USA > Wisconsin > Jefferson County > The history of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, containing biographical sketches > Part 30
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200
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
LEAD AND ZINC.
In 1824, the lead ore in the southwestern part of Wisconsin began to attract attention. From 1826 to 1830, there was a great rush of miners to this region, somewhat like the Pike's Peak excitement at a later date. The lead-producing region of Wisconsin covers an area of about 2,200 square miles, and embraces parts of Grant, Iowa and La Fayette counties. Between 1829 and 1839, the production of lead increased from 5,000 to 10,000 tons. After the latter year it rose rapidly, and attained its maximum in 1845, when it reached nearly 25,000 tons. Since that time the production has decreased, although still carried on to a considerable extent.
The sulphate and carbonate of zinc abound in great quantities with the lead of southwest Wisconsin. Owing to the difficulty of working this class of ores, it was formerly allowed to accumulate about the mouths of the inines. Within a few years past, metallurgic processes have been so greatly improved, that the zinc ores have been largely utilized. At La Salle, in the state of Illinois, there are three establishments for smelting zinc ores. There is also one at Peru, III. To smelt zinc ores economically, they are taken where cheap fuel is available. Hence, the location of these works in the vicinity of coal mines. The works mentioned made in 1875, from ores mostly taken from Wisconsin, 7.510 tons of zinc. These metals are, therefore, impor- tant elements in the commerce of Wisconsin.
IRON.
The iron ores of Wisconsin occur in immense beds in several localities, and are destined to prove of great value. From their product in 1863, there were 3,735 tons of pig iron received at Milwaukee; in 1865, 4,785 tons ; in 1868, 10,890 tons. Of the latter amount, 4,648 tons were from the iron mines at Mayville. There were shipped from Milwaukee, in 1868, 6,361 tons of pig iron. There were also received 2,500 tons of ore from the Dodge county ore beds. During 1869, the ore beds at Iron Ridge were developed to a considerable extent, and two large blast furnaces constructed in Milwaukee, at which place there were 4,695 tons of ore received, and 2,059 tons were shipped to Chicago and Wyandotte. In 1870, 112,060 tons of iron ore were received at Milwaukee, 95,000 tons of which were from Iron Ridge, and 17,060 tons from Esca- naba and Marquette, in Michigan. The total product of the mines at Iron Ridge in 1871 was 32,284 tons. The Milwaukee iron company received by lake, in the same year, 28,094 tons of Marquette iron ore to mix with the former in making railroad iron. In 1872, there were receivea from Iron Ridge 85,245 tons of ore, and 5,620 tons of pig iron. Much of the metal made by the Wisconsin iron company in 1872 was shipped to St. Louis, to mix with the iron made from Missouri ore.
The following table shows the production of pig iron in Wisconsin, for 1872, 1873 and 1874, in tons :
FURNACES.
I872.
1873.
1874.
Milwaukee Iron Company, Milwaukee.
21,818
29,326
33,000
Minerva Furnace Company, Milwaukee
5,822
Wisconsin Iron Company, Iron Ridge
3,350
4,155
3,306
Northwestern Iron Company, Mayville
5,033
4,137
3,000
Appleton Iron Company, Appleton _.
4.SSS
8,044
6,500
Green Bay Iron Company, Green Bay
6,910
6,141
6,000
National Iron Company, Depere.
3,420
7,999
6.500
Fox River Iron Company, W. Depere
5,600
6,832
7,000
Ironton Furnace, Sauk county
1.7So
1,528
1,300
52.797
73.980
66,600
201
COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.
The Milwaukee iron company, during the year 1872, entered into the manufacture of mer- chant iron - it having been demonstrated that the raw material could be reduced there cheaper than elsewhere. The Minerva furnace company built also during the same year one of the most compact and complete iron furnaces to be found any where in the country. During the year 1873, the iron, with most other material interests, became seriously prostrated, so that the total receipts of ore in Milwaukee in 1874 amounted to only 31,993 tons, against 69,418 in 1873, and 85,245 tons in 1872. There were made in Milwaukee in 1874, 29,680 tons of railroad iron. In 1875, 58,868 tons of ore were received at Milwaukee, showing a revival of the trade in an increase of 19,786 tons over the previous year. The operation of the works at Bay View having suspended, the receipts of ore in 1876, at Milwaukee, were less than during any year since 1869, being only 31,119 tons, of which amount only 5,488 tons were from Iron Ridge, and the total shipments were only 498 tons.
