The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1867-07-11

It's Rapid GrOtCth-- Taste and Refine
ment Of its Citisens-l Its Railroad s.
Improvements il Progress Public
Hi Buildings, Etc, Etc. Il
!" is OrrUMwA, June 20 1867.
MEssRs. ED1rcRs Hawk EYE-
GENrs:-A few weeks ago you gave
space in your columns for a very
brief sketch Of the city of Ottumwa. !;
havinga little leisure time this eve
ming it shall b devoted to filling in
the details y It's but eight Or ten
years since this cntcrprising city was
but Il little viIlagcthickly embowcrcd
Il, hazel brush and scattering scrub
oaks. To the old residents it APP
pears like a dream, So great and raa
id dhas been the march ofprogress. In
the place ofthc hut and cabin Of. the
frontiersman. there is to be seen large
and stately looking stores filled with
heavy stocks Of goods from almost
every nation and country; large and
tasty churches, fine in architectural
design, with their pulpits filled with
learned and polislrcd orators u ho talk
to full and crowded houses every
Su5bath. The hil'sides arc covered
over with residences. and many of
them large ind tastetufiy ornament-
ed. Almost every door yard is pro-
.fuseiy or;,amcnted with beautiful
flowers, shrubs, climbing vines and
choice fruit trees, which speak Nigh
Of the intelligence and refined taste
of the occupants. This ten year old,
city has two important railroad lines
passing through it, and before it is
two years older it will have the third
lipe-thc Cedar Rapids and St. Louis
road one fourth Of the grading is now
donc between the city and tic State
line. The balance Of the work is be-
ing pushed along steadily. Large
qualities Of ties are already distrbu,
ted along the line. Abou: ten miles
Of the heaviest grading is completed
between Sigourney and the county
line. 1tis the opinion, OF many that
the Washington and Muscatine road
will ii,terscct OF terminate ut this
point. Then this will be one of the
best points in tho State for manufac-
uringcapitaists toinvcst heir money
in. Tho concentration Of 30 many
roads will offer them superior ,facili.
ties in freighting to and from 4 large
number Of points. Coal, wood and
water are in q great abnndance, in
fact the whole county is o coal field.
Buiiingt0nians should exert d little
more energy upon their North and
South roao, Or this little city will se
cure the golden prize first. We are
sloso and sure, but little Ottumwa is
aiive and working withfa win, and it
will undouB Btcdly accomplish all that
Is stated shove, and that too before
we get fairly at work, unless zoe ,cork
faster than zoe haoe recently. Let us
see: there are eight first.class stores
In process Of erection now, and some
Of them surpassingi in cost and beauty
anything that we can boastof iii Bur-
iingson. : Taylor, HiAke & Co., are
building . book and drug store 40 By
lis feet, four stories high. Adioin-
ing the sanefthe first national bank
directors arc putting up . building
23aby lf5 feet, four stories high, iron
front, with the show windows in one
light, each 'mcAsaHng neasIy- s. by 8
fect, ofpo'islsed Frcisch plato glass
tories Ia feot high; third story is TO
to'be usedefor . hall SO byll3 feet, in.
Guiding ldreesang rooms. stage and
vestibnle. This hall when completed.
willnot 10 surpassed by any west ot
Chicago. The fourth story is formed
on two aides BY nsaftroof, covered
With ornamental states in two pat.