The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-26

The bill as introduced did not meet
with the views OF the committee, nor
our own, and at one of the many hear
ings we withdrew it and prepared a
substi4 ute, which was approved by the
war department and accepted by the
committee. who reported favorably on
the bill and recommended its passage
January 26, 1905.
On the twenty-seventh, Mr.. Marsh
asked unanimous consent that the bill
be taken up and put upon 1t spassage.
The speaker answered that If there
were no objections the request would
be granted At this instance, and
much to our surprise, member by
the name of Baker from New York,
arose and objected. The speaker
asked him to state his objections and
while doing SO. quite number of our
friends gathered around Mr. Baker
and were engaged in trying to get him
to withdraw his objections. Seeing this
the speaker passed the matter and
took up other measures. In short
time Mr.. Baker addressed the chair,
was recognized and withdrew his OBJ
lection. The bill then passed without
a dissenting vote. The speakers kind.
ly patience and consideration saved
the day and virtually secured the pass
age Of our bill.
On the morning of January %, we
called on Senator Allison and told
him that we had done all the things
suggested by him over three years be.
fore. The old Roman did not hesitate
minute; simply said, Il will do what
promised" He at once had sub
committee appointed, of which Sena.
tor A. ]. Hopkins OF Illinois was chair.
man. They took the matter up and re-
ported to the committee on commerce
of the senate that the bill should pass.
The committe concurred and the bill
was brought up In the senate on Feb
ruary 2, 1905, by Senator Hopkins Of
Illinois and Senator Dolliver of Iowa.
1t passed unanimously and was ap-
proved by President Roosevelt Febru-
airy 9, 1905.
On the first day of April 1905, the
stockholders of the company assigned
all their stock to John N Irwin, A. E.
tombstone, William Logan and C. P.
Dadant. their survivors or survivor,
giving them full and complete author
ity to sell or dispose Of it and the
franchise in any manner they saw fit.
During the summer of 1905, this com
mittee prepared and issued a prospec-
tus of some thirty pages, telling the
world what we had and inviting genius
and capital to join and build our dam
We sent these pamphlets to every
coun ry where we thought there was
the slightest chance of securing the
brains and money to carry out our en-.
terprise.
We received great many inquiries
relative to the proposition from
would-be promoters and constructors.
All of them were short either the mon
ey or the brains-or both.
Early in September, 1905, Mr.. Irwin
received telegram from New York,
signed Hugh l.. Cooper, saying he had
seen our prospectus and asking if he
could see the committee if he came to
Keokuk Mr.. Irwin wired him, Yes, y
and two days later, the Butcher and
Wellington of the water power propo-
sition OF Keokuk and Hamilton was on
the ground.
On the 18th, after a lengthy confer
ence, it was agreed that the full com
mittee would go with r. Cooper to
Niagara Falls. where he was then
building water power plant. to see
for themselves what he was doing and
how he was doing 1t.
We reached Niagara Falls on the
thirteenth, visited the works, then
went to Toronto, Canada, and In that