Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-03
UP TO RAILROADS GOES TO KEOKUK
If REASONABLE RATE CAN BE
SECURED MUscATINE WILL
GREET MoRRELL employees.

Representatives Of That City Urge the
Picnic Committee to Visit Muscatine
This Year-To Be Held August 3D.
What Muscatine Journal Says.
If satisfactory arrangements can be
made with the transportation COM
panies, the 1905 annual picnic of the
plant of John Morrell & Co., Ltd. will
be held In Muscatine, according to an
article in last evenings issue of the
Muscatine Journal. The picnic COM
mittee of the Morrell plant held con-
ference Tuesday with L. E. Clark and
| G. H. Gobble of Muscatine and the
proposition of visiting Muscatine this
year was met with much encourage
ment by the men in whose hands the
arrangements for the annual outing
are left. Concerning the visit of Messrs
Clark and Gobble to this city, last
nights Muscatine Journal had the fol-
lowing:
! e. E. Clark, representing the Com
mercial club and Charles H. Gobble
representing the Retail Merchants
association, returned last night on the
Milwaukee from Ottumwa, where
they went yesterday to meet the pic
mic committee of the Morrell Packing
Company relative to the securing OF
the annual picnic of that concern for
Muscatine. The committee met with
much encouragement from the Ottum-
wa concern and they feel sure that If
the railroads will make satisfactory
rate, Muscatine will secure the picnic,
which will be held August "a.
A Big Affair.
"The picnic of the Ottumwa COM
pany is big affair and there is no
doubt that if rate of s1.00 for the
round trip is assured, that at least g.
900 people will come here. 1t is an
annual event. The Morrell company
employs something over 1,400 people,
and on the date of the picnic it shuts
down In all departments and every
body connected with the concern en-
joys day of rest.
Are Brought Together.
This event was inaugurated about
eight years ago by Thomas D. Foster
president Of the company and it has
proven great success. Employer and
day in reunion for a general good
time, and a special program, including
addresses by the officers, as well as
the leading employees is one of the
features of the day.
All Except Muscatlne.
Practically every city within a rad
JUS of 100 miles of Ottumwa has al
ready been visited with the exception
OF Muscatine and this year practically
everybody connected with the big con
Germ are unit In wishing to come tc
Muscatine.
Well Received.
"The Muscatine men were greatly
pleased with the reception they re.
ceived, especially with the welcome
given them by Thomas Berry, chair.
man CT the picnic committee. They
found Mr.. Berry very pleasant and
affable gentleman, and he promised to
do everything possible to get the com
mittee to decide upon Muscatine.
Messrs. Clark and Gobble we're also
very pleasantly received by w S.
Parker, agent of the Rock Islandat Of
tumwa, and W. S. Richards, the local
/ agent of the Milwaukee. These gen
tlemen did everything they could to
make their visit success, as did the
representative of the Ottumwa Courier
The local committee desires to extend
its thanks for the many courtesies re-
ceived at the hands of the Ottumwa
people met, and hopes to be able to
reciprocate when the big excursion
comes here
Up to the Railroads.
The entire matter, however is up to
the railroads Already the Rock Island
company has offered a rate of $1.75,
but the picnic committee feels that
this is too high, and that it could not
get large enough crowd at that fig.
ure Many of the employees of the
company say they cannot afford to pay
that sum for the ride. but that they
would willingly come here If the rate
was made a dollar.
i To Do Their Best.
Representatives u both the
Milwaukee and the Rock Island
have promised to do their best
in securing satisfactory rates
and the Muscatine committee
feels sure that one or both of the rail.
tory.
Well Taken Care Of.
1T is believed that if a rate of 81 90
is made that at least 5000 people will
take advantage Of the trip. Muscatine
is better fixed to handle the crowd than
any of the surrounding cities. With
two magnificent parks as place Of
rendezvous there is no reason why
everybody should not have a great
time. This city also has plenty of res
taurants and hotels, and everybody
would be sure of getting plenty to eat
A boat could also be secured If desired
and steamer rides on the Mississippi
river could be one Of the features
There would be no lacking in enter
tainment, and the people of Ottumws
could return home feeling that they
had a day of recreation that would
oly Loo he,