Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1910-01-13
VI.
BURLINGTON NEVER ASLEEP.

Burlington Hawk-Eye.-"B Burlington
is awakening from sort of Rip Van
Wrinkle sleep and getting very much
in the game. Just now they are organ
izing $275,000 hotel company with a
view of putting up thoroughly mod
|,ern and up-to-date hotel. And this is
not the only evidence of the progress
siveness of the old town, either"
Papers in the state have been quick
to note the proposition to build a
S275, 1000 hotel in Burlington. The
above is a sample of the comments be-
ing made. There has been somewhat of
an idea abroad that Burlington is an
old fogey place. This reputation comes
from the city minding it's own bust
ness to large extent 1t is also the
result of a Discrimination of the city to
advertise itself on every possible oc.
casion. Another thing that has kept
Burlington in the quiet and unnoticed
class IS the fact that it doesn't get on
a tear every once in while and burst
things wide open.
AS matter of fact Burlington has
been too conservative in the past for
its own good. 1t has been satisfied to
build up wholesale and retail trade
that amounts to millions of dollars a
year-how many millions it would be
! hard to state, but at least forty of
them. It's citizens are prosperous. it
has very little poverty and suffering
among its people, and its manufacture
ing industries are among the strongest
and most important in the west It's
financial institutions are sound to the
core, and are recognized as such
throughout the country.
When rumor went out in mys-
terious way several years ago that
one of the banks was threatened with
retaliatory run. the following mes
sage was received by all banks in Bur-
lington from Chicago financial institu-
tions Call on us for anything you
want" When the financial panic came
on in 1907, Burlington was practically
the only city in Iowa whose banks did
not resort to the clearing house certi-
icates as substitute for cash in pay
ing checks of depositors.
Burlington has not just walked up.
1t has been awake for many years,
with keen eye to the main chance. 1t
is true that 1T has not had hotels suf1i-
cient to accommodate the business
that has constantly been growing.
Neither has Des Moines been able to
take care of its visitors. 1t has had
to build new hotels. Davenport and
Cedar Rapids have been in the same
boat Chicago has Just finished a great
hotel and will build another or two at
once, because the present accommoda-
tions, large as they are. are not equal
to the demand. The building of hotel
in this city is not sign of awakening
from sleep 1t is merely intensified
progress.
In addition to the proposed enter,
prise, many other important improve
ments are under consideration. A ten
,, story Office building is talked of and
many innovations in present store
structures are contemplated, adding
greatly to the business capacity and
appearance of the citys commercial
district.
While our progressive citizens were
planning the new hotel, other citizens
lust as active were expending $3.50, 900
in the erection Of new homes and bust.
ness houses, and in other improve
ments. A new 100000 high school
building is nearing completion A
100000 packing plant has been in
stalled and is in busy operation. The
largest gas tanks in Iowa have been
erected and are furnishing gas to the
citizens at a greatly reduced cost over
former years.
With the activities of the CONNER.
cial EXCHANGE. Burlington is assured
of a still brighter and buster future.
Burlington has not been asleep: it has
merely been too busy to pay attention
to what is due itself in the way of
publicity. The dav is mast now. when
the outside world will have any ex-
cuse for thinking the city dull and un-
progressive. The business and build
I ing records show that the ideal motto
for the Orchard City" has always
been:
Burlington Means Business.
And now the citizens are resolved
that this fact shall become matter
fof common knowledge throughout the
land.