The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-07-31
Water Power Improvement
Contract With Mr. Cushman
COusummated.
The Completion Ofthe Work Fixed Facs.

The Completion Oft'se NOyA u rAAe~ = Scs'
We take great pride and pleasure in an
nouncing to our citizens and all the world
besides, that an agreement has finally been
concluded between Col. VIM H. w. Cushman
and the City of Ottawa, by which MIR. Cush-
man binds himself, in consideration of the
bonus of 100000 in Ottawa city bonds recent
ly authorized to be issued by the city council
for that purpose and approved by vote OF
the people of Ottawa, to commence imme'
diately and to prosecute to completion as
rapidly as ordinary human energy and the
clements will permit, the great water power
Improvement at Ottawa, in reference to which
our people have long felt so deep all interest,
and in which they so fervently believe all
hopes for the future prosperity of our city are
wrapped up. The ordinance published be-
low, which was adopted by the city council
on Thursday evening" embodieS SO fully the
contract entered into with Mr. Cushman, that
any further statement of its precise terms is
unnecessary. 1t is sufficient to say, that Mr..
Cushman binds himself to build good, perma-
nent and sufficient dams to make available az
rapidly as it can brought into use, all the
water power that can be obtained by dam
ming both the Illinois and Fox Rivers at o.
tawa, and to do this without any delay except
such as shall be wholly unavoidable.
It is true, Mr.. Cushman only agrees to do
this in general terms. He is not asked to en-
brace il lis agreement precise plan with
specifications as to the exact character of the
structure to be erected, its height, length or
breadth nor does he bind himself as to the
details of the head and tail races. 1t is enough
that he agrees to build the dams high enough
to bring into use all the water power that can
be made available at Ottawa, and as the cree
ton of the single dam across the Illinois river,
and the construction of the proper races will
involve the expenditure of ut least $780, 900
above the bonus voted him by the CITY, and
as the whole improvement, when completed,
will be his own property, it is no more than
reasonable t'lat Mr.. Cushnan asks to be per
mitted to us IS own discretion, as a sensible
business maj rs to the details. Mr.. Cush-
man, after ex ling such an amount of his
own money OF. nc enterprise, can have no
other interest than to bring the great water
power thereby created into as rapid and ex-
tensive use as possible, and that is also the on
ly interest and desire the city can have in the
matter. So in the matter of this agreement
the city is entirely safe, because its interests
are inextricably intertwined with and must run
pari passu with those of Mr.. Cushman. But
outside and beyond this, tie city has another
guarantee which, with lic people of Ottawa
at least, is quite sufficient; and that is the
high credit, the great wealth, and the word
of honor of Mr.. Cus.lman himself that in this
whole matter he will redeem his engagement
with the city fully to the letter and in spirit.
That is quite enough, and the people of Of
tawa, knowing their man, ask no more.
II only r mains to add, that the construc-
tiol of this great improvement being thus
provided for beyond any reasonable doubt or
contingency, the career of OTTAWA, from this
Ooy Pieh, hlusU NC upWuiu uhu OuWoIu. VIC
have now in the near future the creation of
the fest water power at this city to be found
anywhere in the state, if not in the west. We
have direct railroad communication opening
to us to the north, south, east and west, and
we have communication by water with the
great lakes of the north and the great rivers
Of the south. What more eligible location
can there be, with all these advantages
and facilities, for building up Immediately
great manufacturing city than we have
at Ottawa9 Is it an idle dream to say that
in ten years Ottawa not only ought to be,
but will be, Il second city in the statea
Followinr is the ordinance passed by the
city council Thursday evening
CattIe--Firm. Choice steers, $7.5Oa$s.UU; I,
air 2d class, S7OO9z37; medium to good butch
srs' stock, S5.50GG50; common to choice COWS
aad heifers S5.0C85.5O; inferior and mixed
stock, a2.25d400.
keyy YORK rEnrlet. |