The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-08-29

On Saturday last ye local visited the southern
metropolis Of this county, which in oden times
bore the name Of lIard-S ,rabole, but since as.
Stunning metropolitan airs, has donncd the name
of Streator. The young city, although but lately
laid waste by tire, is fast recovering her wonted
busy business appearance.
THE BURNT DISTRICT
which two weeks ago was Il mass Of debris is nov
being rebuilt with much better class of bust
ness houses than she had prior to the fire The
entire block with the exception Of two forty foot
lots, is alive with workmen, busly engaged in
building the walls. Some twenty-five barrels Of
lime are used per day, for mortar. When com
plete, the business part Of the town will present
an appearance Of which . city OF twenty thou
SAND inhabitants should be proud.
THE MINING INTEREST
promises to be more profitable this year than ey-
er before. The miners, Il multitude Of themselves,
are preparing to enter upon the fall campaign,
while nearly fifteen miles of side track is being
filed with coal cars, to be loaded and shipped.
The magnitude OF the coal trade can he better
comprehended, when it is known that the c., B.
N O. r. r. are considering the necessity Of max
ing their road a double track
THE GRAIN AND MERCANTILE BUSINESS
is keeping pace with the improvement Of the
town and surrounding country.
The competition in Railroads make S.rcators a
better point to either export or import grain and
merchandise, than most any other locality in
this part of the state.
THE HOTELS
are Of good class, and well kept. The Banc
House, near the depot seems to be the head
centre for Railroad men, while the commercial
travellers, local editors, minister's, and other
dead beats pick thcirteeth either at the Streator
or Central. The hash at the two last named
houses, we know to be hash that is hash. Bill!
Minor of the Central, places Us under many OBJ
legations for his hash receipt In this connec-
ton, we might say that landlords in Ottawa
should procure 4 copy before the Mayors last
proclamation is carried into effect. In
SPIRITUAL THINGS,
we Judge that Strcator is the banner town Of the
county, On the day of our visit we saw fifteen
barrels of fluid being unloaded at John Lomas-
ncy's, that to all appearances contained at least
two fights to every pint, while the sign sitting in
front of Capt Spencer's, set Ito use crusade
term " the terrible example Of the trade with
in. We saw but few drunken men, but it being
the day of the rain, there was considerable diff
Guilty experienced in maintaining an equilibrium
on the part Of the pedestrians
AMUSENENTs
the most attractive entertainment which We
witnessed, was a soirec given by jim Waterman
and his dog. Had the exhibition been properly ad-
yertiscd, there would have been. undoubtedly, q
larger attendance. Bob Hail. in the role OF clown,
was immense, while Fred Wilson, as the light
ming ticket seller, was the admired by the lady
portion of the audience. The select few who wit
messed the performance were a unit in the opn-
ion, that the dog should have received the APP
pointment as mail messenger, and left jeems at
liberty to accept position a. buss driver o.
alderman.
SCNDRIR-.
The efficient Marshal, Jim Foster, stll PAGES
his weary beat with all Of his wonted sagacity.
barber claims to have discovered (; capillary
compound which Will make hair grow on the
head of Il base drum # IL works he SlO,II1 he