The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-03-07
The Future OF Ottaw a.

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The Future OF Ottawa.
The statement that Ottawa possesses great
advantages for manufacturing and is sur
rounded by region rich In undevelOped
resources, has been made so often and is 80
generally admitted that II is scarcely neces-
sary to repeat it. But it seems as If the
possession of great advantages is often Sc
rious drawback to the possessor, leading
him to put his trust in them and neglect to
make an effort to improve opportunities
and develope resources.
The idea that Ottawa can be the center
of great trade, remaining what it is, may
as well be at once dismissed. To grow, in.
crease In population and business, it mus,
become a center Of industry inanufactu
ring city. 1t must not trust to what ma
ture has done for 1t, but make the most OF
the favors she has heaped upon it-imNove
its water power, add to its means of COM
munication with the country, and make all
the territory it can tributary. To do this il
must itself push railway enterprises at least
In three directions, southwest, southeast
and northwest Ottawa must be able to &c.
raw material cheaply for her manufactures
and to send goods to all parts OF the coun.
try by direct routes. She must do some OF
this work herself and not wait for some
one to do 1t for her, for If she sits supinely
waiting for these things to he done for her,
they will never be done. She has waited
too long already.
To-day clay Is hauled IL miles to one OF
her manufactures nj n cost OF two dollars
per ton. A railway could do the same work
for one dollar ton and make good profit
She hauls stone from Joliet, while Deer
Park, but 1a miles away, can furnish bet
ter article. If she wants good brick she
imports them, while she has the material
for making the very best all around her.
She is dependent on Sueator and La Sale
for coal, while the same bed from which
most Of the La Sale conl Is taken Is found
with thickness of three feet within four
miles Of the court house and at less than
140 feet from the surface while at La Sale
1t Is 800 feet below the surface. She has q
perennial water power equal to 1000 horse
power that flows unfettered by her, which
$4,000 would put in condition to be used,
and then would be worth half million.
She should have hundred neat, comfor.
table, convenient residences to be rented at
IS to 80 per month, or for sale at \ reason
able price, that working men can ind
homes at prices they can afford to pay.
She should encourage public library,
creating an institution OF which her citi-
zens would be proud and which would do
much to benefit her youth The public Ii.
brary, what there is of it, is very aseful
institution already, but it has meager col
lection of books, Is woetully deficient in
some departments, and is not place for
study, but only to borrow books. l, would
be greatly improved If the room was kept
quiet and table set apart for those who
may desire to look up information on any
particular subject. The arrangement of the
books in the cases might likewise be i'm
proved. II would also be well to remember
that ones health is not likely to be greatly
improved by sitting in cold wind even Ia
a warm room.
She should discourage the liquor traffic
In every way. Doubtless to many ii looks
like great thing to get ga, 900 a year out
Of it for the city. But considering the mi.
sery, want and death the traffic involves,
does II pay? Nay, verify. 1t is the wages
OF sin, and 1.-THE wages of sin is death" Il
gives Ottawa nothing. II blights and des-
sroys, but brings no blessing
Ottawa might also improve her school
system. There are youths in the city who
would probably be glad to avail themselves
of the advantages of night school, being
obliged 10 work during the day. More good
would come of giving such boys chance
to learn tLan from providing teacher of
vocal music. Ottawa should also give the
matter of industrial education some a,ten.
ton and make provision for it. The grand
aim of general education is to put each in.
dividual in the way as far as possible, to
earn an honest living.
If Ottawa is 10 grow in the future her CT
tizens must bestir themselves and do all in