davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-15

| above and hangs in the center of the
scroll where the water can strike its
blades with equal force at every point
guided in its course by the shape of
the intakes and curving sides of the
chamber that it has impaired to it
swirling motion much as is seen in the
movement of water subsiding from the
| bowl OF stationary washstand When
the plug is removed
| The place was dark and cavernous
ana reminded one of huge echoing
dungeon. and one was prone to
think of the awful thing that would
happen to man should the torrent
from the outside be suddenly let in
upon him standing there
The Heart of the Dam.
Ascending still higher in the struc.
ture of the power house Mr.. Cooper
pointed out the heart of the whole
power installation, place Of quiet
machines whose constant duty it is to
force the lubricating oils between the
six-foot bearing discs upon which the
turbines revolve. There are two pri-
mary engines which, day and night,
with automatic government perform
this important function. There are two
others always ready to take up the
work In the very improbable case that
either Of the first should fail. And
to guard the great work from going TO
smash should these four engines all
break down there are still others, In
no way depending on the power OF
the dam for their propulsion, which
almost automatically will take up the
life functions Of the installation.
Many barrels of oil are kept in CON
slant motion by these machines which
force it to its appointed task from
which it flows by gravity back to the
central storage place to be strained
and again sent on its way. Thus this
small room scarcely larger than ones
private office, contains the heart
throbs OF the great undertaking, pulls
ing through its various parts and Civ
ing life to the ponderous pieces of ma
chinery which would burn themselves
to cinders in the twinkling OF an eye
were the oil supply to cease even for
an instant.
Entering the circular chambers
where these bearings are set Mr.. Coop.
er pointed out the immensely and
strength of the construction, and the
manner in which the turbine rests up
on the bearings. Then with utter dis
regard for Sunday clothes he led the
way down ladder, like that en- the
side OF a freight car, into dim re-
gion filed with a complication of
ponderous levers, braces and the up
right shaftings that control series OF
shutters placed around the turbine be-
low, like the blades of an old fasn-
Toned drum wind mill To these
shutter-posts are attached arms that
connect with a piston that is showed
back and forth by pressure in a cylin-
der, the impulse of which opens and
closes the shutters about the turbine
according to the pressure of the water
from the runway and permitting Just
enough of the rushing flood to strike
the blades to constantly produce an
even motion to the wheel.
The Story of the Turbine.
Standing in this place OF strange
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-15
An Old Adaae Smashed.

There is another reason for the
fiaring shape of the draft tube When
the water enters the turbine chamber
above, it does SO in choked ana
rushing condition that fills every inch
of the space occupied by the turbine.
Its weight and impact is what turns
the huge wheels, and as it passes the
blades, it falls into the draft tube,
which is just large enough at the exit
from the scroll chamber to take care
of the flood that rushes into it from
the forebay above. Then the water
reaches the wider portion of the tube
and, spreading out, leaves that above
somewhat unsupported by it's mass,
and creates sort of suction that
pulls the water downward, giving ad.
ditional force to that which is press
ing in from above Thus the old adage
that the water which has passed the
wheel exerts no more influence, is
shattered by the construction OF Mr..
Cooper's remarkable turbine cham
bers.
Up one of these draft tubes, by a
temporary stairway Mr.. Cooper led
the way arriving at what appeared to
be very high upper story, but which
in fact is on a level with the river
bed. Out through this upper sub
structure into the vast space which
will, when the water is turned in be-
come the forebay, he went, and then
entered cavernous chamber, in
which one of the great turbines had
been placed. This chamber is curl
ously wrought affair, opening out upon
the forebay through four intakes, like
the fingers of human hand. Inside it
is the shape of spiral which dimin-
ishes in size as its walls curve around
the turbine which is suspended from
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-15

