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The Oldest Publication in Wood County. :: Subscription price 1.50 a v4ar in advance. :: A. L. FONTAINE, Publisher. SOME WRINKLES ON THE FACE Features of Washington Life That are Rarely Understood Outside of the Capitol The mother had just given the twins a bath and put them to bed. By and by one of the twins began to laugh. “What’s so funny,” asked the mother. “You made a mistake,” ex plained little Joe, “and gave Fred two baths ani didn’t give me any.” According to good authority the last grading of salaries of subordinate Government employees in Washing ton was made fifty-live years ago on the basis of the cost of living and pre vailing scale of wages about the year 1853. Members of Congress were then paid $3,000 a year or less; today they get $7,500 per annum, like the common or garden variety of pub'ic servants in tne Departments are receiving the same range of pay established so many years ago. It would seem barely possible, therefore, that Mother Con gress, like the mother of twins, has overlooked the family adjustments a trifle, giving to one side at least a couple of salary increases without giving the other any. When your correspondent hit the trail leading to the capitol a few years ago the pay of a senator and congress man was $5,000 per year each. But these are expensive times. Economic conditions have changed. The mem- WOOD COUNTY NATIONAL BANK GRAND RAPIDS, WISCONSIN Extract from statement to Comptroller of Currencv February 14, 1908. Capital and Surplus $185,000.00 Cash and Demand Loans 207,647.01 Total Resources 918,614.64 Savings and Checking Accounts Solicited. - Cloverdale - Adjoins what will be one of the biggest plants in the city. It is therefore the nearest addition in whichto buy lots and which will feel the boom first. The smallest lot is 1 25x54- feet and many arc larger. All dry, soil rich and payments easy. Get in line with the others who have bought. SIOO buys a fine lot, $5 down and $5 each month. No interest. No taxes first year. Taylor & Scott, Agents A \ 1 Good Work W'm CT J (J / the best of materials and / prices that court com dk parison, arc some of the \ \ attractive features of our V. - Electrical Work I ' If you arc building or re ,' modeling any buildings this year you should get our figures on wiring for lighting and bells, etc. Take an electric Flat Iron on trial. C. M. Dougharty 143 First Street N. * Last Side. TOOLS The Largest and Most Complete Line of Carpenter, Machanist, Black smith, Mason and Bricklayers Tools in the city. With every bill of Carpenter Tools you get a nail apron. Centralia Hardware Company Wood County Reporter Established in 1857. Entered June 12, 1903. at Grand Rapids. Wisconsin, as second-class matter, under act of congress of March 3 1879. ber of the House or Senate who has no private income and who hesitates about accepting low fees or other out side emoluments, however clear they may be of commercial taint, is often hard pressed to maintain a dignified appearance in the world. He is ex pected to attend an average of about ten months out of every two years on the sessions here. That leaves him fourteen months away from Washing ton. Records show that the 57th congress lasted ten months and five'days in actual sessions--Dec. 2,1901, to July 1, 1902, first session; Dec. 1, 1902 to March 3, 1903, second session. The 58th congress fasted eight months and twenty-two days, with intervening vacation period. The 59th congress occupied nine months and twenty-nine days out of two years. V\ ith only SIO,OOO pay for these average 10-raonth periods it was found impossible to make both ends meet so as to carry through the long vacation seasons to happiest advantage. S6 last year Congress raised the salaries of its own members 50 per cent, bringing the pay up to $15,000 each for ten months’ actual attendance, with $3,000 addi tional for personal clerk hire to be used adlibitum, and a few other trifl ing perquisites. Fourteen million dollars are being expended on two beautiful white marble buildings, which will supply a private office for each Senator and each Member of the House, all com fortably furnished and conveniently located. An underground subway is provided and a train car will carry the tired legislator from the office quarters to the House or Senate in the building without subjecting him to rough weather, parasite germs, or other pernicious pimples out on the earth. Geo M Hill, Geo. P. Ham brecht, A. B. Cotey of Pittsville, and A. L. Fontaine each had the pleasure of a jaunt through this nice subway during their recent visits in Washing ton. Some marble bath tubs, condes cending servants. and perfumed soap included in this computation makes the twin picture sufficiently complete for this writing With the