The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-06-13

But 1t must be remembered that
this was bl.l that was unique in
congressional work. 1t had the sane
of the officials of the government in
the engineering department had pro-
posed it. No other engineer in the |
department had picked flaw in it.
The Keokuk and Hamilton Water
Power company represented there
didn't expect to have share OF the
stock or do another lick of work on |
the scheme after the passage OF the
BILL And when the bill finally went
through after a months work of the
committee President Roosevelt not
only signed it, but two years later on
his Mississippi river "trip he empha-
] sized the fact that he was delight
! ed that he had done 50.
This congressional act was put
! through on February 8, 1905. Every
safeguard was put about the conces-
4 sion The whole work of building
/ was put under the immediate control
| of the war department and the. only
contribution from the government
lies in the salary paid the supervising
/ engineer in the governments employ.
/ AS to the present canal and locks
that are to be buried under twelve
or more feet of water at Keokuk, the
company building the dam is required
to build the one lock required, the dry
dock and its appurtenances, and
suitable power plant for lighting and
operating the same according to plans
and specifications submitted to and
approved by the secretary of war;
: Finding Builder a Long Task.
:. Also under the act it was specified
that work must begin upon the con
E struction of the dam within five years
and it's completion accomplished with
! in ten years from the date of the law
s Thus, after getting all they could
! ask for from the United States govern
n ment. that other end of the work
finding the builder to put it through
came upon the shoulders of the orig
!. inal company realizing the dream O
Harvesting the Des Moines rapids
a. enormous capital was necessary t.
. make the dam itself reality that thu
i FIVE years allowed for the beginning
a OF the construction wor's was non
foo long.
,e Death has claimed c. P. Birge, tn
It first president Of the company; 1t ha
lie taken John N Irwin, who succeede
=. him. But with the exception OF Well
n M. irwin as a director in place of hi
I'd brother, the or:~inal organizers of tn
i'd movement are living and active. I
ee E. tombstone was president, Willial
g Logan was vice president, C. P. D;
Sc dant was second vice president, an
he r. R. Wallace was secretary an
m treasurer when finally Hugh L.Coope
TX. of New York and of the Cooper
m Powellson firm Of consulting engineer
came to .Keokuk. He wanted to Sc
Ia the exhibits of the original company
he to look the situation over
ry,
M Money Advanced at Once Repaid.
,ut These originators of the scheme
he Keokuk had nothing to sell for G
Use plcitation in stocks. They wanted
dy sell all rights which would result
or the realization of the mammoth unde
MS. taking. Cooper was pleased with t
ity thing. Keokuk and Hamilton G
for thusiasts were pleased with Coop'
Iii Last year the original stockholde
gave power of attorney to Johnston
or Logan. and Dadant to sell as tn
he saw fit. and the possession OF 7
do original company's charter, taken G
on in Illinois, passed over to Cooper,
hat $4,000 in cash.
the And what do you suppose we d
to first thing, with that money! ask
President tombstone. 1--WE paid ba
hat into the Keokuk treasury it's $6,C
en-. and to the Hamilton treasury the IS
hn. which that town had advanced to
all cause. The only member of Il
organization holding stock in the n
company or otherwise having mn
m. than citizens interest in the &C
rse pletion of the work is Mr.. Logan.
at is a vice president in the new org
, !: ization'
i've and adds Mr.. Logan, that wo
which began on jan 10 in order
10 hold the franchise under the law,
ate going on to its completion with
zen. shade of doubt in the minds OF
,hn- of u.s.
ont And this work of building
got unique water power dam? It's blu
We ers. The natural forces that m
ter be met and overcome before c.
yhts pletion?
out Some "sampes' Of Builders SKI
the They are gigantic. but this is
ing, age of gigantic engineering. Coo
up has left his mark on many such We
had mower sites Cement construction
rom been tested and proved. In the Ii
yer. stone gorge that contains the
him Moines rapids nature left her mi
the piled auadrillions of tons OF lime r
and that is necessity to cement W.
T us ings In the flow of waters rams
hole from 10000 cubic feet a second at