The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-04-29


men in general concerning the Detroit
meeting:
Chicago, April 10th, 1909
Keokuk Motor Boat Club:
There Is one great question before
the Power Boat men of the United
States and we are going to ask you to
pay strict attention to what we are
about to say about it for we shall
speak right from the shoulder"
Nothing has come of the meeting
held in New York in February under
the auspices of the American Power
/ Boat Association other than that a
committee was appointed to handle
the proposition and, from recent
events, it would appear that through
lack of support there will not be any
thing come from this committee.
Something must be done by Power
Boat men throughout the country if
they want to have sane laws in effect
! to govern their craft. Without q
doubt, we all-want some legislation,
but it should be prepared by men ac-
quainted with power boats Of all classes
who know their possibilities and their
Limitations, and how such can best be
overcome; who realize the importance
of safeguarding all who use such craft
and know at the same time that the
| life-saving paraphernalia must con-
| form to the size Of the boat. In other
words, we want men to draw up pros
lpective laws for the consideration Of
Congress, who understand what Is
practicable and what not, and who
would not ask us. power Cor said boat
men to perform impossibilities The
only way we can get such men Is to
/ take them from our ranks and in order
+ that such may be done thoroughly and
quickly, we earnestly ask, that, for the
interest of all concerned, you appoint
your best available man as a delegate
and send him to Detroit for Saturday,
May 1st, at which place and time a
convention OF clubs and associations
will be called at 10 a. M, in the Hotel
Pontchartrain. It has been suggested
that to better further our ends, Ma
tional Association of local associations
might be formed,-the Western Power
Boat Association would be In favor of
such move and would like to hear
direct from every club that is not aft
lated with an association. Our repre-
sentative will be glad to represent
any club or clubs in the district of
Lake Michigan and its tributary wa
tiers that are eligible for membership
in the Western Power Boat Associa-
ton but have not yet signified their
desire to join
We are taking the initiative steps
| in this matter at the request of several
members of the committee appointed
In New York in February, and, after
consultation with influential yatchmen
/ far and wide.
/ Requesting the honor of an immedi-
ate reply, we are.
Yours truly,
E. S. OSBORN, President
/ TOM WEBB, 1st President
H. C. MEACHAM, Secretary
A voting blank was received from
\ Commodore Coonlbs of ST. Louis to
consider and vote on the admission of
the Clinton Motor boat club and the
Bellevue motor boat club as members
to the Mississippi Valley Power Boat
association. Both are clubs with good
healthy memberships and enthusiastic
motor men and the Keokuk club cast
their vote aye" last evening, for ad
mission of the two clubs.
Fix the River Front.
: Major Meigs had very interesting
/ piece of information for the clubs las
, evening and which was heartily re
ceived by the members OF the club
} Major Meigs, engineer of tbs river dis
trict, has obtained permission from
the government to dredge the rive
front and cut back thirty feet at tn
; place where the boat houses are sta
z toned below the west end of tn,
I bridge. The dirt and stone dredget
r and quarried out at this place woul
d be thrown on the level ground whicl
i would materially increase the heigh
of the ground and make an ideal plac
r for boat houses. The ground along tn
g river front where the dredge woul
l. get busy would be made high enoug
n to keep water from damaging an
l. property of the club.
= A report of the levee committee wa
made and the city council agreed /
lease two hundred feet of the rive
front, extending south that much fror
Y the west end pier OF the bridge. TIL
n term of years for which the groun
t. was granted to the club was nc
stated in the lease.
The committee was again instructe
last evening to again confer with til
city council and ask for the followin
things: $50 feet of river frontage. /;
per year rent for lease of the same an
also control of the $50 feet of rive
frontage A report of the council