Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-09-10

Walker is just miles west of
Grand Rapids, ON the Green Bay
and Western railroad, where the ia
cob Searles Cranberry Co. and An
drew Searles & Son have their cram
berry marshes and headquarters. At
this time of the year this is a busy
place.
The Jacob Searles Cranberry Com
pany own about 1900 acres of land
which is divided in two by the Green
Bay & Western railroad. Ninety
acres is into yines-a large part OF
which is cultivated. The water sup
ply is furnished from a large reser-
voir on the north and the marsh is
supplied with water through large
canal and is sub-divided into small
er bitches which distributes the wa
ter throughout the marsh and is re-
tanned therein by dams. These main
lateral bitches are also used to
float the berries from the marsh to
the warehouses in boats. This COM
pany now have employed in gather
ing their crop thirty men, raking and
about one hundred hand pickers. The
hand pickers gather about 200 BUSH
els a day and are paid by the bushel,
while the rakers are paid by the
day and boarded by the company.
The amount they gather varies each
day accordingto the territory they
rake in. The berries when picked by
hand are deposited in bushel boxes
and then fIoated in boats through
the long bitches to the Green Bay
railroad track, where the boxes OF
berries are loaded upon hand cars
and taken to the warehouses. Here
they are deposited into large flat
| crates which hold about three bush
els each and are allowed to ripen
and cure. When the crop is gathered
and stored then the cleaning, sort
| ing and barrehng Of the berries fol
lows.
On the above marsh Jacob Scar
| les, part owner, is in full charge Jas
general manager. Next to him is
Fred Scheuer, who has been marsh
foreman for the last % years. Mr.
Scheuer is assisted by his sons, Frank
Adolph, Emil, and two daughters, Lii
liam and Edith, all of whom are
employed most of the time the year
around. They are all conversant with
the cranberry culture and have sub
ordinate positions.
After the crop of berries is ripe
and seasoned, ready for maret, they
are put through a tanning mill and
grader that removes all grass and
bad berries. After this is done, they
are barrelled and shipped to mar
ket.
The pickers are provided with hou
ses in which they are assigned apart
ments and board themselves. A dance
hall is furnished and every night
they are given a free dance as re-
creation and diversion. We are told
that the tango and all modern dan
cesl are the order and greatly enjoy
ed.
This company already have gather
ed about 800 barrels of berries at
the end CT the first week of pick
ing. Their warehouse and buildings
are all nicely painted on the outside
and give Walker" a neat and in
yiting appearance. The visitor is
fayorably impressed with the outlook
| as he steps off the passenger train
upon the platform
Andrew Searles e Son own $40
acres % acres of which is under
cultivation. Their lands ly on the
south side of the Green Bay & Wes-
tern railroad. Their picking is done
wholly by ralzing. Otherwise the
method of handling is done exactly
| the same as on other marshes They
have a new warehouse erected ad-
| jacent to the railroad, which is y
| feet long, Al feet wide and three stCr
les high, of steel and concrete con-
structiOn. 1t is supplied with a large
| elevator which conveys the berries
| to and from the different stories.
| They have installed in this warehous
one of the improved and up to date
James Gaynor's patent cleaners, and
| graders, that work to a nicely. This
company certainly have a model ware
house, with all conveniences for the
necessary handling of a large cram
| berry crop.
| Andrew Searls ard his son Clar--
ence, each have nice homes here,
that they occupy the year round.
Their yards and gardens are we'll
cared for and everything is inviting.
They commenced gathering the
cranberTies September 7th, one week
| later than other growers.
NOTES.
Melvin SearlS, a brother of Jacob
and Andrew Searles, operates a store
at Walker and checks in all berries.