Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-08-20
THE EXTRAORDINARY G1OwTH
- OF OTTUMwA.

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THE EXTRAORDINARY GnOwTM
OF OTTUMwA. e
The growth of Ottumwa during the
present year. is somewhat extxaordt
nary. A gentleman who is travelling
Consistently In Iowa, and in the adjacent
staies, informs us that no city which
he has visited, outside Of Chicago and
| St Louis, presents such manifest
evidences Of prosperity as Ottumwa.
Residences-many of them of an ele-
CANT and expensive character--are GO
ing up all over the city and in the
suburbs, while additions and better
ments are the universal order of the
dAv. Many good snbatantial business
houses have been erected already this
season, and many more are under way
and in contemplation. Tho busy stores
and crowded streets Of Ottumwa arc
In marked contrast with those Of
many Of our neighboring towns " hich
have fsncied themselves our rivsls.
The rsasons why Oitumwa contln-
ues to grow from year to year with
constantly accelerated speed, and why
her merchants, manufacturer, and bust
ness nen are 20 generally prosperous
Ia the midst Of the blue times and de-.
spondency which exists in many other
places heretofore prosperous, are man
ifold, and too tedious to mention in q
brief article. Chief among thesc ele
ments Of prosperity may be considered
her peerless locality.
Otumwai 10 alrnost exactly equidis-
tant between Chicago and ST. Louis,
and It has TO each one Of these
cities ! great direct trunk .ine OF rail-
road, besides 70 each place several
collateral and Indirect bht neverthe-
less competing lines.
/ Chicago and ST Louis are now, and
ever will be, bitter and unrelenting
rivals for the trade Of the Dos Moines
Valley. II 10 this sharp competition
between two Interests Numerically
opposite and hostile 70 each other, and
which in the very nature OF things can
never BE- pooled, that has given No to
81 Louis ssd Chicago freight rates
averaging about twenty-five cents per
hundred pounds during the past three
years.
Ihus orr situation has put % be-
POND the reacA o. any present or proc,
pectiys monopoly on freights, and
thus to day, and for Ill time to come.
Ottumwa can ship srsighte to Chicago
and st. Louis ct rates which will In
ducs farmers to haul their produce 70
this point all the way along aide Of .
single railroad track, from the county
seats Of any one o. tlis counties con-
tiguoss . Wapello. The Same FORTH.
nate situation gives our merchants
minimum freight rates from these
cities, and hence It 10 plain to be seen.
that they can distancs composition a.
% al their nsighbors and rival trades
men In selling goods. The Central
Railroad Of lows has discovered these
facts, and hence 1t has changed LIS
southern terminus to Ottumwa, where
ito interests will compel 1t always to
remain. In addition TO these incalcu.
liable advantages, Ottumwa has An In
terror system of railroads tapping
nearly every point Of the compass,
which makes It altogether the best
railroad center In Iowa.
Wapello county Ia in the midst Of
the principal coal fields Of. Iowa, and
while it is considered one Of the bes,
agricultural counties in the State. Il IL
estimated by well informed parties
that our receipts from underneath the
soil, equal IL value, the products oil
huabandry. With inexhaustibls sup
plies Of stone aud timber, aud with
the best water power IL lows, added
to the other sdvsstagss HERETOFORE
enumerated, the continued and rapid
growth Of our city ceases to be . mat
ter OF 90 much astouishment.
Entering into the elements which 60
to make up 1.-Two city, might b mem
toned abundant capital In hanks and
Ianosg eur business men, sud highly.
commendable public spirit abroad
among the people.
A great State like ours, and one In
ito infancy, and des,ined to be one Of
the most wealthy and densely popu-
lated In the Union, must have many
great manufacturing and commercial
cities. These advaniages which We
hsve briefly outlined, make Ottumwa.
In many respects, the best place for
largo eityin the State. That il II to
continue In the front rank with the
leading cities IL the State, and ulti-
mately to become ono OF the principal
manufacturing and commercial centers
In our grsat commonwealth, may be
the prophecy Of to-day. but Il will
never,heless become the trns gospel
Of tomorrow.
Massnisa n she Air,
Wscannot aualyss the erisl poisops that
y aesnsn And Asf3sn,ir disenses hus