The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-26
OTTUMwA.
oar Lscatisn, Pepulation, Schools,
0h1xches, 9tc, 9te.
BY j. Q. HOPKINS.

Taking birds-eye view of this
grest commonwealth, and noting es-
pecially those points already supplied
with railways and whose prospects
are especially promising as rail-
way, commercial and manufacturing
oenters, we find mono in the interior
which seems to be objects Of 90 much
attention a. Ottumwa. As q railway
center this 10 far ahead Of any other
town in the interior Of the State, it
having four railroads, while no 9TH
er town has more than three. II is
now in point of population second
only to Des Moines, while but few
other places approach it. At the
present time, OF course, many Of the
river towns are far ahead of this,
they being much older and having
from the first enjoyed the benefits Of
river navigation. Now, as matter
of home enterprise, and to show 70
the outside world the position Of OF
turnwa in the light mentioned, we
have given in brief detail Che many
points of superiority this city enjoys.
First, then, let US look at the
LOCATION OF orTuMwA.
Situated on the Des Moines river,
this city is ninety three miles from
Des Moines, the capital Of the State,
aeventy-fve from Burlington, seven
ty-fve from Keokuk, two hun
dred and sixteen from Council Bluffs,
two hundred and eighty-two from
Chicago, and two-hundred and sew
enty five from st. Lonis.
The typography of the town is all
all that could be desired. Lying on
the east side of the Des Moines,
plateau of q milo in width in it's
narrowcst place, widens out both be-
low and above the town. From this
plateau on which is located tho main
portion Of the city, . succession Of
bluffs or hills extend northeastward
Two hundred feet high, the activity
being NJ places steep and at others
moro gentle. For q long distance
these hills are covered with beautiful
cottages ::and fine residences, plainly
indicating the wealth and easy cir
cumstanccs of many of our citizens.
Succeeding hills and valleys, covered,
10 q great extent, with trces and
ehrubbery makes the Scene pictur-
esqc. From these bluffs the scenery
IN the valley below is especially
grand. Lying almost at the feet OF
tho beholder is city of over seven
thousand inhabitants, the poise and
din the result Of the ceaseless pulsa-
tions Of commerce, mellowed by the
distsnoe, strikes the ear pleasantly.
The noble business blocks of vary
snC nights, the occasional black
smoke pipe Of fmanufactories, with the
gayeor tombre attire of pedestrians
following their inclinations of busi-
ness or pleasure, the wooded bottom
lands through which the Des Moines
winds its tortuous way, appearing in
siIvery brightness only to disappear
from view. the long and dusty freight
and the more brightly painted pas
senger trains coming and going up
and down the valley, strikes the be
holder as q strange mingling with
the grandeur of the natural scenery,
churches, schools and business facili.
ties. Surely no more picturesqe OF
more advantageous location for a
thriving city could be found through
ont this portion of Southern Iowa.
The location of Ottumwa, too, il
in one OF the richest agricultural re
gions of the Mississippi Valley
which has served to make this an i'm
portant primary grain market. OF
snmwa is in nearly the center o
Wapello county and is its county
seat.
Before giving the business inter
ests of the city, which forms tb,
main features OF oar sketch. we fint
it necessary to show the place mn !,
another light. After learning tha
the town ID q remarkable one fo
business. tho question presents ,tscI
70 every person who has an incl,na
sion this way, What is tho ednca
tional, religious and social state .
the placer" This wo will show in
few brief paragraphs.
OUR CHURCHES
are matter Of great town pride an,
number seven, with one sociat,
which worship in the court bousa .
The denominations worshiping har
aro the First Methodist. RoveT =
Corkhiil, Pastor; Main Street Ar n
Rev. John G. Brown, Pastor 70,
gregational, Rev. Harmon Rrns,
Pastor; Presbyterian, Rev. Herva
B. Knight, Pastor; Baptist Ra,
Pastor Protestant Episc,
pal, Rev. J. Il. Ryan, Rector Ca,
olic, Rev John KreckeI, Priest O.
man, Rev. H. Frankfurth-the lstt.
holding services at the court hons
Sabbath Schools arc eonnec,e
with ali tho churches cxcent y
Catholic and German. Tho ch,r,
edihces are all good and many
them elegant and costly, TT
church facilities of Ottumv. -
think, are equal to those oc ~
other town in the State 81 Lass -. m
ten thousand inhabitants.
EDUCATIONAL rAcILrr1Es
In this matter, which forms ono
the most attractive features in ~
Western town, Ottumwa does n
JACK. With her Public SchooIs h
Catholic Seminary, her Germ,
ochooi, and her Business CoiIea