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The Country Roundabout—Inhabitants -Educational—Milling Trade— Farming and Live Stock Operations, etc. THE LAY-OUT. The Wisconsin river at the point where the Milwaukee St. Paul Railway first crosses it, flows almost directly south, till it strikes the bluffs on the lown, county side, three miles below the crossing, then heads abruptly northwest, follows this di rection two and a half miles, thence flows westward. The course of the river there forms two sides of a triangle, and the land inclosed within it is undulating, but in few places being so high as to be pure sand, as it is in many places in the valley, not so low as to be swampy. ‘The soil being composed of wash principally is very fertile, and from the fact of the water striking it above and by its force penetrating it for a considerable distance, it is moist and well adapted to the growth of vegetation. From this fact it was no ticed that this portion of the prairies would “green up” sooner in the spring than other portions, and as a consequence when the road was completed through and it was thought advisable to erect a station here, it was called SPRING GREEN. The village is situated 36 miles west of Madison, two miles west of the river, and six miles east of Lone Rock, and contains 600 inhabitants. The houses are made of wood principally, and an unusually large number of fine residences are noticeable. Many fine oak trees grew upon the origi nal town plat, and were left standing. The soil is peculiarly adapted to the growth of the soft maple and elm and hundreds of these beautiful shade trees line the excellent sidewalks. Shrubbery and flowers grow luxuriantly, and during the summer the village is almost hidden beneath the profusion of foliage, making Spring Green the prettiest and nearest lit tle village on the line of road between Madison and Prairie du Chien. THE INHABITANTS are principally Americans, and no town on the road bears a better reputation. They are a quiet,intelligent and hospitable people, and judging from the number of their churches are pre-eminently a church-going people. The Methodist, Congregationalist, Baptist and Catholic Churches are represented, and each de nomination has a building of its own and is out of debt. The Methodist Church edifice is a particularly fine one. It is built of yellow brick, and is regarded as one of the finest in the western part of the state. It is justly an object of pride to this denomination. EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES. For years the village of Spring Green enjoyed superior educational advantages through the instrumentality of Prof. J. H. TERRY, who successfully conducted a private academy here. It was discontin ued two years ago, and since then a vil lage tax has been levied for the purpose of building a school house suitable for the accommodation of the largely in creased attendance at the public schools. In addition to the tax, a state loan was obtained last winter, and the building is now under way. It is to be a frame structure, and will cost when complete $5,400. Mr. D. R. Jones, architect, Madison, furnishes the plan, and it is to be a model of elegance and neatness, and there will be no better in the state of its kind. The schools are now under the control of Mr A.Jonas and Miss Mac Gill Morean. The attendance is good, and there evidently is a great interest in educational matters manifested on the part of the community. There are no MANUFACTURING establishments here; but recently, how ever, Messrs. Sweet Peiron, two en terprising young men of the village, pur chased a feed mill and a planing mall, and are doing a good work with both. Their motor is a ten-horse power portable engine, and the entire cost of mills and engine, not including building, was $1,800. They purpose erecting a flouring mill soon. In addition to their milling, they purpose raising hogs quite exten sively, and have now some very fine speci mens of the Magic hog, preparatory to the improvement of the stock of the country. The village depends upon its country trade for its support, and prior to the completion of the Northwestern Rail way it had the advantage of a very large TRADE. Baraboo and Reedsburg were then inland towns, and Spring Green was the only railroad station in the county and the nearest to these points. Trade then came from the north, 30 miles, but after the opening of the Northwestern Road it materially advanced. However, by the introduction of a better system of farm ing, the development of the natural re sources of the country and the occupancy and tillage of land that has hitherto been regarded as worthless it is rapidly increas ing its trade and regaining its position among the best shipping points on the road. In its grain shipments it ranks third, in hops first, and since the succes sive failure of wheat and the consequent increase of grass and corn its stock ship ments have largely increased. Trade here is apparently good, and one hears less talk of hard times and more of business enterprise than usual Many buildings are being erected and the places of business look fresh and neat. The stores are well stocked and everybody was busy. In the winter when the river is closed trale is almost doubled. Across the river from the Green, and only two miles from it lie two as good valleys as are found in the State, viz., Dodge and Wyoming val leys. Usually, when the river is open, the residents are compelled to trade in Helena, eight miles distance, and carry their products over a sandy road; but when nature spans the stream with a solid bridge of ice, trade seeks its natural out let, and the wealth of Spring Green is correspondingly increased. But this, as is evident, is but transient