USA > Wisconsin > An illustrated history of the state of Wisconsin : being a complete civil, political, and military history of the state, from its first exploration down to 1875 > Part 53
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The Montello River, a large mill- stream, empties into the Fox at this place, and furnishes power for one-half mile of machinery, which is not one- fourth part improved. The inhabitants are made up of one-third Americans, one-third Gerinans, and one-third Irish. A large majority of the settlers came in poor, and are now in good circumstan- ces, some of them getting rich. Land is worth from five to fifteen dollars an acre; and there can yet be found good chances for several hundred families to make good homes, with very little money. Railroad facilities are excel- lent. The climate of the county is good, the water excellent, and the peo- ple are healthy and happy; and others who come amongst us to live will be made to enjoy all the blessings we have enumerated.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY. - This county contains about a hundred and fifty-two thousand acres of land, of which about nine thousand acres lie within the cor- porate limits of the city of Milwaukee. Four - fifths of the entire amount of farming-lands are under improvement, and together with the nnimproved lands, which are mostly timber, and often
1 We are Indebted to Hon. S. A. Pease of Montello for the materials for this sketch. - C. R. T.
more valuable than the improved, have an average value of seventy-five dollars per acre.
The annual report of the Chamber of Commerce for 1871 shows the assessed value of real estate in the city of Mil- wankee to be 835,288,391. In extent of marine commerce, it ranks as the fourth city in the United States. The number of entries at the custom-house during the year 1873 were 4,878, with a total tonnage of 1,947,119 tons, and of clear- ances, 4,877, representing an aggregate tonnage of 1,938,414 tons. The receipts of grain for the year 1872 were 19,212,394 bushels, of which 13,617,939 bushels were wheat.
The shipments of flour were 1,232,036 barrels, and the amount manufactured in the city 560,206 barrels. The ship- ments of wheat to eastern and Canadian markets during the year amounted to 11,520,575 bushels.
The total number of hogs packed in the city during the year 1873 was 310,- 913. The total receipts of foreign mer- chandise, exclusive of railroad-iron, pig- iron, salt, plaster, and coal, received at Milwaukee during the same year, were 154,966 tons. Of railroad-iron, there were received 8,446 tons; 35,000 tons additional were manufactured there, making a grand total of 43,446 tons; 49,090 tons of pig- iron were received during the same year, and 111,489 tons of iron ore.
Thus will be seen, very succinctly stated, the business annually transacted in the cornercial emporinm of Wiscon- sin; and it is annually increasing with that marvellous rapidity incident to the rapid settlement of the Western World.
Milwaukee contains between fifty and sixty churches, belonging to various de- nominations; has nine large and elegant public school-buildings, where the chil- dren of the poor and the rich are alike educated free of expense. For salubrity of climate, it is unsurpassed in location; and the annual death-rate per thousand is less than that of either of its neigh- bors, Chicago or St. Louis.
Situated as it is, with its great facili- ties for lake-commerce. and the thon- sands of miles of railways radiating throughout the great North-west, it can- not fail to continue to be, what it now is, the commercial emporium of Wis- consin, and one of the three great busi- ness centres of the North - western United States,
Milwaukee, the principal commercial city of Wisconsin, and county-seat of Milwaukee County, is situated on the west shore of Lake Michigan, at the month of Milwaukee River, ninety miles north of Chicago, and seventy- five miles east of Madison. Lat. 43º 3' 45" N .; long. 87º 57' W. The river approaches from the north, in a direc-
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tion nearly parallel with the lake-shore, and is joined, about a half-mile from its month, by the Menomonee River, which comes from the west. The largest boats of the lakes can ascend the river two miles from its month, as also the Me- nomonee for some distance from its con- fluence with the Milwaukee. The gov- ernment has expended large sums of money for the improvement of the har- bor, in addition to the appropriation by the city anthorities; so that the city has one of the best harbors on the whole chain of lakes. The city is pleasantly situated upon each side of the river. It contains twenty - one public schools, United States court, and post-office, ten banks, forty-eight Protestant, ten Catho- lic, and two Jewish churches, twenty- four academies and select schools, six temperance organizations, sixteen Ma- sonic, twelve Odd Fellows, twenty-five other secret societies, thirty benevolent organizations, three orphan - asylumns, and two hospitals. The Catholics have a large convent called "Convent Notre Dame." Some eight or more railroads centre at Milwaukee. The city is the outlet and shipping-port of a rich and rapidiy improving country. It is the greatest primary wheat-market in the world. The receipts of flour and grain for the year ending July 31, 1874, were 39,051,079 bushels of wheat and flour, and 4,241,040 of coarse grains. Total, of all kinds, 43,292,119 in bushels. And the exports of flour, 2,217,59; of wheat, 22,255,380; of coru, 556,563; of oats, 726,- 035. The total number of hogs packed in 1874-75 was 248,197 head. The re- ceipts of lumber were 141,460,000. There were a hundred and twenty-eight ves- sels registered at Milwaukee, with a tonnage of 26,396,24.
