USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 31
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Tabernacle Chapter, No. 52, Royal Arch Masons, was organized in Waterloo on October 24, 1870.
Crescent Council No. 16, Royal and Select Masters, was instituted in Waterloo on February 10, 1902.
Ascalon Commandery No. 25. Knights Templar, was instituted in Waterloo October 19, 1875.
Waterloo Chapter No. 123, Order of the Eastern Star, was organized Febru- ary 17, 1902.
OTHER LODGES
Helmet Lodge No. 89, Knights of Pythias, was organized in Waterloo in 1892.
William Tell Homestead No. 161, Brotherhood of American Yeomen, was organized October 6, 1898.
Tribe of Ben Hur, Melchoir Court No. 8. was organized August 26, 1896. There has recently been organized Gerard Court No. 92 of the same lodge.
Howland Lodge No. 274. Ancient Order United Workmen, was instituted January 14, 1887. Degree of Honor, Crescent Lodge No. 21, has since been established.
Sons of Veterans, Phil Sheridan Camp No. 19, was organized April 21, 1895.
The Order of the Red Cross was established in the summer of 1880.
Waterloo Lodge No. 290, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, was organized in 1894 with thirty charter members.
Black Hawk Lodge No. 72, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted June 5, 1855. The charter was surrendered in the winter of 1857 and in 1867 the lodge was reinstituted. The lodge has a handsome building on East Fourth Street, valued at $22,000. There are now Canton Crescent No. 17, Waterloo En- campment No. 51, Temple Lodge No. 54 Daughters of Rebekah, Ladies Militant Hibben Fortress No. 8, West Waterloo Lodge No. 716.
The other lodges at present in Waterloo are: Bankers Fraternal Reserve, Court of Honor, Danish Brotherhood, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Loyal Order of Moose. Knights of Maccabees, Ladies of the Maccabees, Knights and Ladies of Security, Knights of Luther, American Patriots, Modern Brotherhood of America, Modern Woodmen of America, Mystic Workers of the World, Order of Owls, Royal Arcanum, Spanish War Veterans, United Commercial Travelers and Danish Lyrian Society. There are the Catholic societies of Knights of Colum- bus and Catholic Order of Foresters, also Daughters of Isabella. There are the railway orders of Order of Railway Conductors, Ladies Auxiliary, Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, International Association of Car Workers, all lodges having the ladies auxiliary.
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
The clubs in Waterloo follow: Associated Charities, Business Men's Tem- perance Association, Cedar Club, Chautauqua Circle, Women's Club, Fairview Cemetery Association, Family Circle, P. E. O. Chapter Z, Germania Verein, Owl Club, Waterloo Chautauqua and Bible Jinstitute, Waterloo Club, Town Criers Club, Waterloo Golf and Country Club, St. George Society. Waterloo Association of Natural Science, Waterloo Sanitary Club, Waterloo Social Club, Black Hawk County Humane Society and Waterloo Retail Merchants' Asso- ciation.
Robert Anderson Post No. 68. Grand Army of the Republic, was organized at Waterloo on November 25, 1881, by Commander N. G. Wolf of Independence, Iowa. On December 27th the order known as the Fremont Encampment O. G. D. disorganized and joined the Robert Anderson Post in a body. The first officers were: Post commander, Capt. Edwin P. Walker ; senior vice commander, Edgar Pickett ; junior vice commander, C. W. Mullan; adjutant, Alvin T. Pomeroy ; quartermaster, Daniel R. Weaver: sergeant, Charles M. Norton : chaplain, Charles P. L. Roberts ; officer of the day, Newton E. Eldred; officer of the guard, .Charles S. Blodgett; sergeant-major, Harvey Smith; quartermaster-sergeant. O. F. Martin.
