stoffice. On April 12, 1874, the main building of the Wisconsin State School for the Blind was totally destroyed by fire; the fire de- partment from Janesville tried to check the flames, but owing to the distance from the water, they were unable to do much of anything in that regard. In 1874 a manufacturing enterprise was launched in Janes- ville, which gave employment to many persons for a number of JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN 565 years. This was the Janesville Cotton Manufacturing Company, incorporated August 4, 1874, with a capital of $125,000, which was later increased to $500,000. Mr. Frank Whittaker suggested the feasibility of building a cotton factory here and aided great- ly in its construction. 0. B. Ford was president, J. J. R. Pease vice-president, F. S. Eldred treasurer and William A. Lawrence secretary of the company. On the completion of the main build- ing its use was donated to the Janesville Sack Company for a charity ball, which was held February 9, 1875. The "Gazette," in its account of the party,