The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-01-11
keokuk,s Great pan,.


Quincy Wing. Fully alive to the
Importance of the great enterprise
which is Harvesting the power of the
mississippi at the foot of the Des
Moines rapids, TO the territory it de-
sires to faithfully serve. the Quincy
Wing this mornin~ lays the facts and
the vast possibilities before its read.
ers.
1t was just year ago today that
work was begun on the great struc-
ture. the building of which. it is now
contemplated. will cost twenty-seyen
millions. The yigor with which the
work is now being pressed promises
we'll for the ful6llment Of the rredic-
ton of Chief Engineer Cooper that
power will be ready for distribution
by July l, 1918.
A member of the Wings editorial
staff spent a day on the scene gath
ering details and data at first hand
and these are now put into print
The Wing is the first Quincy news
paper that has given attention % the
great project in keeping with its inn
rortance 10 all this portion of the
Mississippi valley. On the anniver-
sary of the beginning OF the colossal
undertaking it is pleased to add its
CIinion to those of others who have
carefully looked into the matter, that
the engineering feat being performed
at the foot of the Des Moines rapids
will be one of the greatest CONNER
cial triumphs of the age, putting into
use a tremendous energy that has
hitherto gone to wastea conserva-
ton of natural resources, beside
which others that have been suggest
ed are small in comparison. This will
mint into actual wealth what has
hitherto run utterly to waste.
Hamilton's favored position is
matter for It's self-congratulation but
it should also be pleasing to this en-
tire portion of western Illinois. The
great increase In manufacturing that
viii be brought about by the utiliza
ton of the cheaper electrical energy
furnished by the dam, will have a
reflex benefit On all the strictly agri-
cultural communities hereabeuts. The
growth and prosperity of the cities at
fected by the dam will benefit the
farmers. increase nearer market ad-
vantages and enhance their land VAL
ues. While the cities must draw their
yirility and strength from the soil,
which produces all wealth, the inter
ests of the consumers Of the cities and
the producers of the farms are in
terdependent and mutual
We believe that the great dam at
the foot OF the Des Noines rapids, the
actual, practical elimination of half
century of longing on the part of
those whose prescience saw its won
derful possibilities. will have mar
velous effect in the further develop
ment of this rich section of country
Something was needed to wake the
old river cities OF this part of the
Mississippi valley, and this awaken
ing will benefit all the surrounding
communities on both sides OF the riy-
er, and this the furnishing of such
vast amount of cheaper power will
go a long way toward doing. In the
securing of mutual benefits for the
naturally rich territory affected. the
utmost friendiiness should exist
among the neighboring cities. Hamil-
ton will benefit. so will Keokuk, and
so will Quincy and ends can be SO
shaped that mutual advantage will
be derived-the making of the valley
in this vicinity the seat of one of the
greatest manufacturing districts in tne
United States.