USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo County, Wisconsin > Part 33
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CATTLE AND CALVES.
ON HAND.
SLAUGHTERED.
TOWNS, VILLAGES , AND CITIES.
No
Value.
No.
Value.
Alma
1,660
17,835
73
$ 1,308
Alma, city
41
590
Belvidere
1,336
14,663
35
516
Buffalo.
1,006
12,765
29
565
Buffalo, city
155
2,490
7
146
Canton
1,343
15,998
268
6,315
Cross
1,357
19,749
25
430
Dover
1,350
20,828
380
8,838
Fountain City
160
2,815
Gilmanton
I,515
28,040
117
3,333
Glencoe
1,725
21,127
.223
5,384
Lincoln
1,401
15,440
73
1,729
Maxville
869
15,550
132
4,295
Milton
853
10,960
21
400
Modena
1,469
21,644
146
3,804
Mondovi
1,618
21,605
62
1,306
Montana
2,242
20,955
100
2,273
Naples
1,539
23,729
111
2,450
Nelson
1,122
16,838
159
3,594
Waumandee
2,912
25,314
379
9,442
Total
15,213
$ 392,847
2,280
$ 56,057.
390
AGRICULTURE.
DAIRY PRODUCTS.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
Pounds.
Value.
Pounds.
Value.
Alma ..
4,575
$ 175.00
8,205
$ 976
Alma, city
2,110
211.00
8,620
862
Buffalo.
9,415
1,524
Buffalo, city
150
15.00
3,785
559
Canton
23,635
2,398
Cross
4,380
411.00
15,825
1,647
Dover
200
18.00
26,705
4,453
Fountain City
140
15,00
6,345
1,144
Gilmanton.
6,825
983500
20,510
4,038
Glencoe
400
29.00
23,140
2,965
Lincoln .
2,960
326.00
18,529
2,950
Maxville
14,875
2,299
Milton
795
79.00
6,630
961
Modena
230
25.00
34,875
5,637
Mondovi
32,684
3,595.00
24,630
2,463
Montana
3,775
332,60
24,602
3,566
Naples
23,373
3,787
Nelson
1,150
117.00
32,630
4,765
Waumandee
2,500
285.00
86,450
8,856
CHEESE.
BUTȚER.
Belvidere
The inconsistencies in the tables of "Cattle and Calves " are not so apparent as in some of the preceding tables, although the critic acquainted with the situation of the different towns might find some reasonable objections to make, or questions to ask. With regard to the tables of Dairy Products I think that that of Butter is more accurate than that of Cheese but that both are not accurate enough. That in the City of Alma neither butter nor cheese should be produced, may cause the impression that it is a factory town, with nothing rural about it, while in fact we have several farms within our corporation, and we know that on at least one of them not only butter but also cheese is produced for sale in town. A glaring error in the printed tables giving 60,825 pounds of cheese for Gilmanton, I corrected by striking out the 0, as I found that then the amount of value would give about 14 cents per pound, which would not be an unreasonable average, or about as much as a fair quality of cheese should bring in market.
391
AGRICULTURE.
SHEEP, LAMBS AND WOOL.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
ON HAND.
SLAUGHTERED
WOOL.
No.
Value.
No.
Value.
Pounds,
Value.
Alma
623
$ 1,382.00
96 $ 285.00
2,346
$ 342
Alma, city
331
331.00
35
56.00
1,225
127
Buffalo
386
770.00
~16
45.00
1,217
187
Buffalo, city
Canton
1,242
1,879.50
148
322.00
4,194
670
Cross .
459
894.00
1,572
332
Dover
1,194
2,392.00
202
570.00
4,189
899
Fountain City
51
93.00
165
33
Gilmanton
829
1,527.00
72
217.00
3,210
638
Glencoe
1,082
1,846.00
286
738.00
5,874
928
Lincoln
483
1,022.00
28
82.00
1,837
342
Maxville
721
1,532.00
74
220.00
2,901
376
Milton
162
450.00
7
20.00
735
146
Modena
1,065
2,158.00
119
323.00
2,831
555
Mondovi.
