The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1920-08-21
WOOD RIVERS GROWTH
EDUE TO REMARKABLE
VISION OF YOUNG MAN
Population Gain Has Thus Far
Outstripped All Others
in 1920 Count
(By United Press)


Wood River, Ills, August 21.-The
growth of Wood River-America's
magic city-is due to the keen vision
of an ambitious young man inspired
to big future thru the advice OF his
employer.
That is the story they tell at the
Standard Oil Company's refinery here.
It's an old story to inhabitants OF
this industrial and home city, but 1t
Is of especial interest now that the
federal census of 1920 has been an
nounced giving Wood River popula-
tion of 3,476, or a gain Of 4,038. per
cent since 1910, when there were only
48 souls within its borders.
Wood Rivers population gain has
far outstripped that Of any other city
or town so far announced since the
1920 count was made.
The story goes that the manager
Of the general office Of the Standard
Oil Company, located near Chicago
called in a typical young American
business employee and said:
"I've got job with future for
you. The opportunity for advance
ment is unlimited If you will only
put your shoulder to the wheel. 1t
will be hard grind, but you can do
it.
1--WE are building a refinery at
townsite near St. Louis and l want
you to go down there to run things.
When the refinery is completed I am
positive the town will grow. There
is nobody there now, and it will be a
lonesome place to live.
"Now go to it: You can make out
Of it what you will. You must leave
tonight. o, yes, the place is called
Wood River"
The young chap went home to tell
his wife-just slip Of girl. They
got out their maps and began search
for Wood River. But all in vain.
Nowhere on any available map of H.
linois was there to be found even
dot marked Wood River.
At any rate. the young couple
bought tickets for St. Louis, and on
arriving in the Missouri city made
inquiry regarding their new home
site. Nobody had heard of the place,
although a railroad official admitted
having heard of refinery the Stand
ard was erecting out near Alton, 1lli-
nois. More questions at the inter-
ruban station finally, drew reply that
Ia local car made<a stop at a place
called Wood River.
Detrained at the spot, the young
couple found the town did not even
boast a railroad station, although
two important trunk lines between
Chicago and St. Louis passed thru.
The only sign of habitation was
house or so where lived the workmen
building the refinery.
The Chicago boy shuddered. His
wife burst into tears. She was for
returning at once. The husband grit
ted his teeth, however, and recalled
what his boss had told him about the
future of the town and his own op-
portunities. So they stuck to their
Jobs. In a few weeks they had a
comfortable home built. and with the
completion of the refinery more peo-
pie moved in Most Of them, however,
preferred to live in Alton. half doz-
en- miles away, or St. Louis, or its
Illinois suburban places, less than
an hour from Wood River.
Smith, lets call the young mana
ger, was quick to see that. although
the refinery work was attracting in
habitants, there was no life in the
town for their families to enjoy. nor
any place to go when the days work
was done. So he wrote his boss
that he'd need capital to provide
moving picture show, drug store, a
grocery and maybe library. The
money was quickly forthcoming,
with the result that when workmen
saw that they could have enjoyment
in Wood River without paying car
fare to adjacent towns, they decided
to buy property and build homes.
So Smith set aside some of his COM