Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-04-25
CITIZENS OF orIvmwA AND

The bright sky portends glorious
seed time and harvest. The oldest
inhabitant never knew of more than
1.-TWO wet seasons to come together.
We have made especial inquiry as to
this Of very many citizens, who have
been here thirty. years. We feel that
it is to be well with us this season.
The next thing we want.to say is, that
progress is stamped upon everything.
No man, no people can sit
down and fold his or their arms
without dropping behind in the race
Of progress, which is rapidly devel-
oping our young and vigorous state
So rich in resources. In climbing
the hill, frequently the footing Is
temporarily lost, and we have to drop
back a step or two, but it amounts to
nothing with the cver-pushing YAM
kee nation. We have a water power
partially completed, butrelying upon
Ottumwa grit and enterprise, it is
assured Of ultimate success. We have
had many a setback, many a slip
step in 1t we have had q hard battle
with tho elements, and yet as trials
develop, strengthen and beautify the
character of the individual, so the
storms that have beaten upon our
water power have laid deep and well
its foundations. Here, in this prairie
land, this soil about us capable of
producing three times more, and sus-
tanning three times greater popnla-
ton per acre than any part of the
east; here, we say, we want to trans
fer the spindles Of the Merrimack, or
rather, build mp similar manufacture
ing interests to those of the cast.
Nothing but pluck and energy is
needed to do it as certainly as that
the sun shall continue to shine upon
lis.
But we did not commence this ar
ticle for the purpose Of talking just
in this way, or to extol water power.
What we mean to call your attention
to, is now-to-day-as good talent as
we have-as good citizens as we have
men by the scores as deeply inter-
ested in our prosperity as men can be,
are working personally and with all
their might to get sufficient number
ofsigners to a petition, to enable us
to have an election in this. Center Tp.,
to decide whether we shall aid in
building another railroad to this city.
1t does seem to us that when there is
not one in a hundred Of the heaviest
property holders objects to voting
tax, but that ninety and nine favor it,
all others ought to feel that it is a
good thing. Do mechanics and la
boring men complain of want of
work? We reply, life, progress,
prosperity, alone make work for you,
and ifyou want capital to open chan
ACAo Va iuuOi uhu luFHisA WOIk, tuCu
follow the advice of capital in trying
to build up enterprises for our pros
perity. This city can well afford to
give $4,000 and more, for every new
railroad that will come to it.
The city of Burlington has the Bur-
lington &c Southwestern road, and
she is now agitating the subject of
Burlington g. Northwestern road, It
isco ntemplated to run through the
northern portion of this county, o.
point from whence we draw large
amount of trade. Such movement
would greatly injure us if consumat-
atcd. We only mention this to en-
phasize our own statement that pro-
gress is a ruling principle and we
must be up and doing. We must not
fold our arms. To do SO is to sacri-
flee growth, wealth, prosperity, all
material worth that is desirable.
Gentlemen sign the petition and
then vote for the tax.