The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-02
The Courier. january ga.
The anuiversargseC the COURIER occurring

The anuiversarNeeG the COURIER occurring
at the eni oc one and the C announcement Of
a new year. the OCCASION seems to be "a Cavora
bic one for f-w words of tgospeCtion,
ana ofai,uSi0n to the future. TIE Courier
is now ono oc the cd st institutions 10 the
county. having been published nearly -
years, with perhaps as much regularity as i
customary or possible in new country. II
was started in August, 1913, by Mcs'rs.
Street and Warden. j. II. D. Street, at pres
oat Of the Union in this city, and r. H. War
den, Proprietor ofthe O,tumwa House. Il
was published, we think, some three years
by those parties jointly, when it passed into
The sole care of Mr.. Warden, who continued
it until December 1856, when it was pur-
chased by the present proprietor. 1t bore
the name of the Dcs NojHas Courier, until
January 1st, 80, whom it was changed to
the Ottuni'ca Courier, name deemed at
the time more expressive and convenient
The COURIER was started as Wing paper,
and continued to advocate the measures and
policy of that party, up to the time OF its
dissolution, when it entered heartily and
zealously into the Republican movement
As general newspaper, the COURIER has
always taken an interest in the progress and
prosperity Of the region with which it has
been identified, and has never designedly
been found wanting in the advocacy and
support of measures of general or local con-
cernment. River improvements, Plank and
Railroads, Agricultural and Literary Soce-
ties, Benevolent, Educational, Charitable
and Religious enterprises, have all to con-
venient and reasonable extent been aided
Here is the record of almost innumerable
Marriages, and here will be found notices of
many our citizens who from time to time,
have been put to sleep in the soil Of our coun-
ty. Here is spread out the politics Of diff
ferent periods of our country; here are CT
logies of some, and severe rhillipics upon
others, both kinds in part EEdoubtless true,
but both susceptible OF some grains of allow
ance
But we want the time to pursue this ret
respect, even if we could hope within rea-
scnable limit to find at last any but an alb
rupt end. Suffice it to say, that the CouEI-
Err has played somewhat noisy and bolster
Gus, though we fatter ourself an honorable
and useful part, from about the first settle
ment Of Wapelo county, upon the stage of
public action. For twelve lcng and event
full years, it has made its weekly visits at the
homes of its patrons in all parts of this and
of neighboring couat.es, with almost the
regularity Of the seasons. In spite Of hard
times, of slow payments, and deprecated or
no currency, it has gone forward and now
from this stand point of January 1st, 1861,
as we glrnce forward into the future, whose
untried realities cannot be anticipated, we
indulge the hope and belief that it will live,
under some auspices, yet another period Of
u years, we trust indefinitely. 1t must he
SO, if it is managed pru5ently, for the news
paper is aninstitution which gathers strength
and vitality by age, if that age be an honor
able one.
We should be clad to dwell for a lite space
upon the history, condition, and prospects of
this glorious region with which the COURIER
has been Unidentified since, with lingering
look and reluctant step the Indian badc it a
last adieu. 1t is an abode, taken ali in ali,
that We ought all to be satisfied with. Wa
pello county has no superior in Iowa, soil,
climate, varied resources, geographical posi-
ton, all being considered. Look at its pFai-
ries, rich as the Delta of the Nile; at its
groves and timber lands, full of the best va
rietv of trees; its noble Des Moines, water
ing Center aud extremes and its numerous
tributaries from every direction; its beds OF
stone, coal, and iron, valuable beyond COM
putation; its numerous fourshing cities,
towns and villages, the pride of every town.
ship, its climate where the extremes Of heat
and cold are so happily blended, ard where
health is the :ule, and disease and death q
rareexception, and more than all look at our
$4,000 intelligent, enterprising, and prosper
Gus people, whose charming homcsteads
adorn every ncighborhood. In short we
have every natural resource and advantage ;
all that is wanting to make an earthly para
disc Of our county, is for every citizen to be
contented with his location and lot, and
bend his energies to improve, adorn and de-
velope It. "
And our own Ottumwa, whose transforms
ton from an Indian village to a city with
crowded streets and widespread COM
merce, the COURIER has witnessed, what
shall we say of thee? Standing in the heart
of the fertile valley of the Des Moincs, at a
point where the travel, improvements and
trade Of half the State seem naturally to cen,
tire; with its two railroads from the east and
the south cast already pouring their treas
ures into its lap; with its enterplising MGR.
chants, it's skillful mechanics, its learned
professional men; to say nothing of its
beautiful and accomplished women-vcr;ly,
Ottumwa, with it's charming scenery, its
beautiful and hcalthful situation, and its
splendid prospects, is place which it is on
~ necessary to see, to desire to live in for
ever.
The First Five Years.