Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-12
ROAD BOOSTERS
AT BLAKESBURG
BLUE GRASS RIVER TO RIVER
ROUTE is ENCOURAGED AT
ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING.
GOOD TALKS ARE HEARD

Congressman N. E. Kendall and Other
. Spread Better Highway GospeI;
Abba and ottumwa Had
Large Delegations.
The Blue Grass river to river roal
!. between Council Bluffs and Burlington
! passing through Abba and Ottumwa
was given big boost at the meeting
of the good roads enthusiasts Of Wa
pello and Monroe counties at Blakes
burg yesterday afternoon. The citizens
of Blakesburg and the farmers in that
vicinity are DESTROYS that the road &c
through their town from Abba to OF
tumwa, instead of by way of Eddy
vile, and if enthusiasm and finance
count for anything, the across the state
4 highway will pass through the thriving
4 little city and the rich farming terri
{ tory which borders the road between
I Abba and Ottumwa. The good roads
meeting was one of the most enthusi
astic gatherings ever held. Better high.
ways were discussed and the 200 citi.
i zens Of Abba, Ottumwa, Moravia and
Blakesburg, and the farmers for miles
around who came to hear the good
roads talk, left the meeting very conf
dent that the Blue Grass road would
not only be secured, but would be the
finest means Of travel between Abba
and Ottumwa. So enthusiastic were
1 the Blakesburg business men, citizens
and farmers over the good roads meet
/ ing, that many business houses closed
their doors, and the prOprietors and
1 clerks listened to the gospel OF better
rural highways at the opera house.
Sent Large Delegation.
The Ottumwa delegation left the
city about 1: 80 o'clock. Nine machines
made up the party from here, which
was composed Of tbirty-six good roads
boosters. The Abba delegation, num-
bering fifty-five representative bust
ness men, in eleven automobiles, were
in attendance, while Moravia had a
small delegation.
The twenty machines lined up on the
street gave the little city very met
ropolitan appearance. Among the no.
tables in attendance at the meeting
was Congressman N. e. Kendall of Al
bia, who was triumphant at the recent
election over Dan w. Hamilton. Con-
gresham Kendall was heartily con-
graduated by those in attendance. He
delivered an address at the afternoon
meeting. The trip from Ottumwa to
Blakesburg was rca6e in good time,
the roads between :3Fo POINTS being
in excellent condition, showing that the
farmers along the routeeand the citi-
zens of Blakesburg were believers in
good roads. No accidents marred the
trip Of the Ottumwa boosters.
David Jay Enthusiastic.
The meeting at the opera house was
largely attended, the spacious room
being well filled. Fred Jones, chairman
Of the good roads committee, opened
the meeting by introducing David Jay
of Blakesburg, dyed-in-the-wool road
booster, who welcomed the good road
enthusiasts from Ottumwa and Abba.
Mr.. Jay declared that the only route IT
the Blue Grass road was from Abba to
Blakesburg to Ottumwa. He asserted
that the people and farmers in and
around Blakesburg would do their part
in improving the road and that no mis-
take would be made by taking in
Blakesburg in place of Eddyville. "The
farmers of this locality are taking great
interest in better highways and are en-
thusiastic over the Blue Grass road"
said the speaker. His address was full
of optimism over the road. Postmaster i
Frank A. Nimocks, chairman of the |
good roads committee of the Ottumwa
Commercial association, was made per-
chairman of the meeting. He
declared that it was his hope that the
road would pass through Blakesburg, |
and was confident that the citizens in
that vicinity would do all in their power |,
to secure the route through there. He |
told Of the eagerness OF the people Of
Eddyville in getting on the route and |
he notified the Blakesburg people that I
they should keep wide, awake, get busy |
and have the road pass through their
community.
The road between Abba and Ottum- |
wa, declared Mr.. Nimocks. was in fair
ly good condition. BY raising sufficient |
funds to cut down some of the steep
hills between Alba and Ottumwa, he |
was confident that the road would pass /
through Blakesburg. The Eddyville !
road, stated the speaker, had the first
preference, but he believed by boost /
citizens and farmers Of Blakesburg |
ll6y COulQ get IllS IOdu. 1AC IlvCI w |
river road. he declared, would be worth |
money to the farms along the route and
increase the value of land per acre.
Favored BIakesburg Road.
Calvin Manning in opening his adj
dress, stated that the raising of funds
for the creating OF better roads was a
good thing and should be pushed along.
While he placed the interurban as the
cheapest mode of travel he put good
highways as second best and informed
those in the audience who lived along |
the line that they would make no mis- |
take in subscribing for the lettering
of the road between Abba and Ottum-
wa, which will ultimately be the route
of the river to river highway. He de-
clared that the building Of the road |
would not only aid the business men
of Blakesburg, but would increase the
value of the land along the route. He
corrected the impression that the road
was only for speeding automobiles and
pleasure riders and showed how the |
farmers would be benefited in getting |
their products to market.
Maud nnnAf;$ EarnaAro