History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 110

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Union
Number of Pages: 814

USA > Wisconsin > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 110

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LUMBER.

The business of lumbering holds an impor- tant rank in the commerce of the State. For many years the ceaseless hum of the saw and the stroke of the ax have been heard in all our great forests. The northern portion of the State is characterized by evergreen trees, princi- pally pine; the southern, by hard-woods. There

are exceptional localities, but this is a correct statement of the general distribution. I think that, geologically speaking, the evergreens be- long to the primitive and sandstone regions, and the hard wood to the limestone and clay formations. Northern Wisconsin, so called, embraces that portion of the State north of forty-five degrees, and possesses nearly all the valuable pine forests. The most thoroughly developed portion of this region is that lying along the streams entering into Green bay and Lake Michigan, and bordering on the Wisconsin river and other streams entering into the Mis- sissippi. Most of the pine in the immediate vicinity of these streams has been cut off well toward their sources; still, there are vast tracts covered with dense forests, not accessible from streams suitable for log-driving purposes. The building of railroads into these forests will alone give a market value to a large portion of the pine timber there growing. It is well, per- haps, that this is so, for at the present rate of consumption, but a few years will elapse before these forests will be totally destroyed. Most of the Inmber manufactured on the rivers was for- merly taken to a market by being floated down the streams in rafts. Now, the railroads are transporting large quantities, taking it directly from the mills and unloading it at interior points in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, and some of it in eastern cities. From 5,000 to 8,000 men are employed in the pineries in felling the trees, sawing them into logs of suita- ble length, and hauling them to the mills and streams during every winter in times of fair prices and favorable seasons. The amount of | Inmber sawed in 1860, as carefully estimated, was 355,055,155 feet. The amount of shingles made was 2,272,061, and no account was made of the immense number of logs floated out of the State, for manufacture into lumber else- where. The amount of logs ent in the winter of 1873-74 was 987,000,000 feet. In 1876 and 1877 the Black river furnished 188,344,464 feet. The Chippewa, 90,000,000; the Red Ce-

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

dar, 57,000,000. There passed through Beef Slough 129,384,000 feet of logs. Hon A. H. Eaton, for fourteen years rceiver of the United States land office at Stevens Point, estimated the acreage of pine lands in his district at 2,000,000, and taking his own district as the basis, he estimated the whole State at 8,000,000 acres. Reckoning this at 5,000 feet to the acre, the aggregate pine timber of the State would be 40,000,000,000 feet. The log product annually amounts to an im nense sum. In 1876, 1,172,- 611,823 feet were ent. This is about the aver- age annual draft that is made on the pine lands. There seems to be no remedy for the wholesale destruction of our pine forests, except the one alluded to, the difficulty of transportation, and this will probably save a portion of them for a long time in the future. At the rate of con- sumption for twenty years past, we can esti- mate that fifty years would see northern Wis- consin denuded of its pine forests; but our Inmber product has reached its maximum, and will probably decrease in the coming years as the distance to be hauled to navigable streams increases. In the mean time lumber, shingles and lath will form an important factor in our commerce, both State and inter-State, and will contribute millions to the wealth of our citizens.

GRAIN.

Up to 1841, no grain was exported from Wis- consin to be used as food; but, from the time of its first settlement in 1836 to 1840, the sup- ply of bread stuffs from abroad, upon which the people depended, was gradually diminished by the substitution of home products. In the win- ter of 1840-41, E. D. Holton, of Milwau- kee, purchased a small cargo of wheat (about 4,000 bushels), and in the spring cf 1841, shipped it to Buffalo. This was the beginning of a traffic that has grown to immense proportions, and, since that time, wheat has formed the basis of the commerce and prosperity of the State, until the city of Milwaukee has become the greatest primary wheat mart of the world.

Up to 1856, the shipments were almost wholly of Wisconsin products; but with the com- pletion of lines of railroad from Milwaukee to the Mississippi river, the commerce of Wiscon- sin became so interwoven with that of Iowa and Minnesota, that the data furnished by the transportation companies give us no definite figures relating to the products of our own State.

DAIRY PRODUCTS.

