The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-08-11


in the Daily of Aug. 4th. 1t is so
fair and candid in its statements,
thi 4 tsansfer it to our columns:
Corres1o ~ the Chicago Evening jour-,
4 d twx; iowa, Aug. LsIsfo.
4 Tho 6pl Seson of tho. North Mis-,
3ouri Dol this point, and the
feeent XAk1 snt editorial excur-
Gioh over q bad, inAagurAtM b.
the ifiana OF that new railway
has caused ct least hundred editO
rial pens to write fthis city, aud the:
magnificent iberality evinced by the
citizens of Ottumwa on the reception
Of the editorial fraternity of Iowas--
A glance at the map will show that
wo are tarorably located as regards
the trade of SoutbernlIowa- We are
within hand,shaking distance Of Mis-
souri,, and its numerous towns in the
northern part ofthe State. Our lines
of railroads, branching out from this
point, touch the borders OF Minnesota
on the north, and to- tho south and
west, we enjoy the distinction Of be-
ing in close railroad connection with
the States Of Kansas and Nebraska.
Travellers from Chicago can reach the
important point Of Kansas City quick
or by way Of Ottumwa than by any
route. Situate in tho beautiful valley
of the Des Moines, oqui-distant from
Keokuk, Burlington and Dos Moines
city, although seventy-ive miles in
land, thanks to our complete system
ofrailroads, eastern freights are laid
at our door as cheaply as to points
on the Mississippi. To tho Rurling-
ton and Missouri River r. Il. q con-
tinuation Of tho great Chicago, Bur-
lington and Quincy road, must be
awarded the palm, itsbeing the most
important railroad passing through
our city. The advantages of this
road to Southern Iowa, cannot DO CO.
timatcd with it's branches extending
to St. Joseph, Mo-, and its extension
through the heart of Nebraska, and
its prompt connection with tho Union
Pacific, combine to make it the lead.
ing road Of Iowa. With the compile
tion Of the North Missouri Road to
our city, we, alone of all the towns in
Iowa, enjoy the advantages of two
competing roads to the South, includ.
ing st. Louis and beyond, and two
competing lines to the East.
drand as these advantages arc,
we place them not much ahead Of
the immense natural resources at cur
command. Nature has blest us with
coal fields of unlimited extent-the
"black diamonds" may be seen crop
ping out all along our valley, and
over our prairies /; to US is accorded
tho privilege Of supplying this indies.
pensible fuel to not only the greater,
portion of Southern and Western
Iowa, but from the, Northwestern
Railroad has como the demand for
coal. Nor must wo fail to notice the
inexhaustible carries Of choice lime
stone, and water power in our
river which demands only capital
to make it available. Before we ex-
tend tho invitation to capitalist to
"look in upon u.s." let Us SEQ what
our citizens are doing. We have
built up city ofovor seven thousand
inhabitants, erected school.houses
and churches improved our streets
and today arc incombered with an
Indebtedness Of only one dollar to
each inhabitant. Our citizens have
during the past year, erected over
two hundred and fifty substantial
houses, twenty-five of which are
brick business houses. In building
bridges railroads, ETC., her citizens
have placed Ottumwa on the high
road to prominence in the west
AS a distributing point, we challenge
comparison as to our enterprise and
literally, hundred pens have with
in the last fow days given to the world
their views concerning US. In thcir
enlightened Judgement we rest. We
cordily invite all those who are sock.
ing live town to settle in +; we ask
that capitalists, seeking investments
in the West, s'come this way" and
read our manifest destiny" To
those seeking points for the manufac.
turo of threshing machines, reapers
and mowers, farm machinery of all
kinds, we ask you to look at the ter
ritory to be supplied from this point.
The clements are here begging for
employment and holding out the
promise ola lucrative return for tho
capital and labor expended. We cite
the above facts, to show that we are
not dealing in vague generalities Or
striving 10 catch the ear Of capital
lists with special pleadings.
We utter not the argument of the
hired advocate, but an ernest belief
in the merits Of the case, resulting
from careful examination Of all the
premises, when we ask for a thorough,
Observation-Disclosures by capital
ists Of largo or limited ability, of our
advantages as APPOINT of growing i'm
portance.H8 hiqGT J.G.M,