The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1910-08-11
TELLS OF TUSCALOOSA
The Southwest Trail Gives City a
Generous Boost.

* u
magazine published in Chicago in the
!, interests Of the land and the territory
!, contiguous to the Rock Island sys
tenn, by the passenger department Of
that road, has a special mention Of
Oskaloosa in the August number
Jesse b. Taylor, the editor, was in
this part of the state last month and
stopped in Oskaloosa and Mahaska
county. He tells about Oskaloosa
and her advantages in generous
way and the article is here quoted in
full. Thank you, Mr. Taylor: #
"Oskaloosa is a city of about $4,000
inhabitants, the county seat of Ma.
haska county, and located south and
east of the center OF the rich state of
Iowa. The assessed valuation of Os.
kaloosa's property is $6,750,O00. The
three railway lines, including Rock
Island lines, which run through Oska-
loosa, give quick and direct connec-
tion with all the large shipping cen.
tiers of the United States. The whis-
tie of the twenty-five passenger trains
and the rumble of thirty-five freight
trains are daily heard.
"Oskaloosa has twenty churches
and Young Mems Christian Associa
ton, which is supported by Oskaloo-
sa's commercial interests. The pub.
lie school system of Oskaloosa con,
sists of five ward schools and one
high school, which offer excellent ad.
vantages. The higher educational at
mosphere about this city is created
by Penn College. the largest Friends
institution in the west; the Central
Holiness Associations Oskaloosa Col.
lege and the Practical Business Col
| lege. Oskaloosa has three large hos
pitfalls. ....
"Oskaloosa's wholesale establish.
ments are the means of distributing
goods over a territory embracing
prosperous population of nearly 60.
900 people. The retail stores would
do credit to city of three times the
size of Oskaloosa. Oskaloosa has five
banking institutions with a capitaliza-
ton of nearly 100000 and deposits of
over 100000. I'd.
THE city's manufacturing interests
are growing rapidly. 1t is the home
of the Marvel Warm Air Furnace, the
Penn Garment Factory, busy wagon
box factory, several foundries, two
steam heating manufacturing plants,
numerous cigar factories, paving
brick and tile factory, three automo
bile garages, cement construction
company and other, factories and
manufacturing concerns common to
cities of her class "a new pearl but
ton factory is being erected, which
will soon give employment to at least
200 men. Oskaloosa has book binder
les and newspapers, superior to those
in any city of her size in the middle
west.
Surrounding Oskaloosa are valua-
BILE clay deposits suitable for the man.
ufacturing of the finest crockery
wares of all kinds. Oskaloosa's
close proximity to coal mines, which
are in full operation and give employ.
ment to thousands Of men, make
cheap fuel Labor troubles are al.
most unknown in Oskaloosa. The
sanitary conditions of Oskaloosa are
excellent. Her water system Is unsur.
passed. The sewerage system is mod.
ern and effective. The city is clean
and is managed with the health, hap
piness, comfort and prosperity of her
people in view. Oskaloosa has a we'll
equipped and up-to-date fire depart
ment. A half-hour's ride will bring
you the pleasure of the Des Moines
river, where fishing, boating and
swimming are unsurpassed. The ag
gressive spirit in business, clean
pleasures, modern methods and beauti.
full homes, make Oskaloosa very de.
sirable city and a city of opportuni.
ties. The city is located In one of
the finest agricultural districts in the
state. The soil is rich black loan,
very productive and fertile, drained
by the Des Moines and Skunk rivers.
Corn is produced in abundance, being
the leading crop, and yields from 40
to 10 bushels per acre. Oats is the
next leading crop raised, and yields
from 80 to so bushels per acre. Wheat,
barley and rye, buckwfheat and some
fax are also successfully raised. but
in less abundance Land is rapidly in.
creasing in value. At the present
time it is selling for from SIS to 5000
per acre. However, there are good
opportunities for splendid invest.
ments in real estate"
Incidentally Mr.. Taylor in telling
OF Iowa's greatness says the state fur
nishes Of the total production in the
United States: l'lss
IL per cent o fthe corn.
14.6 per cent OF the oats.
1876 per cent of the hogs.
7.6 per cent of the cattle.
81 per cent OF the horses.
Dam Repaired. eg|
The dam across south Skunk river