Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-15
Petition Leslie M. Shaw, Sec.
relary Of the Treasury to
That End.
CITIZENS HOLD MEETING
Gather at Office of J. w. EdserIy G
Co. Last Evening and Make First
Definite Move Toward Removing
District Headquarters Here.

District Headquarters Here.
IFrom Saturdays Daily.I
A petition is being circulated in OF
tumwa today and is receiving signi-
lures almost as fast as it can be pre-
scented to the influential and public
spirited citizens of the community,
asking Hon. L. NJ Shaw, secretary of
the United States treasury, to con-
slider the advisability of changing the
location of the headquarters OF the
fourth revenue district from Burling-
ton to Ottumwa, and setting forth rea-
sans why this change should be made.
This action is taken in accordance
with motion made and passed at the
meeting of jobbers and others interest
ed, which was held last evening at the
Office of j. w. Edgerly & Co. AT that
meeting everyone present agreed that
Ottumwa should be the location for
this office, and it was the unanimous
sense of all those in attendance that
work be commenced at once and a
committee, consisting of Emil Fecht,
w. L. Harper, Jr., and S. r. Cheadle,
was appointed to prepare a petition
and present it to citizens today for sig
natures This instrument will be for
warded to Secretary Shaw through
Congressman John +. Lacey, together
with several personal letters from
prominent citizens pointing out the adj
visibility of putting the headquarters
of the division at Ottumwa.
The Petition.
"OttumWa July l2 1902
''To Hon. l.. M. Shaw,
Secretary of the Treasury,
washington, d. c.
Dear Sir:
THE undersigned manufacturers,
wholesale dealers and citizens OF OF
Iunawa, do most respectfully request
that you look into the ACCESSIBILITY of
removing the Fourth district revenue
Office from Burlington to Ottumwa,
and present for your consideration in
this connection the following reasons:
"Ottumwa is the most centrally To-
Gated of the large revenue purchasing
cities in the district
"Ottumwa is, owing to its important
cigar interests, in itself, one of the
greatest revenue yielding cities in the
district.
"Ottumwa is, owing to its magni-
ficent railroad connections unquestion-
ably the best distributing point in the
district.
Notwithstanding the city's rapid
growth her growing manufacturing
interests and important commercial
standing. both far in advance of her
rank as a city. Ottumwa has never
asked or received any important fed
eral Office, and does not now. We
merely point to the desirability to
have the Fourth district revenue of
flee located nearer to the center of
population of the district, and would
most respectfully state that Ottumwa
is the logical place to put it. We be-
lieye the general government can best
subserve it's own interest and that of
the people inhabiting the district by
inaugurating this change at once"
The Meeting.
The meeting last evening at the of
fee of ]. w. Edgerly & Co. was well
attended and much interest was shown
in the object for which it was called
The wholesale dealers in liquors and
the manufacturers of cigars are the
ones who are affected the most and
they realize very clearly that unless
Ottumwa is made a permanent revenue
collecting center there is bound to be
considerable financial loss as well as
much trouble as a result.
j. G. Manchester was made chair
man of last evenings meeting and
Emil Fecht was appointed secretary.
II. j. Ostdiek stated the object of the
gathering and presented motion to
the effect that petition be drawn
asking the revenue department to re-
move the district collectors headquar-
tiers from Burlington to Ottumwa This
motion was passed and on motion of
S. r. Cheadle committee to solicit
signatures for this petition was ap-
pointed by the chair, consisting OF
Emil Fecht, w. T. Harper. Jr., and S.
r. Cheadle. 1t was decided also to
ask several prominent citizens to write
personal letters which will be attach
cd to the petition, asking for the re-
moval of the office to Ottumwa.
The Logical Location.
Ottumwa is logically the correct To-
cation for the revenue Office in the
fourth district This district covers
practically the southern half of the
state, the headquarters for the north
ern district being at Dubuque. Burling
ton, in one corner of the district, has
been the headquarters for some years
having secured the Office through the
influence Of the late Senator John H
Gear. Ottumwa's railroad facilities
are superior to those OF any other city
in the district and will be even better
when the Milwaukee cutoff between
this city and Davenport and Musca
tine is completed; this city is located
as near to the center of the district as
it is practicable to put, the office; the
sale of revenue stamps here is almost
the largest in the district.
Office Room In Government Building.
On the second floor Of the local gov