million cubic yards of concrete,
made of 650,o00 barrels of cement
and third of a million cubic yards
of sand from the mouth of the Des
Moines river, below Keokuk. He has
laid and used fifteen miles of standard
| gauge railroad track over which have
constantly been running fifteen loco
motives and 142 cars. To carry the
current to st. Louis and intermediate
points, Mr.. Cooper has constructed a
transmission line consisting of steel
towers fifty feet high, traversing a
right-of-way one hundred feet wide
and 1877 miles long. In addition 10
this he will cause to be constructed
twenty-five mile boulevard of the
highest type around the lake above
the dam. Some thirty million dollars
will have been invested in this
enterprise when the floods of the river
are let into the turbine scroll cham,
bers.
And Hugh L. Cooper is only forty
seven years of age.
How Nature Prepared the Way.
Five years ago Mr.. Cooper first con.
ceiyed the idea of building the Keo-
kuk dam. He visited the place and
carefully examined the situation. He
found that in all the length of the
river, the foot of the Des Moines
rapids offered the only point where
such dam could successfully be CON
structed.
In ages gone by before the great
glacier swept down from the north
upon this region, it is quite certain
that the Father of Waters flowed
placidly along bed located some
twelve or fourteen miles west of Keo-
kuk. 1t is supposed that the stream
departed from it's present course a
short distance below Burlington and
traversed a southwesterly direction
until well into Missouri when 1t
turned again and followed the chan
mel as at present. The ice barrier
swept all semblance of river from the
face of the earth. depositing great
moraines of rock, drift and shale in
its path. Finally in ages of time It
melted away, leaving the valley bare
with the river running in a new chan.
mel which it had cut through the solid
limestone Of the ridge on which Ham
ilton and Keokuk now are located.
Nowhere in the full range of the river
from its source to its mouth is just
such another closing on of the rocky
walls, with such an expanse of low
lands above which power lake can
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-15
Happy and Enthusiastic.


But he was happy and enthusiastic.
He began the work of laying out his
plans with a heart that trobbed with
the assurance of success, for never
for moment in the entire five years
OF his efforts on this undertaking
has Mr. Cooper doubted that his plans
would end in complete success.
1t is an interesting and fortunate
thing to be able to look upon the in
tricate and stupendous results of two
years of such work as Mr.. Cooper has
been doing at Keokuk, with him as
ones guide and instructor. Brief and
concise in language, and STEPPED IN
the lore of engineering figures, which
he makes clear to the laymen by
homely Illustration, Mr. Cooper is an
ideal guide for such an occasion. All
things which appeared in perplexing
and unsurmountable difficulties are
made clear and simple by his practi-
cal explanations. Like the story of
some mysterious growth of fairy lore.
full of heart interest and rugged
facts, his recital went on as he led
his companion from place to place.
Standing upon the top of the great
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-15
Into the Tail Race,

Up, out of the depths into the rag
ged eXpanse of the tail race on the
eastern side OF the towering power
house Mr.. Cooper passed. At one side
near the lower end of the lock a
steam shovel was busily tearing out
the inner portion of the cofferdam
wall, which separated the river from
the space where he was standing.
Mr.. Cooper showed the edge of the
rocky bed of the river twenty-five
feet above. While he talked the steam
shovel crunched and shuddered in its
furious task, eating great holes in
earth, loose rock and heavy timbers.
No attempt was made to remove the
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-15

supporting timbers, twelve inches
square, separately, but the shovel was
permitted to scoop them out bodily,
and load them on the waiting dump
cars. Ten thousand of those car loads
of earth and rock will be used in lev
cling the ground around the lock and
dry dock, making for the government
beautiful parkway along the Iowa
shore.
Mr.. Cooper paused to watch the
work of the steam shovel, as though
it We're new thing to him. Power
full, isn't it." said he. But it lacks
one human accomplishment" he add
ed, thoughtfully. II heard an Irish
man exclaim, after watching one Of
these things at work: 'Begorra it can
bate me wurrukin', but be jabbers, 1t
can't vote"
Sloshing across the bottom of the
tail race-the great channel dug in
the bed of the river to allow the wa
ter rushing through the turbine cham
bers to escape into the river without
too much commotion, Mr. Cooper en-
tered one of the immense draft tubes
extending downward and outward
from the turbines In the power house
that lowered above. They are OBJ
long things and grow narrower az they
ascend, like the funnel of huge
French horn. This shape, Mr.. Cooper
explained, was to ease the water out
ward, causing it to subside from its
fury among the turbine blades until
it swims quietly out into the river
with scarcely noticeable rippel
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-15