foregoing needed increases and comforts all carefully looked after, it was generally expected that the government clerk would next be given consideration. Of course the plain clerk, bunching the grades in an aggregate, has an average salary under 81,200 per year. An increase of 50 per cent in his case, as was voted in con gress for congressmen, would be so small an amount in comparison for eacli individual that it naturally ap peals to congress as a trivial matter requiring indifferent haste to adjust. Besides, the plain clerk must stay in Washington at least eleven months every year instead of ten months dur ing two years. He has grown gradu ally into the advanced cost of living with the same old wage and he has learned how to stint himself to meet the exigencies. Improved conditions for clerks have been discussed at various angles dur ing this congress Economy plans are now in order. One party says that expenditures must be curtailed, ap propriations must be clipped. Senator Bacon, of Georgia, presented a bill which said in effect: ‘lt certainly costs these lower grade clerks as much more to live in proportion to their salaries as it does the rest of.us—they should be taken care of.” That is pure partisan politics both ways. Re sult: Nothing doing for the clerk just now. There is encouragement for the clerk, however, in nothing that the army and navy branches have received a small increase in the last few days. Oldest clerks in the service re peatedly tell me that during the past 15 years their work has constantly in creased in responsibilities, hours of employment have been lengthened, privileges have been curtailed, a much higher degree of efficiency is de manded. The sinecure days are gone. That there was justly ample room for these corrections 1 can plainly see. There is great chance yet for im provements. Some investigator has drawn this parallel as comparison since 1855: 150 per cent added to the members' pay, one hour and thirty minutes added to the clerks’ day. Congress as a whole is an honorable body, alive to the square deal and the merits of every problem. It should be assumed that those members who really believed that the conditions of the times warranted an increase in congressional salaries cannot consis tently turn their backs upon this other proposition. No doubt at some future day little Joe will get his bath. This being a government by the people and for the people, perhaps some of you people will be interested concerning your servants. * * * Especial care for the revenues and economy in administration being the watchword at present, congress can still do a great justice by applying it self to readjustment of salaries in the Departments. Life work in different bureaus is not receiving like compen sation. Some executive chiefs and heads of divisions are drawing salaries disproportionate to the amounts al lotted to their immediate assistants who are carrying the actual work. Clerks sitting side by side at desks on exactly the same character of daily grind get different rates of pay. In stances are plenty where the least competent receives the higher pay— s2oo to $450 more for the same grade of service. These disconcerting dis criminations might be equalized with out adding a dollar to the total ex pense appropriation 1 have no idea that they will be tlxed very soon. As an example a recent personal ex perience is submitted. The Milwau kee Sentinel announced thatC. E. La- Vigne was appointed an editorial clerk in the Department of Commerce and Labor. Numerous Liters of congrat ulation have been received from friends in Grand Rapids the* ’past | week in recognition of this supposed : change and promotion. 1 am grate ful for their interest. But as a matter of truth i his call from Commerce and j Labor was to continue in practical I }' the same nature of servi-e 1 am per forming in the government printing office, and at a salary of hi 0 less per year with prospects. That’-, looking : at the grand old elephant of prosperity : through reduced gl .sses. The ap ! pointment lias been declin and. This call came by virtue of civil ser ; vice certitication. because of having qualified t hrough special examination | one year ago for an editorial clerkship , They said it was a shame to have to offer-uch difference in pay for that class of work But it was ti e sst they could do under the civil service rules and the congressional appropria tion allowed. Three gentlemen, to ray knowledge, have been transferred from the government printing office to tftis same commerce division, through an other channel and without passing any extra qualifying civil-service ex amination. at S4OO more per year than could he offered tome. These things noc only point the slid ing scale of pay for similar work, but itaßo indicates the diff re ce bet ween a transfer in certain special instances GRAND RAPIDS, WOOD COUNTY, WISCONSIN. THURSDAY, APRIL 30. 