trade com paratively; could it be made permanent, Spring Green would be second to but one station on the road in shipments, its pop ulation would be largely increased and the value of its property doubled, as it would thus possess advantages for trade that no other station on the road of its size would possess. In addition to the benefit that would accrue to Spring Green by A BRIDGE here, it would be of the greatest import ance to the travelling public in general, and the residents of Dodgeville in par ticular. Persons from the north wishing to visit points east or west of Spring Green, come by way of Madison, or, wishing to go to Mineral Point are compelled to go via Beloit and Freeeport. But a bridge here would change the route of travel to a great extent, as it would bring the Arena and Mineral Point Stage Route, that passes through Dodgeville, to Spring Green, and it would be extended on to Reedsburg, 30 miles distant—making the length of the whole route from Reedsburg to Mineral Point but 60 miles. Dodge ville would be greatly benefitted by this change, as it now lies 25 miles from the nearest station (and the road between them is most miserable), and it would then be but 16 miles distant. The many benefits that would be deriv ed from the bridge are recognized and ad mitted by everyone, and all have agreed upon a plan by which they can be secur ed, but it remains for someone with capi tal and experience to take the initiative in spanning the river, and it is accomplish ed. The villagers have recently taxed themselves heavily for sidewalks and public buildings, and, feeling the string ency of the times, do not feel justified in an expenditure to the amount required, but will liberally assist anyone who will, even to one-third the amount of the whole cost; and the farmers in the valleys across the river are ready to assist, some of them offering aid to the amount of $500 each. THE RIVER, HERE, offers natural advantages for the erection of a bridge, the span required being less than 500 feet, and there is no possibility of erosion or gorges; and its cost will be light, comparatively, as experienced bridge builders have estimated it at but $17,000, including piling the slough and making a road to it. To sum up,a bridge here opens up ex traordinarily fertile country, whose till able land is under a high degree of culti vation, and whose bluffs are covered with a magnificent growth of timber; it will double the wealth and population of Spring Green; it offers cheaper and quick er facilities for travel north and south; it brings the railroad nine miles nearer Dodgeville, thus increasing travel by stage; it gives Dodgeville a better road and cheaper lumber; it is the best point on the river for a bridge; it can be built very cheaply; the people will help build it, and it will pay. Among the principal BUSINESS HOUSES of the village are the following: Newhall Hill, dealers in general merchandize stock, grain, c. S. M. Harris, general merchandize and produce of all kinds. J. N. Finn, variety store, confectionery and job printer. M. F. Horry, custom made boots and shoes. M. butter, billiard saloon. J.E Peebles, dentist, drugs and medicines. A. M. Dye, jeweler. A. C. Scheble, harness, coadD, ttinger, wagons, carriages and general blacksmithing. Wm. Tunstall, all kinds of agricultural machin ery; general repairing. O. B. Roth, custom made boots and shoes. J. McKenna, lumber yard. A. L. Wheeler, M. D. Sweet Pelton, milling. These constitute the business wealth of the village, and are all responsible firms. HOTELS: There are two good hotels here, the U. S. Hotel, J. G. Pxiton, proprietor, and the Park Hotel (formerly Strong’s Hotel), Henry Kiver, proprietor. The former, situated south of the depot, is pleasantly located, and possesses all the requirements of a home. The latter is centrally located in the business portion of the village, and the Svare JourNAL reporter can testify to its pleasant sur roundings, excellent table and good rooms. Mr. Kirgi merits the patronage that he receives, as his house has ten superiors. Spring Green may well be proud of her hotels. This hastily prepared sketch of Spring Green and its surroundings, prospects, etc., would be incomplete, did put the STATE JOURNAL representative ACKNOWLEDGE THE KINDNESS received from every one. To H. R. John son, the gentlemanly agent, J. N. Finn, J.G. Perron, Hon. B. M. Strone, A. P. CLAYTON, and others, he returns his sin cere acknowledgments for many courtesies shown. A Coup MurDERED BY A CorLD—Anh other case of child-killing by a child has been discovered in the Charlestown Dis trict of Massachusetts, the victim being a boy named Charles Fagerstrom, aged 3 years, and the slayer a boy named Welch, aged 2 years and 6 months. Whether the children were in the habit of quarreling does not appear, but a sister of is, Welch instructed her daughter Lizzie to drive away the Fagerstrom boy whenever he came there. This display of hostility toward the Fagerstrom boy doubtless made a strong impression upon the Welca boy, and last Wednesday evening the latter picked up a fragment of brick having a sharp edge, and, going up to the Fager strom boy, struck him on the head with it just above the left, fracturing his skull. He was taken home, and diced yesterday morning from the effects of the blow. Coroner Bradford was called upon, but, upon learning the particulars of the case, decided that an inquest would be unneces sary, owing to the irresponsible age of the Welch boy.—Philadelphia Press.
Newspaper Details
Madison Wisconsin State Journal
Madison, Wisconsin, US
Fri, Jun 15, 1877
Page 2
Full Page
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Hannah P.
USA 15 Jul 2026
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