CHAPTER XXI.
GROVE TOWNSHIP.
ATLANTIC AS IT IS.
Atlantic, the county seat of Cass county, is located on the main line of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, eighty miles southwest of Des Moines and sixty east of Omaha. A branch of the Rock Island runs north from Atlantic to Audubon, the county seat of Audubon county, and another branch extends south to Griswold. The Northwestern railroad has a branch into Audubon from Manning, and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy another into Griswold from Red Rock. A study of the railroad situation therefore will show that Atlantic has exceptional railway service, and is splendidly located for jobbing and manufacturing establishments.
An organization which promises to greatly enhance the progress of Atlantic, along business and industrial lines, is the Merchants Association, founded in 1904. It aims, among other good works, to get in touch with manufacturers seeking locations. Its first officers were J. H. Marshall, president, and T. G. Steinke, secretary.
The city owns its own electric light, water and power plants. The electric light plant represents an expenditure of about $50,000 and the water works of $75,000. A city heating plant has also been agitated. The sewerage system dates from 1901-3, or the mayoralty of J. A. McWaid. Under his able administration a sewer district was organized, comprising all the business section of the city, its schools churches and public buildings, and under his energetic superintendence the work of laying the sewers was pushed to completion. A few years ago, also, the city government passed a series of ordinances which has resulted in cement walks for the business streets, and of cement and brick walks, very generally, for the resident districts. The question of street paving is now being agitated in a way which will undoubtedly bring good results in the near future, thereby making a desirable addition to the many attractions which Atlantic possesses as a city of homes.
The cheap homes and business houses of twenty-five years ago have been largely replaced by modern residences and substantial brick business blocks. The schools have kept pace with the growth of the city, and there are now three large houses--the East Side, the West Side and the Grant--which, with the High School and the Atlantic Commercial College, in the central district, are sufficient to accommodate the entire school population.
The standing of Atlantic as a law-abiding, moral and religious community is well maintained by its well attended and growing churches, all the leading denominations being represented--Catholic, Methodist, Congregational, Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopal, United Presbyterian, Christian, German Evangelical, German Lutheran and Seventh Day Adventists. Secret, benevolent and patriotic societies have also trong organizations among the Masons, Odd Fellows, Elks, Knights of Pythias, Woodmen, United Workmen, Red Men, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Grand Army of the Republic, German Aid Society and Danish Brotherhood. The Masons and Odd Fellows own large buildings, and the Elks have real estate upon which they expect to erect a lodge home. The Y. M. C. A. has a large and thrifty organization in Atlantic, and is expected soon to have a building of its own.
Atlantic has two daily and three weekly newspapers--the "Daily Democrat" and the "Daily Telegraph," and the weekly "Democrat," "Telegraph" and "Messenger." These three offices are completely equipped, having about $40,000 invested in the business, and pay out more money in wages than any other one industry in the city, excepting perhaps the canning factory. All three offices, as well as the "Gardner Press," have book and job departments, and their output will compare favorably with similar work done in other cities of the country.
As to public buildings, Atlantic has the court house erected at a cost of about $65,000; the Carnegie Library, built in 1903 at a cost of $12,500; the handsome public schools and Firemen's Hall. The Rock Island Railroad has a fine depot at the foot of Chestnut street, and there is a $35,000 post-office on Fifth street--an elegant brick building, with stone trimmings--which was erected in 1906.
The financial institutions of Atlantic are represented by the Iowa Trust and Savings Bank, the Atlantic National Bank, the Citizens Savings Bank and Nichols Bank, all under the management of old-time and long-tried citizens. They are considered the strongest possible bulwark to the substantial condition of business and industrial life evinced in the present status of Atlantic, as one of the most promising cities in the State of Iowa.
Other striking features in the late growth of the city are thus noted by the "Cass County Democrat": "Within the past few years many of Cass county's thrifty farmers have removed from their farms to Atlantic, in order to secure its exceptional educational and religious advantages; and many of them have ubilt comfortable homes and aided in the general improvement of the city. The country has made them well-to-do and the city has attracted them to its citizenship. Others have come from different counties and States to school their children and enjoy city advantages themselves, while a number of traveling men make Atlantic their home and from it easily reach all parts of their territory."
"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 236-238.Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, July, 2018.
