The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-07-25
MINNIAroLIs, july ~


EDIToRs COURIER Sin Q former let.
ter I gave you meagrc description OF
thcs beauty of this city and its sur
roundings. Since that letter was writ
ten ] have travelled extensively
through southern Minnesota and north
ern Iowa in pursuit Of a place where
might drive my stakes, and settle
down to the ordinary tolls of life.
While there are many cities and towns
all through the section Of country
through which I have travelled that
have many inducements that are very
inviting, I find none that, to my mind,
are equal to those offered by the young
and growing city of Minneapolis.
Surrounded as it is by one of the best
agricultural districts in the world,
with immense natural facilities, and q
wide awake population, this city is
bound to become, at no distant day,
one of the giant cities Of the North
west.
only purpose. in this letter, to give
you an idea of the Importance of the
place in commercial and manufac-
turing point of view. Minneapolis is
now about eighteen years old, and
contains population Con the east and
west side, Minneapolis and st. An
thony, having recently been united
under one city government of twenty.
five thousand people. The streets and
avenues of the city are wide, with sufii-
Gent inclination to afford perfect
drainage; and in most instances are
lined on either side with beautiful
Boulevards, Ia Paris, with extensive
pavements, while the streets and ave-
nues, themselves, afford every facility
not only for the actual demands of
trade, but also, pleasant drives for the
pleasure seeker. To show you what
pluck and energy win do towards
building a city, I.have taken some
trouble to gather the following facts,
showing the present importance of
Minneapolis as manufacturing and
commercial center. The value of the
products of the manufactures of
the city for the present year, will
reach SIG, 362, 900; number of hands
employed in her manufactures are
400; cost Of factories, 100000. It
is estimated (and well posted men con-
siderit a low estimate) that the lumber
manufactured here during the present
eeascn will reach one hundred and
fifty million feet besides, shingles,
lath, ETC., in proper proportion.
To show you further what this vast
interest is doing for the town, let me
give you a few more figures. tits es-
timated by those most likely to know,
that the value of stone and brick BUSH
nesshouses erected during the present
season win reach 100000 There will
also be not less than one hundred and
fifty or two hundred good and substan-
tial dwelling houses built before the
close of the season.
Besides the manufacture of lumber
(there being twenty mills for that
purpose) there are here eight merchant
iouring mills with a'sotaI eapacity Of
1900 barrels per day, two wooden mills
of large capacity, and which are busy
all the time in season; one seamless
bag factory, paper mills, foundry and
machine chops, plow and wagon
shops, axe and edge-tool factory, and
in fact everything calculated to build
up and sustain an immense population
The commercial business of Mime.
apolis exclusive Of manufactures,
during the present year will reach
$l2,0OO,OO0.
The banking business will be as fol
lows;
deposits. So, OOO O(
Loans and discounts. $500. 4,5OOOOl
Exchange. ............. 6,OOO,OOl
1 l am informed that much larger
banking capital is needed here, which
would find profitable employment O
its funds.
Thus, with one Of the most delight
full localities in the world, with wate
power that is inexhaustible, with
climate unsurpassed for health ant
comfort, and with a live and energeti,
population, always wide awake t,
every enterprise tending to promot'
the growth and prosperity Of the place
: who can pretend to foretell the might,
future of this already prosperous city
\, Now, Messrs editors, let me say t,
You confidentially (not desiring t,
tread on the toes of any corner 10
gentleman in Ottumwa) that a simila
prosperity is offered Ottumwa, if he
capitalists will but improve the oppor
tunity. Nature has done more for he
than she has for Minneapolis. Blu
that prosperity can never be reached
by holding on to corner lots, waiting
for an advance in price, to be caused
, by the improvement Of the adjoining
property; neither can it be reached b,
the building of FORCES, factories ani
machine shops on paper, or the refusa
to inaugurate an improvement tina
will invite men or capital and enter
prise to locate in your midst, for fea
that it will cost something without
: prospect OF an immediate return.
& Ottumwa has good water power
and plenty Of it if her people viii only
improve it. Nature is scarcely ever 81
liberal with her gifts as to provide
water power, and then 60 to work ani
constructdams and dig canals, put VI
the machinery, oil the bearings ani
put it in motioE. She did not do tina,
for this place. She did for her par
Crowded sufficient fall in the river
which she has done at Ottumwa) and
the people did the rest.
| The cheated term" has come ir