SdteS u the government LOCK ne SAD,
1T is as wide as the Panama canal
lock and fully as deep. 1t is too
wide, but we had to built it this way
to satisfy the government engineers.
You can float two of the largest river
steamers in 1t side by side 1t will
cost nearly fortune every year more
! than it ought to to maintain and
operate it because OF this unnecessary
size"
The immensely OF 1t.
Down into the bottom of the abyss
he led his companion, showing him
the tremendous size of the lock wall
by near inspection of the retaining
arches. Around under the frowning
facade of the steel gates the immens-
ity of the structure was made still
more clear. A heavy bucket of ce.
ment went sliding over the specta-
tors head, causing him suddenly TO
duck, although it missed him by ten
feet. A man was heating rivets white
hot and tossing them through the air,
twenty-five feet to workman who
deftly caught them in an iron scoop
and drove them home with the pneu-
matte hammer
Amid this clamor of industry, Mr..
Cooper called young man to his side
and gave him some instructions. The
face was smeared with CRIME, but the
eyes were keen, and the countenance
alert with intelligence. Few words
were passed. THAT fellow came here
stranger to the land said Mr..
Cooper. Ills wages were $50 per
month year ago. Now he is one or
my best superintendent, and is re.
ceiving $3.50 per month"
Down a narrow stairway Mr.. Coop
er led the way, turning sharp angles
and descending lower until they ar.
rived at a subterraneous gallery light
ed only by electric bulbs 1t remind
ed one Of the silent catacombs of
Rome, but resounded with the throb
of distant machinery. 1--WE are thirty
feet under the surface of the river"
said Mr.. Cooper. This is an avenue
for the men who look after the under
region of the dam. The great lock Is
over us These wheels govern valves
that open and suck the mud from
under the gates whenever it accumu-
lates. This pump is draining the
seepage water that comes through the
concrete walls. All stone and con
crete will permit the seepage of
water for time. until the moisture
gradually seals up the finest pores
with silt and makes the rock absolute
ly impervious to the drain
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-15

and solved one difficulty after the
other, with an Unconditional determine
alton that has enabled him to accom-
plish his great task with a complete
ness and apparent ease that has
made the undertaking seem to be but
plaything in his hands. The extent
of the plaything is shown in few
figures.
Hugh L. Cooper has within the
twenty-five months created a success
sion of monolithic concrete structures
comprising one continuous mass two
and one-half miles long and made UP
of dam 4,649 feet long, fifty-three
feet high and forty-two feet thick, a
power house Lbs feet long, 1872 feet
wide and TT feet high, lock COM
posed of two walls thirty-three feet
thick and fifty-two feet high, forming
an immense basin no feet wide and
four hundred feet long. and gates that
vie with those Of the Panama canal
locks in monstrosity; dry dock $50
feet wide and 46O feet long: a sea
wall LILO feet long and seventy-three
feet high. and ranging from ten to
twenty feet thick; an ice fender 1925
feet long, nine feet high and eight
feet wide, resting on piers ten feet
square, rising some forty-fve feet
from the bed of the river
A Great Undertaking.
This gigantic structure will form a
lake extending from Keokuk to some
miles above Burlington, the water
from which will rush through the tur-
bine chambers creating a force equal
at maximum to three hundred thou,
sand horse power, 100000 of which
will be offered for sale at points
within a radius of two hundred miles
from the power plant.
To accomplish this undertaking, Nj.
Cooper has constantly had under en-
ployment over fifteen hundred work
men, has used about million dollars
worth of machinery, most of which
will go to the junk heap when the
work is completed; has used over half
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-15