FIRE DEPARTMENTS
The meeting for the organization of Waterloo Hook and Ladder Company No. I was held at Benight's Hall on Saturday, May 25, 1861. On motion of HI. P. Williams, G. W. Couch was appointed temporary chairman and W. H. Hartman secretary. J. H. Leavitt was elected president : Hartman, vice presi- dent : John Burt, secretary; G. W. Miller, treasurer; R. W. Chapman, foreman ; M. Maverick, first assistant foreman; H. D. Williams, second assistant fore- man. A committee of four was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws. On motion of Chapman the uniform was to consist of a red shirt, glazed silk cap, black pants and belt. The company had about forty members and used a hook and ladder constructed under the direction of R. W. Chapman, costing about sixty dollars. Among the members other than those mentioned were: T. Wiley, George R. Crittenden, C. K. White, James Gifford, George P. Beck, W. Russell, T. A. Covert, John Elwell, H. Hallock, M. H. Barker, O. Alexander. B. HI. Hoover. L. F. Walker, J. Garbrant, John Hilferty. S. M. Hoff. D. C. Cook, H. M. Goodhue, R. H. Morrow. John Hubbard, Ed Webster.
In 1867 they turned their apparatus over to the German Hook and Ladder Company, which was organized in August of that year, with officers as follows : T. Wiley, foreman; D. Kruse, first assistant; John Nauman, second assistant ; John Bressler, secretary; John Redenbach, treasurer. The first fire was in the old warehouse on Mill Square, in 1869.
In 1873 the company sold their old cart to the City of Iowa Falls for $100 and had a new one built by Hitt and Chapman for $250. They had a full set of extension ladders made at the same time.
Red Jacket Engine and Hose Company No. I was the first engine company organized in this city. In 1868 money was raised by private subscriptions and R. W. Chapman was appointed by the citizens to purchase a hand fire engine. He went to Chicago and for $1,000 purchased a Red Jacket. This engine held peculiar interest for Mr. Chapman. It had been constructed in 1849 by L. But-
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OLD RED JACKET FIRE COMPANY
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
ton of Waterford, New York, for Fulton No. 3 of Utica, of which company Mr. Chapman was the first foreman. It was sold to the Chicago Fire Depart- ment in 1853 and used by No. 4 of that city for a number of years. When the city began using steamers it was abandoned and Mr. Chapman found it covered with dust and rubbish, stowed away in an old lumber room in the engine house.
A company was formed in January, 1869, of which R. W. Chapman was foreman; G. R. Crittenden, first assistant; D. C. Cook, second assistant ; John Hilferty, secretary ; G. P. Beck, treasurer; Charles Berg, steward; H. W. Jen- ney, foreman of hose; Fred Chapman, assistant. Their constitution was adopted January 1, 1869, and approved by the city council February 10 of the same year. Their first place of meeting was in Wood's Block and on the completion of Cap- well's Building they moved into that. They occupied this place until they moved into their engine house in September, 1872.
In 1870 the Red Jacket Cornet Band was formed, H. W. Jenney, H. Hal- lock and R. W. Chapman signing a note for $200 on behalf of the company to purchase the instruments.
In 1874 the company decided that their hose cart was too small so they sent Chapman, Beck and Crittenden to Dubuque to buy a larger one. These men bought a Silsby four-wheeled cart, made to carry 800 feet of hose, for $150. It was brought home, painted and varnished by Hitt and Chapman and delivered to the hose company.
Early in 1871 another hand engine was purchased from the City of Janes- ville, Wisconsin, for $600. This was brought to Waterloo and L. F. Walker, M. H. Barker, J. Garbrant, John Hubbard, W. Russell, J. Fressle, B. S. Doxey, Thomas Watts, J. P. Weeks, M. Hannon, and William Barker withdrew from the Red Jacket and A. Rosgen from the Hook and Ladder Company, and on February 3, 1871, formed the Water Witch Engine and Hose Company No. 2. The first officers were: L. F. Walker, foreman; J. Garbrant, first assistant ; John Hubbard, second assistant; W. Russell, secretary ; A. Rosgen, treasurer ; J. Fressle, steward; M. H. Barker, foreman of hose; William Barker, assistant. The first call for this company was in the spring of the same year, when they were hustled to Cedar Falls to help fight a fire there. The first place of meet- ing was in A. Rosgen's harness shop, but in September, 1871, the engine house was built.
