The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-30

sAoSa. t''SANC PNl sSiS Is utiitLel NY
the steam engine. OF the potential
energy in the Mississippi river here.
eighty.six per cent is employed in
turning the spindles of the turbines
and dynamos The difference between
the cost of steam power and this Keo-
kuk water-power, while not as eighty
six to twelve, is indicated by these
figures 1t means many dollars to
the factory owner.
And many dollars-thousand OF
them--a year in q continuous bonus
paid in daily installments to the man
who discards his steam engine for
the Keokuk waterpower.
The New Industrial Center.
1t is consideration like this that will
build up new industrial center here
IN the central spot of the great rich,
teeming, consuming Mississippi val
ley It is cheaper to move than to
buy coal-and manufacturers ale find
ing this out for themselves as fast as
they install accounting systems in
their offices.
| Distance from former factory GEN.
tiers is OF little moment, 1t is about
as easy to move from Boston, Mass.
as from Burnside, H., over in the ad.
| joining county.
The factories are not coming to Keo-
kuk by virtue Of any perlaver or
hypnotic suggestion. They are COM
ing in response to the inexorable laws
OF business written in the balance
sheets of themselves and their COM
petitors-for when one manufactures
reduces factory cost ten per cent. ev-
cry other manufacturer In that same
line must take that ten per cent Off
either his own factory cost, or his
profits; 1t is preferable to reduce the
factory cost, especially when it can be
done SO easily by taking advantage OF
very cheap power Offered in an ideal
geographical location.
An Essential Difference.
There is another thing which must
not be lost sight OF in any disserta-
ton on water power-the application
of power to machines.
At this point water power has dis
tinct advantage over steam engine
in the basement. The steam engine
turns shaft which is connected by
betting with ratification Of shafts
all over the factory, to which the ma
!. chimes are attached by belts, general
lily running to the driving shafting sus-
: pended from the ceiling. The loss OF
: power in shafting and betting is large
: enough to be known to every cppren-
tice machinist.
Water power is now universally
!, turned into electric power close to
!, the turbines. The electric power is
conveyed by wires which are out OF
4 the way and may be strung anywhere
a gimlet hole can be bored The wires
' go to motors, one for each machine,
7 tucked under or beside the machine
out of the way Instead of the large
loss in shafting and betting, there Is
will be carried from Keokuk to ST.
4 Louis about $50 miles away with less
loss OF energy than occurs between
the steam engine and the second floor
7 Of an ordinary factory.
= Unlike any other power, water pow
i er in the form of electric power is
/ turned on and off instantly and Is util-
g lied only for SO many hours and min
, utes as the machines are running;
! the steam engine consumes a pretty
I; uniform quantity of coal every hour
! In the day. and also good deal dur
t ing the night when the machines are
4 shut down entirely.
Movement Toward Lower Cost.
: There is no attempt to write
! textbook on the economics of power
s in manufacturing. There can be no
pretense of completeness in a hur-
ried article by newspaper writer on
] some underlying principles involved
: in the reasons why there is building
r at Keokuk the greatest water power
: in the world, to harness the Mississip-
pi In order to make the mighty river
s move the machinery in thousands OF
factories, grouped into the largest IN
dustrial center ever born of revolving
water wheels and spinning electric
generators.
Under Ii all is the fundamental
axiom. These things are part of the
irresistible movement of mankind to-
ward the true economy of producing
;, and distributing necessities and lux
: uries with the least possible cost.
Some Indirect incidents.
The coming of the factories to this
unparalleled giant of cheap water
power involve many indirect results.
: not included within the factory walls,
1t means increased values for real
!, estate more business for every class
: of merchandising; better roads and
: higher prices for the farmers; and all
), the difference between great, bust
ing, manufacturing city and the form
er Keokuk of dolce far niente.
Everywhere, always, the population
has gone to five times the horse pow
er developed by turbines Here 900
y 600 horse power is to be sold, of