1,306
2,522.00
69
162.50
4,128
654
Montana
831
1.708.00
59
169.00
2,658
518
Naples
519
878.00
53
125.00
878
135
Nelson
519
1,013.00
62
181.00
2,834
708
Waumandee
892
2,015.00
141
465.00
3,125
695
Total
12,700 $24,442.50 1467 $3,980.50
45,919 $ 8,286
The tables on Sheep and Lambs were entirely separated from the table on Wool, but I thought proper to unite them, since there can be no sheep without producing some wool, nor any wool with- out sheep to grow upon. The table of these animals "on hand" rather surprised me, as I had no idea that there were so many sheep, nor can I yet imagine that not more than 1467 of these ani- mals were slaughtered during the year, since this number would afford only four heads per day for the whole county. I do not, however, pretend to be very accurately posted on the point.
The tables on "Hogs" "on hand," and "slaughtered" do not present any contradictions beyond those common to similar tables with the exception of the fact, that no hog should have been slaughtered in the City of Alma, when it must be clear to any one acquainted there, that about as many hogs must have been
Belvidere
392
AGRICULTURE.
slnughtered as there were on hand, as probably none were ever kept, except for the purpose of being slaughtered within the year. My nose disputes this assertion, but although it always leads, it still is not supposed to possess much judgment.
HOGS.
ON HAND.
SLAUGHTERED.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
No.
Value.
No.
Value.
Alma
727
$ 2,994
892
$ 6,583
Alma, city
20
73
Belvidere
·
554
1,483
537
2,087
Buffalo.
448
1,892
475
4,784
Buffalo, city
153
484
145
1,304
Canton
1,649
3,580
1,164
9,907
Cross
687
2,030
619
5,447
Dover
1,187
2,897
892
6,735
Fountain City
62
243
36
383
Gilmanton
1,809
5,232
985
9,317
Glencoe.
1,376
3,913
1,212
10,674
Lincoln ..
760
2,251
289
2,554
Maxville
1,196
5,729
1,019
9,856
Milton
569
1,529
297
2,902
Modena
1,241
5,053
1,359
12,062
Mondovi
2,097
6,094
595
6,032
Montana
2,127
5,916
1,281
11,262
Naples
868
3,854
812
6,856
Nelson
1,183
5,328
1,234
10,416
Waumandee
2,427
7,052
1,370
14,076
Total
21,140
$ 67,627
15,213
$ 133,347
AGRICULTURE.
393
HORSES AND MULES.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
No.
Value.
Remarks.
Alma
436
$ 26,535
Alma, city
13
945
Very inaccurate.
Belvidere
353
18,730
Buffalo
259
20,800 Rather highpriced, compar-
Buffalo, city
31
2,795
atively.
Canton
395
. 26,808
Cross
350
22,595
Dover
308
30,545
There is some doubt about it.
Fountain City
41
3,655 Too low in price
Gilmanton
405
36,460
Glencoe
386
34,470
Lincoln
375
25,885
Maxville.
254
22,205 Comparethe last three towns. -
Milton
192
14.990
Modena
373
32,450
do. the last two.
Mondovi
523
48,825
Montana
522
42,086
Naples
380
28,430
Nelson
360
54,305
Compare Naples and Nelson!
Waumandee
530
43,030
Total
6,486 $ 536,544 -$82.72 per head.
I know as well as anybody else that in no kind of domestic animals there is such a difference in value as in horses, but such a difference as we find between the valuations of some towns and others can not, and do not exist among horses in our county. The greater number of our horses are common stock, kept for common purposes, and only very few animals can be rated at fancy priees, stallions for breeding always excepted. The average price per head for the whole county is, according to my estimation, rather low, but I find that just where we might expect a high price in the sche- dule, we find a rather low one, and the reverse. My remarks in the table point to some surprises, rather than actual errors, which, however, are not only possible but highly probable. A most astonishing revelation, I think, is the statement that there are but 13 horses in the city of Alma. I am not quite sure, but there are more than that in the first ward, and were in 1885.