that the project was feasible one
His personal fortune then amounted
to little over one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars.
The Nerve of Gambler.
/ The first step in the great under
taking was to secure the thirty mil
lion dollars with which to finance it.
With confidence in his plans and a
brave and dauntIess heart Mr.. Coop
er toured almost the entire civilized
world in search of men in whom he
could instill confidence in his under
taking 1t was heart-breaking per
iod in the life of Mr. Cooper, and he
states that nothing he has done in the
actual solving Of the problems of the
construction work on the dam was
nearly so hard as the task of financ-
ing the project.
From one group of financiers to
another he Went with his scheme,
only to be turned down. Each time
he sunk little of his private fortune.
Five thousand dollars went here and
five thousand there Each time he
placed bunch of money on the risk
he would say, this time 1 will win,"
and when he saw the bid fall through
and his money disappear he would
smile again and say, I'll win out
yet" Fifty-eight times Mr.. Cooper
tried to land his prize Fifty eight
times he was turned down by
the best financiers and keenest bust
ness men in the world. He has sew
enteen thousand dollars left and TAX
ing five thousand of that, he made
the fifty-ninth ventUre-and won.
When he completed the negotiations
which secured to his enterprise the
assurance of ample funds and was
ready to begin the preliminary work
at Keokuk, Mr.. Cooper's fortune OF
over one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars had dwindled to the sum of
$4,000. He had spent over one hun
dred and forty thousand dollars be-
fore he was able to turn a wheel.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-15

be formed. These points Mr.. Coop
er observed. and he satisfied himself
that the project was a feasible one.
His personal fortune then amounted
to little over one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars.
Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-10-02
MORE SCHOOL MIDDLE.
Attorney Haddock, of Shoshone,
Thwarts the Establishment of
an Independent District.

Pursuant to the will of MAORI
ty of the residents of this school
district as expressed at the polls
last Saturday, the board of county
commissioners on Monday proceed
ed one step further in the formation
of an independent district by APP
pointing as directors the persons
recommended at the mass meeting
last week. The terms of the vari-
Gus directors were determined by
lot, J. H. Fancher and Oliver Hill
drawing the one year term, w. H.
Sturgis and Ed. White the two year
term and O. J. Wilson and Jno. T.
Graham the three year term.
When everything was supposed
to have been adjusted to the salts
faction of all parties concerned At
torney Haddock, of Shoshone took
occasion to block any further pro-
ceedings by filing protest that the
election was illegal, having been
held one day too soon. On refer
ring to the law it was found that
his protest was logical, even though
it was based on mere technicality
1t was however, sufficient to put
a stop to any further steps toward
the organization of the independent
district, and the friends OF the
measure in this section would like
to have Mr.. Haddock explain why
as a resident of the district hi
should interpose an objection at TIT
eleventh hour, thus fostering an ad
Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-10-02
State Fair Honors.

As usual this section took all the hon
OTIS that could be bestowed upon it at the
Inter Mountain Fair at Boise last week.
The exhibits OF farm products were con-
fined to Ada county, thus barring this
section from any competition in this
division.
In the swine department, however,
Mr.. Geo. II. Lawshe, OF Falls City, this
county, seemed to sweep the boards in
the Chester White class, besides taking
several sweepstakes in competition with
all breeds. The following are his win.
nings as officially reported:
Chester Whites: Boar two years old
or older-Geo. ii. Lawshe, Falls City,
Idaho, first
Boar, one year and under two-G. II
Lawshe, first.
Boar six months and under one veal
&C. II. Lawshe, first.
Boar under six months, G., II. Lawsh'
first.
breeding SOW TWO years VI VNe', "
II. Lawshe, first.
Breeding SOW, two years or over, Il. Ii
Lawshe, first.
Breeding SOW, one year, under two
G. II. Iawshe, first and second.
Sow, six months, under one year, q
II. Lawshe, first and second.
Sow under six months, q. II. l-awshe
first and second.
Senior herd, G.. II. Lawshe, first.
Junior herd, G.. II. Lawshe, first.
Sweepstakes: Boar, any age, q. Ii
Lawshe, first.
Sweepstakes; Sow, any age, q. II
Lawshe, first.
Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-10-02
READ THIS.

