The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-12-21
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SELMA.


| Some Account of Live Town.
| Business connected with the coming poultry,
: dos and bird show, called the writer to Serena,
and his duty as a reporter compels him to write
and publish such observations AS an hours visit
disclosed.
Eight years ago, where the village stands was
Il field, but it wa, in the center OF the rich
est farming region of our noble state. Ottawa,
the rcarest market, was twelve miles away a
drive which consumed too much time and wear
and tear Of teams ana wagons. \ depot was
built there and at once II town was started, which
to-day does from twice to three times more bus
| in, IS than any town OF its size in Illinois
| The farmers around 1t for miles are among the
and git" business men in this region of the
country.
The grain trade is in the hands Of James A.
Blake aud A. j. Armstrong, each having a ware
house and weighing facilities Of his own. Mr..
Armstrong has recently doubled the size Of his
warehouse, or elevator, by new addition The
establishment has all the modern improvements,
such As two new patent dumps, and each bin Of
grain can be uded directly into the ears. They
elevator is run By good steam engine. The
prices for grain aud produce rule about the same
rs at Otlawl.
Daniel Mason, who is one OF the most enter
prsing general business men of the place, has Il
large coal yard near the depot and supplies the
town and county. He also Keeps large supply
| Of salt near the coal yard.
A., h,,s ,ls "a lartrp suN and plup
ing ml-i frst.class steam planning and match.
ing mae inc is good as is anywhere used. He
also runs a feed grinding mill The powcris FIR
nishrd by new 100 horse power steam engine,
MAsoN's STORE.
! Daniel Mason. successor 10 Mason IL Slanbush,
has one of the largest aud best regulated general
stores We have lately seen. The building j, com.
modious, ailording double store of large space
Olc is filled with clothing OF all sorts and sizes,
such ms farming community nccdS-ready- made
suits for men and boys, not only cheap but Of rX
cellcnt quality. No cheap Old trash or remnants
hut ncw cloth, made in the latest style and war
I,ntcd Besides in this department. which {,
well supplied with gents furnishing good, is a
fun stock of boots and shoes, hats and caps, and
all ut hard pan cash prices.
The adjoining rooms, two II Them, are allut
With very heavy line Of dress goods, dry goods
, aud notions, such rs our first lass store should
keep. Ladies will lind complete outht here n",
only Of comfortable every day wear hut of tine
and fancy goods. His line of groceries cannot b,
beaten anywhere, aud many articles are sold
under Ottawa figures. MIR. Mason can do this
q for several reasons: For ten wears he ha, tried
% the credit system and found that he had To carry
/; from $1,000 10 Sl1tDO on his books, and keep ul
stock equal amount. About Is months az,
r hc "shut down" on trusting, aud since that tim,
= his business has increased fully twenty 'vc pei
p cent. aud lac has not lost customer whose VA
4 trouage Nas desirable He pays light taxes, ha-
no tent or gas water bills To pay. He buys for
cash and sells for cash, which is tie ony true ha,r
pa. pri"opi. lie also has stock Of fresh, pur,
drugs, which are sold under the management %
Dr. Chase, a good physician, surgeon and drug
gst