Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-12
WANTS A RAILROAD.

WANTS A RAILROAD.
Belinda Surrounded by Lines But Is
Not at All Satisfied.
The Courier is in receipt of a letter
from well nown resident of Belinda,
written in a semi-newsy style, in
which he says that all that is needed
to develop the resources of that sec
ton is a railroad. He makes the allie
cation that the place is surrounded by
transportation lines but that does not
suffice. He says:
Belinda, June 11.-Farmers, owing
to a generous supply of moisture, are
rejoicing over the prospects for heavy
small grain and grass crops, with
good prospects for the staple crop,
corn. The weeds are growing so rap
idly that local news is smothered
out AS the farmers attention is di-
rected woodward, consequently the
items are a mere pittance, a drop in
the ocean of general news. Being
remote from all railroads, an isolated
people, it might be said, the depend
ence for current events comes
through the medium of the newspa-
pers and farming people. The people
would like to ask the railroad project
ors and the general public what the
people of this community have done
so heinously criminal that they
should, be thus isolated from the bal
ance of mankind. This is one Of the
most fertile sections of land in south
ern Iowa, about thirty miles square,
without railroad service, and is I'M
derlaid with a vein of coal, ten to
twelve feet in thickness, and other
minor veins. 1t is district noted for
the production of beef and pork for
eastern and other markets, yet Belin-
Ida is surrounded by railroad sys-
tenn like the dog in the manger that
would not eat hay nor let any one
else do SO. BY a sectional map of
this state any one can see that Mr.
farm situated north from this post
office one and half miles and one
half mile east, is one of the most
approaching fully the conveniences of
railroad service through this medium
he asks all railroad projectors to re-
member Belinda The Burlington
system surrounds her on four sides
and thus it is cut off from the outside
world. knowing full well that they
\ get all passengers and freight traffic
| 1t is believed that the earthly condi-
Ition can be materially benefited by
! the building of north and south
railway through this, one of the rich
est sections for agricultural pursuits
on this green earth. But the pro-
ducts are no good without market
and for farmers to go on life pill
! grimage to find transportation means
they must neglect production to do so.
Hence comes this plea for help. In
any other distressful condition of the
/ people of the commonwealth, an ap-
peal to the lawmakers would bring
speedy relief, but in this unfortunate
condition, none but God and the rail-
road corporations can help It Is the
earnest desire that help comes quickly,
for anyone travelling over this beauti-
full prairie country may see the vast
resources of wealth upon its surface.
Local news from this section out
side of fine prospect for good crops
of all kinds, (Which with railroad IA
cilities would mean prosperity to all
1.-THE people )are rather scarce. Far
mers are generally well up with their
farm work and some few have time to
take tents and fishing tackle and HE
them to the Des Moines or Skunk riv-
ers to make war on the f1ny denizens
of those streams. AS witness the
crowd of young men from the neigh
boring town of Russell, fifteen miles
south of here, (the nearest railroad
point to this place. who stayed with
the landlord of the Anrcy house at
this place Sunday night Their wag-
on was completely loaded with fine
fish caught with hook and line. The
party was nine in number and was
composed of Ernest Pyle, Percy
Sprague, Alphonso Ashba, Fred Sta
cy, ely Wiltsey, Herman Plots, Ar
chic Goltry, Walter Riker and Frank
Dixon, genial, jolly crowd, who
would have supplied Russell and vi
entity with fresh fish galore had they
had means of transportation.
Travelling statesmen and men seek
ing political preferment are the great
est sources for general news here, and
as primary and county conventions
are over with the republicans, news
items will come alone from travelling
men and the stray newspapers that
fid their way to this lonely spot But
i dear Courier all are willing to ex-
change commodities with the outside
world so make the time short for the
Courier from the press to Uncle Sans
conveyance to us as no visitor is more
welcome nor more nearly loaded with
all the news.
Iowa at WASHINGTON,