The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-11-23
KEokuK AND THE POWER CON-
PANY.


If patience is virtue the Mississip. /
pi River Power Company is entitled TO
medal. Whether wise or unwise
this organization has refrained from
defending itself against the unjust at
tacks recently appearing in magazines
and newspapers of the country. There
isn't the slightest justification for eva
sion or silence on the part OF the press
when this company violates public pol
icy. 1t. ought to be censured and cor
rected and will be. On the other hand
there is no justification for an assaulti
unless violations have been committed
or unjust rules enforced. The virtue
Of the power company is revealed in
the fact that so far it has refrained
from making public rates charged tol
distributing companies, thereby suf-
fering from reflected criticism. Public
criticism gathers quickly but public
appreciation is slow process.
good name Is the accumulation OF
years of careful conduct and whole
some living. The reputation of cor
poration can be destroyed by evil and
untruthful report as well as that OF an
individual So far as we know the
transactions of this company have
been honorable. Its management is in
the hands of Stone & Webster, which
organization itself has nearly million
dollars invested in Keokuk outside of
their interest in the Mississippi River
Power Company. 1t is incompatible
with good business management to be-
lieve they will pursue policy antagon-
istic to their own interest.
The Mississippi River Power Co. is
business concern. 1t isn't philan-
thropic proposition; was never intend.
ed to be and never exploited as such. 1t
was heralded as practical conserva-
ton of natural resources and it is now
in operation and fulfilling that mis-
sion. It's benefit to humanity will be
determined as the years go by and
the largest measure of helpfulness will
come from a wise application to in
dustrial development The business
of the concern is to sell power. 1t will
be failure unless the power is sold.
With only half of the maximum capac-
ity developed and not one-third OF the
total output sold how can the company
prosper If it adopts policy arbitrary
or antagonistic to the communities it
serves? 1t cannot. The company does
not propose to adopt such a policy. II
| friendliness, fairness and cooperation
will win success then this organization
/ is a sure winner for that is the plan
of operation and line of endeavor.
The Mississippi River Power Co. oc
cupies the position OF a wholesaler and
| sells its product to distributing com
| panfes. The price must be reasonable
otherwise those concerns would de
cline to make contracts If there is an
unreasonable lift" in the price after
the power Is passed to the distributing
companies the Mississippi River Pow
er Co. cannot be held responsible only
In such instances as 1t controls the
4 public utilities purchasing the power
AS going concern this enterprise wa,
turned over to the operating depart
ment less than FIVE months ago. 4
schedule OF rates was imperative. Off
Gals have barely had time to deter
mine the fairness Of those rates. /
after investigation reductions can b.
: made they will be forthcoming.
Keokuk co-operated enthusiasticall,
and efficiently with the company Il
the creation of this enterprise. Wit
} the water power development Thu
} city emerged from tomb. Without
l there was every indication that |
l would have continued the sleep tina
knows no waking. We are now a cit
instead of a cemetery. Don't get alarm
S ed. Everything will work out to a
8 end that will be satisfactory and SUI
h cessful Much of the criticism, Will
y apparently directed against the waite
/ power company, is really aimed at Ke,
/. kuk and her future by jealous rivals.
t PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF PoLiTIcs
}. Wisconsin, long state of new idea
e in popular government and public Sc
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