Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-15
CAPITALISTS SEE ROUTE
D. r. Francis and Party Visit ottumwa
and oskaIoosa-said to be Favor
ably lmpressed-Deflnlte PROPOSE
tlon Expected In Near Future-New
Power House. ;.

From Fridays Daily.
Plans for the formation Of stock
company capitalized at $75O,O0O or
more for the building of an inter-urban
line between Ottumwa and Oskaloosa,
are being considered by officials Of the
traction and light companies of the
two cities and St. Louis capitalists.
The party from st. Louis visited this
city and Oskaloosa and towns in the
immediate vicinity Wednesday and
Thursday, and while no positive opin-
lon was expressed, 1t Is the general
opinion that they we're favorably Inn
pressed with this section of the country
and definite proposition is expected
from them in the near future.
The party arrived in Ottumwa Wed.
nesday morning over the Wabash in
the special car of John Scullin, presi.
dent of the st. Louis and North Arkan.
sas railway and was made UP Of Mr.,
Scullin, David Francis, ex-governor oi
Missouri and president Of the Louisi.
ana Purchase exposition John LIGHTER,
F. p. Allen, w. B. Kennett, ]. g.
Thompson and Thomas w. Murphy.
They were shown about the city by j.
F. Springfield, superintendent of the
Ottumwa Traction and Light company.
and Harry O'Neil. They expressed
/, themselves as we'll pleased with the
lprogressiveness Of the business men
of Ottumwa and the prospects for the
future of the city. They left Wednes-
day evening for Oskaloosa.
Drive to Buxton.
The party was entertained at the,
IDow}ning hotel In Oskaloosa and after
a tour Of the city, drove to Buxton,
mining town near Oskaloosa, for the
purpose Of gaining a general idea Of
the resources and advantages Of the
country through which the proposed
1 line is to run an inter-urban from Bux-
ton to Oskaloosa also being one Of the
contemplated improvements.
Were Favorably Impressed.
Governor Francis and friends re-
ceived assurances Of hearty support
from the business men Of Oskaloosa
and Ottumwa. j. r. Springfield stated
to. a representative Of the Courier this
morning that the st. Louis capitalists
visited Oskaloosa and Ottumwa to be-
come better acquainted with the re-
sources and advantages Of the two
I places and surrounding country, and
that while no positive proposition has
been made 1t was the general feeling
that they we're well impressed with
this section Of the country.
The Proposed Line.
i 1t is understood that the new line
will run from Ottumwa to Oskaloosa
through Kirkville and Wright, q dis.
tance of about twenty-five miles. The
road would be of immense advantage
to the business men of Ottumwa, not
only to the retail merchants, but to the
jobbers as well, as 1t would open UP a
new territory and would give direct
connections with the Iowa Central and
Burlington, Rock Island and Chicago
and Northwestern railways. Plans for
building such road have been under
contemplation for some time and as 1t
, would tap rich agricultural and min
!, ing district 1t would mean much for
the commercial interests of the city
and has been watched with interest by
} business men and property owners
here.
New Power House.
Contracts have been let by the OF.
tumwa Traction & Light company for
the building of new power house in
this city and the installing Of new
machinery at an approximate cost OF
: $150,000 1t is the intention to
: make the power house In this city
thoroughly modern and up-to-date in
every way and one of the best in this
section of the country.
The new power house will be built
just east of the present one. The
new equipment ordered includes two
$50 horsepower engines with gener
ators of corresponding size and fouI
; new boilers Of 410 horse power each
fitted with automatic stokers, and the
necessary auxiliaries. John j. LIGHTER
of the firm Of LIGHTER & Jens, St.Louis
and who was onesof the party of Gov
ernor Francis, is the consulting engi
neer. LIGHTER q Jens have established
some of the best and most modernly
I, equipped electric plants in the country
including the ones at East st. Louis
Omaha. Neb.; st. Joseph, Mo-, and
Springfield, Ill.
BALDERsoN ON TRIAL.