Milwaukee is remarkable for its healthful climate and for the rapidity of its growth. It has a large number of manufactories of flour, woollen goods, rolling-mills, which are too numerous to detail.
Its prospects as one of the largest and most important of our Western cities are unequalled. Population, 1875, 100,- 775.
MONROE COUNTY.1- The general sur- face of the county is rolling, in some parts quite rough. Several dividing ridges traverse nearly the whole length of the county in different directions. Their tops usually spread out into level table-lands, which are frequently many miles in area. The soil in the northern part is mostly sandy, some clay ridges, and small black loam prairies. In the north-eastern part are extensive tracts of white and Norway pine-timber, and
1 We are indebted to B. S. D. Hollister and George Runkel for the materials for this sketch. - C. R. T.
large natural hay and cranberry mead- ows. The southern part is a rich clay- loam, very productive and durable, being choice farming-lands, well suited to grain and fruit raising. Here is pro- duced some of the finest white winter wheat in the West.
The county contains five hundred and seventy-five thousand acres, about one- fourth of which is now under cultiva- tion; and fully three-fourths of the re- mainder can be made available for farm- ing-purposes, about fifty thousand acres, which they are selling at two dollars and a half and upwards per acre, giving three years' time on a part of the pur- chase-money.
There are many valuable water-pow- ers, principally improved on the La Crosse River at Sparta, Angelo, Lafay- ette, and Leon; on the Lemonweir Riv- er, at Tomah; on the Kickapoo, at Wil- ton and in the town of Sheldon; on the Barraboo, at Glendale. On the smaller streams are several choice locations, which are yet unimproved.
No mines are yet opened here. There are indications of iron, lead, copper, and plumbago.
The principal timber in the southern half of the county is white and red oak, white-walnut, hickory, sugar-maple, ash, and linden; in the northern part, white and red oak, white and Norway pine, tamarack, and spruce.
Red bricks of good quality are made in various parts of the county. In the southern part, some beds of valuable fire-clay have been found, and a rock very similar to the French burr mill- stones.
Being located on the head-waters of the La Crosse, Lemonweir, Barraboo, and Kickapoo Rivers, with no lakes or navigable streams, the inhabitants are dependent on the railroads to carry their products to market. The Milwaukee aud St. Paul and Chicago and North-western traverse the county from east to west, while the north-western part is crossed by the West Wisconsin and Wisconsin Valley Railroads, in opposite directions, thus bringing all parts of the county within easy reach of this means of con- munication. Other lines will doubtless be constructed within a few years, en- larging these facilities to a still greater degree.
Some deer and hear are still found in the woods; and the game-birds of the State are quite plenty. The streams abound in brook-trout, pickerel, bass, &c. Trout-raising is being carried on to a limited extent; and many localities exist where the business could be suc- cessfully and profitably prosecuted.
The staple products are winter and spring wheat, oats, corn, barley, rye, and buckwheat. All the grains usual to this latitude do well here. The tame
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grasses grow finely. The shipments of wheat and flour from this county from the crop of 1872 will be about three hun- dred thousand bushels of wheat, and sixty thousand barrels of flour, both averaging a very superior grade. Im- proved farms are worth from fifteen dol- lars to seventy-five dollars per acre, ac- cording to quality, improvements, and location.
