The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-05-01
Stone & Webster Co. Will Take Over the Keo-
kuk Public Utilities Provided Voters Of the
City Grant an Extension Of Franchise
IN IMPORTANCE TOWA7ER POWER
Keokuk Has Everything to Gain and Nothing to
Lose By identifying the Stone & Webster
Co With Commercial Life Of the City

]. A. Trawick, a representative OF
Stone and Webster, at meeting
with the business men of the city
held at the Keokuk Industrial Asso-
citation rooms this morning, told what
his firm will do in the way of improv-
ing local public utilities if the proper
ties are taken over. 1t is the first
statement from Stone and Webster
and has ring that means much to
the city of Keokuk.
Mr.. Trawick told at some length
of the attitude Stone and Webster
hold in regard to the public utilities
i'll Keokuk. He pointed out that at
keokuk the company has its largest
investment at the present time. When
1t became known, he said, that Stone
and Webster were to finance the wa
ter power project the company now
in control of local utilities knew that
their future depended upon the water
power company, especially If the lat
ter decided to enter competition in
this field The present owners Went
to Stone and Webster with PROPOSE
ton for the purchase of the property,
seeing the dangerous competition that
might be offered.
They entered into negotiations and
after looking into the matter thor
oughly the proposition did not appeal
To the eastern firm. Finally. however,
they decided that il they could make
q good deal and secure the desired
franchise the property would he taken
over.
The Stone and Webster people OPP
crate public utilities, but do not buy
them for speculation, he said
Mr. Trawick took UP the lighting
contract saying that for two or three
4 ears, while the plant would have to
Fhe operated by steam the cost will
he more than they can get out of it,
pp spoke of the type of lamp to be
s.ed, which is fully explained in the
mntract elsewhere published The
'ajority Of the cities throughout
lie country. he declared, are using the
mailer lamp. Our idea is, said Mr.
F1'rawick, Ito make Keokuk the best
lighted city in the country and in
this way to advertise Keokuk and our
. water power plant.
we intend to begin the reconstrue-
q IN of the local plant, Immediately
no 4 obtaining an extension of the
AM chise and the properties. 1t is our
item ktion further to purchase at once
ne n ecessary apparatus to give to
GU Il pc street lighting which the con
ract calls for This service will be
irsi class and will take about three to
ou or five months to install. We
would like to give keokuk the best
fights for street lighting purposeL,
that are known today.
I'm carrying out the work of re-
reconstruction we will give to the sys-
teis0 good cars and Will spend In the
vor| k outlined from s30o,0oa to $500
NoeJ We do not contemplate any
changes in the gas service.
sNFithout the full fran hise we do
not Want the property, nor do we
want lit without the cooperation ami
good Ss,,l of the people. We would
not take the franchise without your
good Mill lest it endanger our other
interesas here ! will say that with
out the water power proj&tts We
would not attempt to operate the pub
lie utilities, but In taking them over
we viii operate them In our up-to-
date method.
Stone and Webster have not yet
outlined the hammer OF handling the
local COMPANY But 1t is certain that
Il company wihsbe formed other than
that which has charge of the water
power. Our interests. while working
on their own mtrits in this manner,
are in conjunctioa with each other.
THE company Jill make arrange
ments, under thsr customary plan,
to take over the I'd motors, etc. in
the event that it isecessary to make
change in the aparatus in the To-
cal electric servic9This has been
done everywhere ID the consumer
loses nothing by thdhange.'
A Few Expesions.
This mornings contence was Tor
the purpose Of gaining few express
sions from Keokuk buy less men be.