About this time Clarence Hollister, a lad of eighteen, constructed a hand fire engine which would throw a horizontal stream 100 feet in the air. A com- pany of boys, averaging twelve years of age, was organized to man the new engine.
The day of the hose companies and the volunteer fireman has long since passed. The growth of the city and the increased need for the best facilities for combating flames has lead to the building up of one of the best fire protection sys- tems in the state. The old system, romantic as it was and socially constituted, has given way to the paid department on an adequate basis of efficiency. Realiz- ing that the best economy in this respect was the wise provision for prevention of fires and prompt extinction of incipient blazes, the city council has spared no money in making the fire department equipment and personnel the best and most up-to-date in the state.
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Two splendid large fire stations, one at 720 Commercial and the main sta- tion at 319 East Fifth, handsome in architectural construction, house the depart- ment, which is divided into two platoons for the east and west sections of the city. Two powerful motor engine trucks and one motor hook and ladder truck, of the latest designs, have replaced a horse-drawn apparatus for all ordinary fires, while a steam engine and the old horse apparatus are held in reserve for emergencies. The fire fighting equipment is amply backed by the water system, the reservoir of which always contains millions of gallons of water.
As a result of its splendid fire protection Waterloo has been comparatively free of destructive fires in the recent years. In 1913 the total loss from fires was only $28,000.
A. A. Dunham is the present chief of the fire department, and is ably assisted by twenty-seven men.
LIBRARIES
The first step taken in Waterloo for the establishment of public libraries was on November 18, 1865, when the Waterloo Library Association was formed. The library was first opened in Doctor Mason's office. George W. Couch, R. A. Whitaker. James W. Logan, A. T. Lusch and Dr. A. B. Mason were the first officers of the association, the latter being the librarian. He was succeeded by D. W. Foote. Henry Harrison and Dr. S. B. Williams. Then the library suffered lack of interest and the volumes became scattered. In the year 1878, however, the society was revived, the library was kept at the opera house. Until 1899 the library was maintained by subscription, and at the specified date a public tax was levied for the support. When the public library was established all the books were turned over to it. The library was divided into sections, one on either side of the river. Twice previously the proposition to establish a free public library was voted down by election, but in March, 1896, the proposition was again placed before the people and carried by a majority of 265, the women voting. After provision had been made for the establishment of a library on each side of the river Mayor Groat appointed the following as a library board : G. C. Kennedy, Mrs. D. W. Crouse, E. L. Hildebrand, Mrs. J. M. Brainard, F. J. Sessions, Mrs. Kate Pollans, J. O. Stevenson, Mrs. H. W. Brown, Mrs. J. WV. Richards. A board of trustees appointed from both sides of the Cedar have since had control of the libraries. The library as a free institution was opened to the people on September 27, 1898, at which time there were approximately three thousand five hundred and fifty-five volumes in the two divisions.
In the year 1905 the library was given the sum of $45,000 by Andrew Carnegie for the construction of two modern library buildings, the building sites to be donated by the city. These two buildings, very similar in size and architecture, were dedicated on February 23, 1906. Each year the number of volumes in each division is increasing, there being now about twenty thousand books conclusive. Although trouble was experienced in selecting sites for these institutions, the proposition worked through and now the service of the libraries is of inestimable benefit to the city, especially to the school.
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
POLICE PROTECTION
As the City of Waterloo is well provided with fire protection it is also well equipped with police, to maintain order in the city and to insure the protection of property .. Police headquarters are located in the city hall, 619-621 Lafayette Street, where the office of E. A. Leighton, chief, is located. Besides the chief there are twenty-three people connected with the department, as patrolmen, de- tectives, and one matron of police. A motorcycle corps has recently been added, equipped with the fastest machines obtainable, to discover the auto drivers who exceed the speed limits of the city.