More than half the population is American. The principal foreigners are Germans, settled in the southern towns; quite a Norwegian settlement in the town of Portland. Schools are abundant and good. A graded school with twelve teachers at Sparta, and another with four teachers at Tomah. Churches in various parts of the county. In the vil- lages, the different denominations are well represented, and have comfortable houses of worship. Population of the county is now about twenty thousand. Sparta, the county-seat, has about four thousand. Substantial county-buildings were erected several years ago. This village has a paper-mill, woollen-fac- tory, foundery, and machine-shop, two flouring-mills, sash, blind, and door fac- tory, and other manufacturing industries. Here are also several flowing artesian wells, the magnetic and medicinal prop- erties of whose waters are attracting the attention of invalids in all parts of the country. Large numbers of people, attracted by the beauty of the scenery, the purity of the air, and the general healthfulness of the locality, come here to spend the summer, and thus escape the fervent heat of more southern climates. The Milwaukee and St. Paul, and Chicago and North-western Rail- roads, both touch at this place.
Tomah has about two thousand inhab- itants, and is at the junction of the Wis- consin Valley with the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. A large flouring-mill and some other manufacturing institu- tions are located there. An artesian well is being sunk there, with every prospect of a successful result. Other smaller but very thriving villages are springing up along the lines of the vari- ous railroads.
Monroe County, with its climate free from all malaria, and of unsurpassed healthfulness, with its thousands of acres of land awaiting the hand of in- dustry to render it productive, with its millions of pine and hard-wood timber yet to be manufactured, with its mineral resources entirely undeveloped, offers excellent inducements for people to settle within its borders.
OCONTO COUNTY. - Oconto County comprises that portion of North-eastern Wisconsin most valuable for its timber and farming lands, its immense and unrivalled water-power, its mineral de- posits and fisheries.
It is bounded on the east by the wa- ters of Green Bay and the Menomonee River, - the first navigable for sail-ves- sels and steamers of the largest size, hav- ing a shore of about forty-five miles in Oconto County, and receiving in and from the same county three large rivers and several smaller rivers and streams.
Oconto County embraces an area of over five thousand square miles. It is estimated that, of the unsettled portion of the county, about one-third of the area is covered with pine and hemlock, one- third with sugar-maple and other hard woods, and the remainder with cedar, ash, elm, tamarack, and such timber as is usually found on alluvial soils. Almost the whole surface of the county is traversed and drained by numerous streams. The south-eastern portion of the county is rolling, and, near the shore of Green Bay, level; the north-western portion more broken and rocky.
About twenty years ago the county was almost an unbroken wilderness, a single saw-mill on each stream, no road traversing the county, and no farmers. Now the county is traversed by three principal roads from south to north, and numerous roads intersecting the towns in every direction, and making accessi- ble the pine and farming lands of the county. The single saw-mills have grown to a family of giants, fashioning into boards and timber the huge pines as fast as three thousand men and a thousand teams can bring them, and a hundred ships carry the lumber away.
The population of the county is 8,322, a majority of whoin are foreigners. The largest portion of the county is still owned by government, as the invest- ment of capital has been almost wholly confined to pine-lands. The govern- ment sells its land at from seventy-five cents to a dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. The actual settler has the right of pre-emption to a hundred and sixty acres for one year before he is obliged to pay for his land. But to the Homestead Act this region owes much of its late rapid growth and prosperity. Lands in and about the settlements are for sale at from two to five dollars per acre. The climate is healthy; and the winter has advantages which fully com- pensate for its length.
The northern portion of the county is rich in mineral deposits, which are des- tined to become a most important ele- ment of prosperity. A very considera- ble branch of industry must soon grow up by the establishment of blast-fur- naces. The rivers and streams travers- ing the county are used, at present, mainly as high ways, over which float the logs and timber for the different mills. They afford, also, unlimited water- power, the value of which is just begin- ning to be appreciated. For the manu-
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facture of alinost every article in wood, for saw-mills, grist-miils, tanneries, and factories, we have, ahuost at our doors, an abundance of cheap motive-power.