394
AGRICULTURE.
The following' table is given at the ;end of all the others as relating to the " hired help " required in all the different branches enumerated in the preceding ones. [[ The calculation per head dur- ing the whole year I have made myself from the statements given on the left side. This is the most astonishing of all the tables relating to the agricultural statistics of Buffalo County, and it seems impossible to explain the statements.
AGRICULTURAL, EMPLOYEES.
TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES.
Men ' employed.
Wages includ-' ing board.
Wages per man during the year. -
Alma.
23
. $ 576.50
$ 25.04
Alma, city
Belvidere
198
3,770.00
19:04
Buffalo
27
1,760.00
65.18
Buffalo, city
119
516.00
4.33
Canton
13
1,540.00
118.46
Cross
20
262.00
13.15
Dover.
43
3,050.00
70.93
Fountain City
11
2,313.00 .
210.27
Gilmanton
52
11,681.00
224.63 '
Glencoe
32
4,689.00
146.53
Lincoln
50
7,675.00
153.50
Maxville
19
4,095.00
215.52
Milton
34
1,305.00
38.08
Modena
23
3,652.00
158.78
Mondovi
22
2,430.00
110.45
Montana
63
8,096.00
128,50
Naples
11
2,840.00
258.18
Nelson
20
312.00
15.60
Waumandee
35
7,760.00
232.12
Total
815 $ 68,322.50
$ 116.75
It is impossible to reconcile the statements upon any princi- ple whatever, nor is it possible to explain how such differences as the above could be reported. As I can not here quote the instruc- tions under which these statistics, or any of the preceding ones, were supposed to be collected, I do not want to throw the blame: on any one in particular, but know from experience that the in-
395
AGRICULTURE.
structions sent to town clerks were liable to misinterpretation. Though I had nothing to do with them, and had neither time nor inclination to study them, I was asked more than once, what I "thought to be the meaning and import of certain points in them. Having for many years handled the "Educational Statistics" of this county, I know how difficult it is, to make some people com- prehend distinctions that seem to us unmistakable.
Having already apologized for the short-comings of the sta- tistics given, I will only add my general opinion of statistics of all kinds. That they are necessary and useful no one will deny, always provided that they are correct. This proviso is, however, seldom regarded. Not that those collecting them are necessarily wanting in intelligence or honesty, but the means for obtaining facts are usually, and more especially, if the collection has to be made among all kinds of people, not adequate to the requirements. Take for instance a farmer, required to state, how many acres of im- proved land he possesses, and you will find that in nine out of ten cases he will exceed the fact. I know that almost every farmer whose cultivated land I had to survey, was astonished to find that he had less than he supposed. Then again as to woodland, unless it is a forty or a definite fraction of it, there is a notorious uncer- tainty. These are only instances.
Accounts of produce are also very loosely kept, if at all. Sums are estimated on the spur of the moment, and the town clerk can not wait for the reflection, that might greatly modify state- ments, which for him it is almost impossible to contradict or to correct.
Another inherent fault of statistics is that they are frequently collected for one purpose and finally used for another, or that the purpose for which they are wanted is misunderstood and inquiries directed the wrong way.
I will say nothing of the possibility of using statistics to prove the very opposite assertions, but that they are sometimes so used, or attempted to be used, should of itself render everybody cautious in the handling of them.
But it is most certain that a critical study of even imperfect statistics would lead to a better understanding of principles on which they are collected, and the purposes for which they may and should be used. Any well settled and duly organized county
396
AGRICULTURE.
