The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-07-24

one million dollars to put the plant
in shape, In the meantime water met
ers have been ordered and sprinkling
prohibited. In, a nut shell Omaha got
the worst of the appraisment by
about two million in the deal They
jobbed Omaha like the appraisers
tried to put it over onto Keokuk.
Only in Omaha the city was bound
absolutely by the appraisment.
learned all gas, water and other
trenches have the same dirt refilled.
And in filling back one man shovels
in and one lamps the dirt. And the
person making the cut must put up
a cash bond or have an annual bond
binding him to keep the street in res
pair. The cuts are inspected and up
on failure to properly make the re-
pairs the permit to the plumber to
cut the street is cancelled. No sand
is used In refilling.
Cement cutters on streets paved
are curved and meet the paving and
there are none of those triangle gut
ters as we have here. found some
cement concrete paved alleys and
they inform me that they have been
down for six years and are good 70
twenty more. These concrete paved
alleys are In the residence districts
or light travelled retail districts.
All the cities visited are we'll
lighted but not better than Keokuk
The construction of the water power
Is quite well known. And when this
work is completed there is going to
be rush of people here When we
get the power leave it to the manu-
facturers. found the people In the
cities visited intensely interested in
the upbuilding of their respective
cities and found no men running
down either the town or their fellow
citizens but all rather glad of the sue
cess of their citizens,
The crops look fine throughout
Iowa and Nebraska. l did not discuss
politics for that is out Of my line.
found Keokuk people or soEy who
had formerly resided here in all the
places. They all treated me very
kindly and showed me the glad hand
OF welcome. I had automobile rides.
entertainment, plenty to eat and drink
! shall always remember with plea
sure the splendid evenings entertain
ment with Omaha's business men at
the Aksarben circus where ITO home
trained circus performers gave an
evenings entertainment.
The citizens Of Omaha have their
fall festivities and give an electric
parade. During the summer mont
every Monday night there is an initia-
ton. Residents ray $1,000 per year as
members and the membership now is
2000 This entities a member to
bring with him any stranger visiting
/ II, Omaha. There is a flow of acting,
sDeechmaking, and genuine Dutch
lunch where not less than 20 barrels
of beer are drunk Notwithstanding
the eight o'clock law
| ! found in number of the towns
II visited the sidewalks and streets
torn up and piles of brick and mortar
scattered But this happens in all
| live growing progressive towns where
there Is something doing. There are
no obstacles in your way in the dead
ones. not even enroutes to the Gene
terry.
! | was amazed at the knowledge
many of the people out in the west
/ have of the wonderful water power
i've are developing here. And they
seem to be ready to discuss 1T freely
and openly and know as much as
come of our home people. They ask
ed me how the new se~ensstory hotel
is progressing and all seem to be
!, lanoring under the idea the hotel is
under way and all promise to come
/ and see us when the water power is
finished
| visited number of cities where
Ipaid departments are maintained and
| desire to say that believe we can
secure for our department men who
will be more permanent In the posi-
tion and more efficient by small In
crease in salaries talked with paid
! firemen end chief at Sioux City and
am of the opinion that our firemen
should have snall increase in sal
/ aries and sincerely recommend that
4 mon receiving $4,000 per month be
increased to $500 That $4,000 men
1 be Increased to $4,000 The assistant
chief from $1,000 to $500 and minute
1 or call men from $3.50 to $500 per
month. To take effect August 1. 1912
f Men will become more permanent
4 In selecting new men in the future
we will be able to get better pick
for the positions.
I request of the commissioners that
the chief and paid men of the depart
ment be permitted to circulate petit
/ ton among the business men and tax
payers petitioning your honorable
/ body to the above increase in sala