Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/722

 630 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY Ideas and equipments have developed so largely along all lines that the company now operates one of the finest tow boats in the river, and is constantly adding to its fleet of barges, quarter boats, launches and other craft necessary to transporting ma- terial from woods to mill and taking care of the men. The forest work has been largely tentative. A quarter of a million trees of many varieties and sizes have been planted under various conditions of soil, moisture and exposure and their growth will be watched with great interest. The native young timber is thinned and culled to increase its growth and the mature timber removed as fast as it can be handled. All this work is experi- mental for. so far as can be learned, cultivation of trees of these varieties and on this kind of land is entirely untried, both in this country and abroad. The success of the venture will be watched with keen interest by all interested in the future of the country and by all friends of the present much-agitated subject <»f the conservation of natural resources. Red Wing Brick Company. Brick making is another industry that has for many years been importanl in Red Wing. The old state capitol ai St. Paul was made of red pressed brick from Red Winu. Among the early brick makers of the city were Brink. Williams & Co. and Ole Simmons. The industry is at present represented by the Red Wing Brick Company. This com- pany was organized in L905, incorporated in February of the same yeai' by Charles A. Betcher, -I. -I. Bovy, B. Gerlach, J. A. Schouweiler and Oust Lillyblad. The firsl officers were: Presi- dent, ('. A. Betcher; vice president. B. Gerlach; secretary and genera] manager, -I. -I. Bovy; treasurer, < '. K. Hjermstad. The first building was erected in March. 1.905, and began operation in July of the same year. The plant then had a capacity of aboul 15,000 pei- day of a first class Pacing brick or about 18.000 com- mon brick. The buildings now cover about two acres of ground, the main factory being three stories high. The presenl capacity of the plant is about 10,000,000 brick per annum, the product con- sisting of pressed brick in all shades and a fine line of orna- mental stone, this output being' sold in Minnesota. Wisconsin, Iowa. North Dakota. South Dakota and Manitoba. The com- pany employs at the present time aboul eighteen men. the plant being located in the western part of the city on the C. G. W. Ry. and the office is in the Goodhue National Bank building. The present officers of the company are: President, B. Gerlach; vice president. .1. A. Schouweiler; treasurer, C. F. Hjermstad; secre- tary and general manager. J. J. Bovy. These gentlemen, with F. AY. Foot, constitute the board of directors. In regard to indus- tries of this nature the "Roek Products" for August, 1909. says: "The industry of sand lime brick manufacture is still in its in-