Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-14
BOOST OTTUMWA
IS The SLOGAN
COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION 1
BEST MEANS FOR DOING
THIS.
ATTEND MEETINGS

Discuss city's Needs and Suggest
New Things and all VIII Feel
Better and the City
viii Grow.
From Mondays Daily
The first years active work Of the
Commercial association will soon ex-
pire and the question of continuing
the associations work for next year
now presents itself to the business peo-
pie of Ottumwa for consideration. The
work of the association for the past
year has been reasonably successful
but there is much yet to be accom-
plished. During the past year the as
ISOLATION has saved to the manufact-
ures of Ottumwa many thousands Of
dollars in freight rates that will re-
suit in general good to the citizens of
Ottumwa. Railroads in making freight
schedules use the Mississippi and Mis-
souri, rivers as basing points. OF
tumwa being an interior town suffers
in competition with river towns in
having high local freight rate added
to the river rate which handicaps
local manufacturers. Ottumwa, with
this exception has every advantage
necessary to its becoming manufac
turing center
Look at the map and one will see
the railroads radiating from Ottum-
wa in every direction like the spokes
of a wheel.
Natural Resources.
| Located on the Des Moines river
which furnishes ample water and
drainage requirements, Ottumwa has
in its Immediate vicinity an abundance
of good coal which can be cheaply
mined. 1t has an inventive industrious
aggressive citizenship which if given
equal opportunities can and will de-
velop a large volume of business. 1t
| is for this work that the association
| is particularly valuable. Many freight
rates to Ottumwa are relatively higher
than those to neighboring cities. A
number of these inequalities have been
equalized during the past year but
there is yet much to be accomplished.
One specific reduction in freight
rate to Ottumwa made a great saving
to one Of the prominent factories
here. A criticism was heard expressed
as against the association in this case
by the statement, "It made that man
lot Of money but it did not do me
any good"
1t is here that we are mistaken,
says a prominent business man while
we must look closely and possibly
selflshly to our own interests we must
not lose sight of the fact that our in
terests to a large extent are mutual
and what helps the city as a whole
helps us individually. When our as
sociation secured justice for the above
manufacture it placed him in
position by which he secured rate
that enabled him to bid in competition
for half million dollar contract for
work that he secured and which will
be done in our city and he will EN-.
ploye a large force of men who will
live here with their families and whose
residence here will appreciate the
value Of every piece of real estate in
Ottumwa. Besides they will spend
their wages among our merchants
which will result in drawing large
volume of money to our city that will
benefit us all individually.
Cooperation Needed.
"This is an age Of cooperation and
the doing of things on a big scale
| The tendency is almost socialistic in
the conserving and unifying of inter,
ests. A bundle of sticks If taken
singly can be broken by child But
bind them together in one compact
bond and the strength Of giant could
not break them.
1--WE have heard some criticisms rela-
tive to our secretary. In making these
criticisms we should bear in mind the
fact that we have duties and obliga-
lions to the association as well as the
secretary. To make our association
a success it must have a large active
and enthusiastic membership and that
rests with you. To succeed we must
do things If the work doesn't suit
you go to the association meetings;
criticise, argue, suggest, find fault and
you will have done something that will
benefit the association, and you will
have helped your town and yourself.
Other Associations Busy.
"Our neighboring cities all have
active commercial associations. Des
Moines and Davenport have a large
and enthusiastic membership and are
accomplishing much for themselves.
Ottumwa cannot afford to get behind
Ottumwa is good town and can and
will grow if we do our duty.
"Let us get out of the rut.' Ginger
up Instead of criticising boost Get
busy Join the association, attend its
meetings, discuss our needs and sug.
gest new things to be done and you
will feel better and our city will grow
and prosper for your Efforts