The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-07-30
What keokuk is Doing
Fred r. Jelift Writes Interesting Story for
Galesburg Republican Register.

On board the steamboat Helen Blair
July 24.--The city of Keokuk is as yet
having no great boom on account OF
the building of the dam across the
Mississippi river and the building Of
the power house, but it is having a
substantial growth with promise of an
accelerated future if all the schemes
| now contemplated are carried through
to successful competition. Two agen-
cies are working The Mississippi
River Power Company, the owner of
the power plant, and the Keokuk Indus
trial Association. The latter is live
business organization, which main
tains an uptown office and manager,
John Dewitt.
1t is clear that the building opera
lions OF the last two or three years
have been of large benefit to all, but
this building is now nearing compile
| ton, large numbers Of men are re-
leased from this undertaking and
there must now come the period OF in
dustrial upbui1ding such as gives per-
manent employment to men. During
the years of construction there have
been a thousand men on salaries, not
to mention the other employees, and
much of this large total OF wages has
gone into keokuk channels OF trade
In consequences retail business along
some lines has trebeled, the value OF
real estate, it is said, quadrupled, and
house rents doubled, and yet although
all lines have felt the exhilaration OF
the water power the sales in real as.
tate have not smashed records, nor
has there been anything approaching
a boom.
But is the bottom now to drop out7
1t certainly will not If the plans of
the power company anad the indus
trial association are carried out.
The former has a great industrial.
scheme the working out of which Will
REQUIRE ten years and which event
ually will supply million people with
living. The tract thus to be made a
veritable bee hive of industry extends
in narrow strip each side Of the rir
er from Burlington to St. Louis.
So far as Keokuk is concerned a
large tract OF land has already heen
acquired by corporation auxiliary to
the power company It Is now laid
1 off, plated and blue printed. One
part of this tract is bottom land ada
cent to the river and the other is
along the bluff. On the former will
be located factories and on the latter
will be admirable sites for the homes
OF working people The company will
emphasize this home feature. IT be-
lieves that fine Industrial status
cannot be maintained unless the en-.
ployes have the proper environments
that conduce to thrift and content
ment. It is proposed to make along
the bluff ideal home conditions. ut IS
not enough" said one deeply interest
ed. ito have factories. These of them
selves cannot draw. They csnnot be
successfully operated withou. nigi
Grade of workers and such will n st
come where the appointments are
poor and miserable
This much for the homes. AS to the
industrial tract proper, all the rail
roads centering In Keokuk will have
free access to it. The company ex-
poets that the cheapness and excel.
lence of the power which It is prepar-
ed to furnish and sell at fraction of
the cost of steam power will attract
enterprises.
The industrial association has also
acquired good tract of sixty-six
acres of land for sites for factories
and the secretary said that prospects
are now looking better. Among re.
cent extensions are those Of the Arti-
fetal Ice Company, whose new plant
has effected smart reduction In the
price of ice; the Independent Starch
and Glucose Company; the Bent Wood
! company and the Purity Oats com
pany. The Mills-Ellsworth company
has relocated its factory.
| The association is prepared to give
site to any new company that will
make showing. 1t Is receiving many
Inquiries, which is regarded as a
good omen
In the building line Keokuk can
show 100000 hotel now in process
OF erection land this will be a great
help to the city. There is new $780,
600 Y w. G. A. structure. This year
4 the city is putting down three miles
of paving. The Standard Oil is put
ting UP a $4,000 to 100000 plant. The
city is constructing a settling basin
and otherwise Improving It's water
plant, so that there will be most
ample supply Of water. A fine res.
! ture is the new Masonic hall, costing
100000 to $4,000. Many new homes
are going UP, and these are indicationn
of substantial and not OF ephemeral
growth.
But after all chief interest centers
in the purpose Of tile lower company
to encourage all through It's long tract
the establishment of factories and
making the immediate vicinity OF the
| y 30 A.