1908. and a direct appointment under the merit system It shows how little a fellow can progress depending on his own indorsements alone and merely proving himself qualified. Again, thanks for the congratulations. * * *■ The much discussed Aldrich currency bill passed the Senate recent ly carrying two amendments by Senator LaFollette. According to Representative Hill, of Connecticut,-a member of the louse committee on banking and currency, something more will now happen to that bill in the body that claims to stand closest to the people. He has stated that “the effect of the elimination of the railroad bond provision will make it all rigid, and now the House can wipe out the balance of the measure and fix it up in good shape.” It will un doubtedly be handled in the House as an amendment to the Fowler bill, al ready reported from the House cur rency" committee. * * * From the Herald:—When Senator Aldrich, Without* warning, ac cepted an amendment to the cur rency bill proposed by Senator LaFol lette, nobody breathed for fully half a minute. Even the Senator from Wis consin was surprised The Senator from Wisconsin is too radical to find many of his own party in the Upper House w ho share Ills opinions, and thd fact is not lost upon tne Senator or up on the galleries But Mr. Aldrich did accept that amendment, whether in a moment of mental aberration or not is not known. And when Mr. LaFollette had aw akened to the fact lie made haste to offer another. But the chairman of the Finance Committee had come to himself by that time, and the second amendment was not accepted. LETTER FROM OLD TIMER Recalls the Early Pioneer Days and Persons Oberlin, Ohio, April 16, 1908. Wood County Reporter; Through the kindness of Mrs Mary J. Warren I have received a late copy of your paper which so revives my memory of early times in Grand Rapids and Wood county that I am : constrained to communicate my re : membrances to you hoping that they \ may be of interest to your readers. In the summer of 1856 I engaged to 1 go to Frenchtown in the capacity of bookkeeper and general manager for the firm of Edwards & Clinton a: newly organized firm who were about | to build a mill, put in a dam, boom, ! piers and other appliances for the ex- j tensive manufacture of lumber. During the summer and following | winter we built a mill with all the ! necessary outfit and had it ready for | operation when the logs came down j the river in the spring. When I went to Frenchtown there j was a large log building on the | premises and an old frame structure | which was converted into a dwelling i for my fkmily. I remember a few families who lived near there at the time, Hezakia Ripley who was a fore man of the construction gang, Moses Varßunker, the Farrishes and a man by the name of Canning. When my year of engagement expired I bought property at Grand Rapids, moved there and entered into partnership j with Levi P. Powers in the law and j land agency business. Wood county was organized about i this time and the Hon. Joseph Wood, I for whom the county was named, was ' our first assemblyman. Some allowance must be made for i lapse of memory but as I now re-; member Levi P. Powers was the first chairman of the county board of su pervisors, the first county judge. He was rather an indolent man but had more brains and executive ability than any other man in the county and some said than all the rest put to gether. Lemuel Kromer was the first regist er of deeds, J. H. Lang acting as clerk of the circuit court, Ben Buck □B There is never a question as to ijd □B the absolute purify and health- ri m fulness of food raised with llrdl 0? PRICE’S Tl, "cream""" BAKING POWDER BTTI| A pure, cream of tartar powder (jfin Um Its fame is world wide IUV qJ No alum; no phosphate of lime |lqJ RJ The poisonous nature of alum is ||^%J so well known that the sale of InMn condiments and whiskey con- taining it is prohibited by law . UU In buying baking powder examine the label and take only a brand shown HJ to be made with cream of tartar. inn the first sheriff and Emanuel Dutruit the first county treasurer. The settlements and hamlets in the county were Frenchtown, Dexterville on Yellow river run by George Hiles, a little gathering around the sawmill of Tuttle and Streetor on Hemlock and the Reed settlement in Rudolph. I now recall a few of the early settlers who were pioneers in making openings in the dense forests. There were Blake and Clark on the Bear creek, Harkness. Parkhurst, Turner, Hecox and Whitman in Rudolph. Brown, Aber McFarland and Tenant on Four Mile creek There were quite a number of Germans, Irish, Sweedes and Norwegians scattered over the county carving out