Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-08-31
SEES INDUSTRIAL
CENTER In WAUSAU
X. S. MARKSTRUM WRITES
LETTER TO PILOT AFTER
VISIT HERE

Livery HOW anu tileH some former
Wausau resident remembers The
Pilot and its readers. X. S. Mark
strum who last week visited his
brother, Gus Markstrum and his sis
ter, Mrs. B. A. Benson in Wausau,
mailed us the following letter after
he left the city:
Editor Pilot: Having again made
an annual pilgrimage to the "far
away" Wausau, and as a constant
reader of your interesting Marathon
county news, it may be appropriate
for some outside comments.
Just year having passed, Wausau
and her improvements in that short
time are worthy of public recognition,
and first of all there comes the big
dam across the Wisconsin river, now
under construction, by the Electric
company. When completed it will
wipe out for good the old and early
conceptions of the lumbertown up in
the woods by Big Bull Falls. The
bull may still be there but the
falls will pass into oblivion.
Not being fortunate or discreet
enouga to be accompanied by an ex-.
pert, the writer being prone to stroll
about on observations of this kind;
this magnificent undertaking, which
indeed will remain as the lasting mon
ument to Wausau enterprise and pro-
greSs, cannot be treated as it deserves,
yet imagination and reasonable famil-
iarity with electric possibilities, the
white Coal' to modern development,
can from this picture Wausau as the
prnat noonY1fa HtItrino onA h1tcin
metropolis of the whole Wisconsin
valley if not of the state as well.
Something the writer, coming into
Wausau forty-six years ago, with Dan
Scott's stage, would hardly have
thought probable.
And the old-timers, then parking
around the old Forest House, big box
store, discussing the latest fleet of
lumber down the river, ETC., would
rather be with old Rip Van Winkle re-
turning from his long sleep.
One decided conundrum arises
where do the residents of Wausau get
the means for all the fine residences,
evidently not confined to what is term
ed the upper class?" The writer
took the federal census in Wausau in
1880 and of course had to visit every
house and family. Residences of any
special elegance were as rare as
hens teeth in those days, but now
one feels rather timid midst all this
luxury
Politically the old town seems as
stirring as ever only the combatants
are radically changed. Having had
the pleasure of meeting the mayor of
Oshkosh, now candidate for the
United States senate, and contemplat-
ing his fervid eloquence on personal
liberty" one could but reflect that,
after all, it did not rest on a be 9r keg.
In holding fact to the intuition and
spirit which formed this union of
states and it's protective genius of an
intelligent electorate guided by free
speech and a free press, our ships
of state will sail on the hope of free
dom and the salvation of democracy
at home first and last. Parties, politi
clans and interested office holders may
get excited, but the plain citizen and
voter will come out safe.
AS an indication of cooler thought
one finds that the Hun" of year ago
is again our erman fellow citizen as
of yore. And on the trip this time
over the county, from Wausau to Col
by and back by way of Marsnfield,
and through old John Week logging
grounds. along the Eau Pleine, one
readily realizes that fellow citizen is
entitled to his share of 100 per cent
AmericaniSm.
At Unity the old timers John Salter
and Alfred Cook were met and the
days when the "Isrealites" fought and
bled together were gone over in more
particular details. John Salter seems
as industrious as ever, now in the
stock raising line, and it was a pleas
ure to inspect his stock and para
phernalia for modern system in that
industry, though the writer was some
what non-plussed at the prices he
put on his thoroughbreds. Not being
a farmer. cattle at that price is too
much of luxury. At Knowlton where
the writer had his first lodging and
meals in Marathon county. at the
Guenther hosiery, one had expected
TO find its old standby, Charley Guen-
ther, but as in the past, he was off on
some hunting or fishing expedition.
The old farm, however, was still
there and, except for the big house,
was quite familiar. Nor was Knowl-
ton, around the depot at least, much
changed. 1t rather emphasized the
future of purely logging and lum-
bering settlement.
Between Knowlton and Mosinee.
where years ago the writer was much
interested, evidences of progress were
marked. The old Damon, Bowen and
Cole premises are now decided revel-
ations in their broad, big fields in
grain and their big barns, and general
appearances of thrift and prosperity.
| But one looked in vain for any marks