Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-05-12
PE0PLE or OTTUMWA AND
VICINITY,

=
Capacity and Ear less
Reliability than Nature
| has Placed at Our
Doors.
From the Davenport, Rock Island & Moline Trad,
| Circular.
| Moline ia an exclusively manufac!u.
ring city, and in herself au illustration
OF what manufactures can accomplish
for the rapid growth of town, even
unassistcd by other advantages than
those essential to the development OF
these material interests.
Moline was little village when
Rock Island and Davenport were rap.
IDLY advancing ouug cities, the ship
ping points fora rich region of country
the terminus at first OF our important
railroad, and then connected by its
continuation and tho building OF other
railways with tho outside world in
every direction, depot for tho supply
Of the surrounding country, and al.
| ready boasting the accessions to their
continued prosperity of many manu-
factories. But Moline, situated at the
head OF the island, on the rapids, and
| where immense water power could be
| made available, enjoyed an advantage
| which at last became fully developed.
| New manufactures started and old
ones increased their facilities, and the
town grew in proportion. Hundreds
OF skilled artizans came from abroad.
many bringing families, gradually
bought lots and improved them, and
nearly every dollar of their wages was
spent In Moline. To supply the wants
OF the increasing numbers moro stores
| of oil kinds were established, with
sales stores for manufactured goods;
churches, school houses, &c. and now
Moline numbers 5000 inhabitants and
is rapidly growing, ambitious ofover-
taking and ontstrippipg at least one of
her rivals. Moline ia literally hive
OF industry, yet one Of the prettiest
young cities on the banks of the river,
remarkable for Its neat and tasteful
residences, few Of palatial appear.
ance, and is moreover an exception to
most places of its size in its moral
proprieties. 1t Is q compliment to
those working classes who form 80
large proportion of lts population,
that perhaps no young city better sus-
tains all moral and educational objects
or is more orderly and self-respec.ful
In Its character than Moline.
The water power at the head of the
island was made available to limited
extent by throwing dam across the
slough, or "Sylvan Water" as it is
now called, as far back As 1910, for
Touring mill purposes, the mill being
on the island. More recent improve.
ments under the Moline Water Power
Company, owning this power so far as
its applicability to the Immediate 10.
cality in their own possession was
concerned, greatly advanced the man.
ufacturing interests III Moline. But
finally, the Goyeruraent in view of its
own proposed and commenced great
works on the island, for the manutac-
ture OF instruments aud munitions of
war, and the necessity for the use of
some portion Of this water power
made contract with the Water Power
Company, by which The company
agreed to concessions ofcer,ain of their
rights, and granting the Goyernment
designated share of the water power,
on condition the Government should
make certain specified and costly i'm
provemcnts for the full derelopement
OF this power. Ii was contract emi.
nently beneficial 10 both parties. The
result Ia probably the most substantial
and complete works for their purpose
In the country, aud in one feature Off
the dam, or water power wall, Une-
qualled in the world. These works
will not only supply the Armory with
all the water power needed, and the
present extensive manufactures of
Moline, but the company now have
power to rent, and eligible sites in
connection, fer great many more in
dustrial establishments.
Ihe manufactures OF Moline are of
great variety, and some of them of
mammoth extent. Among the frat to
start and of the greatest magnitude at
the present time at the Plow Factor
lee, occupying great buildings especi-
ally erected tor the purpose of MAX
plows of every variety, cul,ivators
20, and employing hundreds of skil-
led workmen, with the most complete
machinery-the most extensive fac
tories Of their kind in the country, if |
not in the world. One OF these estab- |
lishments employs 400 men, whose
wages amount to 100000 year, and
has q capacity for turning out annu-
ally 1900 plows, 1850 cuItivators, and
5000 gang and su.ky plows, and their
last years business amounted TO ST.
0oOo00. The other employs nearly
zOO hands, and annually turns out
about $4,000 plows and cul,ivators
with steadily increasiu cuisines. The
years business runs up from $4,000
to 100000. These are specimen
bricks" OF one class of Moline manu-
factories. The products of these works
ind market in nearly every Safe
In the Union, and in the Territories.
Dimock, Gould u Co.'S Wooden Ware
Works form an immense establish
ment which turns out as good days
work 1900 pals and 500 tubs, 900
washbosrds, and saws As, 600 feet of
lumber. Wheelock's great Moline
Paper Mil furnishes many Of the load.
ing newspapers Of the West, one office
alone requiring fifty or sixty tons of
paper q month, and it is run night and
day the week through, Sunday except
cd, with two sets of hands, and orders
continually ahead. This mill makes
all kinds of paper. 1t requires go
horse water power, and has an 80
horse power engine to fall back on
Then there are large factories for the
manufacture of scales, lumber, pumps
wagons, windmills, organs, flour, ag-
ricultural implements Of other kinds
than tho pl0ws, &C., mentioned, with
boiler, iron and malleable iron works,
iron and brass works, wooden cave
trough works, file works, match fac
tory, planirg mills, stove lining
works, cigar factories, &C.. &c. Nearly
all the larger manufactures are run
by water power.
Such Is brief sketch OF the extent
and importance Of the manufacturing
interests of this young "Lowell of the
"A n r. T.