Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-06-03
FOR A NEW NIAGARA.
sTuPENDous ENTERPRISE PROJECT
ED IN A MISSOURI VALLEY.
The Meramec River 10 Be Damned oy
Gixantic wall-Tremendous Power VIII
He Generated Magnificent Model Farms.
ST. Louis WIN Profit.

81. Louis VIII Profit.
John G. Habinger Of Keokuk, Ia, re-
puted to be a multimillionaire and sald
to represent syndicate with unlimited
capital, has about matured the most stu
pendous colonization and business
scheme ever undertaken in Missouri.
It is the purchase of tract of land as
large as an ordinary county, including
a large river and the most famous spring
in the Mississippi valley. The tract OF
land lies in Crawford and Phelps coun-
ties and extends along the Meramec rlv-
or for over 90 miles.
It includes the entire valley, which
varies in width from two to four miles
The land acquired extends from the
Meramec spring to point on the river
about four miles from Cuba, in Craw-
ford county.
Most Of this immense tract OF land,
comprising many thousands Of acres, has
already been purchased by Mr.. Habinger
and his agents. The purchases extend
back over period of several years, and
have been conducted SO quietly and with
such studied concealment that it was
not until recently that any information
about them cropped out
The greater part was bought from the
st. Louis and San Francisco railway,
which owns much of the unocoupied land
in that section, but in the productive
river bottom were many fine farms.
These were gradually acquired one by
one, no suspicion being entertained that
they were being gobbled by the same
purchaser.
Recently rumors that some big deal
was on foot began to circulate in Cuba
and the surrounding country, and pub
lie curiosity was reused to such pitch
that James E. Hollow, postmaster and
prominent citizen of Cuba, was sent to
st. Louis to gather such information as
he might.
Though to certain extent futile, his
investigations resulted in partial dis
covery of the facts outlined above.
Habinger's scheme is an old one more
consistently organized and with greatly
extended features.
Through that part Of the state the
beautiful Meramec river flows through a
narrow valley lined on each side by
lofty limestone bluffs. The width of the
valley varies, but the general formation
Is the same.
The plan Is to build an immense dam
across narrow part of the valley from
bluff to bluff.
The dam has been located at spot
about five miles from Cuba. 1t is de-
signed to be about 80 feet high and from
1000 to 1900 feet in length.
This mammoth dam will hold in re-
serve an enormous volume Of water, the
pure, sweet water that flows from the
Meramec spring, clear as crystal and
cold as ice. A lake will thus be formed
30 miles long and Of varying width.
which will press against the dam with
tremendous power-a power that will
be utilized.
At the great dam Is to be built an
electric power plant similar to the one
now in operation at Niagara Falls.
1t = designed to supply the entire
state. including St. Louis, with power
and light.
The reservoir will be made the foun-
tain head Of a giant system Of water
works to supply the city Of st. Louis
and towns along the Frisco line.
In addition to these plans, in which
st. Louis is greatly interested, Harbin-
ger and his fellow capitalists oontem-
plate the formation of what will in
reality be proprietary estate Of colossal
magnitude.
The land adjacent to the proposed
lake, which has all been included in the
purchase, is to be divided up into small
farms On each farm will be built a
comfortable house and outbuildings
suitable for the use Of the tenant.
All the houses, to the number of sew
eral thousand, will be provided with
every convenience, including electric
lights and water. They will be let with
the farms to tenant farmers, who, &C.
cording to the present plan, are to be
imported in body from Iowa.
Near the great dam will be built sew
eral large factories and stores. forming
q thriving business community at the
foot Of the lake.
The lake is to be circled by an cleo
trio car line, which will be extended to
connect with the st. Louis and San
Francisco railroad. Churches and schools
will be built and everything done to
make the settlement an ideal one.
At the upper end Of the lake, in the
midst Of the picturesque hills where the
Merameo spring finds its source, a sum-
mer resort will be founded. Hotels and
cottages will be built and every con-
venience and attraction offered to sum-
mer guests. The excellent fishing and
hunting Of the locality will add to its
advantages as place for recreation.
This scheme, which seems almost too
fabulous to be carried out in its entirety,
will require at least $50, 900. 900. 1t is
confidently asserted, however, that even
greater sum than that is at the COM
mand of Mr.. Harbinger and his associ-
ates for the purpose. st. Louis Post
Dispatch.