Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

ing in style unknown to the COM
mon people forty or hity years ago.
They are well dressed and we'll edu-
Gated. You cannot tell from their APP
pearance about their calling. We are
all being borne along this wave of
prosperity.
Il do not know what motive power
or transmitter of power may be best
adapted to our use, but electricity
seems to be the power that more than
any other is revolutionizing the
worlds industries and utilities Our
little inland cities are now supplied
with conveniences and luXuries that
few years ago were unknown to the
large and wealthy cities. believe it
will not be long until the people will
have all the advantages of the city,
socially and economically. There is
scarcely limit to the possibilities of
this country, and | expect, in the near
future, to see the population doubled
and trebled the land proportionately
increased in value, electric railways
wherever they can be utilized, tele-
phones improved and further perfect
ed and put in every home at nominal
expense.
I'VE have come from the stage
coach to the palace car; from the tai
low dip and lard oil lamp to the cleo
trio light; from cooking at the fire
place to the modern range; from
| weighing hog every five minutes to
weighing a hundred in minute; from
killing fifteen or sixteen hogs each
day to killing the same number every
minute"
| At this point Major Spilman said he
desired to say few words in regard
| to the industry which John Morrell &
Co., is conducting in this city. Speak
| Ing of them he said:
in 1877, our manager, T. D. Foster,
rented a small house and began pack
ing hogs in small way in Ottumwa.
He was so we'll pleased with the result
that he determined to use his influ-
ence to induce the firm to build here.
In this he was successful The house
was completed and business began in
the winter of 1878 and 1879. AS the
business grew the plant was enlarged
and we thought we had almost a per-
| feet plant when the fire of 1893 de-
stroyed the main building. That was
a trying time. While the fire was still
raging Mr. Foster being asked what
| Woulu NC uohC lSpllCh lldI SilS SsSpi ~
could not be cleared away until it be-
came COOL and l knew by that that
the building would be rebuilt The
warehouse had been saved and we be-
gan killing a few hogs. The contract
had been let for the new building
which was hurried to completion and
with enlarged capacity and improved
appliances we We're ready for increas-
oI Lo1
foreign trade is principally with En-
gland, the foreign house being in Liv-
erpool, but their meats are regularly
sold in the markets of Norway, Swe,
zen, Denmark, Germany, Austria Hol,
land, Belgium, France, Italy, Switzer,
land, Africa and other countries.
Last year we killed 100000 hogs
and the daily capacity is from 1000
to 5000. We employ from 1000 to
1000 men. We export from forty-five
to fifty cars of meat per week and
ship about the same amount to the do
nestle trade besides supplying the
jobbing trade. This is almost train
load each day.
81 asked our chief engineer, Mr.
Wishart. about his department and he
gave me the following figures under
his own signature. If he had not put
his signature to it l would not have
believed it. Here it is:
Horse power of boilers $500. 1900
Tons of refrigeration, ice ma
chimes daily ..... 50t
Electric horse power I'll
Coal burned in "a hours, in tons 81
Water used, gallons ........ 4,320, 00t
Number of men in the engi-
neering department ....... 4;
Besides this we have our owl
switch engine, cooper shop and DO,
factory and live within ourselves 81
far as it is possible.
1.-THE relations of the management
and employees are peculiarly pleasant
The heads of departments have grow
up in the business or spent most o
their active lives there. The skilled
labor has largely grown from boyhoo'
in the business and has grown to low
it, With such conditions strikes are
of course, unknown and | believe our
! is as near an ideal community as ca
r be found The most beneficent,
l seems to me, is the moral uplift give
: the community by the character of tn
, management.
. 1.-The men largely own their ow
+ homes. Two beautiful churches hav
l lately been built in that vicinity, in
$ large measure by the employees of job
: Morrell 6 Co., who also support then
THE company has lately built fire
i baths near the packing house. The
a have also furnished room for kinder
!, garten work.
i This entertainment is given unde
d the auspices of the Mutual Aid Assoc
!. alton. They pay all expenses bu
e have never yet been reimbursed fo
). the outlay. They sell privileges o
e this ground for that purpose and hop
J to reimburse themselves in some me;
I sure for the entertainment which 70
l. are now about to enjoy
The major proposed three cheer
g for the people of Charlton and tn
d Burlington railway company, whic
,, We're given with will, and Mayor A
5, exander, not to be outdone, propose
d three cheers for the people of Ottun
d wa and John Morrell & Co., which a
n so elected hearty response.
The Dinner Hour.
e Immediately following Major Spi
n mans response an adjournment wa