BOARD OF TRADE AND COMMERCIAL CLUB
The Board of Trade and Commercial Club is the permanent organization of the manufacturers, jobbers and railroad men, who in their private business have so conservatively and rapidly developed this city. Organized in 1888, it now has a membership of individuals of over five hundred and more than one hundred contributing firms. It maintains on the entire top floor of the First National Bank Building its extensive club rooms and business offices. The purposes of the Board of Trade and Commercial Club's organization are stated in its articles of incorporation as follows: "Its object shall be to promote just and equitable principles in commerce; to establish and maintain uniformity in commercial usages ; to acquire and disseminate industrial and scientific statistics and informa- tion and generally to foster, protect and advance the commercial, mercantile and industrial interests of the City of Waterloo, Iowa. It shall have the power and authority to acquire and retain the ownership of real or personal property and to dispose of the same by gift or sale or otherwise, as provided by this board of directors." And it is enabled to accomplish these purposes by reason of the fact that it is, itself, a thoroughly financed institution, the statement of its affairs at the close of the year 1913 showing net assets in the amount of about twenty thousand dollars. The Board of Trade and Commercial Club is not a financing institution for new ideas, but does assist growing business with factory sites and in other ways. It owns a large number of factory sites outright and always stands ready to receive from anyone a proposition which comes within the pur- view of its organization. The present officers are: B. J. Howrey, president ; L. E. Fowler, vice president ; Lore Alford, treasurer ; Charles Van Vleck, secre- tary ; Ben J. Howrey, E. W. Miller, L. E. Fowler, Lore Alford, B. W. Schune- man, A. V. Fowler, S. J. Hall, F. E. De Mott, E. F. Rath, W. C. Dotson, E. E. Peek and J. W. Smith, directors.
The actual beginning of this organization occurred in 1884, when a Business Men's Organization, composed primarily of retailers, was formed, with F. E. Cutler as president. This organization was moulded into the present Board of Trade through the efforts of E. T. Cowin, in the year 1887, and was incor- porated in 1888. This corporation existed until new articles were adopted and it made the change to the Board of Trade and Commercial Club in the year 1909. During the year 1887 and 1888 H. B. Allen and E. T. Cowin were presi- dent and secretary respectively. In 1889 Mr. Cutler was elected president and remained in that office until the election in 1911 when F. J. Fowler was chosen, Vol. I-17
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and succeeding him Stanley Moore and B. J. Howrey. Among those who served for many years on the board of directors were: H. B. Allen, E. T. Cowin, M. Ricker, R. B. Manson. F. E. Cutler, H. B. White, C. O. Balliett, Matt Parrott, Louis Lichty, C. D. Wangler. H. M. Reed. E. B. Smith, F. J. Eighmey, George E. Lichty. W. F. Parrott. W. W. Miller, L. E. Park, S. B. Reed, S. J. Hall, H. B. Cropper, Gus Place and S. L. Vale.
The main purpose of the organization in the earlier years was the develop- ment of a spirit of cooperation among the business men, which spirit was ap- propriately phrased in the slogan of the city, "Waterloo Way Wins." This spirit of cooperation has brought about recently the construction of a magnificent hospital, armory, opera house and the development of many factories and jobbing institutions.
The Waterloo Club, a west side business men's association, was organized on January 1, 1907. by G. M. Perkins, who secured subscribers, rented quarters and shaped the club. At the first meeting the club organized the Chamber of Commerce. The work of these associations is similar to that of the Board of Trade and Commercial Club on the east side of the river.
CITY PARKS
There are approximately two hundred acres in the nine city parks and all of them have been made real beauty spots. Facilities for games of all kinds and for rest are features of the city parks.
New Gates Park in North Waterloo consists of seventeen acres. In this park the development is not over a year old. There is a beautifully wooded tract and the topography is well suited for park purposes.
Cedar River Park is one of the most beautiful natural parks in the state, lying on the east bank of the Cedar, at the head of Lafayette Street. It consists of seventy acres, well wooded with native trees, having depressions which lend them- selves to transformation into a series of lagoons. There are good flower gardens ; a bathing beach, with municipal bath house; two ball parks, tennis courts, quar- ter-mile foot track, half-mile track, croquet grounds, driveways, and picnic grounds. The bath house was erected at a cost of $3,000.
Cortlandt Park is located on the cast bank of the river and consists of ten acres. There are drives, a well, toilet facilities and natural forests. It is an excellent place for picnic parties.
Lafayette Park is connected with Cortlandt Park by a boulevard. The former park consists of six acres of ground. It comprises within its area "Pat's Pond."
