Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-02
GRAND PICNIC
AT 0SKALOOSA
LOCAL GRoCERs AND BUTCHERS
HAVE PERFECTED PLANS
FOR OUTING.
WEDNESDAY JULY IS
This Years Event to Eclipse All Pre-.
tvous Efforts by the Otturwa
Merchants-Have Special
Trains Secured.

Some twelve or fifteen years ago
the grocers and butchers of Ottumwa
organized, held several meetings and
enjoyed two picnics, which were well
attended and which meant great
deal toward the fellowship and good
will that existed among them. For
the same reasons which have been
manifest in hundreds of other cities
over the country, the organization
was disbanded and left the associating
spirit without tangible form. About
ten years later the Ottumwa Retail
Merchants association was organized
out of which grew the Grocers' aux
iliary, which is an organization with a
president, secretary and treasurer,
tremendously with all other mer-
retail interests of Ottumwa.
Cooperation Is Good.
The auxiliary has proven very
beneficial organ for the grocers and
butchers because they have an oppor-
tunity to take up matters peculiarly
their own, at the same time to coop
crate with other merchants on larger
and greater problems that bring pro.
gress to the entire association. The
principle of different lines organizing
with greater organization has been
tried and has proven most profitable
in many large cities. The grocers and
butchers of Ottumwa by their work
in the auxiliary have been brought to
feel the value of organization Of any
line in retail business and to appre
ciate what great good can be accom-
plished, not only for themselves but
for the public, their customers.
Picnic at Keosauqua.
| Two years ago the auxiliary plan
ned a picnic at Keosauqua, at which
time they all closed their places n
business for the day, invited the gen
eral public to join with them and also
inspired the cooperation of the mer
chants and citizens Of Keosauqua fol
their annual outing.
AS there were many new problems
to meet and solve by the committee
without previous experience and with
out knowledge Of the conditions tina
existed, the comfort of those attend
ing the picnic was somewhat lessenet
by the program being carried out ovel
too large a territory, causing all visi
tors to keep up an unpleasant, con
tinuous move to see the entertain
ment. But with it all, however, there
were some very interesting and enjoy
able stunts, which not only the people
from Ottumwa appreciated but thosE
Of the visited city as we'll Nearly
five hundred attended the picnic from
Ottumwa alone. The train service
was excellent, the day was not to.
warm the citizens of Keosauqua dit
their part, consequently all returned
feeling well paid for the vacation.
Good Picnic at Edon.
One year ago it was decided to hole
the picnic nearer home and the ap
propriate picnic grounds at Eldon wa
chosen for the outing. A more elabor
ate program was made out and exc
cuted and the mistakes of the yea
before were not repeated The wealth
er was quite warm, yet many will re
member the automobile race, the hors
race, the fifty yard dash. the ladies
guessing contest and other interest
ing features. The prizes at these pic
MICS have always been expensive AM
elaborate. Jobbers both local and fol
eign have been more than willing an
anxious to do their part in order t
make the annual outing of the grocer
and butchers special time durin
the year The grounds at Eldon ar
exceptionally well fitted and those |
attendance could be numbered b
j thousands. The ball games at the pit