Wisconsin is becoming largely interested in the dairy business. Its numerous springs, streams, and natural adaptability to grass, make it a fine grazing country, and stock thrives re- markably well. Within a few years, cheese- factories have become numerous, and their owners are meeting with excellent success. Wisconsin cheese is bringing the highest price in the markets, and much of it is shipped to England. Butter is also made of a superior quality, and is extensively exported. At the rate of progress made during the last few years, Wisconsin will soon take rank with the lead- ing cheese and butter producing States. The counties most largely interested in dairying are Kenesha, Walworth, Racine, Rock, Green, Wau- kesha, Winnebago, Sheboygan, Jefferson and Dodge. According to estimates by experienced dairymen, the manufacture of butter was 22,- 473,000 pounds in 1870; 50,130,000 in 1876; of cheese, 1,591,000 pounds in 1870, as against 17,- 000,000 in 1876, which will convey a fair idea of the increase of dairy production. The re- ceipts of cheese in Chicago during 1876 were 23,780,000 pounds, against 12,000,000 in 1875; and the receipts of butter were 35,334,184, against 30,284,247 pounds in 1875. It is esti- mated that fully one-half of these receipts were from Wisconsin. The receipts of butter in Milwaukee were, in 1870, 3,779,114 pounds; in 1875, 6,625,863; in 1876, 8,938,137 pounds; of cheese, 5,721,279 pounds in 1875, and 7,055,573 in 1876. Cheese is not mentioned in the trade and commerce reports of Milwaukee until 1873, when it is spoken of as a new and rapidly in-

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

creasing commodity in the productions of the State.

PORK AND BEEF ..

Improved breeds, both of swine and cattle, have been introduced into the State during a few years past. The grade of stock has been rapidly bettered, and stock raisers generally are striving with commendable zeal to rival each other in raising the finest animals for use and the market.

HOPS.

The culture of hops, as an article of con- inerce, received but little attention prior to 1860. In 1865, 2,864 bales only were shipped from Milwaukee. In addition, a large amount was used by the brewers throughout the State. In 1866, the amount exported was increased, and 5,774 bales were shipped to eastern markets. The price, from forty-five to fifty-five cents per pound, stimulated production, and the article became one of the staple products of the coun- ties of Sauk, Columbia, Adams and Juneau, be- sides being largely cultivated in parts of some other counties. In 1867, 26,562 bales were re- ceived at Milwaukee, and the prices ranged from fifty to seventy cents per pound. The es- tima ted crop of the State for 1867 was 35,000 bales, and brought over $4,200,000. In 1868, not less than 60,000 bales were grown in the State. The crop everywhere was a large one, and in Wisconsin so very large that an over- supply was anticipated. But few, however, were prepared for the decline in prices, that far exceeded the worst apprehensions of those in- terested. The first sales were made at twenty- five to thirty-five cents per pound, and the prices were reluctantly accepted by the grow- ers. The price continued to decline until the article was unsalable and unavailable in the market. Probably the average price did not exceed ten cents per pound. Notwithstanding the severe check which hop-growing received in 1868, by the unprofitable result, growers were not discouraged, and the crop of 1869 was a large one. So much of the crop of 1868 re-

mained in the hands of the growers, that it is impossible to estimate that of 1869. The new crop sold for from ten to fifteen cents, and the old for from three to five cents per pound. Ilop- cultivation received a check from over produc- tion in 1868, from which it did not soon re- cover. A large portion of the yards were plowed under in 1870. The crop of 1869 was much of it marketed during 1870, at a price of about two and one-half to three and one-half cents per pound, while that of 1870 brought ten to twelve and a half cents. During the year 1871 a great advance in the price, caused by the par- tial failure of the crop in some of the eastern States, and the decrease in prices causing a de- crease in production, what was left over of the crop of 1870 more than doubled in value be- fore the new reached the market. The latter opened at thirty-five cents, and steadily rose to fifty and fifty-five for prime qualities. The crop of 1872 was of good qual- ity, and the market opened at forty to fifty-five cents as the selling price, and fell fifteen to twenty cents before the close of the year. A much larger quantity was raised than the year previous, In 1873 and 1874 the crop was fair and prices ruled from thirty-three to forty-five cents, with increased production, About 18,000 bales were reported as being shipped from the different railway stations of the State. Prices were extremely irregular during 1875, and, after the new crop reached market, fell to a point that would not pay the cost of produc- tion. In 1876 prices ruled low at the opening of the year, and advanced from five to ten cents in January to twenty-eight to thirty in Novem- ber. Over 17,000 hales were received at Mil- waukee, over 10,000 bales being of the crop of the previous year. Over 13,000 bales were shipped out of the State.

