Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-06
CITY ENJOYS PROSPERITY
Council Bluffs is Just Now in the Midst Of
Good Times,
REPORT OF COMMERCIAL COMMITTEE
Many Public improvements Made
During the Past Ncar-Scycrnl
suggestions for Fu-
turc Action.
PROSPERITY

The report for November OF the Com
mercial committee, which was filed with
the city council at its meeting Monday
night is replete with interesting informa-
| tion and figures which show that Council
Bluffs is enjoying an era OF prosperity and
! that the prospects for the coming year
are even brighter. The report in part fol-
! lows
Owing to other matters engaging the pub
nc attention the committee deemed 1t unad-
| Alsable to submit its report for October.
The reception of the Ffty-first Iowa volun-
teerS mas passed into history as the most
notable in the history of Iowa. 1t demon
strated what Council Bluffs can do and set
at rest the committee hopes forever, the
voice of the Croaker. 1t inspired our city
with new life and Council Bluffs is today
tesafded as one of the ambitious and pa
triotic communities of the great west.
Although our people may not realize it,
the movements and improvements in Coun-
Gil Bluffs are attracting wide attention.
The committee hears of it from persons who
hVe In New York, Boston, Chicago, Den
centers of the United States. Scarcely a
uay passes that some person seeking in
vestment for his money does not visit the
city to investigate its resources. When
they learn of our advantages as manu-
featuring point and that we have eighty
i've daily passenger trains and are soon to
have more, placing Council Bluffs in quick
communication with several millions of peo-
pie in the surrounding territory, and that
direct connection with a railway mileage
of more than $1,000 miles, they cease to be
surprised at the solidity of this city. 1t
may surprise even our own people that our
railway mileage is greater than that of Kan
sas City and that there is additional terri
tory to be developed which when completed
will place Council Bluffs second only to
Chicago in the extent of its railway facili-
ties. At present the total railway mileage
which nearly one-third centers in Council
Bluffs.
Public improvements.
1t is scarcely necessary to call attention
to the numerous improvements in Council
Bluffs and in western Iowa directly tribu-
'tary to this city. Prominent among the
improvements in the year now closing are
way, nearly completed, the Soldier Valley
branch of the same road now open for busi-
ness, the completion of the Fort Dodge &
Omaha railway, with its depots, round
house and other buildings in course of con-
struction; the freight house of the Omaha
street and Broadway, the new passenger
depot and roundhouse of the Rock Island
railway, the improvements in the Burling-
ton yards, the improvements on the Omaha
& st. Louis road, the syrup factory, the
basket factory, the soap factory, all now
enjoying a growing, prosperous trade; the
enlarged candy mandatory on Broadway,
the new implement warehouse on Main
street with another in course of erection al
Seventh avenue; the new overall factory,
the novelty factory, the new store buildings
on West Broadway, new cigar factories,
with another contemplated, employing from
twenty-five to fifty persons; the new subur-
ban street railway available for improve
ment of large tracts of property heretofore
unproduCt!ve to its owners and the city.
Among the improvements the committee
is not able to include the new High school
building so badly needed. The season is
too far advanced to do anything this year,
but 1t is hoped the people will elect mem
bers of the school board in the spring who
are in sympathy with the progressive spirit
now prevalent in the city. Our educational
institutions should not be permitted to suf-
fer by anyone who wishes them placed on
inConvenient or undes rable locations or
who disregards the popular wish.
1t would be tiresome to enumerate al the
new mercantile establishments that have
located in Council Bluffs during the year
and the new residences constructed all OF
which are occupied, and a fact that speaks
well for the city is that there are compara-
lively speaking very few vacant dwelling
houses in the city. A number of ''rooker-
les" still deface our principal streets. Ihey
are relics of a bygone age and should be
RACED to the ground by the authorities as
quickly as practicable, no matter whether
occupied or unoccupied. They are not only
unsightly and detrimental to health, but are
dangerous on account of the Likelihood OF
fire to our better class of buildings:
The increased train service to relleVe Inc
congestion of travel on the motor line pc
tween this city and Omaha between the
hours of 8 and 7 p. M has given great sat
isfaction.