The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-10-28
THE WATER POWER PROJECT.

pated by The Gate City and foreshad.
/ owed in these columns few days ago
/ have come to pass and are of the most
gratifying and encouraging nature.
Until within the very recent past 1t
was matter of uncertainty whether
Mr.. Cooper and his New York asso-
ciates would avail themselves of their
option to purchase the franchise of
/ the local water power company. By
the terms of a contract entered into
/ September TO- 1905, they were priv
/ LEGGED to do this by paying the latter
/ the sum it had invested in the enter
prise, amounting to 100000. All of this.
/ with the exception of $4,000 appropri-
| ated by the city in aid of the project,
had been advanced by the individual
members of the Keokuk and Hamilton
! Water Power Company as evil
dence of their pubIic-spiritednes
| and personal belief in the
feasibility and ultimate success of
the project After expanding over
100000 in investigating the project in
all its aspects and in every detail Mr..
Cooper and his associates elected to
purchase the franchise at the sum
named in the original contract. The
transfer was made on Monday after
noon and evening, as promptly an
nounced in the news column of The
Gate City at the time.
Not less important was the signing
of certain contracts in New York City
and St Louis-announced exclusive
ly in The Gate City-which led to this
/ action. BY these contracts the cleo
| trio light and power companies in st.
1 Louis obligate themselves to purchase
1 over million dollars worth of cleo.
/ trio power annually from the Keokuk
and Hamilton Water Power company,
| provided the power is developed. This
assures large revenue to the water
power company the moment the plant
is established and the wheels begin to
turn. Without such assurance capital
would have continued to look askance
at the project and development of the
power would not have been possible.
1t was for the purpose of furthering
the execution of the st. Louis con-
4 tracts that Judge William Logan of
this city recently went to New York.
i Negotiations regarding them had been
at standstill for months and the sit
uation was far from hopeful. What he
was able to accomplish, and did ac-
complish. by his indomitable will and
perseverance is best told by the re-
suits. Within few days after his
signed This action not only made
possible the sale for $4,000 of the
franchise held by the local water
power company, but 1t was instru-
mental in securing from Mr.. Cooper
and his associates pledge in the form
! of a bond for $4,000 that they would
proceed to develop the power. Better
work in behalf of Keokuk was never
done by any man living or dead
= Great credit is due all the stock
holders in the Keokuk and Hamilton
Water Power Company for their inter
est and efforts in the matter. and they
q are one and all to be heartily congrat
ulated upon the outcome of their la
bors. But for their good judgment lib
q crafty, public-spiritedness, splendid
q courage, indomitable perseverance ant
n untiring energy the water power pro
ject would never have reached its pres
ent promising stage. Keokuk owe
II much to Charles P. Birge. John y
y Irwin, William Logan, William BALM
,e ger, B. P. Taber, R. R Wallace. C. P
Dadant, s. R. Parker R. S. Gordon
John /. Spence, John H Cole. C. H. Al
;. bers, D. A. Collier. Wells NJ Irwin
n David j. Ayres. Frank W. Davis. ]. E
II We'll, H W Huiskamp, j. F. Daugher
ty, L. A Hamin, C. R. JOY. ". T
Collins, James Cameron and T. F
. Baldwin. These men advanced tn
: necessary money TO finance the e1
"a terprise in its early stages and CAV
:. literally of their time and effort wher
ever called upon. Their names const
tute a roll OF honor worthy of inscrir
70 ton on a monumental shaft The hi:
!. tory OF the Keokuk and Hamilto
!, water power project with which the
Y. have been go intimately connected an
a. of which they have thus far been s
large a part, affords a fine Illustrate
Of the "keokuk way" of doing thing
10 Their civic pride, their unity Of effor
he their pluck and their perseverance r
he fleet the spirit and the methods Of Ii
no community Of which they are the rel
'or resentatives and in whose behalf the
q have accomplished sucl notable r
suits. Praise Is also due the city coul
els and city officials who cooperate
de. with the members of the local wat,
Is power company in supplying neede
we funds in emergencies. What was dor
Is was done without warrant by law. b
IN. it had the still better authority Of cor
The mon and unanimous consent. Than
to the good management OF those
whom city funds were intrusted IN II
and taeranee of the developm mt Of Z
bic water power. every cent has been
,lay turned to the city treasury. and til
ood Is Wisdom a~ail justified of her ch
dren.