TOBACCO.

Tobacco raising is comparatively a new in- dustry in Wisconsin, but is rapidly growing in importance and magnitude. It sells readily for from four to ten cents per pound, and the plant

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

is easily raised. It is not regarded as of supe- rior quality. It first appears as a commodity of transportation in the railway reports for the year 1871, when the Prairie du Chien division of the St. Paul road moved eastward 1,373,650 pounds. During the four years ending with 1876, there were shipped from Milwaukee an average of 5,118,530 pounds annually, the maxi- mum being in 1874, 6,982,175 pounds ; the minimum in 1875, 2,743,854 pounds. The erop of 1876 escaped the early frosts, and netted the producer from five to seven cents per pound. The greater part of it was shipped to Baltimore and Philadelphia. Comparatively little of the leaf raised in the State is used here or by west- ern manufacturers. The crop of the present year, 1877, is a large one, and has been secured in good order. It is being contracted for at from four to six cents per pound.

CRANBERRIES.

The cranberry trade is yet in its infancy. But little, comparatively, has been done in develop- ing the capabilities of the extensive bodies of marsh and swamp lands interspersed through- out the northern part of the State. Increased attention is being paid to the culture of the fruit; yet, the demand will probably keep ahead of the supply for many years to come. In 1851 less than 1,500 barrels were sent out of the State. In 1872, the year of greatest pro- duction, over 37,000 barrels were exported, and, in 1876, about 17,000 barrels. The price has varied in different years, and taken a range from eight to fifteen dollars a barrel.

SPIRITUOUS AND MALT LIQUORS.

The production of liquors, both spiritnous and malt, has kept pace with the growth of population and with the other industries of the State. There were in Wisconsin, in 1872, 292 breweries and ten distilleries. In 1876 there were 293 of the former and ten of the latter, and most of them were kept running to their full capacity. Milwaukee alone produced, in 1876, 321,611 barrels of lager beer, and 43,175 barrels of high wines. In 1865 it furnished 65,

666 barrels of beer, and in 1870, 108,845 barrels. In 1865 it furnished 3,046 barrels of high wines; in 1870, 22,867 barrels; and in 1875, 39,005. A large quantity of the beer made was shipped to eastern and southern cities. The beer made in 1876 sold at the rate of ten dollars per barrel, the wholesale price of the brewers bringing the sum of $3,216,110. The fame of Milwaukee lager beer is widely extended. This city has furnished since 1870, 1,520,308 barrels which, at the wholesale price, brought $15,203, 170. The total production of beer by all the 293 breweries of the State, for 1876, was 450, 508 barrels.

In 1876 Milwaukce produced 43,175 barrels of high wines, or distilled spirits, and the State of Wisconsin, 51,959 barrels. In 1870 the former produced 108,845 barrels of beer, and 22,867 barrels of distilled spirits, and in the same year the State of Wisconsin produced 189,664 barrels of beer and 36,145 barrels of distilled spirits.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Porcelain clay, or kaolin, is found in numer- ous places in Wood and Marathon counties. The mineral is found in but few places in the United States in quantities sufficient to justify the investment of capital necessary to manufac- ture it. In the counties mentioned the deposits are found in extensive beds, and only capital and enterprise are needed to make their de- velopment profitable. Clay of superior quality for making brick and of fair quality for pottery, is found in numerous localities. The famous "Milwaukee brick,"remarkable for their beanti- ful cream color, is made from a fine clay which is abundant near Milwaukee, and is found in extensive beds at Watertown, Whitewater, Edgerton, Stoughton, and several places on the lake shore north of Milwaukee. At White- water and some other places the clay is used with success for the making of pottery ware. Water-lime, or hydraulic cement, occurs in nu- merous places throughout the State. An ex- tensive bed, covering between 100 and 200

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

acres and of an indefinite depth, exists on the banks of the Milwaukee river, and not over one and a half miles from the city limits of Milwaukee. The cement made from the rock of this deposit is first class in quality, and between 20,000 and 30,000 barrels were made and sold last year. The capacity of the works for reducing the rock to cement has been increased to 500 barrels per day. Stones suitable for building purposes are widely dis- tributed throughout the State, and nearly every town has its available quarry. Many of these quarries furnish stone of fine quality for sub- stantial and permanent edifices. The quarry at Prairie du Chien furnished the stone for the capitol building at Madison, which equals in beauty that of any State in the Union. At Milwaukee, Waukesha, Madison, La Crosse and many other places, are found quarries of superior building stone. Granite is found in extensive beds in Marathon and Wood counties, and dressed specimens exhibited at the "Centen- nial" last year, attracted attention for their fine polish. Marbles of various kinds are like- wise found in the State. Some of them are beginning to attract attention and are likely to prove valuable. The report of Messrs. Foster & Whitney, United States geologists, speaks of quarries on the Menomonee and Michigamig rivers as affording beautiful varieties and sus- ceptible of a high polish. Richland county contains marble, but its quality is generally considered inferior.