As a grain-growing county, its reputa- tlon Is established. A inore certain har- vest, a good and even yield, plump ber- ries, with more and better flour, are had here than in more sonthern latitudes. The grass-crop is one of the most profit- able. Worth from eighteen to twenty- five dollars per ton, at present, hay must, in the future, command nearly or quite as good a price as now. It Is esti- inated, that over one thousand tons are annually imported into this county. A large portion of the present supply is taken from the natural meadows, and, of course, is of an Inferior quality. A much sinalier quantity of the wild grasses would be used, and no hay would be imported, if the home-supply was sufficient.
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY. - Agriculture is the prominent interest in this county, for which the configuration of its sur- face, the fertility of Its soil, and its accessibility to market, are especially adapted; yet it has equal facilities for mannfactures, which will be fully de- veloped at no distant day. The water- power furnished by the Lower Fox, which passes through its south-eastern corner, and by the Wolf River and its many tributaries, is unexcelled, either in extent or availability. It has, also, an abundance of material for manufactur- ing purposes in the heavy timber with which a large portion of the county is covered.
The county has an area of sixteen townships, of which 75,935 acres are iu- proved. The soil is principaliy a black loam, with a subsoil of stiff clay. There is considerable low, or swamp land in the county; but a large portion of it is susceptible of drainage, and will eventu- ally become the most fertile and pro- ductive land of the State. Wheat Is largely cultivated. The census returns of 1870 give a total of 353,187 bushels. Next in importance are oats and corn: of oats, 200,000 busheis were raised; of corn, 56,331 bushels; potatoes, 66,725 bushels; wool, 34,799 ponuds were grown; butter, 282,704 pounds were made. The sum total of our agricultural produc- tious foot up $1,788,224. The popula- tion of the county is given as 18,400.
Appleton is the leading city of the county, and is the seat of a large manu- facturing business. It has a population of about six thousand.
rivalled facilities for manufacturing, of nearly all kinds. "Although there are other cities," says Mr. A. J. Reed, "sit- uated In this valley, which possess, In some degree, great natural advantages like ourselves, stili there are none whose present prosperity Is more rapid, or whose prospective development is as promising as that of Appleton. It pos- sesses ail of the natural characteristics necessary for a manufacturing city of great distinction; and while it is uo part of the object of this work to detract from the merits of neighboring cities, which share in common with us, to a great ex- tent, the rich heritage by which Nature has distinguished this locality, it is nevertheless true, that it maintains a position of marked superiority over its rivals, by reason of both its natural characteristics and the Improvements which have already been made. These considerations are of primary and great importance to the business-man who is seeking profitable investment for his capital. While other advantages, cal- culated to minister to his æsthetic tastes, enter into, and oftentimes determine, his decision, it is the material features of a place which receive his most favorable attention; but the city in which both are combined is that to which his pref- erence is invariably giveu. . That Apple- ton is a representative of this favored class is a question on which there Is no dispute among those who are familiar with Its attractions.
"Some of the salient features of the water-power on the Lower Fox River have been partially set forth in the pre- vions pages; but a more elaborate de- scription of the power at Appleton will be proper in this connection. Its supe- riority appears when a comparison of Its features is made with the other prin- cipal powers of the country. Its supply is not drawn from mountain-torrents, like the Miil River of Massachusetts, the Hudson, and Merrimack, and other prin- cipal rivers of the country, but fromn smaller streams, ramifying a vast ex- panse of undulating country ; thus ren- derlng a uniformity of flowage, instead of excessive or limited discharges. In addition to this, as If to combine in this series of water-powers the advantages of all others, Nature has provided im- mense reservoirs, sufficient in capacity to contain the accumulation of the upper streams, tributary thereto for months together; and the uniformity of flowage is thereby more strictly preserved. So closely related is the maxhunm and minimum quantity discharged, that the difference is never greater than three feet, and is scarcely ever more than thirty Inches. The practical manufac- turer will draw his own conclusions as to the advantages of this arrangement,
The Fox River, In its present condi- tion, furnishes a good outlet for the pro- ductions of a large portion of the county, and also the most extensive water-power In the State. The whole Lower Fox- River Valley, In which Appleton is located, presents, on every hand, un- I so admirably designed by Nature. His
