The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-02-16
Says That keokuk Has Great oppor-
tunity, But il Can be Offset
by Lack Of Interest and
Application.
WE FEEL TOO SECURE
In Straightforward Language he Tells
the Citizens Facts Which are
True-A Few Gentle
Hints.

Secretary w. r. c. Kendrick of the
Commercial club has r. ,eived let
ter from |. NJ. Waters, travelling
man of Keokuk, which has
to deal with this city and
the water power. The letter is OF I'M
usual interest and is herein repro
duced in full:
OMAHA, Neb.. Feb. 14-Hon. w.
R. C. Kendrick, Keokuk, Iowa:
Dear Sir--I see an occasional ref
erence in Iowa and Nebraska parers
to the great water power dam now
being built at Keokuk They seem
to understand that the old town has a
promising future in connection with
it. 1t certainly offers real oppor-
tunity but there Is such a thing as
placing too much Importance to the
fact that Keokuk is the site of the
great project. 1t is true that its being
the site is of itself an advantage, but
such advantage could easily be over
come by our thrifty and industrious
neighbors, and lack of interest and
application on the part of our own
citizens. If any one supposes the city
is not to have competition in the
building of factories and in the in
crease of population they are mis-
calculating.
We have the dam but too great a
feeling of security because of it and
a little neglect and Indifference on
the part of our people will more than
Offset the advantages of it. We must
not forget that the power can be
transmitted and that manufacturers
will locate their factories s.way from
us if they find it to their interest to
DO so. The writer has been a travel
ing salesman too many years and
over too large radius of country tc
not understand the power and per
srasiye influence of competition and
the genius and industry of certain
phenomenal men OF the guild and
they are as numerous and as capable
in other lines of promotion as IL
will be busy plying their efforts and
III taking advantage of every instance
of neglect and overnight of our owr
people. The mere fact therefore Of
the dam being built is not enough
There will be much for on people tC
do and much that will be hard to do
The same superhuman efforts thai
enabled Mr. Cooper, Judge Logan
Alex Johnston, Mr.. DaGant and oul
lamented ex-Mayor D. ]. Ayres, ane
others. to promote and induce the
financing of the enormous project il
the first place is as necessary to BIZ
applied and persisted in by every in
terested inhabitant of the town If We
expect the benefits clearly within ou
grasp We now have our one ant
only great hope. The dream of year.
has been realized if we are equal t,
| tie requirements the occasion de
mands.
There will have to be an organized
and general effort made and it seem
to me the Commercial club, of whicl
| understand you are the setre airy
may be made the most helpful a. emu,
in soliciting, and securing the man:
and multiplied industries that shoul,
be brought to Keokuk as a M .ura
proximity. Those interested i, sui
ficient extent to investigate wiV neet
information and explanations mad
them and the Commercial club cal
do this II helped and encouraged a
they should be.
1t will need money, and much of il
and other enthusiastic and loyal helE