The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-08-25

The Depot grounds of the b. & NJ. X. R..
Company, at this place, magnificent dona-
ton from our city, comprise thirty acres of
as beautiful ground as can be conceived, in
fact il is conceded to be the finest Depot
ground to be found anywhere. 1t is bound
ed by the Fast line of the city, the Des Moines
river and the present travelled road leading
out of the city eastwardly, and is very near
Is dead level. 1t was purchased of G.. F.
Rlake, Esq, for the sum Of $4,000 The few
DAYS nc" the laying Of the main track over
the grounds was completed. have been indus
trioTsly employed in pushing forward the
rytcnsiv' improvements necessary and con-
t"mplated and alread v we find tho Compa-
nv's Freight House. building 140 by 56
feet turn table constructed in the most
permanent and durable manner, a water tank
and numerous side tracks running diverse
directions, all completed 4 track some half
a mile long to gravel bed on the premises
Of 4. ID. Whipple, has been laid down and
gravel trains are busy conveying material
to cover the Depot grounds, and to ballast
the road East az far as necessary The sup
ply is abundant The passenger houses, and
several warehouses will go up in few days.
Messrs. Mendenhall & Whitman, Storage
and Forwarding Merchants, are here super
intending the construction of a very large
building for their occupancy, and E. D. Rand
& Co, Lumber Merchants, are receiving
daily, heavy invoices of Lumber, Shingles,
Lath, &c. Cattle pens, Engine house, Ma
chine shops, and Round house will speedily
follow.
1t is known that the Company are extend.
ing track from the Depot to Court street,
on the river in the heart of the city. at the
terminus Of which warehouse will be built
for the purpose of shipping and receiving
freight by steamboats, IN the season of navi-
cation. The grading Of this track and most
of the culverts at street crossings are finish
ed The most considerable job, the bridge
over the creek at the Depot, is in a forward
state.
The B. & NJ. r. p. viii soon benefit, we
are confident, by the extension oftheir road
to the Des Moines. They are here in the
heart of the Des Moines Valley, the garden
of Iowa and the West. MANY miles further
west than any other road, and at a termina-
ting point most favorable for securing or sue
cessfully competing for share of the trade
of Southern, Central and Western Iowa, q
point of very convenient access for the Val
ley as far up as Des Moines and above, and
for the immense, wealthy and populous coun-
try west towards the Missouri and south into
the State of that name We are happy to
intimate to the farmers, merchants, and
other peoples inhabiting this immense and
fertile region, that the B. & NJ. r. r. Co. are
now ready to convey them wherever they
wish to 60, and to ship their goods. cattle,
hogs, wheat. corn and other commodities
upon the most favorable terms, and that from
this time forth they can obtain at Ottumwa
all kinds of Goods, Lumber, Salt, Iron, Doors,
Sash, Blinds, Groceries, and everything they
need at wholesale prices. We hope to see
them pour in here like an army with banners
from this time on. Come to the celebration