Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-29
BLAKESBURC
MEETS A RIVAL
EDDYviLLE WILL COMPETE FOR
THE BLUE GRASS ROAD FROM
oTTUMWA TO ALBA.
COMPETITION IS KEEN
Both Cities Wish Route to Pass
Through Community and Desire
to BE on Cross state
Road.

Road boosters who have been work
ing on the proposed Blue Grass road
through Iowa, expect some rivalry in
the towns adjacent to Ottumwa and the
settlement of the route will only be
made by the owners of land in the
rival sections getting busy with their
county roads. The competition has
narrowed down to the portion Of the
cross state road between Ottumwa and
Abba, and the competitors for the
coveted prize are Blakesburg and
Eddyville. At the outset much enthu.
siasm was displayed by Blakesburg
people and those in that vicinity but
while those of Adams township were
travelling the road, their neighbors in
Columbia township were not idle. The
people of Eddyville and on both sides
of that city, leading to Ottumwa on
the one side and Abba on the other,
have made up their minds to go after
the route and some good roads will be
the result. This of course will be
necessary which ever town is the
chosen point along which the road will
course sts way.
Blakesburg participated in the trip
made to Abba when Ottumwans were
of the crowd and later entertained
road boosters from Ottumwa, Abba
and other points interested at meet
ing of boosters held in the enterpris-
ing town south of the river.
EddyviIte Wants Road.
That Eddyville is i the game may
be cleaned from the letter received by
F. A. Nimocks. chairman of the Wa
pello county Blue Grass road COM
mittee, which follows:
81 take the liberty of writing you in
the interest of the Blue Grass road
through this state. We realize your
influence in this matter will have much
to do in locating this road from Abba
to Ottumwa. and we want to be
counted in the deal.
I'VE will show to the people OF Abba
and Ottun1wa that we have as much
enthusiasm, energy, and push to the
square inch in Eddyville as you Will
find anywhere along this road from
Council Bluffs to Burlington
s'We want this road to pass through
Eddyville, and Will do everything that
is reasonable and right to secure It.
We are spending over $4,000 on one
mile Of road through the Des Moines
river bottom, and when completed will
be the best mile of country road IN
Iowa.
.In going from Eddyville to Ottumwa
we have only one wood floor bridge IN
eight miles, ard we expect to have
concrete bridge by next June replace 1t.
1--WE are deeply interested in this
matter and do everything we can to
and maintain this road If 1t
will come our way.
ct seems to us that through Eddy
vile is the logical route from Abba to
Ottumwa. and II you will lend your as
sistance in securing this road through
Eddyyille. you may rest assured your
efforts will be highly appreciated.
Trusting you will do what you can
Remain Respectfully
81. M. Crosson."
Both Want Route.
AS the matter stands neither one
Of the cities is sure OF getting
the route to come its way. One Will
get the route but that one will be
given it only when sufficient road Inn
in it's particular vicinity
has been done to warrant the award
being made. Blakesburg has been
favored by some Of the road boosters
who have made the trip, while others
favor the Eddyville route. The for
mer has the>S shorter way, while the
latter has a stretch of better road and
less hills. The claims OF both places
to have the route through their respec-
4. $v~NvN Wy
to Abba. has narrowed down to com.
petition and the township doing the'
most and best roadwork is to be the
successful place. The people in both
feel the prize worth the
effort and 1t is hoped the competition
will be taken up with will. But a
short time is left for either town to
get in the race as the road boosters
want to close the matter shortly.