would feel it as a disgrace, should anybody write about its agri- culture and forget to mention its fair, that annual show of pump- kins, squashes, cabbages and other greens, besides stock of blood and grade, not to say much of horses and races, the latter always being made sufficient noise about, so as not to be overlooked. The Agricultural Society of Buffalo County was organized during the summer of 1872 with Robert Henry as President, John Hunner, jr., as Secretary, and J. W. DeGroff as Treasurer. It held its first annual fair on the 9th, 10th and 11th of October of that year, on the fair grounds at the town of Lincoln, on Sec. 12 T. 21 R. 12, south west of the bridge crossing Little Waumandee Creek in front of the Lincoln House. The first three fairs were moderate successes, but the next showed very strong decline. The site of the fair grounds had been selected for its central location, and its ac- cessibility from all points of the compass. But there were, never- theless some considerable objections to them. They were situated rather low, and on rich loamy land, on which the slightest rain was sure to make walking diragreeable and racing impossible. But the loudest complaint was on account of a want of accommoda- tion for the visitors. There was at that time only one tavern within six or eight miles of the grounds, and although this was closely adjacent, it could accommodate but very few persons at best. It is true the farmers in the neighborhood extended their hospitality on the occasions very generously but there was still much dissatisfaction. After the fifth fair it was concluded to remove the exhibition, buildings and appurtenances, to Alma, where accommodations for visitors were certainly sufficient, but those for the fair were not very easily found. After some disputes the buildings were located on John Hemrich's meadow close to the northern line of Section 13 of T. 21, R. 13. The buildings were on the slope between the Alma and Fountain City road and the level part, on which the race-track was laid out. The site chosen was about one mile below the center of the village. It was rather damp at any time, but once it was submerged and the horse-racing was converted into a logrolling match. The hall usually presented a very fine exhibition, but the stalls for cattle, horses and other animals were often empty, or filled with very indifferent animals. Unpropitious circumstances diminished the attendance very much, the institution did not pay, subsidies from private persons were
397
AGRICULTURE.
collected almost every year, and the people, of whom some had cherished the most sanguine expectations, became disgusted, and when in 1884 the people of Mondovi proposed to transfer the ex- hibition to their village, there was no regret at Alma for losing it.
The next exhibition, being the first one in Mondovi, was actually a greater success than any of the preceding ones, perhaps in everything, but more especially in cattle and horses. There may be some inclination to inquire into the reasons why the county-fair did not succeed any better in the lower part of the county. An almost sufficient answer may be found in looking at the shape of our county, and by remembering that the narrow part of it is also the hilly part, while the wider northern part, although not entirely level, is rather rolling than hilly, transporta- tion being more easy and not so circuitous. The northern part is also contiguous to parts of Trempealeau, Eau Claire and Pepin Counties of similar formation, and from which Mondovi can draw stock of all kinds. Mondovi, however, does not occupy a central position with regard to this county, and in fairness is not the place to hold any assembly consisting of the people of the whole county. We concede the fact that the most ambitious, or most of the am- bitious people do live in its vicinity, and that this gives it a per- fect right and title to the county-fair. If we wish that our imme- diate neighbors should be more ambitious, and not quite so jeal- ous of the merits of their neighbors, we hope it is no sin, but fear that our honest wish will not be verified.
Public assemblages in this country will not be allowed to pass without considerable noise. Some of this noise is made by a band, and sometimes is music, but always called such by the crowd, not for courtesy so much, but because of the similarity with the sounds proper to the crowd .- The other specific noise is made by pub- lic speakers. What applies to assemblages in general, must, of course, apply to county-fairs. At our fairs we had different speak- ers almost every year, of whom I remember Elder Morse, Hon. Ed. Lees, Hon. Conrad Moser jr., Auren Rockwell, Esq., Hon S. D. Hubbard, Hon. E. W. Keyes, Hon. Wm. T. Price, Hon. A. Finkelnburg, all of this state and Major Doughty of Lake City, Minnesota. During the time the fair remained in the lo werpart of the county, where the people of German nationality form the majority of the inhabitants, addresses were on most fairs delivered
398
AGRICULTURE.
in German, for which the author of this history was usually en- gaged.
It would hardly be of sufficient interest to the readers to in- sert premium lists, or award of prizes especially as we could not give all of them. So we may content ourselves with the notice that the fair for 1887 will be held at Mondovi on the 26, 27, and 28th day of September, and that the officers of the Buffalo County Agricultural Society for the present year are: J. W. Whelan, Mondovi, President; Alexander Lees, Gilmanton, Secretary, and Ryland Southworth, Mondovi, Treasurer.
