Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-27
Proposition to Establish Free
Public Library Carried
Yesterday.
TOTAL MAJORITY is 5S4.
People Gratefully Accept Andrew Car
negie's Offer to Donate $4,000 for
Library Building-Board Of Trus-
tees to be Appointed.
Total vote for the library. ..... 1872
Total vote against the library. 1893
Total NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 5s4

~ OtdI vOI6 against IHS llpFdTy.. lUoo |
Total majority. 534
From Tuesdays Daily.
The question as to whether or not
Ottumwa shall have free public lib
rary built with donation of $4,000
was settled yesterday at the polls
and the majority in favor of it, count
ing the votes of both men and women,
was 534. There is discrepancy of
vote in this count caused by mis-
take in the first ward, but is immater-
ial. Every good citizen is rejoicing
today that Ottumwa saved herself
from disgrace yesterday and that she
is to be immeasurably benefited by
receiving this great educational insti-
tuition. It is to be expected that those
opposed to it will spend their money
hiring attorneys to pick flaws in the
election and hunt for technicalities,
but the friends of the project have
fortified themselves against assault
each step of the way. They are as
sure as they can be of anything that
their position is unassailable and that
if this election is contested on any
ground that the other contest in
which the legality Of the women's
vote was questioned, must be aban-
doned, hence the opposition is caught
both looming and going However,
1t is expected that small anamosities
will be buried and that the citizens
of this place will now work together
for the good Of the city, pay the little
tax of fifty cents each year, and let
attorneys earn living in some other
way than by fighting the library.
Next Monday evening the city coun-
Gil will meet and the vote will be can
vassed. AT that time it will be found
that the mems majority, taking the
city as a whole, amounted to 272 in
favor of the measure, and that the
women's majority is 261. Last June
the measure was lost. so far as the
mems vote is concerned, by 81, while
the women carried it by 321, leaving
majority in favor of the measure of
$40.
The Trustees.
Mayor Philips was seen this morn
ing in regard to the appointment of
trustees. He intimated that he would
appoint trustee from every ward of
the city together with two other men
of good judgment. He did not say
when he would present the names
but it may be that he will do SO next
Monday evening. The mayor would
not intimate whom he would appoint.
The Location.
So far as the Ballingall tract near
the union depot is concerned, the con-
census of opinion is that the building
should not be placed there, but that
it should be erected near the cuort
house. Many people think that it
should be placed on the two lots
west of the city park. Others think
{ that the Hawley homestead to the
east of the park, is a good place but
wherever it is erected, SO it is cen
traly located the people will be salts
fed. 1t may be stated, almost author
itatively that the Ballingall tract has
been eliminated as factor in pos
sible controversy over location.
Yesterday morning dawned gloomy
and rainy. People thought that the
vote would not be gotten out and many
times the expression was heard that
the measure stood in grave danger
of defeat. An organization of men
was working for it who had been ap-
I pointed at a meeting held last satur-
day evening in the grand jury room
of the court house and the following
COMMITTEES appointed after resolu-
ton had been passed that it was the
sense of the meeting that the depot
site be not used for library purposes:
First ward-T. p. Spilman.
Second Ward-G C. Janney and e.
II. Mather.
Third ward-F. Won schrader and J.
b. Sax.
Fourth ward-A w. Buchanan and
J. j. Smith.
Fifth ward-D. E. Chisman and DR..
g. C. Powell.
Sixth ward-Emil Fecht and Mayor
T. j. Phillips.
Seventh ward-George F. Heindel
and E n. McElroy.
call was also made for carriages
and the following gentlemen said they
would furnish vehicles. which they
did:
Capt. s. H. Harper, John Calhoun,
Calvin Manning, w. A. McIntire, j..