INDUSTRY OF COUNTIES. 
461 
boo river, with all the species common to this latitude; varieties of oak, 
sugar maple, soft maple, ash, basswood , white elm, hickory and butternut. 
Our timbered surface delayed the early development of our agricultural re¬ 
sources, but the exceeding richness of the soil, and its natural adaptation to 
clover and the grasses when once subdued, amply pay for the extra la¬ 
bor of opening the farms. 
The Baraboo river and its tributaries flow with sufficient rapidity to fur¬ 
nish a number of good water powers; probably there are not fewer than 
thirty within the limits of the county. The great water-power of the county is 
found at Baraboo, the county seat, where the river falls forty feet in run¬ 
ning about two miles. It is improved by four dams. At the upper dam 
there is a saw mill and manufactory for wagon work; at the second is locat¬ 
ed the Manufacturing Company’s works and the Island Mills Woolen Fac¬ 
tory; at the third is a saw mill, foundry and machine shop, also a large 
flouring mill, at the fourth is located the Manchester Woolen Factory. 
Of the whole power available at Baraboo, it is estimated that not more than 
one-lialf is at present used. 
The principal manufacturing, beyond the local wants of the different 
communities, is done at Baraboo. The annual capacity of the different 
works here, may be briefly stated as amounting to the wood work for 20,000 
wagons, employing a large force of hands. The Island Woolen Mills, which 
consume 100,000 pounds of wool, and turn out 90,000 yards of cloth, flan¬ 
nels and blankets; employing 35 hands. The Manchester Mills, using 
45,000 pounds of wool, and employing 14 hands. The furniture works of 
the Manufacturing Company employ from 60 to 75 hands, and turn out 
about 60,000 chairs and 15,000 bedsteads annually. 
The problem of producing our own sugar is engaging the attention of 
some of our enterprising citizens, and a beet sugar manufactory has just 
been started, the results of which will be watched with deep interest. 
The county is cut on the northern border by the Milwaukee and La 
Crosse road, and on the southern by the Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien 
road. Work is now vigorously pushed on a new line of road which will 
form the connecting link between Madison and the great Northern Pacific 
Railway. 
The county contains about 440,000 acres of land, of which 137,082 acres 
are improved. The total population is 23,868. The gain in ten years has 
been 4,905. 
Wheat, 487,001 bushels; rye, 24,374; corn, 419,752; oats, 499,576; barley, 
22,443; wool, 59,994 pounds; potatoes, 209,699 bushels; butter, 506,171 
pounds; cheese, 14,299 pounds;' hay; 29,784 tons; hops, 1,274,563 pounds. 
Annual value of productions and improvements, $1,838,277. Number of 
companies or individuals engaged in manufacturing, 122; hands employed, 
408. Value of manufactures, $779,025. These figures compare favorably 
with the reports of other counties, and show a greater yield in proportion to 
