WAUPACA POST

January 21, 1886

 

Baldwin & Bailey’s Predicament

 

            The flooding of the basement at Baldwin & Bailey’s mills and stoppage of the wheels by the backwater from the river caused by the choking of the channel by anchor ice and snow, continued all last and thus far the present week.  A crew of men were at work all last week and cut a channel four or five feet wide, all the way from Roberts & Oborn’s dam up to the mill.  Messer. Baldwin & Bailey thought such a channel would create a current sufficiently strong to carry away the snow which had accumulated under the ice, but were disappointed in their expectations, as comparatively little of it went out.  The channel however let out a portion of the water and it is hoped will ultimately widen and the desired result be accomplished.

            The mill has thus far been idle eleven working days in the busiest season for all flouring mills.  The proprietors will suffer quite a serious financial loss.  The trouble was entirely unexpected, for the mill never has been before troubled by backwater since it was built.