The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-01-20

udsc DtGu OIL b WEEK. Manager AyT6S
of the power company said this morn
ing that the thawing weather was the
best thing that could come at this
time to relieve the tie up in the wire
situation in this city and elsewhere.
George Williams, negro who
came to this city last Sunday and
who has been carrying coal for the
Mcnamara Coal Co., was arrested this
morning at 1890 for stealing an over
coat from boarder at the rooming
house OF Mrs Crumley, on South
Fourth street. William pawned the
garment at the Holland second hand
store. William slept in the city jail
last Sunday night and to officers and
others gave his name as Lee Camp
bell.
i "A good part OF the ice and snow
has been thawed off the pavements.
Walking was a sloppy Job this morn
ing for everyone who found it neces.
sary to be about on the streets. 1t is
hard to say and much mooted
question as to which is the more pref
cradle or the least invited-ice frozen
solid over the walks that an occasion
al fall will eniiyen things, or slush a
condition is the will of any one citi-
zen so smile will do lots toward
making the tread of life just now
seem like a summer garden.
AT Des Moines, Iowa, they have
1.-THE cluster lights and they are NIGH
ty fine. They have the lights in other
cities and there is no question but
what they are all right as they give
the business district a metropolitan
appearance, without "a doubt. But the
merchants pay the bills and they are
getting tired of it. Now they are
planning to get busy with the city
next year, in the hope that they can
induce the powers that be to pay for
the electricity used in the fancy
lights. Here is what recent issue
of the Municipal Engineer and Indus
trial Journal said about it: The Com
mercial club will make big fight
next year to compel the city to pay
for the electricity used in Ne down
town electrolier street lighting sys-
tenn, according to Gecretary Gels Bots
ford. with the current paid for by
the city the system would be extend
ed to practically every business block
In the city, Mr.. Botsford said recent
I ly. "The city is not playing fair. A
year ago 1t was intimated that after
another year the city would pay for
|, the current, but the commissioners
seem to be making no plans to do so.
Instead, the citizens are paying for
the lighting OF down town streets as
individuals. The city turns off its arc
lights In the down town districts I'M
til after midnight when the electro
| liers 60 out
Whenever new commercial trav-
eIer drops into the city, one Of the
first things he tells the hotel clerk is
that he has heard of keokuk, away
Iup in the state. in some other state
or territory, remote from this city.
The commercial man out OF keokuk
is a live booster and one of the wa
ter power towns best boosters. 1t is
hard to realize how generally Keo-
kuk's great project is talked Of all
over the country and through both per-
sonal and newspaper advertising, we
are receiving an amount of advertis-
ing that cannot be computed in mere
dollars on account of its great worth.
Just one instance of how real
estate values have enhanced around
Hamilton, H., because of the water
power dam project: It is reported
that certain property owner in that
place desired little strip OF ground
on which to build barn He was Of
fered the piece of ground a few years
ago for $500, but he let the matter
rest. Not long since he questioned the
owner concerning the bit OF realty,