The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-03-08

state that there are, At given intervals, cen,cra Of
enterprise and public improvement. To particu-
larze: Chicago and Peoria are dividing points
centers Of commerce. Between thcsc'two points
there must be another trading center. Ottawa is
lust half way between the two, and should be-
come II trading center. If she grasps the oppor
tunity, all right; il she does not La Sallc or Peru
will. Within the next few years Wholesale trade
center will he located between Chicago and PEG.
ria n is as sure rs the sun shines. On the =. X
\. road are these ccnters about every - mites ;
on the Mich. Cent. are the same and 80 they are
everywhere. Heavy retailing drveu0"~ into q
Wholesale trade, Ottawa presents MI The advan-
taTcs To become This center, and If she misses II,
ii will be- your fault.
There is another thing; I am no prophet or
the son Of prophet; neither am | an alarmist
but remember what say. BY virtue Of Our Con.
Stitutoh, the question OF Changing ihu count,
seat can come up but once in 10 years. Since
last ii was proposed in thi, county, five ycui,
have passed; and when the othcr -four shall have
passed, YOU will be stared in the face either lay
The question of removing the county seat or d-
vision of the county. 1t is sure t. come up, I'M
less Ottawa iercstas it. How Is ii to be prevent
ed BY going To work improving the city, 10y
charging its manufactures, by Increasing It's
wealth, by making it common center of trade,
to which all will turn to buy everything they
need Men will go where competition is strong
est, where they can buy the cheapest and see the
mo, pcople Let Ottawa 90 put her shoulder to
you will draw all of this county so closclyto YOU
that they cannot get along without YOU, and the
very idea of dividing the county or of making
new county seats will be prepostcrous. Even the
two towns on the west will believe they cannot
20 out of La Sale county. You must force them
to stay in by self-interest. Unless all the county
can look to Ottawa as an Indispensable head OF
the county it won't be ten years before the coun-
ty will be divided. | know what ] am saying.
Already Earlvllle, Mendoza, Peru La Sale and
tnti, tb, hay
it in our power to cflectually throttle the move
mcnt-it must be done by making it their inter
est to stay in the county.
Are these things So or are they not? But re-
member what tell you.
There il another thought, which can't be dis
guised 1t is this: If ever there was an oppor-
tune time for beginning with a prospect OF sue
cess, it is now. Why? 1t is a financial fact that
can't be disputed that since 1917 there has been
every decade a financial crash. The first was in
1917; the times became dark; in 10 and 20 bust
ness began to liycn up, and from that time till
1927 money was plenty and all were prosperous.
In 1927 came another crash, and the programme
was repeated. II was the same in 1887 and so or
to the last. History repeats itself. We have
gone through Il terrible ordeal in the past six
years, bringing financial terror and mishaps un-
equacd But just now, so sure as you hear my
voice, we stand on the threshold Of a season Of
prosperity. spirit Of progress is infused in the
east and the west. Confidence (thc best capital
III the "Orlu) Is recovering SLOWLY, anu puDlc llh-
provcments will 30 on astonishingly fast. His
tory never lies. The next ten years invite YOU 10
harmonious action, and you will he astonshcd at
your progress if you unite. Now is the time for
you to 20 to mechanically and well determined
to bring Ottawa out Of her sluggishhess and to
that point where the world will look at her with
pride Everything now is solid--thcrc is no doubt
about it; and by taking hold you can regain what
you should have gotten in the past, and fill the
city with hustle and prosperity. But you must
bury the past and past anmoSitcs. Go to work
if only on the basis OF personal sclishncss. Let
the dead bury the dead; and do YOU forget all but
unity and n sympathetic, settled determination
to work for ottawa And think that while you
work for her You subscryc your own interests.
y Applause
ON motion adjourned to first Monday evening
in April.