399
MANUFACTURES.
MANUFACTURES.
In the preceding chapter on " Agriculture " I have already expressed my conviction that, ours is an agricultural community and that in fact almost every part of manufacture practiced in the county is directly connected with agriculture, be it for depending on the raw material on agricultural products, or finding in agri- culturists the bulk of costumers for its own products. In general we find the conditions for manufacturing enterprises in this county not very favorable, and new industries will hardly spring up in our midst. We do not possess any surplus quantity of raw mate- rial, which would want to be an object of manufacture, nor do we have a great abundance of natural mechanical force. Our water powers are almost all occupied by the existing mills, wood is no longer superabundant, coal we have none at all, and if the discov- ery of Iron is in any degree satisfactory, it will have to be shipped abroad for smelting, to points where fuel is abundant; though, of course, it is simply a question, which of the two, the ore or the fuel, will cost least in transportation.
Some explanations may be useful in the distinction between manufacturing and common mechanic's operations. In former times "manufacture" meant what the word expresses, "something made by hand." In later and in modern times it means some- thing produced by the aid of machinery, and by a minute div- ision of operations. The work of a mechanic, or artisan, a man working at his trade, might embrace all the operations necessary to turn out a certain piece of work, but it very seldom does. Then again two mechanics, as we often see in the familiar example of blacksmiths and wagon makers, might unite, and by their joint work produce a wagon, a plow, etc., each doing the work of his trade. This would not usually be regarded as manufacturing unless nothing but wagons, etc., would be made. But it would give a similar establishment the character of a factory as soon as
400
MANUFACTURES.
there would be a greater number of men, who would either by hand alone or by the assistance of machines, work together for the construction of wagons, plows, and other agricultural iniplements requiring the same materials and much the same mechanical oper- ations. That such combinations of men and machines and of ma- terials and means of applications to specifical purposes is also called a factory, although the peculiar character of the work is not at all mechanical, and why such a combination of processes should be called manufacturing, is probably understood by all.
Something ought to be said as an introduction to the statist- ical tables on the "Manufacturing Interests of Buffalo County "' from the census of 1885 .- Manufacturing of any kind can not be carried on without room and housing, hence there is real estate con- nected with it. There must be raw material, or stock, and there must be tools and machines, or fixtures. All this can not be spe- cified, but possesses a money value, and this money value is, at least to a certain extent, if correctly stated, an indicator of the ex- tent of the business carried on. Then there are assistants needed and must be paid, which is another indication of the extent of the business. In introducing these tables I would be glad, if I could recant the remarks made with regard to the reliability, or rather unreliability, of such tables in the chapter on agriculture. I can not conscientiously do it, but I will defer special criticisms until after the production of the tables themselves.
TABULAR STATEMENT OF CAPITAL INVESTED AND VALUE OF PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM MANUFACTURING INTERESTS, BUFFALO COUNTY:
TOWNS, VILLAGES
Real Estate and
Machinery.
Stock and
Fixtures.
Men Employed.
Amount Paid
for Wages.
Lumber, Shingles and Lath
Wagons,
Carriages and
Sleighs
Manufactured
Iron Products and
Articles Manufactured
Leather and Articles
Manufactured
WINES.
BEER.
1
Value.
Value.
No.
Amt.
No M.
Value.
No.
Value.
Value.
Value.
Gal. value
Bbls.
Value.
value
Alma, city ... $31,000
$ 6,000 67 $ 9,100
3,740 $259,800
2,940 $18.000
$500
Buffalo, city
18,250
8,420
7
500
180
2,200
$. 200
$ 600
Fount. City.
26,200
4,000 22
6,390
195
1,810
40)
$1,435
2,000
2,300|
250 $190
300
2,500
Gilmanton
1,250
180
1
60
16
685
Modena
1,625
580
650
350
Total ..
