Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-05
SECRETARY WEIDENFELLER GIVES
RESUME OF CLUBS WORK FOR YEAR

We ~
The report of Secretary ]. N.
Weidenfeller Of the Commercial club
read At the annual meeting Tuesday
night is given in part and shows the
activity Of this body during 1916. The
1epert follows:
To the officers and members of the
Commercial association of Ottumwa-
Your secretary herewith submits for
your Information and consideration a
review of the work of the association
during the past year.. 1t is impossible
to enumerate or describe all of the
multiplicity of projects and PROPOSE
tions which have been put up to the
association for solution. However a
careful reading of this report will con
vince you hat the year has not been
an idle one for us.
The membership campaign which
was conducted during the latter part OF
February, with such splendid results,
put new life and vigor into the asso-
citation and provided sufficient fin
ances to carry on u~nhampered vari-
q activities outlined at the beginning
of the year. This campaign also gave
Ottumwa wide publicity.
The rebuilding. remodeling and fur
nishing of our present club quarters
was a task. Few realize the great
amount of time necessary to transform
the former inadequate quarters into
the present splendid club rooms.
Patriotism Shown.
The patriotic spirit Of our citizens
has been up to a high pitch during the
entire year, which has been evidenced
by the hearty response to the several
projects undertaken by the association
tn cooperation with such splendid or
CARNATIONS, n the D. A. R., G. A. R.,
s. Of ", 8. ". ", B. P. o. E, Retail
Merchants association, city officials
and park board and others. The first
evont was the observance Of nag day
which proved to be a tremendous sue
cess.
Tho farewell to our soldier boys call.
Cd 70 government service and sent to
the Mexican border was another &C.
caaion which demonstrated that our
patriotism and love of country is be-
yond question.
The undertaking to provide autos to
take the members of soldiers families
to Camp Dodge to visit the soldiers
before they e sent for border ser
vice. gave an opportunity to many
mothers, fathers. sisters and sweet
hearts to again visit the boys and say
farewell.
"A fund was created to take care Of
dependent families of soldiers while in
service, which wa distributed to those
who, ader investigation, we're found to
Be tn need of the necessities and COM
forts of life.
sim another pleasant task was the
subscribing Of more than $500 by our
citizens to supplement the mess fund
Of Ottumwa's infantry and cavalry.
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New
Years and a few luxuries on the side,
which was received by them with
grateful Acknowledgement.
Aid Good Roads.
Publicity was given land arrange
ments made for the reception of the
special good roads train which toured
the state under the auspices of the
Greater Des Moines committee in an
campaign for better roads.
We were instrumental in organizing
the Daniel Boone trail which is now
routed from st. Louis to Duluth. We
were also in the forefront in organic
ing the Ottumwa, Cedar Rapids and
;McGregor highway from Ottumwa to
INcGregor.
! The club assisted in organizing the
Illinois division of the c. x. c. & G.
at a meeting held in Daven-
port. The Illinois division completes
the organization of the c. X. G.. & G.
from Chicago to Kansas City, which is
marked with metal and painted mark
ers the entire distance.
The association cooperating with
The county board Of supervisors and
cdty commission accomplished a good
piece Of work in o1ing the roads in the
vicinity of Ottumwa. About $4,000 gal
Ions Of oil were purchased with which
the following streets and roads were
Moore street. Vine to Finley
avenue, 1000 feet: Court street. end Of
to city limits, 400 feet: Iowa
fest; East Main street. Iowa avenue to
city limits. 400 feet: Agency road.
city nInits to one-half the distance to
Agency. Nv mikes: Fremont road. city
limits to Center school, two miles:
road, Jefferson school to
west Of Shaul cemetery. TX
All country roads were oiled
Approximately 16 to Is feet wide and
tie streets within the city limits were
ofled IN average Of "a feet wide. The
road oiling committee recommended
that the first oiling done in the spring
be On West Second street.
Safer Crossings.
The committee appointed to meet
With the board Of supervisors and
officials relative to secur-
ing improvements at the Milwaukee
crossing north Of the city was
successful in It's work. At the first
crossing the Milwaukee officials have
Installed an electric automatic alarm
which Win be sounded from either
direction BY an approaching train
1000 feet distant from the crossing.
At the second crossing the board of
supervisors has removed the hedge
and cut down. the corners in
.uch q manner that the track can be
Deea ut a safe distance from the Cross
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