The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-12-16
kEokuk,s BEST CHRISTMAS.

The coming Christmas, only Ut
tie more than q week distant, should
be the happiest and best Christmas
Keokul1 has ever known. The year
drawing to close has been one of
fruitful harvests and profitable trade
in all lines and there has been steady
advance in material prosperity. In
these particulars the year has not
been essentially different from many
that have preceded it. Other years
have been happy and prosperous ones.
yet 1910 stands out clear and distinct
as the best in the history of the city
to date and warrants Fluctuations and
rejoicings far exceeding anything of
the kind in the past.
The superiority of 1910 over any of
its long line of predecessors lies in
the fact that 1t witnessed Inaugural
ton OF the actual work of developing
the great water power which for
more than half century had oceu-
pied a place in the subconscious mind
of Keokuk and which for the past
ten years has been uppermost in keo-
kuk's thought and hopes With the
advent of the present year doubt
gave way TO certainty and accomplish
nlent began TO take the place of ex-
pectation. Since then. day by day.
the airy fabric of a dream has been
steadily and surely transformed into
actual reality. Without blare of
/ trumpets or alluring promises of any
kind the water power company has
prosecuted the great work with a
determination and persistence that is
the best possible guaranty of ultimate
success. Much has been done, and all
OF it in methcdical, business-like
way. Within the past few weeks
large additions have been made to
the force OF workmen and the equip
nlent, both of which will be still fur.
ther augmented in the near future,
From now on the work OF construc-
ton will be pushed as rapidly as skill
ed workmen and approved machinery
can produce results. Not less signifi-
cant than the physical achievements
has been the closing Of the options
on the lands that will be inundated By
the dam A great deal of money has
already been paid out for this
purpose in this vicinity within the
past two weeks and much more viii
be distributed within the near
1 future. No one need be told
what this means 10 Keokuk and tho
country round about It puts nearly
half million dollars in circulation
here, for one thing, but it has already
done more than that. Not only has
the community been enriched 10 that
extent in financial way, but the mo-.
al effect has been even greater and
more valuable. The community has
taken on a new spirit Of hopefulness
and become imbued with a confidence
IN the future that was sadly lacking
IN former years All the ifs" and
puts ard provisos relative to the wa
ter power have been relocated for all
time to the realm of discarded lingo.
and keokuk faces the future with a
certainty and buoyancy that Is a sure
\ lorerunner of success. II the water
\ power company had accomplished
nothing else for Keokuk than this It
would be entitled to the need Of
praise due public benefactor. The
fact that it has brought this about in
addition to the large material bene-
fits 1t has already conferred makes
the conmunity's obligation TO it all
the greater.
Keokuk has good reason to rejoice
in what 1910 has brought to It in
addition 10 all the happiness and
blessings of previous years. II is a
red letter year in tbe history OF the
city and marks the Aprning point IN
Its career. The construction of the
dam means unexamplad activity and