The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-07-16
The Ottawa Water Power Project.

The Ottawa Water Power Project.
One year ago the city of Ottawa entered in
to contract with Col. w. W. II. Cushman
agreeing to pay him bonus Of S6O,OOO in
consideration that he would construct, and of
course himself own, the proposed water pow
or improvement at Ottawa. The contract
was so drawn as to leave Mr.. Cushman con-
siderable latitude as to the time within which
the work should be done, for the reason that
the stage of the river, at the time the contract
was made, was such as to leave it doubtful
whether it would be practicable to make be.
ginning on the dam last season. The con-
tract, however, was at least intended to be so
drawn as to bind him to a commencement of
the work whenever the stage Of water in the
river, the weather, &C., Were such ~ to renl-
the work practicable. Such Il state Of affairs
was believed to have arrived month ago up
on which the city council, seeing no move
ment towards commencing the work on the
part OF Col. Cushman appointed u committee
to wait upon him and ascertain definitely
when he proposed to commence the improve.
ment. The reply of Col C. to the committee
on calling upon him on that occasion. is up.
derstood 70 have been that before commenc.
ing the erection of the dam he had found it
necessary to settle great many prclimena-
ries. Surveys had to be verified. chartered
rights reconcied, owners of land likely TO be
damaged satisfied, &C., &c. and that. although
he had given all necessary attention to these
matters, he was not yet in a condition to saw
definitely when he could commence work ::
but that the matter had reached such stage
that he thought he could give the council
definite answer by its next meeting, then
three weeks hcncc) Accordingly, last Fri
day, Gas Col. G. proposed going East the fol-
lowing day. he sent tor the committee to
give them his definite answer. as ntimated.
before the meeting of the council on Tuesday
evening. That answer, thus given, was re-
ported to the council on Tuesday evening. by
Aid. Lynch in the following words:
Your committee has waited upon Mr.. Cush.
man, and We are assured by him that the arrange.
ments are made; the stakes stuck, and the wa.
OF twelve months from this time"
There is no doubt but that these were the
exact words of Col. Cushman to the COM
mittee, and there is no doubt, further, that
when Col. Z. said them he meant them. He
Is man VINO never uses words at random.
IN business matters, at least, his word is his
bond. We take it, after such promise on
his part, that lift is within the range of hu-
man possibility, Col. c. will have "the water
pouring over that dam" within one year from
TINS date. On that score we have no more
doubt than we have that COL Cushman will
ne alive one year from this date.
We regard, therefore, the question whether
TINS water power improvement shall be made
within the coming year as definitely settled
III the affirmative. We have so much faith in
this promise of Col. c. that we have No hest
fancy in advising the people Of Ottawa, in all
Their business arrangements looking to the
luture, to take this important fact into &C
count Ottawa is not the same town TODAY
1t was before this fact was settled Real
estate Is worth more than it was week ago
our business prospects are improved; our city,
Tor the first time in ten years, can be said to
nave future; there is bright prospect be-
lofc us there is something to give founda-
'ioh to our assurances of future prosperity ::
We have passed another turning point in our
history, and henceforth our career as city
must be rapidly onward and upward.