LUMBER.
The business of lumbering holds an important 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, principally pine; the southern, by hard-woods. There are exceptional localities, but this is a correct state- ment of the general distribution. I think that, geologically speaking, the evergreens belong 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 border- ing on the Wisconsin river and other streams entering into the Mississippi. 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, perhaps, that this is so, for at the present rate of consumption, but a few years will elapse before these noble forests will be totally destroyed. Most of the lumber manufactured on the rivers was formerly 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 five to eight thousand men are employed in the pineries in felling the trees, sawing them into logs of suitable length, and hauling them to the mills and streams during every winter in times of fair prices and favorable seasons. The amount of lumber 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 manufac- ture into lumber elsewhere. The amount of logs cut in the winter of 1873 and 1874 was 987,000,000 feet. In 1876 and 1877 the Black river furnished 188,344,464 feet. The Chippewa, 90,000,000 ; the Red Cedar, 57,000,000. There passed through Beef Slough 129,384,000 feet of logs. Hon. A. H. Eaton, for fourteen years receiver 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 immense sum. In 1876, 1,172,611,823 feet were cut. This is about the average annual draft that is made on the pine lands. There seems to be no remedy for the
202
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
wholesale destruction of our pine forests, except the one alluded to, the difficulty of transporta- tion, and this will probably save a portion of them for a long time in the future. At the rate of consumption for twenty years past, we can estimate that fifty years would see northern Wiscon- sin denuded of its pine forests; but our lumber 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 Wisconsin to be used as food; but, from the time of its first settlement in 1836 to 1840, the supply of bread stuffs from abroad, upon which the people depended, was gradually diminished by the substitution of home products. In the winter of 1840 and 1841, E. D. Holton, of Milwaukee, purchased a small cargo of wheat (about 4,000 bushels), and in the spring of 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.
The following table gives the exports of flour and grain from Milwaukee for thirty-two years, commencing in 1845 :
YEARS.
FLOUR, bbls.
WHEAT, bus.
CORN, bus.
OATS, bus.
BARLEY, bus,
RYE,
bus.
1
18.45
7,550
95,510
1846
15,756
213,448
1847
34.840
598,411
1848
92,732
602,474
1849
136,657
1,136,023
2,500
4,000
15,000
1850.
100,017
297,570
5,000
2, 100
15,270
1852
92.995
564,404
2,220
363, 841
322,261
54,692
I853
104,055
956,703
270
131,716
291,890
50,365
1854
145,032
1,809,452
164,908
404,999
339,338
113.443
IS55
181,568
2,641,746
112,132
13.833
63.379
20,030
1856
188,455
2,761,976
218
5,433
10,398
1857
228.442
2,581,31I
472
2,775
Soo
1858
298,668
3,994,213
43.958
562,067
63,178
5,378
IS59
282,956
4,732,957
41,364
299,002
53,216
11,577
IS60
457,343
7,565,608
37,204
64,682
28,056
9,735
1861
674,474
13.300.495
1,485
1,200
5,220
29,8 10
1862
711,405
14.915,680
9,489
79,094
44,800
126,301
1863.
603.525
12,837,620
88,989
831,600
133,449
$4,047
1864
414,833
8,992,479
140,786
811.634
23,479
18,210
1865
567,576
10,479.777
71,203
1
326,472
29,597
51,444
1866
720,365
11,634.749
480,408
1,636,595
18,988
255.329
1867
921,663
9.595.452
266,249
622,469
30, 822
106,795
IS68
1,017,598
9,867,029
342,717
536,539
95,036
91,443
1 869
1,220,058
14,272,799
93,806
351.768
120,662
78,035
1870.
