History: Water Powers of Central Wisconsin

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

----Source: Wood County reporter, July 15, 1875

Water Powers of Central Wisconsin

The number and extent of water powers suitable for manufacturing purposes, in Central and Northern Wisconsin, will some day place that region fore most in the ranks of the manufacturing districts of the continent.

Commencing with the Fox River, we find that in its course from Lake Winnebago to Green Bay, a distance of 38 miles, there is a fall of 170 feet, forming a never failing and one of the most valuable water-powers in the West, which is already mad" use of at the manufacturing towns of Menasha, Neenah, Appleton and Depere.

Aside from its value and importance an a motive power, it may be mentioned incidentally that the Fox is 225 miles in length, has been improved by the construction of locks and dams between Like Winnebago and Green Bay, and is also connected by a canal with the Wisconsin River at Portage City, thus effecting an uninterrupted water communication from Lake Michigan through to the Mississippi.

Going westward from Menasha the first river of importance reached is the Wolf, the principal tributary of the Fox, and navigable for many miles, steamers making daily trips as far north as New London. The Wolf is the outlet to a valuable pinery whose products are concentrated at Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, adding materially to the wealth of those prosperous cities. Proceeding still westward we touch Weyauwegn, Waupaca and Amherst, thriving towns on the Waupaca River, a tributary of the Wolf, and furnishing the necessary manufacturing interests which sustain the towns enumerated. Sixteen miles west of the Waupaca and we reach the Wisconsin, the great river of the State, which rising in Lake Vienx Desert in the northern portion of Wisconsin, traverses the State in a southwesterly direction for a distance of nearly 400 miles, having an average descent of two thirds of a foot per mile. Eleven thousand Square miles of country are drained by 'his river, on whose head waters and those of its tributaries are found the richest and most extensive pineries of the west.

Of the water-powers of the Wisconsin Liver no adequate idea may be conceived without actual observation; and a full description thereof is not compatible with the extent of this article. Brief mention may be made, however, of them, commencing with the Whitney and Grand Rapids of the Wisconsin. These rapids extend from the flourishing city of Grand Rapids and the opposite town, Centralia, (now the junction of the Green Bay & Minnesota and the Wisconsin Valley railroads) to Point Bass, in an almost unbroken chain, a distance of ten miles, and having a fall of not less than 00 feet; furnishing unlimited power of sites for any variety or extent of manufactories Ascending the river 18 miles (passing several lesser power) we reach the Conants and the Shaurette rapids at Stevens Point. Here the Wisconsin Central railroad crosses the river midway between the, foot of Shaurette and the head of the Conants. The length of this chain of rapids is three miles with a descent of at least 45 feet, and forming one of the grandest and most accessible water-powers in the west, if not of the entire country. The formation of the rapids consists of very sudden descents for perhaps fifty rods, then an equal or greater distance of comparative still water : the rapid and still waters alternating in the most approved manner Excellent boomage capacity is furnished on the rapids by the concurrence of the still waters referred to, and between the head of Conants and the foot of Shaurette, boomage might he obtained for at least 20,000,000 in logs. The locations on Conant Rapids for manufactories are almost innumerable, the peculiarities of the rocks and shores being such as to afford the most favor aide opportunities for the erection of mills where the power may be used to best advantage.

The Shaurette Rapid? arc formed entirely within the corporate limits of Stevens Point, and afford a superior opportunity for mills and factories. A boomage capacity is here attainable to, practically, unlimited extent.

The Wisconsin River from Stevens Point north is navigable for steamboats as far as the fall of Little Bull. (Mosinee), distance 30 miles, where we again reach a first class water power in the midst of forests of pine and hard-woods. Twelve miles father north and we reach Wausau or Big Bull Falls, one of the most extensive and best improved waters-powers of the State. There is at present more lumber manufactured at Wausau than at any other point on the r ver. Yet above Wausau we find excellent powers at Jenny Bull, Grandfather Bull and other members of the family too numerous to mention.

The numerous tributaries of the Wisconsin reach out among the grandest forests of the West, rendering their wealth accessible The Plover’s Mill Creek, two Eau Plains, two Eau Plaines, Pine, Rio, and Trap rivers are large streams reaching into the very heart of the pinery These rivers enter the Wisconsin within a distance of sixty miles.

Fifty miles west of the Wisconsin we reach the Black River, also one of the most important rivers of the State and possessing-favorable manufacturing facilities at Black River Falls, Weston's Rapids and Eaton's Rapids.

The Black River pinery is extensive and furnishes a fine quality of timber. The Chippewa River is nearly fifty miles west from Black River, and with its six branches all heading in the midst of valuable pins and hard wood timber, drains the country midway between the Wisconsin and St. Croix rivers, giving its waters to the Mississippi. The St Croix River, forming a portion of the western boundary of the State, also possesses great facilities for manufacturing purposes and is the outlet to an extensive pinery.

We have thus enumerated the principal rivers of that belt of territory which we have above designated as Central Wisconsin, and it is self-evident fact that no similar area in the West is so extensively supplied with natural water-power that may success fully he used as this. Within this belt are very many valuable tracts of pine timber, hut agricultural lands comprise the greater number of acres; these lands are mostly timbered with oak, maple, ash. butternut. &c. ; the quality of the soil excellent and particularly adapted to the raising of wheat, oats, rye and grasses. A large portion of this territory is yet subject to entry at government prices and may be taken in accordance with the provisions of the Homestead act. —Milwaukee Times