$78,325 $19,180 97 $16,050
4,115 $263,810 56
$2,170
$2,850
$3,250|
250 $190
3,240
$20,500
$500
According to this table there were 3,740 mille or thousands of feet of lumber, of lath and shingles manufactured at Alma, the value of which is given at $259,800 = $69.46 per thousand. Could not there be just one cipher too many in the statement of this value ?
Articles Manufactured
of Wood.
AND CITIES.
of Iron.
of it.
Manufactured.
BUFFALO COUNTY. (Continued.)
TOWNS, VILLAGES, AND CITIES.
Real Estate and
Machinery.
Stock and
Fixtures.
Men employed.
Wages paid during
the Year.
Cigars and Cigarettes.
Milling. Includes all flour Manufactured from Cereals.
Value.
Value.
No.
Amount.
No.
Value.
Barrels.
Value.
Alma, city.
$ 10
$ *50
*
*
38,000
$ 915
Fountain City
2,000
600
2
$ 675
*
$ 23,500
Gilmanton ..
10,000
300
2
1,200
3,500
17,000
Modena ..
5,000
100
1
240
300
1,200
Waumandee
12,000
4,000
2
1,000
5,000
20,000
Total
$ 29,010
$ 5,050
7|
$ 3,115 38,000
$ 915
8,800
$ 61,700
-
A more ridiculous compilation than this piece of census is not imaginable. Indeed it is below all criticism both as to logical arrangement and to facts, and it is for this reason that I almost hesitate to make any comments whatever. Hence I shall be very brief. As to the completeness of the first of the above tables, I can not understand why Mondovi has been left out of it, since it is my impression more wagons, buggies, sleighs and such things are manufactured there than at Gilmanton. The same applies to articles of Iron and Leather in comparison between Modena and Mondovi. Similar remarks apply
402
MANUFACTURES.
-
.
·
403
MANUFACTURES.
to the second table, as there are two mills at Mondovi, and, if I am not mistaken, there was also a cigar factory there two years ago. In regard to " Milling " there is a woeful incompleteness in the second table, since there are mills in the following towns, besides those named: Alma, Maxville, Lincoln, Glencoe, Mondovi and Milton. There were more mills omitted than entered. A defect common to both tables is the mixing up of different enterprises in the columns of real estate and machinery, and of stock and fix- tures. If the reader can learn anything from those tables, even if he should have the patience and fortitude to study them, I not only wish him joy of it, but would be obliged to him for commu- nicating results. The only apology I can offer for the introduc- duction of said tables is that I could not find any better near at hand, and that this introduction may strengthen the suspicion of thinking men as to the value of statistics.
Although I have in the above pointed out the improbability of our becoming much more of a manufacturing community than we now are, it would still be wrong to say that there is no chance for some improvement in this direction. Among other things we ought to have a flouring mill at Alma; not, of course, in opposition to any other mill, but for the accommodation of farmers and oth- ers in different ways. I might urge the necessity of this or any other enterprise on the plea that it would provide work for a num- ber of people; and I do not see why we should not act upon such a plea. There are, nevertheless, some people who seem to think that we are too many of us already, and that it would be wrong to do anything that might attract any more. People of that sort al- ways do their share to verify their own assertions by obstructing any public, or discouraging private enterprise, unless it should be to their exclusive advantage. One thing, however, is always over- looked by such economists; it is the fact that a town which does not, or will not, progress, will soon be compelled to retrench and to shrink. What I have said of a town, village or city applies with equal force to the county, and every citizen of it should en- courage any enterprise in the direction mentioned and indicated above.
In the absence of reliable statistics on our manufacturing in- terests we must be excused for not doing more than enumerate the different establishments according to their classification.
404
MANUFACTURES.
I. FLOURING MILLS.
TOWN OR LOCALITY.
OWNERS.
REMARKS.
Alma, town ... Fountain City Gilmanton.
Tritsch & Bro
Built by Gobar Bros. 1858.
Mill Co.
Built 1886.
J. W. Howard
Built by Joel Mann 1858-59.
Glencoe
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