New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-25
DAMMING THE MISSISSIPPI
New Harness for "the Father of
Waters" To Be Gigantic.

The Father of Waters the mighty Mis-
s!ssppi. is to be harnessed This mighty
dam, which is being constructed at Keo-
kuk. Iowa. will furnish 10000 horsepower,
and when completed will be the largest
dam for hydro-electric purposes in the
world. The dam Will stretch across the
Mississippi from Keokuk. Iowa, TO Hamil-
ton, H., a distance Of almost a mile.
The effect the giant power house. the
General Electric Company says in a bulle-
tin. will have upon the industrial and civic
welfare Of the Middle West will be great.
Within a transmission distance OF prac-
tically two hundred miles are an unusu-
ally large number of fourishing cities and
towns: st. Louis BLOOMINGTON, Decatur.
Galesburg, Rock Island, Springfield,
quincy, Peoria. Joliet and Rockford, in
Illinois. and Dubuque, Davenport, Des
Moines Clinton and Cedar Rapids, In Iowa.
st Louis. Kansas City, Hannibal and st.
Joseph. Although the work will not be
completed until 1913, contracts have .tl-
ready been made With the public service
companies OF ST. Louis for 6DOcv horse
power FOR period Of ninety-nne years.
1t has been pointed out that whi lie the
East as a whole, Is the great manufactdr-
INK centre, yet for many years past there
has been a pronounced tendency on the
part of manufacturers to get as near as
possible 10 the sources of their raw ma
teral, or TO seek those localities where
motive power can be obtained at mini
mum cost. Illinois and Iowa have always
been agricultural states The farmers Of
that part OF the country have become ex-
ceedinsly prosperous, and now IL looks as
though there would be a rapid industrial
development throughout that section. Hence
IL Is by no means necessary 10 regard the
market for the power developed on the
Mississippi as limited to Industries already
existing in the market territory. 1t is a
aSCumnfiDn that region with this
great reserve of hyro-electric power will
gradually evolve new industries.
1t is understood that the power gener-
ated will be supplied TO existing central
stations In different towns and cities In the
territory that can be served in much the
same manner as natural gas Is supplied to
local gas companies In the gas belts. The
power viii be supplied under contract 10
the central stations and the stations Will
use IL instead Of generating current. The
present equipment OF the stations need not
be dsmanted. but may be held In readi-
ness for emergencies The project involves
the building OF a solid concrete dam across
the river, "A powerhouse, and new lock
and dry dock for the accommodation OF
river traffic
The United States government and the
Mississippi River Power Company are
jointly interested in the enterprise. The
government secures free or cost new
lock and dry dock. 10 replace the present
canal and three locks. which VIII he sub
merged by the new dam-the new lock be-
ing much larger than the old ones The
government secures also a new permanent
navigable stage ~ water for distance OF
sixty miles north OF the dam. only during
tie high stages of the river Is II now
possible TO navigate the Des Moines rapids.
which extend over a length OF seven and
one half miles Of river. except BY the use
OF the present canal and lock system, oc-
cupying the Iowa shore and finished In
ls0. This present lock system. with It's
three divisions and the amount or dredg-
ing and other Involved I'm It's
maintenance. has been from the beginning
"a source Of large annual outlay 10 the
government. practically all Of which will
be saved upon the completion Of the present
works.
The Improvement Ia navigation for the
district sixty miles above the dam. as a
result Of the construction of the power
work. and TO which the government CON
tributes no money. is OF great importance
10 navigation interests. and the lock sys-
TEN. Is designed for an eight foot channel.
should this depth be eventually accom-
plished by federal action