Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-03-20
orruMv VA.


The other day we boarded tho
freight train leaving Abba about nine
o'clock on the c., b. & @. to make
our neighboring city of Ottumwa
little visit.
Arriving there at half past eleven
o'clock we found dinner ready at the
famous Depot Hotel, now presided
over by its proprietor and popular
Colonel of landlords and militia men,
p. G. Ballingall. After we had sur
rounded 8 good square meal, curiosi.
ty carried us to the most widely
known institution in Ottumwa, Paul
Casters infirmary, which is located
near the depot.
!, The old mans "dumb days" being
upon him, he was of on pleasure
trip and the infirmary was partially
deserted for the time. There was
plenty of evidence left, however, that
this modern Paul has managed to
"wub" stacks of greenbacks out of
people along with the pains and aches
and purifying sores. Mr.. H. G. Bar
ret was in attendance and politely
showed us through the great double
brick building. hotel and infirmary,
which Paul has wrought with his
own hands" indirectly. 1t is heated
by steam, lighted by gas and fitted
up with bath rooms and all modern
conveniences. We found DR.. Fry,
assistant to DR.. Caster, busy treating
o patient. DR.. Casters "bone yard"
as he calls it is a curiosity, being a
museum Of canes and crutches and all
kinds of contrivances for supporting
and assisting cripples, left at the insti-
tuition by the patients. We were also
shown through DIR. Casters $4,000
residence, built last season and it is a
nice one.
We then started for the COURIER Of
flee, but stopped on the way at the Of
flee of our schoolmate, Joe Hartman,
formerly deputy auditor of Wapello
county, but now in the insurance bus
mess, fat and 1ourishing.
In going through the city we were
almost surprised to note the substan-
tial improvements made within the
last few years. Numerous fires have
cleaned out the old rat cages general
ly and their places have been filled
with substantial brick buildings
Besides this the city is or has been
spreading itself rapidly up and down
the valley and over the hills and is
we'll supplied with good dwellings
and fine school-houses and churches.
The COURIER Office is pleasantly To-
Gated in three-story brick building
with post-office and engine room be-
low and editorial and composing
rooms above, we'll supplied with ev-
erything requisite for first-class Of
flee in a small city. There we found
the pleasant proprietor and editor-in.
chief, Major A. III. Hamilton also his
faithful and able associste editors
Messrs. r. IL. Warden and Aaron Me-
lick.
We visited the Democrat Office and
found it at home, but the irrepressi
BILE editor and proprietor, Sam. B
Evans was not in.
In company with Major Hamilton
we went out to see the water power
improvements and city water works
} The latter are run by water power
and with the nine-ton pump now il
position throw water over the TALES
business houses in the city. An eight
een-ton pump will be put in thi
' spring and pipes lard throughout tn
a most thickly peopled parts Of the city
The water power is an immense affair
The waters of the raging Des Nome
u are checked in their onward flow b,
q two fine dams, one on each side o
e Turkey Island, about mile abov
! town, and turned into large reser
voir or head-race constructed b.
cleaning out an old river-bed AM
building levees on the banks of it,
/" This extends down into the city wher
head of twelve feet at low stag
of water is attained, supplying an al
e most unlimited power. This in
}. mense work was done by publ
spirited citizens of Ottumwa at a COZ
Of about 100000 pro bono public
: and practically given away to
}. wealthy firm of eastern manufactul
e ers who will finish the works, kec
them in repair and erect various mar
. ufacturing establishments. Such er
). terprise on the part of the citizen
who inaugurated and carried thi
work to the point of success, merit
. grand returns in the way Of buildin
It up city and the prospect is that the
d will be realized. The water-power
now utilized only in running the Wa
ter-works and large oil mill, bu
this is only a commencement, tn
I works having just been sufficient
completed to supply power this win
. tter.
We congratulate Ottumwa, bein
pleased to note the prospect of a mar
ufacturing town SO close to us afford
: ing a market for produce and keep
ing Iowa money in Iowa. And "
= warn Abba people that unless we ca
e build up manufacturing establish
8 ments here, we may expect to pa
g tribute to our neighbor. - Abb
Union.