Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1909-05-18

notes about the river below the dam
as they had time to take before din
ner hour. The Hornet" the craft in
which the surveying trip is being
made from Des Moines to Keokuk,
was this morning conveyed around
the dam and again placed in the
stream ready for the start that will
be made tomorrow morning about 8
o'clock II the weather is favorable for
the trip. Major Meigs invited j. T.
Powell to accompany the party down
the river to the first landing which
will be either Eldon or Douds-Leando
Are Seeing the City.
This afternoon the surveying party
are guests Of the Commercial associa-
tion and the waterways committee Of
the association are doing honors to
the distinguished visitors. At 2 o'clock
the visitors accompanied by the mem
bers OF the waterways committee
were gathered into automobiles fur.
nished by Henry Phillips, G. o. Taylor,
M. B. Hutchison and ot'-er Ottumwans
and proceeded about the city to visit
the manufacturing plants and large
shippers of the city. The Morreil
packing plant, Box Car Loader plant,
Dain concern, Johnston-Sharp, Mill
and Construction Co., American Min
ing Tool Co., and several other fac
tories were among the places visited.
Reception Tonight.
An informal reception will be ten
dered the visiting surveying party TO.
night in the rooms of the Commercial
association and an interesting pro-
gram Of speeches and short talks will
be given. 1t is planned to have some
member of the visi lang party speak to
the Ottumwans and in turn some Of
the locals will tell the visitors things
regarding the river, shipping and 9TH
er data that will be Of interest to them
on their cruise of the Des Moines
Met up tho River.
1t was first planned for the visitors
to arrive in ottumwa yesterday noon
and arrangements were then made for
every launch on the river to join in a
parade up the stream and meet the
Meigs party. News was then re-
ceived from Harvey, however, that in
dicated the party would not arrive un-
til this morning and the launch parade
was postponed.
Then at o'clock yesterday after
noon the news came that the party
had reached Eddyville and was head
ed for Ottun1wa and an effort was
made to carry out the original recep-
ton plans. It was impossible In the
short time allotted, however, to bring
carrying representatives of the Com
mercial association, the Boat club and
the press set out and met the visitors
at the four mile bridge.
In F. H. Halls launch were Mr..
Hall. DR.. Lambert and Clarence Har
per OF the Boat club, Guy D. Doud, sec
retary of the Commercial association,
ly interested in furthering the river
improvement plans. w. E. Cooks
launch carried DR.. P. L. Gilbert and
Courier representative. County Al
torney Seneca Cornell and E. ]. Cation
were also out In their Launches to meet
the Meigs party.
An informal reception was held at
the boat house and the visitors were
then piloted down town.
Well Known Engineer.
Major Montgomery Meigs, American
civil engineer and guest of Ottumws
today, was born at Detroit, Mich Feb.
ruary 81, 1s47 He was educated al
several years in the employment OF
the Northern Pacific railway. Since
1882 he has had CHARGE Of the Des
Moines Rapids Canal under the gov
ernment. He is the inventor of a
Canvas Golfer dam" He also con-
| structed the United States dry dock at
Keokuk.
Engineer by Inheritance.
General Montgomery Cunningham
Meigs, American military officer, and
father OF Major Meigs. was born at
Augusta, Ga, May 3, 1876 and died