The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-06-05
UTICA.
A Flourishing Town-Improvements, Gossip
&C.. &c.

&C., &c.
Among the many hourishing cities in La Sale
county none will bear closer inspection than
Utica, our neighbor nine miles west. Our boy
hood recollections of it are connected with
dim remembrance of the fearful Ito us) but
bloodless struggle known in the early history of
this region as the Cork war; when two fac
tions OF the Emerald Isle were as far apart and
AS bitter toward each other were the north
and south of our own country during the recent
unpleasantness, now happily ended, and they Of
the "Green Isle" too were divided into north and
south, or Corkonians and Connaughtmen. When
this terrific looking, bat bloodless ARRAY took
place, Utica consisted of dozen of cheap shan.
ties and wilderness of unnhabted prairie and
woodland for miles around Now, after about
thirty years. which reach back to the further
end of the writer's memory, wonderful changes
have taken place. The prairie has become
town and the town almost city, and two OF the
largest private enterprises in the state are To-
Gated there, The one is the
POTTERY WORKS,
under the personal supervision Of Mr.. White, of
the firm of Clark, White IL Co. The clay is
found south Of the river, a couple of miles
from the pottery, rs is also the sand. Their
buildings, stock and drain tile, sewer pipe, Sc,
occupy couple of acres Of ground, and their
goods are sold everywhere. The best buildings
in Chicago are supplied with their fire proof
floors and partitions made Of fire clay brick in
geniously fastened together and about as strong
as iron, while being safe from damage by fire or
water. Among these may mention the Pal
mer House, new county JAIL and similar first
class structures.
Another leading enterprise of Utica is known
as
THE CEMENT WORKS,
under the ownership and management OF Jas.
Clark d Son, with Clum Clugston as general
manager of the mills.
Cement rock i'll any respectable quantity or
quality is found in the west north Of Louisville,
X. Y, only at Utica The quality is without a
rival The stratum OF this peculiar rock, spec
les of limestone, is six feet thick, and the
Messrs. Clark own several hundred acres of it.
Through long experience they have reduced
the matter of making cement or water lime to
science, and now their cement is considered
, the best in the country. They employ large
number Of men and pay them regularly and
good wages.
! IMPROVEMENTS.
| The new artesan well which Mr.. Peck is sink
Ing is sure success-whle only one hundred
and ninety feet deep it flows as large stream as
other artesian wells at three hundred and thirty
five. and vet the water bearing rock has not been
reached
Mr. Clark completed in February last build
ing which has not been exceeded for strength
durability and elegance of internal finish and
appointments in La Sale county. The building
is "A by Sc feet, two stories in height and base
ment below which is as good as another story
because of its finish, ventilation &C. The lower
story is is feet to the ceiling and the next above
n feet The front is of pressed brick with stone
sides and rear The front is supported by hand
5 some iron columns with fine stone ornamental
-, ton in the way of caps and sis. The cellar mas
= nine foot ceiling and nine inch concrete hoor'
and the entire building is as near lreprooi a7
!, can he made.
One o, the best and mos. reliable business
men Of Utica is
! 4. E. TAYL6Ri
'iyho, for about thirteen years, has wrestled with
the uphill, down-hill and general adversities
: and prospetties Of Utica life, and by close at
+ tention TO his OWE business and leaving other
l. neone,s alone has attracted to himself Il host Oh
Itrue friends and patrons He occupies the north
store of the new building mentioned above. lie
sells fancy dress goods dry goods, groceries,
: boots and shoes, and in short, keeps geheral
stock OF such goods as one would expect 10 hho
u in well regulated irs:-class store NO one heeo
i 90 to Ottawa for nice, stylish goods for iadies
e outfit while Taylor keeps his usual assortment
4 The other store in this block is occupied by
4 Mr. Higby the old time druggist Of Utica, VINO
), has complete stock.
Here, also, is the post Office. A5oye are the
offices Of DIR, Clugston, Dr. Wilcox and the store
of the Misses Dodd, milliners and next Is the
public hall. This is 42x6O feet, IL feet 10 the
ceiling; stage - by 30 feet. The hall IS wainS'
Z cotted with oak and maple. The floor Is Oh lhe
e same material, all in narrow strips.
c While on the subject of improvements VIC
!, must not omit Mr.. Fredenburghs new hotel anu
=, the addition thereto. which will give MN ani-
r. nile room to accommodate all who may call MY
|, White, of pottery fame, is putting up "heie'
CANT dwelling 42x44, two stories ana Il BASEMENT
and to be finished elegantly.
u Mr. Gilbert has the best and most COW enlen1
p " arranged warehouses in La Sale county lie
has five patent dumps ana can UNION" H'e
c wagons of grain every minute
i Ed. Fitzgerald, in the harness ana saddiery
: business. and John P. Hazel, in the CONNECTION
o cry and fancy grocery trade, both do well
!, F O Sullivan runs very respectable general
store. and is agent for the lnman and National
line Of steamers, and sells sight drafts or foreign
ports
|, SIX. Alexander, of the Lockport paper mills.
o has bought thirteen hundred tons Of straw dur
r ing the past winter and presses and ships three
. canal boat loads of this former WORTHLESS stuff
J. every week lie has made market foy straw
and satisfied the farmers that straw. should not
be trampled under foot.
, SCHOOLS.
- Mr. VI Day. formerly sHrerintenleni of our