1,225,941
16,127,838
103,173
210, 187
469,325
62,49-
1871
1,211,427
13.409.467 | 11,570.565
1.557,953
1,323,234
931.725
209,75I
1873
1,805,200
24,994,266
197,920
990,525
688.455
255.928
1874
2,217.579
22,255,380
556.563
726,035
464,837
79.879
1875
2,163,346
22,681,020
226,595
1, 160,450
867,970
98,923
1876
2,654,028
16,804,394
96,908
1.377,560
1,235.48I
220,964
576,453
208,896
1872
1,232,036
419.133
772,929
1851
51,889
317,285
13,828
7,892
103,840
203
COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.
Up to 1856, the shipments were almost wholly of Wisconsin products ; but with the comple- tion of lines of railroad from Milwaukee to the Mississippi river, the commerce of Wisconsin became so interwoven with that of Iowa and Minnesota, that the data furnished by the transpor- tation 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 remarkably 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 exten- sively exported. At the rate of progress made during the last few years, Wisconsin will soon take rank with the leading cheese and butter producing states. The counties most largely inter- ested in dairying, are Kenosha, Walworth, Racine, Rock, Green, Wankesha, Winnebago, Sheboy- gan, 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 prodnc- tion. The receipts of cheese in Chicago during 1876, were 23,780,000 pounds, against 12,000,000 in 1875 ; and the receipts of butter were 35,384, 184, against 30,248,247 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; ot 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 increasing 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 ival each other in raising the finest of animals for use and the market.
The following table shows the receipts of live hogs and beef cattle at Milwaukee for thir- teen years :
YEARS.
LIVE HOGS.
BEEF CATTLE.
YEARS.
LIVE HOGS.
BEEF CATTLE.
1876
254,317
36,802
IS69
52,296
12,52I
1875-
144.961
46,717
IS6S
48,717
13,200
IS74
242.326
22,748
1867
76,758
15,527
IS73-
241,099
17,262
1866
31,881
12,955
1872
138,106
14,172
IS65
7,546
14.230
1871
126,164
9,220
1864
42,250
18,345
IS70
66, 138
12,972
1863
56,826
14.655
204
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
The following table shows the movement of hog products and beef from Milwaukee since 1862 .
PORK, HAMS, MIDDLES AND SHOULDERS.
LARD.
BEEF.
Shipments by Rail and Lake.
Barrels.
Tierces.
Boxes.
Bulk, lbs.
Barrels.
Tierces.
Barrels.
Tierces.
Totals 1876.
62,461
15,439
42,678
5,123,8IS
3,301
21,356
7,333
3.439
IS75
56,778
15,292
28,374
2,736,778
601
18,950
4,734
421
IS74
53,702
17,124
39,572
1,494,112
9,IIO
18,509
5,015
707
IS73-
SO,010
24,954
62,21I
1,915,610
4,065
24,399
5,365
462
1872
90,038
20,115
39,209
4.557,950
6,276
27,765
4,757
1,500
IS71
88,940
20,192
14,938
5,161,941
3,932
19,746
3,892
1,606
44
IS70.
77,655
15,819
5,875
4,717,630
2,535
10,950
4,427
925
IS69.
69, 805
9,546
5,298
2,325, 150
1, ISO
8,568
7,538
2,185
..
IS68
73,526
13,146
3,239
1,768,190
3,637
5,055
10,150
2,22I
1867
88,888
11,614
4,522
454,786
2,523
8,820
IS,984
6.804
IS66
74,726
7,805
34,164
$63,746
3,287
6,292
11,852
4.584
IS65
34,013
2,713
5,000
1,929
2,487
10,427
5,528
1864
67,933
5.927
11,634
5,677
7,207
36 866
5,871
IS63
90,357
15,8II
10.987
10,546
42,987
6,377
1862
56,432
12,685
13,538
6.76I
33,174
3.217
4 4
44
..
HOPs.
