The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-09-21

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| condition of Warsaw, as every result
and influence of the dam will tend to
| Warsaw's improvement. For instance,
/ when employed for irrigation purposes
/ especially in the early spring when
the ice breaks up) the Warsaw dam.
like the Assuan across the Nile, will
back up the waters of the Mississippi
| and Des Moines. causing the latter
river to more readily overflow its
banks and irrigate the low-lying Mis-
souri, bottoms including the town of
Alexandria. This irrigation may not
be fully appreciated in Missouri, but it
will tend to cause the jewellers In the
affected lowlands to move to the high
lands on the Illinois side, which
from the Warsaw viewpoint would be a
change for the better
Secondly, the influence on naviga-
ton will be very marked in favor of
Warsaw. Before the dam was built, a
great many river boats had formed
the habit of passing up and down the
middle OF the river-even of late
veering over to the Missouri side
without even noticing that town. This
no longer is possible. A boat now
! passing down the river, may pursue
!, Its peaceful course until just below
the mouth of the Des Moines, when it
will suddenly be confronted with the
long, low rocky wall of the dam, will
have to back up, execute left flank
movement. cross at right angles clear
to the Illinois shore. steering like the
dam workers straight for the castle
on the bank, and finally if 1t is lucky.
1t can escape through the narrow
channel. But by that time, most Of the
passengers and crew will be SO ex-
hausted that it will be necessary to
tie up at Warsaw for repairs and re-
cuperation. All this will bring added
trade and attention to that city. 1t is
no longer possible to pass it by on
the river without knowing or remem-
bering it, and If the passage be made
at night while going through the dan
/ gerous gap, the steamers searchlight
Will shine full on Warsaw's castle,
thus providing her citizens with a
beautiful effect of night illumination
| 1t is hardly necessary to point out
the advantages offered to fishermen,
other than to say that the restricting
OF the river channel to such an extent
Will SO congest the migrating fishes at
that point that they can probably be
taken out with dip-net.
Ferris Wheel Project.
1t is as power producer that the
Warsaw dam will not be up to stand
ard and In this respect it must give
way to the Keokuk project. Owing to
the gap in the dam, it will be difficult
to maintain head of more than five
to ten feet, and this could not compete
with the thirty-nine foot head of Coop
er's project. But the power need not
go entirely to waste. 1t has been sug-
gested that a sort of Ferris wheel be
erected at the Illinois end OF the dam,
which will run a cable operating
scenic railway from the end of the
dam to the castle grounds. A passen.
ger could then take a trip through
the castle grounds, enjoying and re-
freshing himself there, then step on
car, be whisked off to the end of
the dam, transfer to one of the cars
in the Ferris wheel, which would also
act as water paddle, take a trip
through the air, followed by a quick
plunge under water (Which no doubt
would be beneficial about them and
return on the same round This plan
would be especially pleasing to many
summer excursionists.
AS for its success in other respects
time will tell. 1t is not well to inquire
too infinitely into all the purposes and
effects of modern engineering works.
1t is true some critics maintain that
the whole project is a clever adyertis-
ing scheme concocted by the energetic
mayor of Warsaw and the lord of the
castle, to hold up river navigation and
exact tribute from all passers by on
the water, but of this we know moth
ing
However, when all is said and done,
Warsaw's dam across the Mississippi
is completed, and that city can now
view with complacency and without
envy the attempt to accomplish the
same end at Keokuk, feeling like DR..
Cook that there is glory enough for
all, but claiming the honor of getting
there first Whether Cooper, like
Peary will denounce Warsaw's
achievement as fake, remains to be
seen. There does seem to be gap in
the evidence somewhere.
Famous Newspaper Man Writes Sue.
ccssfui Story.