The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-02-23

dition demands that We get down t.
rock bottom facts, that We cease max
ing dividends out of our capital, in
stead Of our earnings. and that sober
business like methods prevail from
farm to bank counter. rather than TIL
temporary intoxicAtion OF speculation
or over expanded credit.
Real prosperity ID prosperity FOL
the greatest number. All mankind de
serves to be both happy and prosper
GUS. We all know that happiness Is
acquired by everyone being and doing
good. The theory is simple, but Il
apply 1t to human life that is another
story. <
II is not difficult to understand pros
perity and the way TO maintain ii, but
to apply that knowledge to practical
everyday business, where some ear
nestly desire prosperity for them
selves. regardless of the general vel
fare; and others honestly desire the
real article. which is prosperity for
everyone, that is likewise quite an
other matter.
The Foundation Of Our Wealth.
1 Right in this section we are thor
oughly alive to commercial and indus
trial development. Every city has iii
organization to make this great in
dustrial center where the whir of this
spindle and melody of the anvil may
make this valley resound with indus
trial music which will chord with '.the
busy hum of men, but the most i'm
portant factor in permanent, real pros
i perity is an awakening to the fac
that it is to be found at the founda
tons Of our national wealth, the con
servation of our unparalleled natura
resources and especially the grea
basic foundation of soil production.
In this group two counties are re
resented which have contribute.
thousands of acres of the best an,
most fertile soil to what they beiiey,
j to be greater conservation Of natur
al power through this great water in
stallaticn at Keokuk. No stronge
argument could be presented to Lei
and Des Moines counties to tax,
every advantage of the great reser
voir OF energy being created here
than this primary loss which it has en-
tailed. The fact that the land ha,
been purchased and literally paid TO
means little when we consider tn,
| economic loss. 1t is production cur
tailed for this and future generations
the decreased yield Affecting corninl
/ centuries, perhaps, which we mus
meet and overcome not only by nes
industries, but by better methods uI
on the lands that remain.
"Everybody's Doing IL,
No subject is today so widely con
sidered as this of better farming Fo
! some years past every bankers assu
citation has devoted more time to thi
topic than to any one strictly bankin,
subject. Everybody's doing it. and !
all this has any tendency whatever t,
encourage our farmer friends towar,
higher standard in their vocation, ",
may feel the satisfaction which come
of having helped to make two blade
OF grass grow where one grew before
To give the farmer this incentiv,
! means more to any community tina,
the biggest manufacturing enterprise
more than train loads of new mer
chants, solid blocks of newly organic
ed banks or whole acre lots full o
lawyers or other non producin
classes.
1t does not matter in what particu
lar sphere of commercial activity on,
may be placed, progress is the Ike.
note of success. Whether we till tn
soil, drive an engine. erect buildings
or handle the exchanges of trade an,
commerce, we are all parts of tina
| grand action we call business. tn
scientific direction Of profitable hi
man energy.
Our interests in any walk OF lif
are very closely interviewer, and as ii
every department of trade and com
merce we are profting by experience
study and the advice of specialists, a
We are everywhere making economic
and improvements, go in these days q
close competition the farmer finds i
necessary to improve In method an
economic in practice. making hi
4 vocation calling of knowledge an
skill as well as Of industry in this da
J Of commercial rivalry. which reveal
to US strikingly the old, inexorabI
law Of the survival of the fttest.
Progress and the Farmer.
The progress Of the farmer is wri
ten in the history Of our country. H
has been In the forefront of those VIII
have responded 10 their country
call from the time Israel Putnam lei
: his plow and rode 10 join his comman
at Concord down TO the time wfie
: our government enlisted thousands /
our farmer lads TO fight the first wa
ever wagAd in the broad name
Humanity, and in behalf OF an allie
people.
The American farmer has heen