The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-01-13
OTTAWA.
eral Appe .rrnce. Hts Churches.
Schools. Manufactures and
General BuslneAs.

eral Aplse .rrMce. Hts Churches.
Schools. Man1aactortes and
General Business.
As human disposition and taste are as variega-
ted as human faces, and A. every one sees
through glass peculiatto his own faculties we
cannot hope to meet the appreciation of all in this
sketch but, howe er much We may err in Ian.
guags or items, we have eudeavored to take a
comparative view of the features and common
interests of Ottawa; and though we will not do
any one feature justice, because of breyity, We.
We hope to do no one any injustice. In locating a
town there ore three things ito be kept in view {:
The first 10 health; the other two are the manu-.
featuring and the agricultural resources. As OF.
tawa Is favorably located in reference to ell these
the city is certainly fortunate in its location.
As to it, commercial facilities, the Illinois 4
Michigan canal. the Chicago, Rock Island & Pa.
eiflc and tho Chicago, Burlington s. Quincy rail.
roads are the means Of Transporting and export.
ting with which Ottawa 10 favored.
The natural manufacturing resources of O,sa.
va are Of course, involved in its plentiful supply
Of coal and water. it, vast coal mines, ready ~.
hand, are about - insxhsustible a. its water
tanks formed BY the confluence Of the Fox and
Illinois rivers.
A great enterprise now in course Of procedure
10 the measures that are now being taken BY the
Ottawa Manufacturing Co., 70. furnishing to OF.
lava an abundant supply of hydraulic power
oy appropriating the waters Of the Fox and Iii.
nois rivers in such way - to make them sub.
aerviens to tho driving of machinery for msnu.
factories The dams across both OF these river.
near the city are completed. and the heaviest
work 10 done towards making the Illinois and
Fox rivers sources of untold wealth TO Ottawa.
This great enterprise does great credit to the en-.
orgy OF the individuals conducting it, and 10 des.
tined to contribute largely in awakening an
interest in Ottawa in places where that int.res.
is not yet felt Already this city il widely
known Is great manufacturing place.. e., for
city Of its size, there being about 10, 900 inhabi
tsnts. We snumerats five establishments in
Ottawa where agricultural implements are man.
ufactured, one starch factory, and the glass
works All Of these establishments are large.
and doing heavy business. Ottawa also has five
elevators, several lumber yards, planning mills
and four wagon factories. The streets are good :;
the business houses we'll built, and the majority
Of them quadrilaterslly facing che Cour, House
Square in tho center Of the city
The city is divided into seven wards, each
ward having a school house, snd the less, .um.
Der of rooms in any Of these schoe, houses i, two
If the face Of things, IS to school natter. in Or.
taws, 10 fair criterion to judg. by. i. i. no un.
desirable platv for parents 70 educate their chill.
dren.
The church buildings looming up in Ottavs,
much to its hosos, favorabIy indicase that tn.
people are fully awake TO the importance Of the
watering; Of Zicn in their midst rs ore neasur.
of happiness and prosperity. Eye are the salt of
the earth" The Congregations church Of O.sa.
wa is very large and elegant house of worship,
and speaks we'll foe tho large congregation tina,
assemble within its walls from week to week.
The Presbyterian ohurch is very similar 20 the
Congregational the Baptist and Methods,
churches are also large aud oon,mendable souse-
Of worship. The Cniversalist church is frame
building, the only frame house Of worship, W.
have noticed in the city. All Of these churches
have pastors, which is also su item in good keep.
ing with the brief survey We have taken of ,hc
church buildings.
In concluding these mere illusions to the com.
mon iaterssrs of Ottawa, We would say thv.
among the several cities that We have visited, in
this and other states. We have not visited any
where business 10 moro lively, nor any in which
We have seen less inaietisus OF intemp ersncs or
vice.
1t is a matter nov decided that the Stats
Fsi- will be held At Ottawa for the mex. two
years, and this is certainly an item of great in.
portancs to the city.
Resume Of tho business establishments Of Ottawa.
and the first We mention il that Of
OTTAWA MACHINE SHOPS AND FNrN-
DRY.
now under the management Of Geo. H. n. Ca.h.
man, wko assumed this responsible charge about
ono year ago, are now receiving new additions of
machinery, and in other ways improved This
we'll known foundry was established in O.taw.
about thirty years ago, and the large business it
has been doing toR'n many years in the nauufac.
tnre Of steam engines, and all kinds of ayricul.
turAl implements, has given to it u widespread
reputation. We were kindly conducted by tho
business manager, young Mr.. Cushm~n, .hroush
tho various rooms OF the establishment, which we
onnmerAte: The machine shop, the foundry,
the wood shop, blacksmith shop, and two other
rooms containing the largest amount OF desirable