Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-12-25
ON THE ROAD.

] ON THE ROAD.
A Ltttie Talk about ottumwa thas
4 Should Act a. q Spur to
4 keokuk
Special Correspondence of the Constitution.
oTTUMwA, IOWA.
During my stay in this flourishinR
town / was reminded OF the many
new towns which are growing up all
over this western country in mirac.
ulous way. But few OF them will
succeed In reaching over 10000 OF
$1,000 inhsbitants without they dc.
vote some Of their enterprise to man
ufacturing ablishments. Most Of
these quick growing towns are soon
abandoned or left in the cold unless
they have manufactures to back
them.
| Keokuk Is among the few that have
succeeded in becoming business CEN
ter without any special attention to
manufacturing. Keokuk, NO doubt,
has one of the best set Of business
men in this country. They have
shown good management and know
field of operations; but how much
easier would 1t be for the business
men of Keokuk to improve your
beautiful city had you moro manu-
featuring establishments. This by
way Of deviation from my subject.
/ In Ottum wa, where am At pres
en,. at least one half of its population
Of ten thousand, subsist directly by
means OF the railroads and mAnufac-
turing esta Adjustments. Through the
Kindness of Messrs. OelschIager b
Bunk was enabled to visit the diff
ferent establishments Of Industry Of
this thriving burg. l was first intro
duced to Mr.. Hack worth, member
OF the Johnston Rufflsr Manufactu-
ring Company and brass and iron
works. He il . genial gentleman
He explained the operation Of their
macy sklllful machines in . very
plain manner. This company employ
from 60 10 Is hands regularly aud
their celebrated ruf1ler is sent all over
the United States and to Europe.
The next important and new estab-
lisha ,ent 10 the ost meal mills Here
from so to loo barrels Of oat meal are
daily ground out, and q great portion
OF il is shipped TO eastern states and
to Europe.
The iinseed oil mill employs 10 to
IL hands and 10 doing Its share to-
wards oiling the .own.
A large and magnificent building
has recently been built for . starch
mill. which when put 10 operation
will employ over SO hands The
building will cos, $4,000.
There are two large pork houses In
operation, while . third one 10 Just
built up by An English tlrm. This
company purchased 80 acres Of
GROUND. This indicates that it 10 the
intention of its proprietors to make
it the largest pork packing establish
ment in the west.
Ouumwa has several good hotels.
The Depot House 10 convenient for
travellers and has recently teen reflt-
ted by its proprietor, Mr.. Ballingall,
moat agreeable gentleman, to make
liz comfortable and pleasant for its
guests.
In the way Of lager beer, Ottumwa
is second Milwaukee. Three large
breweries here brew from 1900 10
$4,000 barrels Of excellent beer du-
ring the year, OF which . great por.
lion ia consumed at home. Some Of
the good folks here indulge freely In
this malt extract and now and then
will carry home what they call q
.skisht" and dream about the good
man Gam brinus.
Ottumwa has one evening paper,
the "Courier." II advocates repub-
licanism. Nevertheless. through ita
liberal views, il is we'll liked by both
parties. The Democrat and Times,
two democratic weekiies, have recent
~ consolidated. The consolidation
will enable the proprietors 70 issue .
fret class democratic paper and II
should be patronized. Mr.. Evans, the
former proprietor Of the Democrat,
and now Of the consolidated journal,
is q Historical man. He possesses
q very extensive collection Of Indian
war implement. arrows, stone axes
and barbaric ammunition 0fall discrip-
tions. He has one poisonous arrow,
which was pulled out of the body Of
q dead Indian in Colorado.
noticed many other institutions
aud things about Ottumwa, but !
have already made the letter too long
and will merely speak Of one thing
more before closing. As ! passed
down to the railroad noticed In
front Of the depot q peculiar sign a.
follows: "Nose Puint-the road to
HI" Reading the inscription /
concluded, being so near the road to
that place that Bob Ingsrsoll denies
the existence of, that 1 would step
down and see the devil /; which did.
But the boss proved to be almost 40
bright and pleasant 40 an angel
Nevertheless, as much as ] was favor
ably impressed with the appearance
of the keeper of the rancho, his sign !
conceive to be q horrible ono and
would advise him to change 1t; any
thing would be better than the one he
has selected. I would suggest the
Mammoth Cave" X.