WATER POWERS.

Wisconsin is fast becoming a manufacturing State. Its forests of pine, oak, walnut, maple, ash and other valuable woods used for lumber, are well-nigh inexbaustible. Its water-power for driving the wheels of machinery is not equaled by that of any State in the northwest. The Lower Fox river, between Lake Winne- bago and Green Bay, a distance of thirty-five miles, furnishes some of the best facilities for manufacturing enterprise in the whole country. Lake Winnebago as a reservoir gives it a great

and special advantage, in freedom from liability to freshets and droughts. The stream never varies but a few feet from its highest to its lowest stage, yet gives a steady flow. The Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company has, during the last twenty-five years, con- structed numerous dams, canals and locks, con- stituting very valuable improvements. All the property of that company has been transferred to the United States government, which has entered upon a system to render the Fox and Wis- consin rivers navigable to the Mississippi. The fall between the lake and Depere is 150 feet, and the water can be utilized in propelling machinery at Neenab, Menasha, Appleton, Cedar, Little Chute, Kaukauna, Rapid Croche, Little Kaukauna and Depere. The water-power at Appleton in its natural advantages, is pronounced by Hon. Hiram Barney, of New York, superior to those at Lowell, Paterson and Rochester, combined. The water-power of the Fox has been improved to a considerable extent, but its full capacity has hardly been touched. Attention has been drawn to it, however, and no doubt is enter- tained that in a few years the hum of machin- ery to be propelled by it, will be heard the en- tire length of the thirty-five miles. The facili- ties presented by its nearness to timber, iron, and a rich and productive agricultural region, give it an advantage over any of the eastern manufacturing points.

The Wisconsin river rises in the extreme northern part of the State, and has its source in a great number of small lakes. The upper portion abounds in valuable water privileges, only a few of which are improved. There are a large number of saw mills running upon the power of this river. Other machinery, to a limited extent, is in operation.

The "Big Bull" Falls, at Wausau, are im- proved, and a power of twenty-two feet fall is obtained. At Little Bull Falls, below Wausau, there is a fall of eighteen feet, partially im- proved. There are many other water-powers

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

in Marathon county, some of which are used in propelling flouring-mills and saw-mills. At Grand Rapids, there is a descent of thirty feet to the mile, and the water can be used many times. Each time, 5,000 horse-power is ob- tained. At Kilbourn City, a large amount of power can be obtained for manufacturing pur- poses.

Chippewa river has its origin in small streams in the north part of the State. Explorers tell us that there are a large number of water- powers on all the upper branches, but as the country is yet unsettled, none of them have been improved, and very few even located on our maps. Brunette Falls and Ameger Falls, above Chippewa Falls eity, must furnish con- siderable water-power, but its extent is not known. At Chippewa Falls is an excellent water-power, only partially improved. The river descends twenty-six feet in three-fourths of a mile. At Dunean creek, at the same place, there is a good fall, improved to run a large flouring-mill. At Eagle Rapids, five miles above Chippewa Falls, $120,000 has been ex- pended in improving the fall of the Chippewa river. The city of Eau Claire is situated at the confluence of the Chippewa and Ean Claire rivers, and possesses in its immediate vicinity, water-powers almost unrivaled. Some of them are improved. The citizens of Ean Claire have, for several years, striven to obtain Legis- lative authority to dam the Chippewa river, so as to improve the water-power of the Dells, and a lively contest, known as the "Dells fight," has been carried on with the capitalists along the river above that town. There are immense water-powers in Dunn county, on the Red Cedar, Chippewa and Eau Galle rivers, on which there are many lumbering establish- ments. In Pepin county also there are good powers. The Black river and its branches, the La Crosse, Buffalo, Trempealeau, Beaver, and Tamaso, furnish many valuable powers. The St. Croix river is not excelled in the value of its water privileges by any stream in the State,

