The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-11-01
Structure Across the Mississippi to
Be 5000 Feet Long.
THIRTY-FIVE FEET IN HEIGHT.
Its Cost Estimated at SIO,O0O,OOO.
Total of I'll, 500 Horsepower,
Greater Than That at Niagara
Falls, VIII Be Generated-A S.
100000 Canal is Doomed,

OF how to harness the waters of
Niagara and who drew the plans
which made it possible to accom-
pllsh that greatest of all feats in
the line of electrical development,
proposes to build dam 5000 feet
long across the Mississippi river
at Keokuk, Ia, at the foot of what
is known as the Des Moines rap
ids, says special. dispatch from
Keokui to the Chicago Record
Herald. Here where the forces of
the father of waters are the strong
est and widest, for a distance of
twelve miles he has evolved plan
to build the immovable in front of
the irresistible, and the old ques-
ton Of the ancient Greek physi-
cists will be answered in the
changed commercial conditions in
the heart of the American nation.
Large dams have been built be-
fore, albeit none so large as the
proposed dam at Keokuk, which
it is expected, will be built within
the next two years. The great
Niagara falls proposition was 50
enormous that for time the coun-
| try laughed and said that it was
not possible to 50 control the
mighty forces there as to get ZOO
oco horsepower for commercial
purposes. But when the world
greatest dam at Keokuk is COM
Pleted the immense power house,
1868 feet long, will contain AZ i'm
mense generators, with a capacity
of 1850 horsepower each, or
maximum capacity of 2II,5oo, to
be utilized in operating the indus,
trial wheels in many cities.
There was a time not so many
years ago when the wise ones said
it was as impossible to dam the
Mississippi at Keokuk as it would
be to try to stop the flow of the
tides or to change the course or
the moon in its orbit. The force
OF the rapids is so strong that prac-
teal engineers have figured that
Al, 900, 900, 900 gallons of water
pass over them in twenty-four
hours. Until 1877 it was impossi-
bic for steamboats, to go any farth-
er north than Keokuk because Of
the rapids. All freight was un-
loaded there and hauled twelve
miles UP stream, where it was
transferred to other boats and the
interrupted trip to ST. Paul con-
tlnued. Thirty years ago the gov
eminent built great canal at Ke-
okuk in the interest of navigation,
50 that river traffic would not be
impeded, the cost being S, 900,
900.
Now Uncle Sam has agreed to
let Mr.. Cooper and the syndicate
back of him destroy this S, ooo,-
900 improvement, and the presi-
dent has signed a bill giving the
right to condemn any land needed
which cannot otherwise be ac-
CURED
The great dam and water power
electric plant will cost at least
| $40, 900, 900 to complete. Over
81 100000 of this will be paid to
the owners Of the land which will
be overlooked above the dam.
Careful investigation during the
past year has determined the feast
bility Of the project, and nearly
100000 has already been expend-
ed in preliminary work. SURVEYS
have been made from Keokuk to
Burlington, and it has been de
termined that in the neighborhood
Of 1000 acres of valuable farming
lands will be under thirty-hve feet
of still running water, the over
flow extending thirty-fve miles
up stream. Options on a large
part of these lands are already Sc
cured, and the work is continuing
as rapidly as possible.
The great dam which will be
thirty-fve feet in height, will ex-
tend in a grand curve across the
river from the end of the power
house. In order to admit of the