Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-05-05

terested with those of tho city. done
their duty in the premises, the road
could have been secured hey ond ques.
ton.
Failing wo all lost-lost immensely.
We do not refer to this in the way of
crying over split milk, but to demon
strate how this city has been left TO
labor for great enterprises, in which
for many miles about ue, all have
deep and common interest.
Now we have new project, Some
few of our citizens, a few months ago,
conceived tho idea Of improving the
water.power Of the Des Moines here.
Acting upon 1t, a subscription was
raised, and a thoroughly competent
hydraulic engineer, a gentleman of
large experience. was secured to make
. survey and estimate. He did so, and
from Investigations made since, by
competent committees visiting water
powers in successful operation in va
rious places, our people have come to
know that we have tho finest water
power In the State, and that it is .
mine Of incalculable wealth If i'm.
provedand utilized.
AL know that IL IL manufacturing
that the West wants 10 foster. We
want our cotton mills, our paper mills,
our rolling mills, our manufactures Of
agricultural implements, cars, furni-
turc, glassware, &c. We have tried
TO induce Eastern manufacturers to
como among us, but have not succeed.
ed much thus far. Eastern people are
cognizant Of the great benefits of water
power. They know the immense
advantages Of this kind Of power over
steam. Secure to us this power and
set It TO work, and wo hardly dare say
what We believe would be the growth
and prosperity Of this city and county
In consequence. Our reason 10, that
few men are able to realize the grand
results Of such. enterprises, and some
are inclined TO think this enterprise 10
unsound and visionary. But one thing
all can see that ii our farming nipple.
ments can be manufactured here, we
shsll not be obliged to pay high
freights to get them here. Another
thing they can see, that II we can util.
Lee $500 horse power, 1t win bring
Thousands of operatives into our
midst to make their homes, and In this
way the producer win be placed side
By side with the consumer, and instead
Of selling produce for consumption in
tho large cities, We shall have q mar
kst ct home, and consumers at our
own doors, BY tens of thousands.
To conclude, then, let No say that we
want SITE, 600, il we can raise 1t, to
complete the work of improving this
power. We ought not TO have less than
100000 to begin with. Indeed, we
should not favor the striking of lick
until at least 100000 is raised. We
have been canvassing in the city for
about three weeks, of and on; good
deal Of effort has been madc, and we
have raised, 30 far, about $4,000. We
can raise good deal more in the city,
-sce must do ii, but it is now time to
call upon our farmers to help, and they
ought to do it promptly and cheeful.
~. The work, II commenced in forty
dsye, can DO completed this season.
Time is important in many respects.
Our farmers will be called upon,-we
beg Of thcm to consider we'll, and to
do what in all conscience q prop.
er spirit of enterprise demands OF
them. We. must have their aid, we
want 1t at once. Remember farmers
that neither you nor the people Of the
city can afford 10 fail in this enter
prise. The loss, If any, Is In the fail
ure to succeed in this project, and not
In subscribing to 1t. The loss to oil,
. few years since, would not have been
In paying our notes, but it was In the
loss Of the Chicago & South western
Railroad. Don't let US have any more
such doses repeated.