except the Lower Fox river. At St. Croix Falls, the water of the river makes a descent of eighty-five feet in a distance of five miles, and the volume of water is sufficient to move the machinery for an immense manufacturing busi- ness, and the banks present good facilities for building dams, and the river is not subject to freshets. The Kinnekinnick has a large num- ber of falls, some of them partially improved. Within twenty-five miles of its entrance into Lake St. Croix, it has a fall of 200 feet, and the volume of water averages about 3,000 cubic feet per minute. Rock river affords valnable water privileges at Watertown (with twenty- four feet fall), and largely improved; at Jeffer- son, Indian Ford and Janesville, all of which are improved. Beloit also has an excellent water-power, and it is largely improved. Scat- tered throughout the State are many other water-powers, not alluded to in the foregoing. There are several in Manitowoc county ; in Marquette county, also. In Washington coun- ty, at West Bend, Berlin, and Cedar Creek, there are good water-powers, partly utilized. At Whitewater, in Walworth county, is a good power. In Dane county, there is a water- power at Madison, at the outlet of Lake Men- dota; also, a good one at Stoughton, below the first, or Lake Kegonsa; also at Paoli, Bellville, Albany and Brodhead, on the Sugar river. In Grant county there are not less than twenty good powers, most of them well-developed. In Racine county, three powers of fine capacity at Waterford, Rochester and Burlington, all of which are improved. The Oconto, Peshtigo and Menomonee rivers furnish a large number of splendid water-powers of large capacity. The Upper Wolf river has scores of water- powers on its main stream and numerous branches; but most of the country is still a. wilderness, though containing resources which, when developed, will make it rich and prosper- ous. There are numerous other streams of less consequence than those named, but of great importance to the localities they severally drain,

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

that have had their powers improved, and their waterfalls are singing the songs of commerce. On the rivers emptying into Lake Superior, there are numerous and valuable water-powers. The Montreal river falls 1,000 feet, in a dis- tance of thirty miles.

MANUFACTURES.

The mechanical and manufacturing indus- tries of Wisconsin demonstrate that the people do not rely wholly upon agricultural pursuits, or lumbering, for subsistence, but aim to diver- sify their labors as much as possible, and to give encouragement to the skill and ingenuity of their mechanics and artisans. All our cities and most of our villages, support establish- ments that furnish wares and implements in common use among the people. We gather from the census report for 1870, a few facts that will give us an adequate idea of what was done in a single year, remembering that the data furnished is six years old, and that great advancement has been made since the statistics were gathered. In 1840, there were eighty- two establishments engaged in making agricul- tural implements, employing 1,387 hands, and turning out products valued at 82,393,400. There were 188 furniture establishments, em- ploying 1,844 men, and making $1,542,300 worth of goods. For making carriages and wagons there were 485 establishments, employ- ing 2,184 men, and their product was valued at $2,596,534; for clothing, 263 establishments, and value of product $2,340,400; sash, doors and blinds, eighty-one shops, and value of product $1,852,370; leather, eighty-five tan- neries, employing 577 men, and value of pro- dnets $2,013,000; malt liquors, 176 breweries, 835 men, and their products valued at $1,790,- 273.

At many points the business of mannfactur- ing is carried on more or less extensively: in- deed, there is hardly a village in the State where capital' is not invested in some kind of mechanical industry or manufacturing enter- prise, and making satisfactory returns; but for

details in this respect, the reader is referred to the department of local history.

The principal commodities only, which Wis- consin contributes to trade and commerce, have been considered. There remains quite a num- ber of minor articles from which the citizens of the State derive some revenue, such as flax and maple sugar, which can not be separately considered in this paper.

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

Statistics are usually dry reading, but, to one desiring to change his location and seeking information regarding a new country and its capabilities, they become intensely interesting and of great value. The farmer wishes to know about the lands, their value and the productiveness of the soil; the me- chanie about the workshops, the price of labor, and the demand for such wares as he is accustomed to make; the capitalist, con- cerning all matters that pertain to resources, advantages, and the opportunities for investing his money. Our own people want all the infor- mation that can be gained by the collection of all obtainable facts. The sources of such infor- mation are now various, and the knowledge they impart fragmentary in its character.

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History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 110

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Union Number of Pages: 814

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Union
Number of Pages: 814