homes in the wilderness. The leading business of the county if not the tmly business was lumber ing and everything eße depended up on that. Tlie principal lumber firms in the county that depended upon running their product down the river for market were Howe and Rablin, Edwards and Clinton. Hurley and Burns. Francis Biron, Orestes Garri son, Henry Reed, George Neeves, George Hiles. There were two hotels, the Grand Rapids House kept by John Compton and the Wisconsin House kept by Geo Neeves. The principal business firms were T. B. Scott and I. L. Mosher, general merchandise; Miller and Fegley, grocers: Joseph Homier, hardware; saloons were too numerous to mention. The ferry was ow ned and run by E. Lavigne, Attorneys Webb and Witter and L. P. Powers. In addition to those before men tioned. 1 recall the names of some who were engaged in smaller enterprises but reputable citizens, David Baker, AbijahPierce, M. C. Warren, William Kline, J. K. Searls, James McGraw Matthew McCraith, Joseph Cotey. It must be remembered that this was more than fifty years ago and the substantial growth of population and business began about that time. Our' courts were held in the second story of I. L. Mosher’s store, presided over by George W. Cate, the circuit judge. The only church or religious body was the Catholics who had a small church edifice. There was but little religion among us and what there was was not worked at to any extent. The Rev. Jesse Edwards used to come down from Ployer and hold occasional services in the schoolhouse. I left Grand Rapids in 1865, having put in ten years of the hardest work of my hfe 1 have a longing to visit the' old stamping ground once more and find the old section corners and quarter posts with which I became so familiar in my surveying days. But this article is long enough for this time and personal anecdotes for a future article and reminiscences must be left. J. 11. Lang. CARSON BURT WILL BE THE MANAGER The Nekoosa Telephone station is to be moved into the R. M. Williams building within a short time. Carson Burt, of Grand Rapids, formerly lo cated in the barber business, having accepted the position as local manager and decided on the Williams building as the location for the station. Mr. Williams intends to close up his photograph gallery and will remodel the building for the convenience of Mr. Burt and family .who will reside there.—Wood County Times. —Kodol For Dysdepsia has. helped thousands of people who have had stomach trouble. This is what one man says of it. “E. C. DeWitt & Cos. Chicago. 111.—Gentlemen—In 1897 I had a disease of the stomach and bowels. I could not digest anything T ate and in the spring of 1902 I i bought a bottle of Kodol and the benefit I received from that bottle all the gold in Georgia could not buy. I still use a little occasionally as I find it a fine blood purifier and a good tonic. May you live long and prosper. Yours very truly C. N. Cornell, Rod ina, Ga., Aug. 27, 1906.” COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS Council Rooms, April 21st, 1908. Council met in last session, Mayor Wheelan presiding. Present:—Aider men Steib, Rowson, Nisson, Ellis, Getzlaff, Panter, Kubisiak, Lukaseski, Jackson. Ristow, Bossier and Lyon, 12. Absent: Aldermen Arpin, A. D. Hill, G. M. Hill and Hansen, 4. On motion, tbe reading of the minutes of the previous meeting was dispensed with. The committee on general business, presented the following report which was, on motion, adopted. “Grand Rapids, Wis., April 20, 1908. To tde Hon. Mayor and Common Council of the Citv of Grand Rapids. Wis. Gentlemen: —We, your committee on general business, to whom was re ferred the matter of conferring with the officers of the Electric & Water Company for the purpose of learning the possibility of their furnishing ad ditional street lights and getting prices on the same beg leave to report as follows,—That the Electric & Water Company can furnish to the city the number of 50 candle power lights which they may need ana will charge for the same the sum of $1.66| per month, the Electric & Water Company agreeing to care for and maintain the lights. We, your com mittee. hereby respectfully recom mend that the common council pro ceed w ith the matter and have ten of said lights placed on each side of the river. We further recommend that the ten lights to be placed on the east side be located as follows: One at the intersection of 12th and Washing ton street: one at the intersection of 12th and Baker streets: one at the in tersection of 10th and Avon streets; one at the intersection of 10th and Grape streets: one at the intersection of 9th and Pear streets; one at the intersection of 7th and Apple streets; one at the intersection of 3rd and Walnuts streets: one at the intei section of 3rd and Gran