Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-05-30
EDITORS OBSERVATIONS.
By John l.. Thompson.

The Tri-Cities acords many ad-
vantages and opportunities that few
other places offer. First, in the three
cities there are more than 10000
people, of which there is about 5000
Afro-Americans, but these cities
could we'll have twice this population
because the exceptional opportunities
is the demand for laborers to work
in the mighty factories and great
work shops, where more than 10000
people are now employed, and then
two the great United States arsenal
upon the island, employing her thou
sands of men, saying nothing about
the many thousands that are en-
ployed in the public city improve
ments. Then, too, there is a good
field for colored men to enter the
business and professional men. Since
we was here last year two doctors
have located here and are doing well,
and the only lawyer died recently.
I shall soon speak of each of them.
In brief I should say that these tri-
cities are in need and will support
one good lawyer, one dentist, one un-
dertaker, one real estate agent, one
drug store, one first class hotel and
about two doben good farmers. Dav-
export being the largest Of the three
cities, we find that colored people are
making a great improvement within
the past five years. They have got
rid of some of those dives and ques-
tionable places and as whole the
people are taking more to church,
club and society work. The A. M. E.
church has just been comple,ed-a
very beautiful and valuable edifice,
costing more than $4,000, nearly all
paid for, which is due to the untiring
efforts of Rev. T. B. Stovall, who has
labored hard, and with the co-opera-
tion of the good colored and white
citizens they have pulled through
The only other church is the Baptist
which is at present without a pastor
Rev. Nicholson of Chicago is now here
filling out the contract Of Rev. Toom-
ey Attorney VIM. G. Mott, who was
one of the leading public men in
Iowa, took suddenly sick with pneu-
monia and died. He was just becom.
ing 10 be very useful man for these
people here, true Mason, good
Christian and a worthy citizen anc
a personal friend of Ye Editor. Mrs
c. H. Marshall, our agent, is an &C.
tive worker in church and club life o1
this city Mrs. Ruth Bright who form
erly lived here, is also active ir
church and club and secret society
Mr.. E. H. Haskins, of whom we wrote
about being severely injured in a rail
road wreck on the Rock Island Ry
Co. while employed there, is improv
ing nicely now. He is not now or
crutches, only using cane. The com
pany has settled his claim and they
now own a very beautiful moderr
home in this city. Eugene Green il
still driving his express wagon ant
doing we'll. His wife runs roomine
house. Charles Bates owns the Amer
ican Shining Parlors, the finest ant
largest in this city. He has abou
a dozen boys working and is doing {
big business This is the way to get
the trade, open first class bushes!
and the better class of white people
will patronize you Mrs. Franci.
Baker is still at their nice home, do
ing we'll. Mrs. Rose Corbin is still
running her home laundry, employ
ing several Of our ladies. She has {
large trade. Scott McGaw is working
at his same trade, doing nicely. Lind
say Pitts has just opened up an ic'
cream parlor, cigars, barber shop ant
pool hall at 702 Harrison street ant