Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-03-19

three inches of snow on the bed The bean hole
was a beloved institution in the old days; there
from was drawn the steaming pot of beans that
had remained covered with Goals all night Dun
derfunk" was fine dish, too; it usually af-
forded on Sunday. 1t was made of parboiled
bread salt pork and moIasses, deposited in al
ternate rows in the kettle, and when cooked made
delicious pudding. They used to have pies and
such dainties Sunday, too. But in the main
the diet was good solid food, and plenty of it;
the men had appetites, got away with it, felt fine
and made lots of work for the cook. Those indeed
we're the happy days. 1t is so different now.
For dainties there were none and biscuits were
an unheard of delicacy. Fancy baking sufficient
number of biscuits to appease the hunger of so
or rs husky laborers, each with appetite of
buzz-saw destructiveness The nearest approach
to biscuits to be found in what termed
"bannocks." These were in reality overgrown
baking powder biscuits though. They contained
the same ingredients, but baked in loaf
form and by the wholesale quantity
But the piece de resistance of the umberman's
fare was baked beans And who can gainsay the
statement that there Is no more enjoyable and
satisfying dish-properly prepared-after having
attented the formal opening Of the camp bean
y hOle?"
Beans we're a staple article Of diet, but they
never appeared to pail on the in camp A
huge kettle Of this favorite ration was placed to
boil early in the day, and allowed to simmer for
hours. At last having been pronounced done,
preparations for the baking were made A large
hole dug in the ground and lined with thick
stones In this opening roaring fire was kin
died and kept going until the stones and sur
rounding earth became thoroughly heated. Then
the salt pork carefully distributed among the
contents Of the kettle the cover put in place and
the kettle was lowered into its waiting receptacle
Earth was then placed the top of the kettle
to the depth of several inches and on this roar
ing fire Of pine boughs kindled and kept 60
ing until just before breakfast time in the morn
ing, when the kettle was again brought out of it's
resting place and the cover removed.
Stories may be written Of delicious viands but
no poem, be it ever so exquisite in construction
and sentiment, could do justice to the feeling
aroused by the aroma which arose from the bean
kettle and smote upon the olfactory organs of the
hungry men awaiting the feast.
For number of years there has at different
times circulation been given to a report that the
supply of timber is nearing exhaustion. This is
an error. True, in districts, which have been
the scene of heavy operations for many successive
years, about all the valuable standing pine has
been cut but these areas by no means represent
the supply a whole There are still vast tracts
virgin pine timber in northern Michigan Wis
constn and Minnesota. This is being cut into Ium-
Der by large concerns and the product marketed
in increasing quantities. 1t Is estimated that it
will still be a great many years before the pine
resources of the northern section Of the states
named will be exhausted.