The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-12-24
THE TOWN OF TRACY.
Future Prospects of a Flourishing
Community.


in Marion county, near the Maaaska
county line. II is laid out on high,
gently sloping ground facing west to
the railroad tracks.
From the town magnificent view
is presented of the fertile valley, well
improved farms and beautiful land
scape, which stretch out to the north,
south and west of the little burg.
The town OF Tracy was surveyed
and plated in 1875 by Charles Tracy,
the surveying engineer OF the G., b.
& @. railroad. In that year the COM
pany extended its line from Abba toI
Knoxville and the town was named
in honor of the engineer. The town
plat was owned by ex-Gov. Samuel
Merrill and Engineer Tracy.
At once number OF merchants
and other citizens or the old town OF
Bellefountaine, on the Des Moines
river three-quarters of mile east
of Tracy, removed to the new town,
in some instances taking with them
their dwellings and store buildings.
The town steadily improved and be-
came quite shipping point for stock
and grain. In 1892 the Wabash
road was built through Tracy and this
year (19o3) the Burlington and Os-
kaloosa branch of the c., B. G. @. was
extended to that point. 1t is re-
ported on good authority that there
is very strong probability of the @.
building branch from Charlton to
Tracy next summer. The Wabash is
now operating a switch running to
the Mammoth Coal Company's mines
seven miles southwest Of Tracy.
One now sees on all sides evidence
OF growth and prosperity. Its very
location gives promise of becoming a
town of Importance. Tracy is dis
tant IA miles from Knoxville, 13I
miles from Oskaloosa, 10 miles from
Abba, and 10 miles from Pella. 1t is
surrounded by rich and productive
farming country. More grain and
stock is shipped from Tracy than
from any other point in Marion coun-
ty except Knoxville. 1t is the ship
ping station of the coal from mex
haustible mines near there. The
Wabash road alone takes away from
the station SO cars of coal daily, the
product of the Mammoth Coal Co.'S
mines, and 1t is said that within six
months the output will be 100 cars
daily. The Wabash has three side
tracks extending three-quarters of a
mile through it's yards and is doing a
big business at Tracy.
Since the 20 cutoff" has reached
Tracy the business Of that road has
also increased greatly, although here
tofore it has had the greater amount
of the transportation to and from the
| town.
Besides the inexhaustless mines OF
coal near Tracy, there are in the vi
cinity several stone quarries that
produce as fine a building stone as
can be found in the state of Iowa.
Many carloads of this stone have
been quarried and shipped to various
parts of the state. The stone is found
in abundance and readily quarried.
The industry gives employment to a
number of men.
A fine quality of brick and tile clay
has been found in abundance near
these quarries, but so far it has not
been utilized.
For many years past, various par
ties of Oskaloosa and Knoxville have
talked of utilizing the water power
that is found in the rapids of the Des
Moines river at the old town Of Belle
fountaine, only three-quarters Of a
mile from Tracy, for manufacturing
purposes.
There is power enough there going
to waste sufficient to operate plant
that could supply light and motive
power to Knoxville and Oskalooss
and all the surrounding country al
cheaper rates than 1t now obtains
: Some day not far off, the waste will
be stopped, the power harnessed and
handled and the citizens OF Tracy
with others will reap the benefits.
So, with an abundance of water
privileges, good timber aboundine
near, with as good stone as can bs
found in the state and immense Goa
mines in close proximity and sur
; rounded by fertile and rich farms
there is no good reason why Tracy
should not grow in population and
prosperity.
The citizens are anxious to expanC
their territory, but are unable Il
purchase at reasonable figures thu
land adjoining town. The town Il
hampered for building room at pres
ent, but this difficulty viii be over
come, doubtless, in the near future
andt he town will grow and expand
There are number Of good board
J, ing houses in Tracy, but they are al
: full and many of the bridgemen an,
other workmen and transient tray
elers are compelled to seek accommc
dations in private houses. 1t woul
pay some enterprising party to pu
up good, suitable hotel, with res
taurant in connection with 1t. nea
l the @. depot. If any one desires :
II embark in an enterprise of thi
! kind. it will pay to visit Tracy an
1 - u. Il. AZ