Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-25
CITY BUILDINGS

There is literally no exaggeration
in the statement that people will spend
a whole lifetime In city and not
know the significant facts about its
life with which an inquiring stranger
would acquaint himself within weeks
Investigations This excerpt from an
article on Advertising a City" by
i VIII B. Wilder In Fame for April, will
strike home with the average reader,
because its truth is SO apparent. For
Instance it is perfectly safe to venture
the assertion that not one-third of the
Eeoplel OF Ottumwa have ever gone
through, the Morrel1 packing plant. one
Of the biggest in the world. vet there
are few visitors in the city that do not
Inspect the place from top to bottom.
GsVisitors In the city often remark:
I sSWhat beautiful scenery there Is
along the river above the DAMS" and
your resident will reply: well, do you
know | never noticed It," The beauti-
full scenery that may be viewed from
the hills overlooking the winding river
1 and the valley across the river, strikes
lGheSvisitor at first glance, but half the
people that walk up the hills every day
seldom turn their heads to take a
4 glance at the view.
a Discussing the things necessary to
city building. Mr.. Wilder says:
Almost every city has some organ.
ization for exploiting its advantages
to the outside world-which is all very
we'll as far as it goes, But city's
real prosperity depends on the enthu-
siasm and public spirit of its own peo-
pie. This field is generally neglected,
soe, 70
touch 1t. They can't do 1t systematic
ally. Anyhow, it isn't their work.
People don't read the newspapers for
that purpose
There is literally no exaggeration
In the statement that people will
spend a whole lifetime in city and
not know the significant facts about
It's life with which an inquiring
stranger would acquant himself with
In a weeks Investigator. The devel-
opments which grow up naturally
around a man with which he Is notadi-
rectly connected, do not attract his at
i tention or interest. The result is a
habit OF mind which is inert, dissat-
isfied, and prone to the human falling
Of grumbling about the lot in, which
Providence has placed one.
To attract conventions Is well, and
10 attract new enterprises is better;
but best Of all is to stir up the local
contingent to enthusiasm for the pres
snt and faith In the future. This is
what makes the essential difference
between a dead town and a live town
--between a town where everything
troops into torpid state Of somno-
!ence. and a town where business is
looming, where things are ADDING, and
there is a general feeling that 1t is
good to be alive
.sTe stir up the local contingent to
enthusiasm for the present and faith
In the future is held by Mr.. Wilder
TO be better than bringing conven-
lions and new enterprises to city. He
does not mean. by this that efforts at
factory building should be abated for
an instant, but he knows, as everyone
knows. that if the people have the pro-
per enthusiasm for their city the fac
tories will come. and the conventions
will come. And having secured its
factories and conventions, the city,
with a people enthusiastic for the pres
ent and having faith in the future,
will not rest until their homes are inn
proved, their streets and parks i'm
proved. their scenic spots beautified
and their city made better place to
live in.