Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-02

bring double the amount Of improve,
ment and other Indications Of improve
ments to this city.
Along with the visible evidence OF
progress and prosperity, have been
planted seeds from which future pro-
gress will be reaped. In this the Of
tumwa Commercial association and
the Ottumwa Retail Merchants asso-
citation have been active. The seed
corn meeting held at the Y. M. G. A.
| by these two organizations, at which
numerous farmers were present, serv-
ed to further cement the kindly feel
ing that now exists between the OF
tumwa commercial men and the agr1-
culturist. The trade excursion to Sey-
mour and Centerville and intervening
towns on the Milwaukee was another
item Of importance, inasmuch as 1t
demonstrated to the people living in
those towns that Ottumwa was good
place in which to trade. The pure
food show accomplished the same re-
suits The present year will see more
of these trade excursions and In the
case of strengthening the tie that now
binds the merchants with the farmers
of the county, new proposition is ex-
pected to bear fruit This latter is
the establishment Of farm bureau in
this county. A practical farmer with
scientific knowledge how best to treat
soil and the products thereof Is to be
in charge. and it will be his duty to
instruct Wape!lo county, in advanced
farming that better crops may result.
Out of the hotel agitation, started
by W. r. Damn and his proposition
to erect a modern structure at the
corner of Jefferson and Main streets,
new hotel or the rebuilding of the
Rallingall Is expected to materialize
this year. In fact the directors of the
Ottumwa Commercial association will
on January IA take up the matter Of
better hotel facilities for this city.
The establishment Of a freight bu-
reau in connection with the CONNER
cial club has already demonstrated
wisdom of the act in better tariffs for
goods shipped out Of Ottumwa and into
this city. This department is in good
working order with c. O. Dawson, .
very competent man, in charge.
The business changes in the retail
held have been numerous. The re-
of the J. 3. Sax store and
the J. K. Dysart store and the purchase
of the May Nation store by James
Swirles were noted. The Truef1t
store and the Partisan are two distinct
additions to the Main street retail field.
The removal into larger quarters of the
Iowa Clothing & Shoe Co. and n.
Friedman and Daniels shoe house are
other changes. Several other retail
stores have started business during
the year.
Ottumwas reputation for hospitality
was upheld on numerous occasions
when conventions met here, and the
are bright that several big /
meetings will convene here in the pres.
ert year. The largest conventions of |
1912 were the Iowa Photographers as
ISOLATION, the P r. o. sisterhood and !
he Iowa Postmasters' association. An I
entirely new meeting during the year !
was the very successfully conducted
poultry show of the Ottumwa Poultry !
The usual activity of the park COM
was noted during the year.
One Of the big things accomplished
vas the installation Of electrolier's at |
he c-ty park.
One Of the early improvements to be
made to the city the present year is the
paving on East Main street, the con.
ract for which has already been let.
Main from Ash to Iowa avenue, and
he latter thoroughfare for distance
If three blocks will be laid with
prick.
While all the manufacturing plants
will make additions and improvements
Turing 1913, there will be unusual activ-
ty shown by the Ottumwa Gas, Light,
Heat & Power Co. Last year four miles
If msin were laid and 500 new con
;umers were added. The water gas