In the east section of the city, occupying a public square, is Highland Park. This is located in the residence section and is a park for rest rather than amusements.
An unnamed park lies on the opposite side of the river from Cortlandt Park and comprises about twelve acres. It is a naturally wooded tract.
Washington Park is a public square in the heart of the west section of the city, being the counterpart of Lincoln Park. There are many varieties of flowers and shrubbery and running through the grounds is an artificial creek.
Byrnes Park is the most beautiful of the artificial parks. It is located in the southern part of the city, adjoining Prospect Hills, a residence district. It com-
CEDAR RIVER PARK, WATERLOO
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
prises eighty acres, picturesquely located, with a moderate slope from south to west and north. Attractive flower designs and shrubbery beautify the place.
Electric Park is an amusement park on the Cedar near Sans Souci Park. It is devoted to shows, vaudeville, "thrillers" and other county fair entertainments.
Sans Souci Park is a resort for residents in the summer season. . \ commo- dious hotel stands there, also facilities for boating, fishing and bathing.
Chautauqua Park is the favorite place of holding meetings. Religious festivals are held here in the Coliseum. The principal use of it, however, during the year is for the Iowa Cattle Congress, which meets yearly in Waterloo. The Exhi- bition Hall and Coliseum are primarily for this purpose.
The Cedar Valley Line runs to all of the latter three parks, on the Cedar Falls Division, also the Waverly.
CITY MARKETS
The record for one day last year was 125 wagon loads of produce and 3,000 people present to buy in the Waterloo Public Market. Upon another occasion nearly as many buyers and sellers were established at the marketplace on Third Street, east between Lafayette and Sycamore. The season of 1914 was the fourth in the history of Waterloo, but the business done at the public mart is largely decreasing, due in great measure to the high cost of living and the equal prices charged at market and store. At the store there is the advantage of tele- phonic orders and delivery service and credit, while at the market one has to carry his own produce and pay cash. The fault is partly, or mostly, the seller. The city established the city market for the convenience of the buyers and not for the tradesmen.
PULMOTOR
The City of Waterloo is equipped with the new pulmotor, a life-saving, re- suscitating device. This machine is used with beneficial results after life has apparently departed in cases of asphyxiation, electrocution, drowning and pul- monary diseases or accidents. The pulmotor is kept at the fire station in Water- loo and is brought instantly on call to the side of the patient.
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY
Waterloo is connected with the outside world by wireless through seven sta- tions located in various parts of the city. The pioneer in this field is Walter Haines, who has had a plant at 1315 Jefferson Street for four years. The oper- ators are privileged only to send messages within the state, but may receive from anywhere. The Waterloo Radio Association was formed in 1914 with the fol- lowing officers: President, Charles Lockwood; secretary, Archie Leckington ; treasurer, Ed Cordes ; engineer, Kenneth Hamacher.
CHARITY
Josiah F. Klingaman, superintendent of the Associated Charities, holds strongly to the view that the absence of saloons in Waterloo in the past two years
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
has greatly reduced suffering among impoverished residents. Relief to the amount of $3.319.74 was given in 1913, over eight hundred dollars less than in the pre- vious year. The Salvation Army in Waterloo spent a little over three thousand dollars in the year in aid. Visiting nurses are provided for those who cannot seek aid from other sources. The city jail accommodated 475 tramps during the year 1913 at night, when they could find shelter nowhere else. This was free, of course. A humane society exists in Waterloo and although there is no official report the work is very extensive and has prevented a great deal of suffering among dumb animals.
The county board has just completed the erection of a detention hospital on county ground, northwest of the city, at a cost of $5,000. It is modern, con- venient and sanitary and has a capacity to care for twenty-five or thirty patients. There are thirteen rooms, a heating plant, and a capacious porch.
Until tuberculosis patients can be cared for in a regular building the county has arranged to care for them in tents thrown up on county ground.
