Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-28
REAL PRO0RE 50,

three and one half to four million dol
lars to buy and improve the land
around the state capitol as proposed
~ the recent legislature.
The government engineers who
made the Dee Moines river survey,
recently stated that for ten million
dollars the Des Moines river can by
q lock and dam system be made navi-
gable from Keokuk to Des Moines.
This plan win also give sufficient water
power to develope from 30 to 80 thou
sand horse power between the points
mentioned.
Which piece of work would do the
more towards getting reasonable
freight rates to the state capital?
Which piece OF work would DO the
more towards getting factories and
industries located In lowa7
Which piece Of work would add the
more value to the state?
Which piece Of work would have a
tendency to invite capital from out
side of the state to invest inside of
tho state?
which piece OF work will be Of the
more benefit In the matter Of trans
portation to the farmer and the whole
saler and the manufacturer in Iowa?
The few manufacturers and jobbers
who are located in Iowa are spending
thousands and thousands of dollars
each year trying to get interior Iowa
freight rates put on basis that will
give them an equal chance with peo-
pie engaged In like business In terri
tory outside of Iowa.
The report Of the government en-
gineers stated that by the govern
ment or state cooperating with the
Chicago and Des MONIES River Power
Co., the costs of improving the river
as outlined in the survey would be
divided 50 that the power company
would pay 100000 and the govern
ment or state the remaining $4,000, 600.
In other words the state could cooper
ate with the power company and i'm
prove the river from Keokuk to Des
Mofnes at cost to the taxpayers
very little If any in excess of that
which the extension Of the capitol
grounds will entail.
Wouldn't 1t be better to spend four
million dollars for something that will
be Of lasting and growing benefit than
It would to spend the same amount or
that will not be Of benefit
The purpose Of this article is merely
to arouse thought to it's duties regard
ing the development of the states ma
tufal resources. Until someone shows
us better plan, We feel that the Des
Moines river project with its cheap
power and cheap freight rates, ought
to be developed by private capital I'M
der state or government supervision.
But the point Is that It ought to be
developed. The development OF water
power will conserve our coal supply.
It Is the cheapest power that has yet
been discovered BY man. The state OF
Wisconsin is going to amend It's CON
gtitution SO as to enable it to buy and
hold title to- water power sites and
water power equipment. Iowa has
made little progress in that line, and
one o. the reasons IL that its legisla-
tors have ev1nced no interest in these
matters. They have neglected to do
their duty in the interests Of the
people. People who aspire to b,
elected to the legislature must recog-
nize that they cannot fill the require.
ments by simply going there and draw
ing the salary and voting on a few
routin, matters. Public service must
be tho best-if you can't give that
don't be candidate.
There is fall of nearly 800 feet in
the Des Moines river between Des
Moines and Keokuk, and there are
sites for power dams marked out in
seyera. places in the government sur
vey. This fall aggregates a great deal
more than the height Of Niagara Falls,
Which is about 165 feet.
Lite. from one viewpoint. is Just one