The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-01-01

OTTUMwA, January Est, 1851.
II may not be unintereeting to our citizens,
on this frs; day Of the year, to Be enabled to
furnish to the public brief statistical expo
sition of the present condition aud prospects
Of the place. We have hastily compiled the
following statements from memory, having no
time to canvass for information, and everybody
seeming to be too busy 10 respond to our re-
quest for assistance. We hope to be excused
for ahIy omissions or Inaccuracies that may be
detected, as doubtless many will be.
We are led to ray a word in this connection
about our county, inasmuch as Ottumwa, its
county seat, 10 dependent upon rs population,
wealth and resources, for its prosperity.
This County has been settled only about Is
years, and consequently it is by many years
the junior Of the counties on the Mississippi;
but such are its resources in soil, timber, coal,
stone, water-power, &C that it already ranks
the seventh in the State. Judging by the vote
polled at the November election, which was
2,525. The assessed value OF property the
past year was 81, 0O0, 900 in round Numbers -
No county can boast more Independent and
prosperous farming community. The price
Of land ranges from S. o. per acre for naked
prairie, to $2s 90 per acre for improved farms
higher near the towns, Of which there are a
dozen or more very hourishing ones. We nave
q fine Court House, completed the past year at
a cost of $4,000, and stone Jail will be flash
ed this year, costing about the same amount.
The county can boast entire freedom from
debt, aud what few county orders are out are
just as good as gold or silver. Besides all this.
the county does not contain an acre of waste
or swamp land within its borders.
Ottumwa is situated near the center Of the
county, Oh the Demone River, about IS miles
from both Keokuk and Burlington, and on the
great mail route leading from those cities to
the Missouri River, from whic. It is distant
about 200 miles. 1t is abou. eqn-distant from
Keokuk and Fl. Des Moines, and expects to
derive important benefits from the completion
Of the Improvement of the Demoine River,
having two Of thu Locks and Dams located
here, which, when completed will furnish an
unlimited water power Ottumwa also is the
point Of intersection, of the B. & M. r. r., and
the X. & Fl. d. r. R., now completed within
40 miles, ant both making vigorous efforts to
penetrate further west
On the whole, we think that Ottumwa, in
the matter Of locality IS placed on the map
very favorably. The advantages of principal
lines Of communication by stage, railroad, ana
river are hers, and no locali.y has better adyan-
tages tor manufacturing. Timber of most
kinds is abundant; here will be an unlimited
water power. ard systematic mining will furn-
ish the best coal in any quantity, and at our
very doors, al TO 10 cts per bush~l. Com
munication with the whole world, and every
possible material and facility for mannfactur.
ing. must invite here large portion of that i'm
dustry, enterprise and capital which are now
seeking just such points for investment.
Few western towns have grown more rapidly
the past year, than Ottumwa. There has been
an increase of population, and still larger in
crease of business. We Lave now some of the
heaviest mercantile establishments in the in
terror of the State, who are established in rs
stately. and costly blocks, and as large and ele-
CANT store rooms as can be found almost any
where. AID in the matter OF Hotels, we are
happy to say we are also up to the times.
But perhaps the most satisfactory exhibit
Of the present condition of Ottumwa we can
make, will be the following statements, show
ing the variety and extent Of the business car
ried on here-the professions, churches, soci-
etiee, &C. We had INTENDED to publish The
names Of our business men, but publication day
has come round, and we must condense. We
have, then, Of lawyers, IL; physicians, 10 ;
churches, 8 hotels, 3; Masonic societies, 2 !;
Odd Fellows, !; temperance societies, 2; lit
erary societies, /; Schools, g.; dry goods and
grocery stores, II drug stores, 3; stoves and
tin ware, 8; clothing, 1; leather, boots & shoes,
!; furniture. 8; saddlery, 2; groceries, 2; MILF
merry mantuamakers, 3; mills, 3; acksmiths
3; Tailors, 3; baker, /; butcher. I; barber. i;
wheelwright, I; boot and shoemakers, 5; watch
maker and jeweler, 1; painters, 4; gun smiths,
2; pork packer, !; land age nts, 8; livery sta
bles, 2; Ambrotype gallery, !; Daguerreotype,
l; and Carpenter, brick and stone masons, sc.
more than we can remember.
The DemOine improvements.
"A New Contract.