Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-05

never before had the opportunity Of
visiting the city.
The city officials were conferred
with relative to speeding on our prin.
cipal thoroughfares, amendment to
traffic ordinance, and many other mat
tiers of local interest conducive to a
better town.
The problem of disposing of the
city's garbage at a sman cost per cap
tia. was given a great deal of consid-
Grafton. A great deal of Information
was received, with several PROPOSE
tons looking to the establishment of
a garbage disposal plant, all Of which
has been referred to the city commits
sion for consideration.
The Cleaner City.
The work of the clean up commit.
tee was apparent to anyone who was
sufficiently interested to walk around
the city, during the summer, and note
the many evidences OF removals Of
debris, making of new flower beds
and recently planted shrubbery.
S~hrubbery statesmen and horticultural
dealers tell US that never in the his.
tory of Ottumwa has there been such
a demand for their product.
Edstrom Monument.
The suggestion Of Master Anterior
Mamo that the citizens Of Ottumwa
purchase a piece Of statuary to be the
handwork Of Dur former townsmAn.
the distinguished sculptor, David
Edstrom. was looked OF with favor by
the directors and a committee ap-
pointed to work out a plan to finance
the proposition. After mero meet
1ngs Of the committee and conferences
with the library directors, members
OF the G. A. r., county board of super
visors, and park board, an agreement
was reached and contract signed for
this piece of work, to be paid for
jointly by the park board. county, and
with funds received from subscrip-
tons Of our citizens.
River Front Improvement.
Another matter in which u people
should be interested is the recent crea-
ton Of and appointment by the gov
ernor Of a river front commission for
Ottumwa. This body has a wide field
in which to work and if it's tentative
plans are carried out there will be a
pleasing transformation of our river
front from its present disreputable.
filthy condition to one which should
fit in with the advanced ideas Of I'M
provement work in other parts of tho
city.
New Union Depot.
We conferred with the superintend-
ents Of the c. B. & @. r. r. and c. M.
& st. P. R. R. with the view Of in
~teresting them in remodeling and
decorating their respective depots and
improving the grounds adjacent
thereto. Appropriations for these
purposes have been secured and we
have been advised that the work will
be done early in 1917. However. at
this writing the committee which had
this matter in charge has been en-.
larged and instructed to confer with
the proper officials representing the
various railroads with the. view Of in.
teresting them in a union depot of
sufficient size and appointment to
take care Of all Of Ottumwa's pas
senser traffic.
Committees have recently been ap-
pointed to confer with the railroad
officials for the purpose of securing
the elimination Of the switching abuse
at the Market street crossing.
Another committee is investigating
various types Of paving with the
view OF recommending that the
Market street railroad crossing be
improved with permanent paving.
Conducted a campaign and secured
about twenty-five members for the
Greater Iowa association.
Endorsed the proposition of the OF.
tumwa dentists and Social Service
bureau to establish and equip q FREQ
dental dispensary for the school chill.
dren OF Ottumwa and assisted in put.
ting the project through.
Secured the reestablishment Of tho
federal stamp Office in Ottumwa, which
was discontinued for more than a year.
Electric lighting and power Stats
tics from cities of similar size of Of
tumwa compiled and on file.
Ask for Soils Survey.
An active effort has been made to
a soil survey for Wapello coun-
ty. A petition containing more than
600 names has been sent to the soils
Iowa state college, Ames,
that a soil survey be made
during the coming year.
The county agent movement, a pro-
ject for the Development of the vart
Gus interests Of the county, especially
of agricultural character, was started
at the joint luncheon and meeting OF
farmers, county agent committee and
the directors.
J. w. CoveFdale. state leader Of
county agents, presented to the meet
ing the proposition Of the Commercial
club, which Is rs follows: II the farm
ars OF Wapello county win subscribe
or secure 160 members for tho
farm Improvement bureau Of the o.
Commercial club at SO per an
the Commercial club will obi
gate Itself to establish a farm improve
ment bureau and employ a county
whore affairs shall be conduct-
ed by a board OF directors, to be elect
ed by the members Of the farm i'm
provement bureau. The members Of
the farm improvement bureau to have
the full membership privilege of the
club and in fact be regu-
Lar members.
In cooperation with a number Of
commercial clubs a strong pro-