Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-01
Meeting of Citizens Last Evening
to Consider Such a Proposition.
THE PHILLIPS BOX CAR LOADER
The Donation of site and Factory
Building Will Secure to Ottumwa
Another Important Industry
Committee Appointed
[.From Wednesdays Daily.]

~ lueeGlnS OF business IueIl was QelI
last night to consider another factory
project, which promises to be of far
reaching Importance to this city. The
purpose of the meeting was to hear a
statement from Henry Phillips in re-
gard to the manufacture of the Ottum-
wa Box Car Coal Loader, which mas
proven to be a pronounced success in
actual operation and for which there
is an immediate and pressing demand.
After listening carefully to Mr.. Phil
lips statement of the situation, it was
the unanimous sentiment of the gen
tlemen present that the matter should
be taken up and pushed to success
full conclusion, and strong committee
was appointed as follows:
S. II. Harper, chairman; J. w. Gar
ner, Major Mahon, H. L. Waterman,
D. A. Morey, C. w. Major, C. C. Ayres,
d. A. Emery, T. j. Phillips, F. w. Sim
mons and A. w. Lee.
This committee will hold its first
meeting this afternoon at 4 o'clock at
the Office Of the Peoples Building ana
Loan association on Second street.
Mr.. Phillips Proposition.
Mr. Phillips presented the matter to
the meeting last evening purely as a
matter of business. He was not ask
ing assistance, or donations, other than
what Ottumwa or any other live city
would ordinarily be willing to do for
an enterprise of the character under
discussion. He and Mr.. Hunt hold
letters patent to a box car loader,
which has proven, in actual use, to be
success. The orders are coming in
so rapidly that it is impossible to fill
them unless an adequate factory and
the necessary machinery is provided.
These leaders sell at $4,000 each, and
the purchasers are the large coal and
transportation companies turnout the
country. 1t is not deemed advisable to
publish the exact figures of Mr.. Phil
lips proposition, but to state general
ly that he asks of Ottumwa suitable
site and factory building. Were he
stranger coming into this city, with
the orders which he has in hand and
those in sight, and the endorsements
which he can produce from the most
practical sources, of his machine, OF
tumwa would unquestionably jump at
the opportunity to secure this new en-
terprise. In the opinion of those pres
ent at last nights meeting, which opin-
ion the Courier heartily endorses, there
is just as much, indeed more, reason
why Ottumwa should meet Mr.. Phillips
fayorably than a stranger. We believe
that Mr.. Phillips proposition to the
citizens of Ottumwa is a reasona BILE one
and that it can be complied with with
out difficulty and thus an important
new industry established, which al
ready gives evidence OF immense posi-
bilities for the future. AS showing the
manner in which this box car loader is
held by those who have given it prac-
teal use, the following letter, from
James Sturat, superintendent of
j. s. Clark Coal and Coke
company, of Paramount, w. Va, was
read. This letter is but sample of
many similar expressions which are in
the hands OF Mr.. Phillips. The letter
was addressed to Mr.. c. c. Ayres, and is
as follows:
Paramount. W. Va, Jan. "a, 1900.
Mr.. c. c. Ayres, Ottumwa, Iowa.
Dear Sir:-Yours Of the 18th received.
I consider the Phillips Box Car Loader
the best today on the market. 1t Ell
ables you to load all box cars to their
full capacity, with less breakage than
if you were to load them by hand, be-
sides allowing the men to remain in
the box cars while in operation, to
pick all impurities that might be mix
ed with the COAL MY opinion is, that
the demand for this loader will be so
great, that the Phillips people will not
be able to manufacture them fast
enough. Yours truly,
James Sturat, Supt.