Time Machine Trip to August 1908

By Lyle Hansen

August 7, 1908

The Outagamie Paper company is about to inaugurate a new system of operating their finishing department whereby they will do all their paper cutting and counting during the day time. Hereafter no girls will be employed in the finishing room during night tour.

Two new bridges and the extension of the Seventh Street sewer were the output of a business session of the common council held Tuesday evening. The aldermen were divided as to the necessity of two bridges, but the majority ruled, and the work was ordered to proceed. A wooden structure with iron supports will be built across the tail race of the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company, and the clerk was instructed to advertise for bids for the construction of the bridge in accordance with the design on file. The sewer commissioners were instructed to advertise for bids for the extension of the Seventh Street sewer in accordance with adopted plans.

The Fats beat the Leans in a baseball game here Saturday by a count of 7 to 5. In the first half of the doubleheader the south side business men walloped the north side business men to the tune of 17 to 5.

August 14, 1908

The government shut off 75 percent of the normal flow of Fox River Monday for the first time in several years. This action was taken to keep up navigation and will necessitate many of the paper mills resorting to steam power. As all are overstocked it is possible that some of them will shut down.

Following the completion of the new electric power plant, the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company will move their machinery and tools to that location, where construction on a new 3,600-foot dam will commence. The new dam will create a head of twenty-eight feet and will commence near the Outagamie Paper Company's water power canal and will extend nearly across the channel of the Fox River.

The men employed on the tailrace of the new power plant struck for higher wages. They were getting $1.75 per day and asked for $2.00. The contractors refused to grant their demands but have taken back a few willing to work for the former scale of wages.

August 21, 1908

The pulpwood rush which has been on for several months is beginning to let up due in part to the scarcity of cars which are needed in the west for the movement of grain. Some of the cars which arrived in the Ashland division yards this week have been loaded since last spring. Now that they are needed, however, they have been rushed to their destination. Some of the pulp mills are using the wood direct from the cars which saves handling it the second time.

J. Kappell and Fred Reichel came near being seriously injured Sunday morning by a bull. Kappell was attacked by the bull while driving several head of cattle to pasture, when Reichel came to his assistance he too was attacked.

  

August 28, 1908
Corn in some localities was badly damaged by the frost last week. Potatoes also suffered. At Antigo and Eland both crops were ruined.

Before each game down at the ball park the crowd sings a new song called “Take me out to the ball game” Folks sure enjoy the time at the game.