorest
| lands are being reforested. Potatoes
are raised Welding from $50 bushels