Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-20

| Drought us all the happiness and
peace we enjoy, and it will continue if
we continue to give of that which
comes into our hands to create great
err joy and peace. We can lay up
treasures in heaven and have the in
terest on it on this earth and the Hea-
venly Father will lead us and give us
a taste of the heavenly life while we
are walking upon this earth"
w. H. Cooper.
The advantages of "Ottumwa as
Retail Point were told by w. H.
Cooper as follows:
/ Mr.. Toastmaster and gentlemen of
the Ottumwa Commercial association
For thirty years have been actively
engaged in the retail business in OF
tumwa, and it is a pleasure to respond
to this toast which you have assigned
me. have seen Ottumwa's retail
business gradually grow from a few
small general stores to its present
magnitude. Scores of travelling sales
men, whose wide scope of observation
and personal contact with the trade
enables them to Judge most accurate
ly have said to me, 'Ottumwa is the
best retail city in Iowa. You all know
|
can only remind you that Ottumwa is
a wide-awake, thrifty city, situated in
the very heart of prosperous Iowa.
This is very fertile section of the
country and underlying it all these
vast beds of coal, till as yet the value
of our natural resources can not be es-
: timated or fully realized.
THE retail business is the medium
that put the revenue into circulation
from these agricultural and mining
districts. Our railroad facilities and
: banking accommodations place us in
| a position to handle all that can come
to us. The radius of our territory is
: remarkably great. North to Cedar
Rapids and Des Moines, east and west
to the rivers, south to st. Louis, being
the largest and most aggressive city
in this section. 1t follows there is the
demand that our retail stores are ade-
quate to this immense possibility for
supplying the immediate wants of the
populace. 1t is with some pride
know and tell you our stores are fully
commensurate with the times and size
? of Ottumwa. Every year marks rapid
advancements towards metropolitan
methods of conducting retail business
In this, we are greatly assisted by the
people. Our customers are mostly
made up of true Iowa character
Practical, level-headed, and possessed
: of sound Judgment they recognize the
efforts of the retail dealers. They
know the possibilities of being able tC
l conduct a retail business on a legiti
$ mate basis in Ottumwa.
: There came under my personal no
e tice only this fall. this incident: One
of our Ottumwa ladies of more than
= the average experience, went over tC
: Chicago for her winter supply. After
Q a few days among the State street
L stores she returned with only few
/ souvenirs in her travelling case, ant
said to herself, not wishing to spend
d all her time in the Easements she was
n fully convinced that in Ottumwa she
g could get anything she desired il
{ quality and style with considerably
l less money than was required in city
of such enormous proportions.
e "Ottumwa as a ratail point is with
y out peer. Without emulation maj
goes backward. Competition is thu
l. life of trade We welcome to the cit.
e new retail enterprises All we ask, al
d we hope to get from this organization
q by cooperation, directly and indirect
y,
g wholesale and distribution houses; W,
= want more Missouri and Indiana fac
S tories; we want, every kind of indus
q try brought here that will build VI
3 and people our city and fill the onl.
want to the Ottunwa reail dealers
l. business lfe-customers."
r Samuel Mahon.
II Samuel Mahon gave the toas
8 Looking Backward, or Fifty Year
II in Ottumwa," and his address wa
/ well received. He spoke in part a
: follows:
: MIR Toastmaster and gentlemen
3 The few words which | will say relat
to the early people of Ottumwa an
' the state of Iowa, the empire builders
4 the city builders, to the early pioneer
u who first inhabited this territory an
II hewed out the great state which W
II now see. 1t is a significant fact tina
e their children have grown and ar
Z here in force tonight.
MY acquaintance in Ottumwa date
y back forty-nine years, Ottumwa wa
81 then a village of perhaps 500 inhab
q tants. 1t was an age of fiat boats an
Is ferries. The block between Gree
~ and Market streets was devastate
Q swamp. Old Captain Davis was tn
le pioneer boat builder of that time
70 some of the older men here may re
H. member him. The first enterpris
ever entered into in Ottumwa was tn
u building of a warf for steamboat
y 1t cost the sum of $500 and it nearl
ie swamped the pioneers raising thi
sum. The war furnished Ottumwa
~ first opportunity for growth as fc
- four years one of the two railroad
=, then entering the state had its termil
- us in this city and it gave Ott INV
.. a great name as distributing poin
y MY first thought when | look bac
fifty years is of the glorious time {
~ youth Those whose hair has turne
IS gray in the building up of the city an
" the state now dedicate to the youn
" men the continuance of the work {
=. empire building and city building
- is the young men who must bear til
.. brunt The old man have expende
: themselves and it remains for tt
~ young man to carry out the work TIL
81 % the city may be blessed and that
- may grow to be the largest city in tt
state
Joseph Dain.