Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-11-14
THE NEED OF HOUSES
BOARD OF COMMERCIAL AssocIA-
TON HOLDS BUSY SESSION.
TO HAVE A GOOD ROADS MEETING
Starch Factory Proposition Turned
Down Broom Factory to Be In
corporated - City Water Supply
Endangered.
From Thursdays Daily.


From Thursdays Daily.
twenty-five or thirty families would
move to Ottumwa within a few days
if it were possible for them to secure
houses renting from SIS to $40 per
month";" was the declaration from one
in position to know the fact of which
he spoke, at the meeting of the board
of the Commercial association held
last evening in the Office of Secretary
structed to arrange a date for pub
lie meeting upon the good roads ques-
ton and the starch and broom fac
tory propositions. The precarious
condition of the city water supply
was also discussed.
An Urgent Need.
The urgent need for large number
of small houses that could be rented
for from SIS to $40 per month was
called to the attention of the
board 1t was stated that not less
than twenty-five or thirty families at
the present time were seeking for
houses. Most of these are families
of the men who are connected with
the Milwaukee railroad who have been
removed to Ottumwa in connection
with the recent location of the divi-
sion headquarters in this city Some
few of these families are in the city
rooming at the various boarding
houses until they can secure place
to set I'M housekeeping for themselves.
The freight houses are said to be filled
with household goods. Most of the
men, however, who have come to the
city, have left their families behind in
the cities from which they came and
( there the families will have to remain
until houses here can be secured.
More Importance Than Factories.
1t was strongly brought to the atten-
ton of the board by the business men
that the building of suitable houses
for these families was of far greater
Importance to the business men and
to the city in general than the work of
securing factories. That the need
for the houses exists there can be no
question but it was decided that the
Commercial association as a body can
do nothing further than to investigate
that need and recommend the build
ing OF such houses as are demanded
as probable good investment for
those having the capital to build them.
Good Roads Meeting.
A communication was read from d.
y. Lyons, OF Des Moines, secretary OF
the Iowa Good Roads association, ask
ing for an early date for meeting to
be held in Ottumwa upon the good
roads question. The proposition for
holding the meeting met with the
hearty approval of the members of the
board and the secretary was instructed
to write at once and arrange a suitable
| date.
Starch Factory Proposition.
The starch factory proposition was
taken up and after thorough discus.
sion it was decided that while getting
the land required for the site would
not give any special trouble, it would
be almost impossible to raise $4,000
for the purpose of erecting the build
| ings demanded by the company. O.
d. Tisdale, who has been conducting
the correspondence was instructed tc
SO inform the company and to keep in
touch with them. If the company will
modify the demand for buildings it is
probable that the matter will be taken
| UP again.
The Broom Factory.
It was decided that the LINDSAY
broom factory proposition was a goot
one and committee of four consist
ing of Charles E. Boude, w. 7. Har
4 per. Leo Stevens and Mayor T. H
j Picker was appointed to present The
matter and if possible interest a mum
Der of the citizens in the stock of the
company. There is about 81 500 wortl
4 of stock yet to be subscribed before
the incorporation papers are filed. II
the opinion of the men composing thu
board of the Commercial association
the proposition, while not large one
not only offers a good investment TO
individuals with capital to invest bu
will be of considerable value to thu
city.
The Water Supply.
J, 1t was reported to the board tina
there is extreme danger that the cit.
water supply might be entirely shu
off. and the city left at the mercy c
any fire that might occur. by freez
of even two inches. The matter wa
presented as one of extreme DANCE
to the city and it is possible that al
other meeting of the board will b
called at once to consider the matter
. The Good Roads Communication.
The communication from d. B. Ly
ons in regard to the good roads meet
ing which it is desired to hold in Ot
: tumwa at an early date is in part a
I follows
You are. perhaps, aware that tn
Commercial Exchange of Des Moine
> Of which | am President, has been on
of the leaders in this good roads NOV
ment. The new movement is takin
a tremendous hold upon the people {
our state. The wide-awake commun