The culture of hops, as an article af commerce, 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 ext orted 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 counties of Sauk. Columbia, Adams and Juneau, besides being largely cultivated in parts of some other counties. In 1867. 26,562 bales were received at Milwaukee, and the prices ranged from fifty to seventy cents per pound. The estimated 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 interested. The first sales were made at twenty-five to thirty-five cents per pound, and the prices were reluctantly accepted by the growers. 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 remained 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. Hop-cultivation received a check from over-production in 1868, from which it did not soon recover. A large proportion 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 partial failure of the crop in some of the eastern states, and the decrease in price causing a decrease in production, what was left over of the crop of 1870 more than doubled in value before the new reached the market. The latter opened at thirty cents, and steadily rose to fifty and fifty-five for prime
1
205
COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.
qualities. The crop of 1872 was of good quality, 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 production. 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 November. Over 17,000 bales were received at Milwaukee, 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 industry in Wisconsin, but is rapidly growing in mportance and magnitude. It sells readily for from four to ten cents per pound, and the plant s easily raised. It is not regarded as of superior quality. It first appears as a commodity of ransportation 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 :876, there were shipped from Milwaukee an average of 5,118,530 pounds annually, the 1: axi- num being in 1874, 6,982,175 pounds; the minimum in 1875, 2,743,854 pounds. The crop of 876 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 aised in the state is used here or by western manufacturers. The crop of the present year, 877, is a large one, and has been secured in good order. It is being contracted for at from four to ix cents per pound.
CRANBERRIES.
The cranberry trade is yet in its infancy. But little, comparatively, has been done in devel- ping the capabilities of the extensive bodies of marsh and swamp lands interspersed throughout he northern part of the state. Increased attention is being paid to the culture of the fruit; yet, he demand will probably keep ahead of the supply for many years to come. In 1851, less than ,500 barrels were sent out of the state. In 1872, the year of greatest production, over 37,000 arrels were exported, and, in 1876, about 17,000 barrels. The price has varied in different ears, and taken a range from eight to fifteen dollars a barrel.
SPIRITUOUS AND MALT LIQUORS.
The production of liquors, both spirituous and malt, has kept pace with the growth of population and with the other industries of the state. There were in Wisconsin, in 1872, two hundred and ninety-two breweries and ten distilleries. In 1876, there were two hundred and ninety-three of the former and ten of the latter, and most of them were kept running to their ull 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 n 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 urnished since 1870, 1,520,308 barrels which, at the wholesale price, brought $15,203,170. The otal production of beer by all the two hundred and ninety-three breweries of the state for 1876, vas 450,508 barrels.
206
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
In 1876, Milwaukee 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 numerous 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 manufacture it. In the counties mentioned, the deposits are found in extensive beds, and only capital and enterprise are needed to make their development 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 beautiful cream color, is made from a fine clay which is abundant near Milwaukee, and is found in exten- sive beds at Watertown, Whitewater, Edgerton, Stoughton, and several places on the lake shore north of Milwaukee. At Whitewater and some other places the clay is used with success for the making of pottery ware. Water-lime, or hydraulic cement, occurs in numerous places throughout the state. An extensive bed covering between one and two hundred 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 twenty and thirty thousand 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 suita- ble for building purposes are widely distributed throughout the state, and nearly every town has its available quarry. Many of these quarries furnish stone of fine quality for substantial and permanent edifices. The quarry at Prairie du Chien furnished the stone for the capital building at Madison, which equals in beauty that of any state in the Union. It 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 " Centennial " last year, attracted attention for their fine polish. Marbles of various kinds are likewise 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 geol- ogists, speaks of quarries on the Menomonee and Michigamig rivers as affording beautiful varie- ties and susceptible of a high polish. Richland county contains marble, but its quality is gen- erally 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 inexhaustible. 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 Winnebago 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, constructed numerous dams, canals and locks. constituting 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 Wisconsin rivers navigable to the Mississippi. The fall between the lake and Depere is one hundred and fifty feet, and the water can be utilized
207
COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.
in propelling machinery at Neenah, 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, how- ever, and no doubt is entertained that in a few years the hum of machinery to be propelled by it, will be heard the entire length of the thirty-five miles. The facilities 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.
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