Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-19
OTTUMW AS GROWTH
Is Hardly Recognized Today as
Compared With 80 Years Ago.
A POCKET DIARY PRINTED IN 1870
Much Interesting Data is Given-ot-
tumwa Had but TWO Railroads
Then-Was a Village of But 1000
inhabitants-The City of Today.

The growth of Ottumwa, and the ad-
vancement of its industries during the
past thirty years is not publicly
known, but it is remembered by the
older citizens,many of whom were then
leading merchants of this city, but
have since passed away or else retired
from the business world. The Courier
is in receipt of small account book
and pocket diary, which was publish
ed in 1870 by Clark & Co., of Burling
ton, which containes Ottumwa and its
business advantages, calendar for
1870, postal rates, foreign and do
mestic,) different lines of railroads,
with rates and fares to all principal
points, boats from Burlington, with
rates of fares and cards of the lead
ing business houses.
The History.
1t says, "Ottumwa is the capital of
Wapello county, is situated on the
Des Moines river, at the junction of
the Burlington and Missouri River
and the Des Moines Valley railroads.
1t possesses an eXcellant location in
all respects, and has population now
of about 1000 inhabitants, which is
steadily increasing. Capitalists find
countless avenues for profitable in
yestment, and in very few years OF
tumwa will become city of $4,000 or
10000 inhabitants, if she continues to
maintain the oneTmost important idea
IN building up a city-that is, her
manufacturing interests
This place has, splendid railroad
communications Des Moines Val
ley railroad passing from the north
west to the southeast diagonally thru
the county, along the valley ofthe Des
Moines river. This line passes thru
the best timbered and best coal region
in the state. The B. and M. r. rail-
road, now completed on the west to
the Missouri river and connecting with
the great Union Pacific railroad at
Council Bluffs, had for some time it's
western terminus at this place. 1t
connects eastward with the great net
work OF railroads over this state The
North Missouri railroad is rapidly ap-
preaching from the southwark and in
q few weeks the bridge over the Des
MoineS river will be finished. and
trains running, which will give direct
communication with ST. Louis, and the
southwest. The manufacturing inter
est OF this growing city is quite an
important element of her greatness.
Ottumwa possesses a number of steam
Touring mills, wooden and carding
factory, foundries, machine shops,
sash door and blind factory, furniture
establishments, pork packing house,
with capacity of slaughtering 10000
head of hogs each season, all the diff
ferent kinds of business usually found
In large towns, are here represented
by live business men, /.
Trade Is Extensive.
The wholesale trade of Ottumwa is
extensive, and in proportion to her
size, excels that of any city in the
state. Ottumwa with her extensive
railroad communications has facilities
for trade and transportation which in
the hands of her enterprising business
men is fast making her very import
ant commercial point
OttumWa Firms.
Among the Ottumwa firms at that
time We're: Agricultural and farm i'm.
plements, G.. A. Derby and John r
Shepherds; auction and commission
I. II. Goodwin, Jr; photographer, j. M
Wallace; wholesale boots and shoes
w. A. Jordan & Son; baker and con
fectioner P G. Dunn; barber, Lou
Kay; clothing merchant, Charles Sax;
cigar manufacturer, Robert Bigham
crockery, glassware, ETC., J. Prugh &
Co.; dentist, w. T. Johnson; dry
goods, groceries, etc, wholesale, w. G.
Moss, Jr., retail, F. w. and j. Hawley
Jr.; druggist, John L. Moore; whole
sale fruits, w. r. Daum hotels, Bal
lingall, Gault House; lumber dealers
p D. Rand & Co.; liquors, wines and
cigars, A. Kaiser, B. Clark, and Kin
sey Jordan; livery and feed stable