Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-21

line to ST. LOUIS anu at inc uOItH JUN
ing the Red Ball route for the twin
cities. This organization meeting
was held at the association rooms ano
was attended by representatives from
all of the interested cities in Iowa and
goodly number representing MIS-
souri, towns.
The organization of the Canada
Kansas City & Gulf highway was the
big road work of the year and Will
without question, be OF immense value
to our city. Members Of the good
roads committee and the secretary
have been among the leaders In per
fecting this organization and have CIV
en- active assistance in the many de-
tails necessary to put a highway vi
this magnitude on permanent basis
Originally organized and routed from
Kansas City to st. Paul with connec'
tions with the International trail al
Kansas City to the southwest ana
California project is now On foot to
make a direct connection with chi
cago. to which end a number OF con
ferences have been had with the OF
ficials of the Chicago Auto CLUB, whlch
seems favorably inclined to endorse
the C. X. c. & G. as the officlal chi
caeo and Kansas City route. Inc
Kansas City people consider the es-
tablishment Of this route or as nucn
Importance to them as a new railroad
which can also be applied to Ottum-
wa.
Our efforts to secure reasonably
good route across Big Soap creek III
Appanoose county On this route DE-
tween Centerville and OttumWa was
q very difficult task. Four ROADS
none of which in their present conal-
ton was acceptable, were given 10
from which to choose. After making
eight or ten trips over these various
roads and with the assistance OF otale
Highway Commissioner Beard anu
State Highway Engineer j. s. NOR
rison and good roads boosters ilv!hs
along the various routes, the cnolce
has simmered down to two roads, one
Of which will be selected in shoi'
time as the official route. we are as
sured that the route selected VIII oe
made a first class highway, hills cut
down road widened and graded, pau
corners eliminated and new culVefls
and bridges put in where needed
This route opens up for us great
deal of new local territory which mas
heretofore been of little trade vaiue
to Ottumwa and gives us deslraole
road from Ottumwa to CenterVll.e,
something we have never had ana Will
no doubt prove very popular roau
for both cities. The committee also
marked the poles along both OF these
routes and remarked the Blue Grass
road the entire distance within the
county lines. The committee is now
investigating the practicability OF on.
ing dirt roads. and if found successful
in other localities will make an eIfort
to inaugurate the oiling system on 'he
dirt roads in Wapello county. Inc con.
tinued interest in the Blue Grass ROAD
was shown by the large attendance at
the annual meeting which was held at
Ottumwa during the early spring.
Greater Iowa Association.
The agitation for an Iowa building
at the Panama Pacific exposition IN
spite of the fact that the last legls-
lature did not see fit to make an ap.
nropriation to cover the same, resulted
in the appointment by the governor OF
a commission to 60 to san Francisco
to make arrangements for an iowa
building and exhibits. Geo. Ha" was
recommended and appointed to repre-
sent this vicinity and made the trip
with the other members Of the COM
mission to California at his own ex-
pense and later was appointed as one
of the permanent Iowa commissioners
to the Panama-Pacific exposition and
has been active in securing exhlblts or
the products of the farm and factory
to fill the generous space allotted 10
Iowa, A trip over the state was MADE
by the Greater Iowa boosters Solicit
ing guarantees for the above purpose.
In this way over 100000 was secured
of which the public spirited citizens Oh
Ottumwa subscribed $4,000. Inc
Greater Iowa delegation of about thirty
was entertained at dinner by the asso'
citation members during the stay Ill
Ot,umwa and was accompanied 0y a
number Of our citizens over the re-
mainder of the round the state TRIP
During the campaign for the 1unas lol
the Iowa building. the idea -or o
Greater Iowa association was brougn1
10 life. After number of preliminary
meetings and a state wide campaign
of publicity through the press and by
the holding of public meetings, the
Greater Iowa association was given
permanent being by representatives
from almost every county in the state
at a meeting held at Ames December .
This association did its full share III
this work. Splendid meetings were
held at Abba and Centerville, ATTENDED
by large parties from OttumWa, al
which the gospel of the Greater lowe
association was told, which briefly Is
to provide opportunities for our young
men and women; to investigate adver
tisements which are circulated in Iowa
in an effort to induce Iowans to separ
ate themselves from their money, ant
to move to some place northwest OF
southwest where conditions are idea
for getting (the promoter) rich quick
to advertise and give publicity to the
many advantages and opportunities e
be found in Iowa. In fact, whatever II
the minds of it's members is best fol
, Iowa will be undertaken.
Better Fire Protection.