it e streets; one at the intersection of and Witter streets and one at the in tersection of 4th and Madison streets. We would further recommend that the arc light now located in front of the Fred Podawiltz property on Lin coln street (formerly Ist avenue) be moved about 100 feet southerly to the intersection of Madison ana Lincoln streets. On account of the fact that all the members of our committee are from the east side and that we are nut familiar with the needs of the west side of the river we would recommend that the placing of the lights for the west side be left with the new com mittee. C. H. Nisson. S. J. Rowson. Chkis. Getzlaff. Committee on general business. The following bills were presented and on motion, allowed, by unanimous vote, the clerk calling the roll. Geo. L. Williams, services in suit of Centralia P. & W. P, Cos. $ 95 00 C. E. Roles, election supplier, postage, etc. 7 83 Geo. T. Rowland & Sons, supplies 1 05 Frank Pomainville. quarantining and fumugating 21 00 Frank Pomainville, services 5 00 Joe Wheir, Jr., livery 1 50 Emil Schiller, bounty on spar rows 80 D. W. Compton, snow shoveling 11 00 Total $143.18 The bills of B. L. Brown for $21.21 and James A. Keyes for $8.61 for J ustice fees were presented and, on motion, referred to the city attorney. The following report of Justice James A. Keyes was presented and, on motion, ordered spread upon the minutes. “State of Wisconsin j Wood County, [-SS. City of Grana Rapids. ) Statement of fines collected in city cases for violation of city ordinances. April 2nd, ‘O6 City of Grand Rapids vs. Jake Spresser, fast driving 10.00 May sth ‘O6 City of Grand Rapids vs. Alfred Miller, bridge ordinance 1.00 June 4th, ‘O6 City of Grand Rapids vs. Mary Sheldon, drunkenness 1.00 March 27th, ‘O7 City of Grand Rapids vs. J. G. Smith bridge ordinance. 1,00 May 29th, ‘O7 City of Grand Rapids vs. C. E. Krause, Saloon closing ordinance 10.00 Total $23.00 I, Jas. A. Keyes, a Justice of the Peace in and for Wood County do hereby certify and return to the city treasurer of said city that the above and foregoing is a true and correct statement of all tines collected by me in city cases since my last report. Dated April 21st, 1908. Jas. A. Keyes, Justice of the Peace.” The matter of the payment of lines to the city or county by justices in cases against the city ordinances was, on motion, referred to the city at torney. Moved and seconded that the mayor and city clerk be authorized and in structed to execute the proper con tract between the city and W. T. Jones for the construction of the ditch on the quarter line through | section 6 and 5 Twp. 22-6, from the Sigel road to the river, according to the bid of said W. T. Jones, sub mitted to and accepted by the board of public works. Motion carried. On motion, the council adjourned sine die. C. E. Boles, W. E. Wheelan, Clerk, Mayor. Council Rooms, Apr. 21. 1908. New council called to order by Mayor Frank Pomainville. Roll call showed the following aldermen pre sent; Bamberg, Steib, Sampson, Ellis, Briere, Lukaseski, Gilmaster, Jack-; son, Ristovf, Bossier, aud Payne 14 Absent:—Aldermen a. D. Hill and G. M Hill, 2. The following appointments were made by Mayor Pomainville. * Appointments. i Uty attorney, Geo. P. Harnbrecht. City clerk, C. E. Boles. Health commissioner, Dr. W. O. Blanchar. Chief of police. John Garihee. Day police, J. D. Gibson. Night police, ea.t side, Herman Smi'h Night police, west side, William B ;rg. Citv engineer. E. I. Philleo. Poor commissioner, Peter Me- Camley. Superintendent fire engine and library building, D. M. Huntington. Committees. On finance, Aldermen A. D. Hill, Payne and Jackson. General business. Aldermen Briere, Bamberg and Lukaseski? Streets, Aldermen Steib, Lyon and Panter. Sidewalks, Aldermen, Jackson, Roenius and Ristow. Water works, Aldermen G. M. Hill, G'lmaster and Sampson. Sewerage, Aldermen Ellis Rossie , an ■ i.iit-ro Board of public works Mayor Pomainville, Aldermen, Steib. Ellis, Jackson, Hill. On motion, the above appointments of the mayor were unanimously con firmed by the council. On motion, alderman Jackson was unanimously elected president of the council. On motion, the bonds of the city treasurer and city clerk were fixed at the same amount as last year,—towit. $30,000 for treasurer and SIOOO for clerk. On motion, the clerk wasdnstructed to get bids from the newspapers for city printing and from the banks for the city depository. On motion, the city attorney was instructed to draw the proper or dinance covering the organization of the board of review under the present law, the number of persons to consti tute the board of review and their compensation to be left blank, the same to be determined at the regular meeting of the council in May. Motion made and carried that the