Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-26
TOWN OF MoRAvlA TO WITH
DRAW TRADE FROM NEIGH
BORING CITY.
TROUBLE OVER ROUTING
OF NORTH. SOUTH HIGHWAY
Heavy Trade, Both Wholesale and Re-
tail, to BE Thrown to Other Cities
ottumwa Commercial Club Takes
Matter UP and Will Attempt to APP
4 pease MaicoStents.

=
word received in the city this morning
and which was Immediately referred to
the commercial association for action
the little town of Moravia, Appanoose
county, population 6S2. will after due
notice is served, boycott Ottumwa, OF
tumWa merchants, both retail and
wholesale, and will have no business
connections whatever with this city
Just when business relations with OF
tumwa will cease has not been definite
! " decided, but from advance informa-
| ton it must be SO.
The merchants of the little city. the
best town in that county outside OF
! the county seat, Centerville, have been
peeved for some time over the action
of the referees in the matter of set
Ting the road difficulty which rose
last summer in the routing Of the
Canada, Kansas City and Gulf highway
thru that county. There were two
routes which could be used and the
residents of both were extremely de-
sirous of securing the highway. Several
judges the advantages of one road and
the disadvantages of the other.
Highway Commission Acts.
The local men on the board to de-
eide the route, j. N. Weidenfeller, III.
j. Lyttle and John Morrell, after
spending some time on the matter,
called in the president of the Iowa
division of the road, I. n. Carson, Iowa
nth
to settle the bitter fight which had
arisen and the bitterness between the
residents of the two roads became
more heated and all relations ceased.
Later the state highway commission
was called upon to state which was
the better road. The decision was that
the road should pass up the city of
Moravia and the road over Soap Creek
should be designated on the maps and
properly marked as the Canada, Kan
sas City and Gulf highway.
The matter was settled as far as
the locals had anything to do in the
case as the state highway commission
had said which was the better route
and which would be the easier kept In
good condition. 1t was thought that
nothing more would develop until a
few days ago the Moravia road boost
ers bought advertising space in Ottum-
wa and other papers along the route
stating that their road was properly
marked and was in better condition
than the marked highway Of the Can
ada road. Further than this they
asked all travellers to use their route
as their road would at all times be in
the best of condition.
Places Blame ottun,wa.
No public reply was made to this
by the residents of the Canada, Kansas
City and Gulf highway and again it
was the opinion Of local good road en-
thusiasts that the matter had been
dropped and nothing more would be
said regarding the selection of the state
highway commission.
The merchants Of the little town are
apparently Of the opinion that it was
Ottumwa and Ottumwa interests that
had the road pass them up, and con-
sequently they are up in arms over the
affair. They decided at meeting re-
Gently held that they will no longer
spend their money with Ottumwa mer-
chants. They will purchase their wares
at Oskaloosa, Des Moines and other
cities, they assert.
There are probably two dozen re-
tail stores in the little town and to-
day practically every article sold over
their counters is the product of OF
tumwa or is bought thru Ottumwa job
bers. Aside from this the residents of
the town and surrounding country
come to Ottumwa in droves to do
their shopping and spend their money.
Should Ottumwa lose all this wealth of
trade it will be serious blow to the
wholesalers and retailers Of the city.
Newspapers Included.
The newspapers Of Ottumwa will
also come in for their share of the
losses as they are included in the boy
cotted list. Taylor township in which
Moravia is located will read no news
from OttumWa.
1t is possible that delegation Of
Ottumya citizens will be named to visit
the business men of A.oravia and some
effort made to have the Moravia route
also marked on the road map Of Iowa.