Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-04-03
TO REBUILD POWER DAM.
Decorah Business Men Hold Enthusiastic
Meeting and Agree to Aid
Enterprise.

| Nothing since the great food of
several years ago has occasioned snch
universal regret and disappointment,
and so many expressions Of sorrow
among the citizens of Decorah and
the entire county as the washing out
of the big power dam of the Upper
Iowa Power Company week ago Sun
day. During the past week this has
been the principal topic of converse
tion among all our people. and every.
where the hope and determination
that the dam must be rebuilt is ex-
pressed.
Our people now realize fully what a
grievous loss the going out of the dam
is, and something at least of the pos
sibilities which it offered. Besides
the reduction in the price of electric
lights and power and the improve.
mant in quality, the fact that we
were to have ready to use at any time
an abundance of electric power at a
price which would enable it to be
used for all purposes, street and house
lighting, power for individual use, for
factories, electric railways. or in fact
any of the thousands Of uses to which
electricity may be applied made the
prospects for the future of Decorah
brighter than in many years. The
business men and others interested
| in the progress of the city had or
ganized, and steps were being taken
to secure industries here which would
employ labor and bring what we need
more than anything else to Decorah,
employment for laboring men, mechan-
les, artisans, etc., and in turn make a
home market for the produce of the
adjacent farming territory.
On Friday evening the Commercial
Club held a meeting at the small
court room of the new court house to
talk the matter over. The meeting
attracted larger number of the bust.
ness men and citizens than any pre-
vious meeting of the Club, and there
was much enthusiasm. Nearly every
one present made few remarks, in
every case expressing their regret that
the disaster had come, their desire to
see the dam rebuilt. and their will
ingness to do anything in their
power to assist in the matter of ar
ranging for it's reconstruction.
Mr.. Burtis was present and gave
an extended talk upon the progress of
the project from the beginning, the
cause of the failure of the dam to
stand, and the preliminary plans for
the future. He said that he realized
the difficulty of raising sufficient funds
to 60 on at once with the work of re-
building. but that the company were
determined to do so. He hoped to be
able to secure financial assistance
from capitalists outside of the city
who were engaged in this kind of
work, but felt that it would be necss-
sary for the people OF Decorah. to aid
That if a disposition was shown here
to back up the project with financial
support and a guarantee Of patronage
| it would greatly strengthen the
chances of getting the outside capital
necessary to complete it.
After remarks by many of the bust
ness men, a committee was appointed
to secure the names of persons not
now using electric lights in their
business houses and residences, who
would agree to do so upon the compile
tion of the dam. This was thought to
be method whereby many unable to
take stock in the new concern could
materially aid in the project.
After discussing the matter in all
its phases, the meeting adjourned un-
til such a time as a definite PROPOSE
tion could be made, when it will be
taken up again, and. we hope and be.
lieve. pushed forward to successful
issue.