The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1911-05-11
Another Dam Story.


;ect now in process of construction on
American soil, with the single excep-
tion Of the Panama Canal, says the
World Today. This is the mile long
dam which will stem the water of the
Missippi at Keokuk, Ia.
For more thanfifty years that por-
tion Of the upper Mississippi valleysim-
mediately contiguos to the DesMoines
rauids has dreamed of the day when
the water should be harm essed and fac
tories would line the banks. But the
wears passed and the stones did not
assemble themselves to form any dam
and trade went inland.
When the word went forth that after
fifty years of hoping and dreaming a
mile wide dam was built there were
many yet unconverted from doubt.
But when congress took favorable ac-
ton and granted the necessary fran
chises the doubters began to wax en-
thusiastic.
By the time President Roosevelt
signed the franchise for the immense
dam and power plant on February 9,
1905 the eyes of the entire country
were on Keokuk. When the necess-
ary $40, 900, 600 capital was secured
and the first shovelful of dirt was turn
ed the world woke up two the fact that
the upper Missippi valley held the key
to the industrial future.
On January 9, 1910, the definite an
nouncement was made to the world
that the dam would be built. By Feb
ruary / severa! score of men were at
work. Early in December, 1910, 500
men started to work on the Iowa shore.
Throughout the entire winter they
toiled to throw rampant across the
ri!er.
When the waters, guided by engin-
eering craft, pass through thirty tur-
bines they will generate 100000
horsepower. enough to light every pri-
vate and public lamp, run every street
car and turn every factory wheel in
practically every Missippi valley city
from the Saint on the north to the
South. Two thousand men went to
work with the breaking up of the ice
and the opening of navigation.
The dam is to be the largest in the
world, with the single exception of the
Assouan irrigating dam across the Nile
inEgypt; the water power plant will
be the largest in the world without ex-
ception, unless two or more of the
Niagara plants are combined for the
purpose of comparison.
When completed the dam will be
$500 feet IN length, of reinforced con-
crete, thirty seven feet high and of the
same width, the foundation buried 70,
seven feet in the solid limestone bed
OF the rivers gorge.
Extending practically due east and
and west across the river, the dam will
run its uninterrupted course for 4,40(
feet, when it will veer to the south anc
give way to the power plant, on the
Iowa shore. where the turbulent water!
will be converted into Commercial
power.
The dam will result in the formation
OF an immense lake from three to fvt
miles wide and forty miles long abov'
Keokuk, overhowing the lowlands ant
entirely changing the topography of th'
country now Immediately adjacent II
to the river. 1t will also completed,
drown out the nine mile canal btilt ror
ty years ago at cost of $4,000, 1000
1t is one of the requirements of tn
federal franchise that this governmen
canal, with its three locks. shall b.
supplanted by a new one-lock cana
and new dry dock to lie given the ne
cessary running power free of charg
to the end of time.
The dam completed, the rapids Wi
give way to placid pool or lake, u
and down and across which the heav
lest laden boats may travel in safety
the second place, Keokuk will becom
one OF the largest mower distrib,1tin