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

i
and the commissioner of public safety
in making an effort to secure a cleaner
down town district and eliminate the
| fire hazard An effort has been made
and partially successful, In securing q
closer cooperation Of the city and the
business men In the down town dis
| trict to keep the back yards and alleys
clean and free from rubbish. Recon-
mendations have also been made that
ordinances be adopted governing the
inspection of buildings by the fire de-
partment; governing the construction
OF new buildings and additions; govern
ing the electric wiring of buildings
These ordinances should be adopted
and put into effect before the building
season opens.
Would Improve River.
The problem of Strengthening and
making permanent bed with per-
manent banks within the city for the
Des Moines river, sufficient to carry
the volume OF water during flood
periods, has been given serious con-
sderation by special committee.
This committee, in company with the
city officials, including those of the
waterworks, has made numerous trips
over the ground as well as several
trips out of the city to investigate the
merits Of special wing dams, which
are in use in various places where con-
ditions prevail similar to those here.
Hydraulic Engineer J. w. Link, with
H. NJ. Byllesby &, Co., made gra-
tuitous survey Of the proposed i'm
provement, and made detailed report
of his findings, which in his opinion
would eliminate damage by flood IN
this vicinity. The committee, after
thoroughly viewing the possibility and
advantages Of river Improvement from
all angles, formulated report which
was presented to the city commission
ers with the recommendation that
action be taken to get this much
needed work started. We venture to
say that comparatively few people
fully realize the dangerous position OF
a large portion Of our city on account
of the great changes that have taken
place in the river during the past ten
or twelve years, all Of which are
obstacles to the natural and speedy
flow of the water during high water
periods We must awake from our
lethargy, improve our river per-
manently, beautify the river surround
ings, and keep abreast Of the other
cities of Iowa whose citizens realize
the benefits and beauties of their
rivers after the danger from overflow
has been removed.
Gave Aid to BeIaians.
The Belgian relief committee. ap-
pointed by the association through the
request of Governor Clarke. gave a
good account of the trust imposed upon
it. With but little personal solicita-
ton. $500 was subscribed by the citi-
zens of Wapello county for the relief
Of the suffering and hungry Belgians.
Words can hardly express the appre-
citation due the committee and donors
for this most bountiful offering for
such worthy cause This committee
also organized Belgian relief commit
tees In every other county in the sixth
congressional district, all of which
made splendid donations to this cause.
The endorsement Of the proposition
of the city commissioners and the
waterworks trustees to build new
dams across the Des Moines river and
to improve the waterworks with the
to waste and eventually taking over
city lighting; the reinstallation of the
direct mail service between points
east of Bloomfield on the G. B. & @.
railroad and Ottumwa; satisfactory ad-
justment of the passenger train sched-
ule between Ottumwa and Bloomfield;
extension of street car lines south.
east and northeast; conferences with
city officials with the view Of securing
better system Of repairing old pave
ment and relaying paving when taken
up for, the repair and installation of
service pipes; cooperation OF the play
grounds association: conferences with
the mayor. looking to the extension
of the south side park and driveway
along the bank of the Des Moines
river; conferences with the park COM
missioners with the view Of interest
ing them in parking Turkey island
and identifying the plot OF ground
! across the race from the union depot;
publicity and assistance in the work
of the agricultural college through its
representative, Mr.. Gribben, who spent
two weeks among the farmers Of Wa
pello county in the interest Of better
farming methods; publicity and open
| meeting for information and the dis
| cussion of the workmen's compensa-
! ton law, which went into full effect
! July /; conferences with city officials
and those Of the gas company with
the view of adjusting the controversy
regarding the gas rate; conferences
with the city officials and interested
| attorneys relative to the new paving
law and it's effect upon contemplated
paving in Ottumwa: are among the
various endeavors which in addition
| to many other subjects had the care
| full attention of the directors and com
mittees of the association.
The industrial committee through
! the secretary has sent out several hun
dred letters to individuals and manu-
featuring concerns who were reported
to be looking for new locations fol
their factories or had control OF pat
ented articles and desired to organize
new companies Many replies were
received and in number of cases the
promoters made personal visits to OF
tumwa for a conference with the com