Few counties in Iowa have as good equipment for the care of the poor as Black Hawk. There is a large tract of land in Mount Vernon Township and excellent buildings. The premises are high and picturesque, affording pure air and water. An average of twenty-five inmates were cared for during the year 1913. By reason of a one-mill tax levy, effective in 1914, the county board will be able to build an addition to the home at an expense of about twenty thousand dollars.
WATERLOO POPULATION IN 1855
The following article appeared in the Iowa State Register and Waterloo Herald published on December 15, 1855, this being the first copy of the first issue of the paper. The article settles the numerous disputes over the question of population at that time :
For the purpose of presenting a daguerrotype sketch of Waterloo, we had intended to prepare a lengthy article based upon the present census of our town, but, not having had time to devote to taking an enumeration of our population, we made arrangements with J. O. Williams, Esq., of this place to perform the work. who very kindly consented to do so. Below will be found his report in detail.
Taken in connection with the description of Black Hawk County, which will be found as a standing article in our advertising columns, it will afford a pretty cor- rect view of Waterloo and Black Hawk County.
MR. WILLIAMS' REPORT
In accordance with arrangements made with you, I took the census of Waterloo during the past week, and find that we have a population of 903 souls-657 on the west side of the river and 246 on the cast. One year ago this town had but 300 inhabitants. About the last of June of the present year the census was taken, when it contained 714 inhabitants, which shows that in one year Waterloo has trebled its numbers. One year ago there were but 3 stores here. Now there are 17, among which are dry goods, hardware, stove and tin, groceries, clothing, bak- ery, druggist, cabinet, etc., etc. There are some 20 carpenters, 3 blacksmith shops,
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BYRNES PARK, WATERLOO, IN WINTER
VIEW OF WASHINGTON PARK, WATERLOO
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
I harnessmaker's shop, 2 shoe shops, I wagonmaker's shop, 2 livery stables and I milliner's shop. There are also 6 brickmakers, 6 attorneys, and 4 ministers. We have 3 schoolhouses, two of which are district schools and I seminary. The latter is in a highly flourishing condition, under the management of Mr. J. B. Hewett, as proprietor, an industrious and enterprising young gentleman. His school is taught by the Rev. Otis Daggett as principal, and , Miss Chloe Severence (later Mrs. George W. Miller) as assistant, both of whom are scientific and practical scholars and experienced teachers. The seminary building is large and conveniently divided into apartments for the accommodation of both students and teachers. Taking it all in all, it compares favorably with many of our best high schools in the East. The teachers and proprietor of this institution are engaged in a noble enter- prise-one which, when rightly considered, is the most honorable in the world- the education of the youth, the moulding of the immortal mind, and training it for a sphere of usefulness here, and a high state of enjoyment hereafter. There are two sawmills in opposition here, in each of which there is an upright saw, a rotary, and a lath mill. There is also a steam sawmill being erected, which is to run a nurley, a rotary, and a lath saw, together with a shingle machine. There is to be a flouring mill, foundry and machine shop built in Waterloo the coming sca- son. This is now the county seat of Black Hawk County, and situated upon the Cedar River, about one hundred and twenty miles from Muscatine and Daven- port, and about one hundred miles west of Dubuque, in a direct line from that city to the coal fields of Hardin County, Fort Dodge and Sargents Bluff, along which the Dubuque & Pacific line is surveyed as far as this town. Another railroad is also being gradually constructed, to run up Cedar Valley, which, will doubtless form a junction with the Dubuque & Pacific Railroad at this point. Twelve miles of this Cedar Valley Road from Muscatine is about ready for the rails. We are surrounded with a beautiful rolling prairie, which gradually rises as it recedes from the river upon each side, which is unsurpassed in richness and fertility of soil. There is a large and heavy body of timber above and below town on the Cedar in our immediate vicinity, which is mostly owned by our townsmen. For an inland town, Waterloo has many superior natural advantages, located as it is, in Cedar Valley, the richest part of Iowa, with a water power sufficient for any amount of machinery. It is destined to become what Janesville in Wisconsin is to that state, Rockford to Illinois, and Rochester to New York, at no distant day. Nature has done everything in her power for Waterloo, and her future residents will doubtless do the rest. We now want industry, shrewd management, and capital, which will make it one of the largest cities in the interior of the state.
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