The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-07-27
.K[OKUK CITIZENS BID
HUGH |. COOPER FAREWELL
Cooper Brought Change.

i among us. AS he has lived with US
land wrought, we have seen our hopes
of bygone years turned to realities
through his handiwork. Here he has
Ibattled with nature and won. Here
/ within our borders his master mind
and skilful hand have reared a work
| that shall endure as splendid monu-
ment to mans genius. Here he has
tanned the spirit of earth's greatest
river and turned its mighty strength
to the useful arts of peace. The pow
err that dwelt in its swift currents, ne
has here gathered to send 1t forth
1 to bestow the blessings OF industry
/ for ages to come. Peace hath Its
victories no less renowned than war,
and here has Hugh l.. Cooper won q
victory of peace, most magnificent
In Its conception, most benign in Its
farreaching results.
/ "As the man who has done this has
dwelled in our midst, we have come
| to know him as man, and today we
esteem him, not alone for his spleu-
did achievement, but for his sterling
worth and qualities of manhood. Mod
est and unassuming. kindly and hui
man, straightforward and manly, We
respect him not only because he Is
Hugh L. Cooper, the creative engi-
neer, but because he is also Hugh l..
Cooper, the man.
To-day his work in keokuk Is done,
and we are near the parting of the
ways. We cannot let him depart
without something to mark the hour
as one which means much to us.
With the sense of qualification which
comes to us in seeing the fruition of
our hopes. there also comes the keen
regret that we are about to lose one
who has endeared himself to us.
Deep Affection OF People.
And so we have gathered here to-
night, Mr.. Cooper, to show you that
we are not unmindful of the season
that has come; to voice the regret
that is in our hearts; and. to show
you our deep appreciation of the ser
vice which ron have done for us and
for the city that we love
We congratulate you upon the &C
complishment of your great work As
you view the finished structure, we
know that there must come 10 you
thoughts of the many and bitter dis.
appointments that attended the early
phases of the project, or the uncsas
ing toll, and anxiety. which have been
your portion as each step was taken,
and We remind ron that ron hare
surmounted ali obstacles which have
opposed You. where man of less in
domitable win would have failed We
know that the completion OF such an
achievement as this must bring to
you the hveliest satisfaction. the
most pardonabIe pride The work
which you have bsiided is not for a
day, nor for year, but it will endure
i that it will bestow its blessings upon
generations that are yet to come, and
that through the years, the mighty
forces which you have shackled will
continue to serve man until that day
when labor shall lay down its ham
mer. and industry shall cease its
striving.
1T is hard to put into words the
emotions which crowd upon US at such
a time as this. After all that You
have done for Keokuk, we stand con
fused and ashamed when we realize
how little we can do for you. Yet
this reassuring thought comes to US
that when the Almighty stored the
( hills with treasures of silver and gold
. in His infinite wisdom He SO ordered
: the universe that man prizes more
y highly than these the gratitude and
T. esteem of his fellows. and of oul
p gratitude and esteem we give you
st The fullest measure.