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first impression will be, that up to a cer- tain point, which can be ascertained, the capacity of the power can be utilized, and, with absolute certainty, that the force calculated upon will be unfailing throughout the entire year. The manu- facturer who is located on a fluctuating stream, and who is compelled to sus- pend operations a considerable portion of every year, will appreciate this ad- vantage. Then, too, there are other con- siderations that will scarcely escape his notice. Owing to this gradual flow of water, there is absolutely no danger whatever, from freshets, to mills, fac- tories, and warehouses at this point. Raw materials, manufactured stock, and the foundations of buildings which are thirty-six inches above low-water mark, are never reached nor interfered with by the swelling currents of the river. The same causes also operate to render dams of ordinary stability, and struc- tures of every kind, built to resist the natural flow of the water, entirely safe againt the increased pressure created by swollen streams. Too much cannot be said concerning the advantage of this natural security. When we come to consider the terrible disasters to life and property which frequently occur upon other streams, it is more fully appre- clated. The Mill-river calamity, of re- cent date, which spread such appalling devastation along one of the most beau- tiful and industrious valleys of New England, and by which nearly two hun- dred lives were destroyed, and the ac- cumulated property of a century swept away, is at least sufficient to turn the attention of the practical mind to another locality, which possesses every natural advantage in a superior degree, separated from the dangers which usual- ly attend rapidly-flowing streams. It may also be remarked, that the rigor of this northern climate does not embarrass the driving of machinery in this valley, which is an advantage possessed by few localities claiming the distinction which we enjoy. Block-ice is never created on our rapids to clog the revolution of ma- chinery; nor is it ever carried down by the surging stream in quantities large enough to endanger property, or put a stop upon our industrial operations. It is by no means an extravagant statement to make, that, all things considered, Ap- pleton presents a water-power unrivalled by any other on the continent, or even in the world. It is true that its advan- tages may not be generally known among the prominent moneyed men of the coun- try; but a few, however, have become familiar with its merits, and to whose opinions we shall allow expression in this connection Hon. William B. Og- den of Chicago, one of the most desery- edly successful business - men in the whole country, says, -
"There is more value in dollars and cents in the water-power at Appleton, than any other I have ever known.'
"Again; Mr. Gustavus Amnes, one of the most successful inventors of this decade, and prominent manufacturer of Rochester, N. Y., says, -
"'I would not change the power in your city for any like quantity in any other place, because of its immense body; and, for purposes where pure water is required, no place can compare to the power in Appleton.'
"Mr. Ames is an extensive manufac- turer of paper; and, of course, he at- taches proper emphasis to a point which he regards as being very important. And it is undeniably true, that Appleton is unrivalled by any other place in the country as a location for industries of this class.
"Hon. Hiram Barney of New York expresses his opinion in these words, - "'It would be unjust to bespeak for Appleton a future like Manchester, Leeds, or Birmingham, or like Lowell, Paterson, or Rochester; for its natural advantages are greater than are pos- sessed by all of those cities combined. Capital only is wanting to realize all that imagination can picture of prosper- ity to this valley, of which this beauti- ful city is the centre; and this want will be of short duration. When the advan- tages of its water-power shall reveal the profits which capital invested will earn for its owners, money, in millions, will naturally seek at that point its safety and its increase.'
"These are the deliberate expressions of men who represent the business-en- terprise of three great cities of the con- tinent, and who are competent to judge fully of the magnificent advantages which the Appleton water-power pos- sesses. Some of them, with others equally prominent, have practically il- Instrated their faith in its value by in- vesting capital, at this point, in the Fox- river Valley; and the fact that these words have been uttered after the re- sults of their investments became known, gives to them additional force." 1
Appleton, the county-seat of Outaga- mle County, is located on the banks of the Lower Fox River, on the line of the Chicago and North-western Railroad, two hundred and thirteen miles from Chicago, and eighty miles from Green Bay. It has a railroad connection with all the Important points in the State, and a water-communication with the Mississippi and the lake. The water- power of the Lower Fox is immense : this power between Winnebago Lake and Green Bay, with a run of a hundred
1 From a pamphlet on the Advantages of the Lower Fox-River Valley, edited by Mr. A. J. Reed of Appleton. - C. R. T.
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