The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-09-20


they had not leyeed there; as mat
ter OF fact they are rejoicing at what
they accomplished few years ago.
And In many other ways the men
living by their wits told the Green
Bay farmers all sorts of things, all
tending to stir up trouble with the
company and result in commercial
doctor bills against the farmers by the
self appointed advisers.
Only recently did the farmers en-
ploy Ex-congressman Wade as an at
torney to look after their interests.
The company says it is greatly pleas
ed with this. as the more advice from
good lawyers, and the more good ad-
vice of all kinds the farm owners
get, the easier 1t will be to amicably
come to terms with them.
Two Cities Interested.
In the meantime, the merchants of
Fort Madison and of Burlington
awoke to realization of what it
means to submerge permanently all
that 5000 acres of land in their
trade territory-and that is what will
happen unless the owners and the
| water power company meet SOME
where on terms for saving 1t. The
public spirited citizens of both cities
are doing all they can to get the
company and the farmers together on
some common ground. They hope for
success in this.
An interesting side issue crept In
/ mere. The men who tried to get the
farmers to refuse to meet the COM
pany live in Fort Madison. Finally,
they took to the farmers for sigma
ture contract which made the Fort
/ Madison men brokers with the appoint
ment to negotiate with the company
for the farmers for big commission
on all they can get out of the COM
| pany
The company resented this. It said
plainly that 1t would pay farmer
more than 1t would a broker who
butted in. Moreover, it said that 1t
was surprised that Fort Madison
should combat both the company's
and the city's best interests which
are an amicable settlement OF the
case which will save the land in
Green Bay. BY plain inference. 1t
holds Fort Madison responsible for
the unfriendly actions Of the trouble
makers, while 1t welcomes the en-
ployment of attorneys by the farm.
ers. On the other hand, Fort Madi.
on objects to responsibility for the
actions of any of It's citizens and has
appointed committee to visit the
! company and talk over the matter
4 Incidentally, Burlington is working
consistently for peace and conserva
ton of the land-it may be that Bur
lington will gain mucn and Fort
Madison will lose much by these op
posite attitdes of the two cities to
ward the water power company.
| Making An object Lesson.
The farm owners became SO i'm
bued with the idea instilled int
their minds in Fort Madison, tina
the company has not the right tt
condemn land, that it decided upo1
an object lesson.
1t started condemnation sui
near Keokuk, but that farmer, O'Har
ra Of Prices creek, took what the,
offered soon after consulting a law
yer, and that suit stopped short.
Then the company began con
demnation suit against AL. Hegerla o
: Green Bay. He is well-to-do mai
financially; he has the reputation o
: being a good fighter; the land involv
ed amounts to 220 acres. The compan.
= gives another reason, but it look
: like Hegerla was chosen for con
demnation suit because of his having
these qualities.
t The case has been started in /;