Jerome is to have the best Lyceum
Course ever. The committee has spared
no effort nor sacrifice nor money to give
to the Jerome people something entirely
new.
The first number will be gwen wed
nesday evening, Oct. s, at the Amuse-
ment hall. 1t will consist OF Male
Quartet aud everybody knows what a
good male Quartet is.
The tickets will be 500 for the season
or 75c single admission. You cannon
afford to miss any one of the entertain
ments. Reserve your tickets early
Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-10-02

ii you want good home cooked meal
during the Fair stop at the Zahn build
ing, two doors west of the Times Office.
Kodak developing and finishing done
at North Side Pharmacy We use the
cyko paper which gives the picture a
perfect finish. 30-tf
All trains the first Of the week have
brought scores Of strangers to town, at
tracted here by promises held out by the
lair management. Indications point to
the largest crowd this week ever assem-
bled in Jerome.
Mr.. Ralph G. j. Wallace is enjoying a
visit from his parents Mr.. and Mrs.,C.
ii. Wallace. who arrived from Homer.
Illinois the first OF the week and will re-
main until after the fair. They have
been making quite an extensive tour Of
the northwest, closely studying the va
rlous irrigation projects, and Mr.. Wal
lace has no hesitancy in pronouncing this
section the most promising OF any he has
seen
Let me figure with you on your winter
coal supply. THos. JAYcox.
Dir. and Mrs. j. B. Hotchkiss, OF
Parsons, kans., the latter sister OF l..
L. Alexander, arrived last Saturday and
are dividing their time visiting with the
editor and his family and admiring the
fine exhibits at the fair and other items
OF interest over the tract 1t is their
first visit to Idaho, and they view with
wonder and admiration the amount Of
development that has been done here in
SO short time.
We are headquarters for school sup
plies. The Racket
Mr.. Luther Boyd, son of Mr. and Mrs.
ID. 5. Boyd, living west of town, met
with an accident Sunday evening which
for a time was considered alarming by
his parents and friends. He was riding
4 broncho at the race track, and was
thrown from the animal, striking on his
head and shoulders, rendering him I'M
conscious. He was removed to the Je-
rome Drug Co. store and physician
summoned, and il was some time before
he was revived. Fortunately no bone
were broken, and the young man is now
congratulating himself that he escaped Sc
luckily.
Picking spices, 30c pound.
The Racket
Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-10-02
THE SCHOOL MEETING
Mnch Interest Manifested by Farmers
In School Matters.

The mass meeting called for last Fri
day evening TO recommend the names Of
six person for appointment as school
trustees, resulted in most enthusiastic
gathering of farmers and towns people.
+. q. Gauss was chosen as chairman
Of the meeting, who briefly stated the
objects of the meeting, and called for
the selection OF secretary, Mr.. Geo.
Hosshire being chosen for this position.
While nothing was said to indicate it,
it was at once manifest that it was a
wagon versus anti wagon gathering, and
as the business proceeded it was soon
apparent that the latter contingent was
largely in the majority. Alter some
sparring over parliamentary rules, the
meeting settled down to business, and
the work was soon accomplished.
1t was the sentiment of the meeting
that the board be composed of three
members from the rural. districts and
three from town, and accordingly a list
Of nominations was made Tor the rural
districts, and ballot taken resulting in
Oliver Hill, Jno. T. Graham and o. J.
Wilson receiving the largest number OF
votes cast, whereupon by motion they
were declared the unanimous choice OF
the meeting.
list of names was then presented
from which to select three members from
the town, and the ballot showing the
largest number OF votes for W. II. Stur-
gis, Ed White and j. H. Fancher. they
were declared the unanimous choice OF
the meeting
Upon motion the secretary was in
structed to transmit copy OF the pro-
ceedings OF the meeting to the board OF
county commissioners for their considera-
ton in appointing directors for indie
| pendent school district No. 80.
The meeting adjourned with the best
Of feeling on all sides and an evident
desire on the part OF all to give their aid
and encouragement to the new board in
the event OF their appointment.
Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-10-02

ditional expense upon the district
for the holding of another election.
The result will only be the delay
ing of the formation of the district
until another election can be called
which will be something over a
month, as the board does not meet
in regular session again until Oct q.
18th and it requires 20 days notice
before an election can be held.
Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-10-02
NOTICE TO SETTLERS.

Jerome, Idaho, Sept. 80, 1913.
Water will be turned out of the
canals October 10th, 1913, for the
usual seasons repairs to the reser-
voirs, canal system and other works.
Settlers are given notice at this time
so they can fill their cisterns and
make arrangements for domestic
and stock supply during the period
water is out of the canals.
George Rinker,
Water Master.