Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-03-04
VALUABLE SERVICE FOR STATE.
Wisconsin Advancement Association In
Five Years Has Materially Aided
Farm Developnent.
BY 4. ID. Campbell in Mil
Waukse Sentinel.

Next Tuesday the Wisconsin Ad-
vancement association viii start up
OF the sixth year Of it's work for the
settlement aud development OF the
idle lands Of the state. During all
this tine the work has been kept up
f1fty-two weeks 70 the year. No
where ia the country is there an asso-
citation Of its kind that has passed its
third year. During that time thous-
ands Of settlers have come 70 the
state and added TO the wealth Of Wis
consin. Il has been hard work 10
turn the tide TO Wisconsin, and incl
dentaliy it is fair 70 note that during
four Of these six years The Sentinel
has every week devoted page 10 the
subject Of state development. While
other papers hare done much, TIE
Seminal has the distinction OF not
having missed a week in four years
During these six years thousands
Of settlers have gone upon land in the
upper counties. There are no COM
plete record OF the number-probably
Is 90 TO u, 700 have made their start
on a new home on what was idle
land. Instead Of growing brush and
berry bushes, that land now is pro-
ducing milk and meat Instead Of the
land being liability 70 the state. il
il DOW an asset. A million acres or
more have been taken and a portion
Of it already is under cultivation.
Were it not for the upper counties
the census Of 1910 would have shown
less cultivated land in Wisconsin than
in 1900.
ADD TO sTATK's WEALTH.
What has been added to the wealth
Of the state by the settlement that
has prevailed during the six year Pc
Rod covered by the Wisconsin Ad-
yaneement association it would be
difficult TO estimate-but it is evident
that these settlers have added an ag-
gregate Of scores Of millions Of del
lars to the tax rolls of the state. They
will continue making annual sddi-
lions to Wisconsin's wealth. and
other thousands will follow and Join
them ia the work.
W hat the state is gaining in the de-
velopment Of the great areas of the
upper country is measured by the pro-
duction Of the older counties. Take
a single instance--we are proud of the
fact that our production Of 800. 600, y
90 worth Of dairy products each year
places Us at the head of the dairy
states. But there is room in the up
per counties and the best of condi-
tions to add another 800 90 600.
ntil recently there was some Ques-
ton between Wisconsin and New
] York as to dairy supremacy We
had the upper counties developed
there would have been no room for
Question.
Indicating the rapidlty of develop
ment / will say that two years ago
when We revised our map of ereamer-
les and cheese factories it was neces-
sary to add four creameries in one of
the upper counties, where previously
one was shown. Now in gathering
information for another revision we
/ find it necessary TO add four more. a
growth in snch a short time from one
to five and then to nine is phenOmen-
al, but it is suggestive of what is go
ing on all through the upper region.
The assessment rolls show that be.
tween 1902 and 1912 the increase In
the twenty-five most northern coun-
ties was 1918 per cent. while in the
twenty-five most southern counties 1t
was 8S.4 per cent-the latter is a
splendid increase, the former is re
markahle. If we could segregate the
lands that were settled upon in recent
years we would find the increase Il
be from 500 to /. 900 per cent. Suef
are some of the advantages coming
from settlement and development il
the upper counties.
SECTION Is DEVELOPING.
But there are other advantages. CT
ties and towns are springing up al
through the upper counties. watei
powers are being developed. Rail
roads are receiving added traffic
which under our system of regulation
means lower rates or at least tn
avoidance of increased rates. Thi
coming of better markets close q
hand is as important to manufacture
ers IS more people means larger mar
kets for Wisconsin products. Wis
consin people are good consumers
and as they are prosperous every yea
they are able to pay their bills. Tn
? Wisconsin manufacturer, merchant
p aud banker. should be the most ard
ent advocates for state development
Upper Wisconsin is going ahes'
splendidly No other state is receiy
! ing as many settlers and surely n