The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-04-17
GREATER OsKALO0SA.

GREATER TUSCALOOSA.
! Editors Herald: The success at
tanned in the upbuilding of any cit.
is dependent on it's progressive citi
zens. 1t does not necessarily follow
that this class is made up of thos'
whom are the wealthiest part of th'
community for we frequently fint
some in this latter class that are pes
mettic and oppose contemplated inn
provements, and the reason why Ii
past finding out. Grit, confidence, lib
erality and unity in action are potent
factors to keep the ball rolling. II
is also important that the location
should be in the right spot on the
map with all the contingent accessor-
les surrounding. 1t certainly is a
great pleasure as well as a great
truth to state that the city of Oska-
loosa is not only in the right spot but
has all of the other essential qualifica-
tions for the making of a large city.
It's location and surroundings are the
very best. Natures handiwork
pointed out these facts to the pioneer
locators, and progression has been
the order, though in the primary
stages circumstances and obstacles
of various kinds prevented rapid
strides. Nevertheless the earlier
settlers should be given great credit
for their efforts, for without their
beginning we would not have the OPP
pGrtunity of making improvements.
Mahaska county, of which Oskaloosa
is the capital, is endowed with most
prolific soil producing the cereals and
negotiating almost every kind known
in this latitude, and so abundant as
to be remarkable. Fruits of various
and excellent varieties are also aSund-
ant, and to further aid and promote
our welfare nature placed beneath
this superb soil large deposits of the
best quality of 'bituminus coal, the
product of which has been at the head
of the list in the great state of Iowa
for years, and Oskaloosa has been
the hub from which the spokes, 80
to speak, have radiated and still
continues to do SO. This great feature
of our early existences invited the
building of steam rail roads and with
the added facilities afforded by the
Iowa Central Ry., the Chicago, Re- ck
Island & Pacific and the Burlington
& Western, more rapid pace in the
upbuilding of the city was made and
during all this time the citizens were
planning, constructing and occupy
ing more better and larger business
houses, factories and dwelling places.
Stately and commodious county
buildings was the order and have
been completed, used and admired
by all who have had the good fortune
to see them. Thus far you will OBJ
serve we have related nothing bat
what is we'll known history but in
terestiDg as we believe to a great
many, but what of today and what
of our future? This is the great and
burning question, who is there among
us sufficiently endowed with truthful
prophetic visions to forecast coming
events2 To my thinking we may be
allowed to formulate ideas that ten,
yes even five years back would have
been considered great exsggerations,
and yet in the forecast should we ap-
pear to be drawing the long bow, we
will fail in painting the picture as
large and as beautiful as it will really
appear to us ten years hence. You
ask why the object lessons just tram
pired is the answer what are they.
Think back just couple OF years
when you began to get real wide
awake, when you got together in
earnest and began a movement all
keeping step together, began to
think and reason together, and re.
solved to keep in constant il not
rapid motion, thereby creating q
"Greater Oskaloosa 1t was ther
you moved to improve, enlarge and
better your water supply which was
accomplished, and there is still some
important improvements in course o.
com pletion, when finished complaints
will be hardly known. Your agita
tions of the light question wa,
not only instructive but soor
becomes brilliant reality. Nor,
light, better light and cheaper light
You have discarded the old "on,
horse show" street car line and ii
place thereof you will soon have al
up-to-date electric trolley line oil
your streets affording the desired
facilities to reach any part of the city
Not being Satisfied with these grea
improvements, you still keep movin,
in search offurther progress and yo,
land 1t by virtually unanimous ex
lpressions in voting aid and granting
franchises to the Oskaloosa an,
Tama rail road which without doub
will be when completed one Of tn
best If not the very best enterprise
you have entered into, past or pres
emit. Again you feel the necessity o
extending your corporate limits, al
of which is in time with the othe
Improvement and aids in creatin
the desired "Greater Oskaloosa.
Thus you observe BY unity OF actio
nothing retards your progress, an