Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-11-14
Good ROADS and
PARCELS-P0ST
THE DISCUSSION OF TWO VITAL
QUESTIONS AT MEETING
LAST NIGHT.
RETAIL MERCHANTS
MERCHANTS
RETAIL
Committees Appointed to Solicit SUB
scription for the Betterment Of
Rural Traffic-oppose Postal
Scheme.

Desiring better highways leading
from Ottumwa, the Retail Merchants
association Of this city launched upon
campaign of better country roads in
Wapello county at large and enthusi-
astic meeting of that body held in
their rooms in the New Telephone
building last night.
Upon the invitation of the secretary
Of the association. committee Of five
men representing the farmers from
the northeast of the city, were present
at the meeting. which proceeded to
take up and discuss the question Of
good roads, and particularly the bet
terment Of the road conditions be-
tween this city and Dahlonega.
The conditions of the roads In this
county are being improved continually
but there is yet much to do. Many
hills existing between Dahlonega and
Ottumwa make the transportation Of
grain to this city difficult undertake
ing. as the grade in many places Is so
great that from 20 to 80 bushels Of
grain constitute a load for the average
team. The plan discussed and now
under advisement by the association
with the cooperation Of the farmers
In the district being considered is to
cut the hills to grade of 81a per cent
using the dirt from the hills to fill the
hollows and the low places.
Cut Down the Hills.
A contract to reduce the hills to the
grade of 81 per cent is now in force
and it is believed when work Is COM
pleted that the farmer can haul, with
the average team, a load of grain
amounting to maximum Of 40 to so
bushels.
The township fund of the district af-
! fected, as is likewise the county ap-
ipropriation for the work, has been
exhausted for the present year and a
balance Of $1,000 yet remains to be
raised to defray the expense of the
undertaking, the cost Of which
amounted to s2,500. The farmers Of
the district affected have raised $1,000
and the city Is expected to raise the
remaining $500.
BY a vote of the association at it's
meeting last night the movement was
endorsed and committee was ap-
pointed to solicit subscriptions from
the members. 1t being the sense of
the meeting that good roads into a
city are the most profitable improve
ments that can be made next to the
interurban.
Parcels Post.
After the close of the good roads
discussion the question Of parcels
post was taken UP. The meeting de.
vided itself into an affirmative and a
negative side, thorough. discussing
the matter from the viewpoint of the
consumer and the dealer, agreeing
that cheaper system OF transporting
packages by mail for the general pub
/ lie would be great convenience and
I give great satisfaction.
The cost. however, of sending large
packages by mail over SO large an
area Of territory as is contained in the
United States, is SO great that de
crease in the present prices of post
age would entail large deficit in the
I receipts of the pcstoffice department
This deficit would have to be made
up by consumer and taxpayers in gen
eral.
Start on Business Basis.
The association is Of the opinion
that If the parcels post can be gotter
upon business or paying basis, 4
will be success an dunless it can be
shown to be successful venture, i
should be opposed by business men
By vote of the meeting committee
was appointed to draft petition
against the measure of parcels pos
with the belief that although the pro
posals of the postmaster-genera arr
J fair and just, their passage would bt
laying down bars for the passage o
more radical measures in the future
J That the present system should not b.
changed unless it can be made on
} business basis that will not be means
J of increasing the revenue or increas
I ing the expense of the postoff1ce de
partment.
j After some more business of rou
tine nature the meeting was adjourn
ed at a late hour.
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