Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-28
Mt. Pleasant and Keokuk Differ on
Parsons College Outlook.
BURLINGTON GETS IN THE GAME
River Town Copies Article and Idea
From Ottumwa-vieWs From Out
side Vary as to ottumwa's Chances
MT. Peasants Experience.


tumwa may have in her attempt to
torial article in the Mt. Pleasant News |
expresses an opinion that this city
can get about what it goes after, and
Mt. Pleasant, as the News says, ought
to know, for it was only by bare
margin that she held the Iowa Wes-
leyan University when Ottumwa want
ed it some years ago. In keokuk,
however, the Gate City thinks that
Ottumwa stands little chance, and
voices the opinion of one of the trus-
tees of Parsons college on the subject,
"Gets in Cheap"
Burlington, it seems, has bought in
rather cheap on the Parsons college
matter. One of the papers of that
town, seeing in the Courier last week
an article relative to the college and
Ottumwa's opportunity to get it, cop
led the article, changing the word "Ot-
tumwa" to Burlington and now that
place is, apparently, in the race. How
ever. as one Ottumwan who noticed
the little play said today, she will
probably be only an ALSO ran wheth-
Ell Ottumwa is or is not successful in
securing the college.
Mr.. Pleasant Comment.
The Mt. Pleasant News tells the
truth when it speaks as follows:
"Ottumwa is thriving. growing, en-
ergetic city. 1t is essentially rail
road and manufacturing center. Its
growth and prosperity are primarily
due to the acquisition of these great
industries But Ottumwa is not I'M
mindful of the great advantages that
accrue from other institutions. The
people of that town are not so Wrapt
up in commeroialism that it has al
lowed its finer sensibilities to become
bunted. Ottumwa has always want
ed a college. 1t appreciates the real
advantages of an institution of high
er learning with more keenness than
some of its sister towns that possess
them. Ottumwa has always been af
ter college, and some of these days
the push and purse of the Ottumwans
will secure one. Some years ago when
things looked dark financially down
this way Ottllmwa made up its mind
that it wanted the Iowa Wesleyan Uni
versity The matter was taken hold
of with characteristic energy, fine
site was offered the school and
splendid increase in the endowment Il
| the school was moved to that town
/ The offer was taken up in the meeting
of the board of trustees and there
were not a few of the members who
favored the abandonment of Mt. Plea
SAINT, and for two reasons; first on ac-
count of the lack of moral support and
/ sympathy with the institution on the
part of the citizens of the town. OF
!! course the conditions are changed now,
| the fipances of the school are getting
I In really comfortable shape ard the
4 town is standing unanimously with the
SCI ool.
But Ottumwa is not resting. She
still wants q ccllere. and the burning
of Parsons college has aroused her to
activity. Her business men are now
planning to make an offer to the trus-
tees of Parsons college for the re-
moval of that school to the latter
town. Unless Fairfield wakes up she
will lose her school. In spite of the
cheerful words and the assurances of
rebuilding at once much larger struc-
/ ture those who are familiar with the
work of raising money realize that the
loss to Parsons is a severe one, and
will test her strength 1t is no easy
matter to go out into the field in these
days Of competition and raise forty or
! fifty thousand dollars for educational
1 purposes. The president of Parsons
college has heavy task on his hands
to rebuild the institution, and it may
be that Ottumwa with a generous of.
fer may secure the old school. as ii
once nearly secured the |. w. U.
The keokuk End.
/ The Gate City throws cold water on
Ottumwa in this way:
1.-The Keokuk people who know most
about it do not expect success to at
tend the efforts of Ottumwa and Bur
lington to have Parsons college moved
each to its own city
Both towns are considering the
matter in the light of the recent fire
at Parsons. According to the newspa
pers, active efforts are to be made tc
move the institution of learning tc
either the Mississippi or the Des
Moines river-depending on which
town succeeds.
wv. C. Howell is a trustee of Par
sons college. He was asked about the
removal projects and whether Keokul
had chance if there We're any reno
, val at all, ana ne SAID 10 d representa-
tive of The Gate City:
81 don't think the college will BIZ
moved--at any rate it would be yer,
costly proceeding. The fire burned
only lesser part of the college pro
!, perty-there is left real estate easil!
worth over $4,000 for college pur
poses. The college will hardly giv'
,, up all that property without good rea
son.
Eyes; $4,000 or 100000 might be /;
!, good reason; but 1t would take muci
more than that amount from the bid
ding cities. You see, Fairfield, | as
sumo wouldn't want the college NOV
ed and | suppose would offer goot
, deal to prevent the removal Any 9th
!. err place would have to offer induce
,, ments worth the combined value O
what Fairfield would offer and the rea
estate owned there by the college.
''Keokuk won't bid that much Il
as you say, Ottumwa and Burlingto
are going after the college location i
, earnest and to make an offer that d,
mands consideration, suppose Fai
RaId will haVa tn talk business or los