HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY



worm to be found in the marshes of Connecticut, and the growers made some
30
per cent on their investment in the land. In 1880 the marsh operated by Bearss
& Alexander, situated on the line between Cranmoor and Port Edwards Townships
(sections 16 and 21), and containing 120 acres, all under cultivation, yielded
about
3,600 bushels. In 1876 the John Arpin marsh, then of 40 acres, in Section
33,
Cranmoor Township, yielded 1,200 bushels. In'1877 the marsh fire destroyed
a
great deal of the marsh and for a time the crop was very light, but in 1880
it was
400 bushels. In 1893 there was further damage from fire.
   Today the Wisconsin Valley produces about 40,000 barrels of cranberries
a
year, the state of Wisconsin about 50,000, and Wood County about 25,000 barrels.
An acre of good cranberries may produce as much as 100 barrels, or a barrel
of cran-
berries for every square rod, though the average is much under that amount,
be-
ing not more than one-third, or about 100 bushels to the'acre. The market
price
varies greatly from time to time, depending on general or special conditions.
Thus,
while the United States was engaged in the World War it was low, owing to
the
difficulty in obtaining sugar. In 1919, according to the U. S. census, there
were
437 acres of cranberries cultivated, the amount produced being 1,885,128
quarts.
In 1921 the average price obtained by the growers was $15.00 and some berries
sold much higher than that. The general average for the last 15 years-from
1907
to 1922-has been about $8.00 per barrel.
   The cranberry picking season begins about September 1 and lasts for two
or
three weeks, or longer, according to the size of the crop. A marsh of 60
to 70 acres
will employ about 30 people, who nowadays are nearly all men. The growers
provide sleeping quarters for them, as well as cooking and dining facilities.
On
the Arthur E. Bennett marsh in Cranmoor Township, and perhaps on one or two
others, there is a room which is used for dancing and entertainments.
   It was not long after the cultivation of the cranberry had been started
here on
a systematic basis that the growers found themselves confronted by various
prob-
lems that it took them some time to solve. For their ultimate solution they
owe
a large debt of gratitude to Judge John A. Gaynor, a man who took a keen
interest
in solving such problems as well as in the promotion of various enterprises
for the
good of the community.
   One of these early problems was the question of water supply and drainage.
Here Judge Gaynor's legal training stood him well in hand. He saw that the
rule
of common law would prove ruinous to the industry, but that the water must
be
handled according to the rules of civil law; and to this end he succeeded
in placing
a law on our statute books for the benefit of the growers. In the matter
of water
supply and control the previous practice had been for each grower to look
out for
himself regardless of his neighbor's rights or interests, but Judge Gaynor
saw that
while a fanner might do this in a way, the cranberry men could never do it
save
at their own ultimate loss. He got them to understand and trust each other,
to
exercise. fair play and work together in the common cause. They soon got
into
the habit of going to him for advice, and that advice was on the side of
compro-
mise whenever possible and against strife and litigation. Most of the important
contracts, deeds and concessions for water and outlets-and there were many
of
them-were drawn by him, and few if any court controversies or law suits arose



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