council resolve itself into the board of health with the mayor, health commissioner and city clerk as the executive committee and the health j commissioner as health officer. On motion, the council adjourned. ] C. E. Boles, Frank Pomainville, i Clerk. Mayor. I Can You Read and Write Contest Closes May 7 All those wishing to enter The Piano Contest must get in their cards by this date. If so, read how you can write and win a $350 KINGS BURY PIANO or a share of the $5,000 in cash prizes. EXPLANATION To the person writing the following words: “Mrs. Daly sells the old reliable Kinsbury Piano’’ the most number of times on a U. S. postal card, we will give free anew $350 Kingsbury Piano. Write one way and on, one side of the card only Why We do This Ist. By writing our name hundreds of times you will never forget it. 2nd. You will remember that we sell Kingsbury Pianos. 3rd. You will remember that Kingsbury Pianos are OLD RELIABLE PIANOS. SPECIAL —Owing to the fact that the postals sent out by the company fail to accommodate the demand, the ordi nary postal cards will be accepted as stated below, mrfny of them already having been received. Be careful to follow the rules given below. Anyone wishing to see the piano to be given away, call on Mrs. Daly at her home, 903 Gardner Street and Bth Ave. $5,000 in Prizes FIRST-PRIZE —This $350 Kingsbury Piano. A strictly high-grade*instrument which we assure the winner will last a life time. To the next four nearest, we shall award to each a SIOO check, which will entitle them to this amount of discount on any Piano or Player in our store. Said instru ment we agree to sell at our regular retail price. To the next eight we will award each a $75 check as above. To the next twenty-five we will award each a SSO check as above. And to the remaining contestants we will award checks in proportion to the number of times they have written, the sentence, until the full amount of $5,000 is awarded. Rubs No person connected with the Piano business allowed to compete —all cards must be in by May 7th. Expert penmen and engravers are barred from the contest. We will publish the name of the winner and all cards are open for examination at our ware-rooms on and after May 8 th. In event of a tie, the first list received will win the piano. There is absolutely no chance for dissatisfaction. After the close you can count the winner’s card if you so desire. Final Explanation Use an ordinary U. S. postal card. All you have to do is to write as many times as you can on this U. S. postal card the following words: “Mrs. Daly sells the old reliable Kingsbury Piano’’ and mail to us. State somewhere on your card your name, address and the exact number of times you have written the sentence. TaKe This Opportunity and get Busy at Once We hope you win the piano or a Large Check, which will be promptly honored by us when presented as stated above. Checks not good on pianos purchased prior to May 7th, and only one check will be honored on each piano. Monthly payments accepted. If you already have a piano, you can transfer your check to a friend by making the trans fer in our store. A carload of the “Old Reliable” Kingsbury Piano will ar rive about April 28, and a special factory representative will have charge of the distribution. This is the largest shipment of high grade pianos that has ever leen made into Grand Rapids at one time by one factory. We will put our best pianos up against your good judgement and penman ship and we will do absolutely as we agree. A written guarantee for ten years given with the Prize Piano and every piano we sell. Mrs. F. P. Daly 903 Gardner St. and Bth Ave. Grand Rapids, Wis. The Best Advertising Medium in this section of the State. Rates on ap plication. :: ;; VOLUME 51, NUMBER 18 The Wausau Paper Mills Cos, has a crew of log drivers at work on Copper ri va r. The drive on Cupper this spring is a very large one. the Paper Mills Cos. alone having 14,000.000 feet banked on that stream. The company has several million more in Trappe. Pine and other streams. The Stewart Lumber Cos, has drives on the Wiscon sin, Newood, Copper and other rivers. Log drivers are busy on all up state streams. The water is very low for this time of the year, but the warm days of the past week is melting the snow and ice in the woods and swamps and rains can be expected at most any time.—Wausau Pilot —Kennedy's Laxative Cough Syrup— the cough syrup that tastes nearly as good as maple sugar and which chil dren like so well to take. Unlike nearly all other cough remedies, it does not constipate, but on the other hand it acts promptly yet gently on the bowels, through which the cold is forced out of the system, and at the same time it allays inflammation. Always use Kennedy’s Laxative Cough Syrup. Johnson & Hill Cos.