The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-01
Executive Committee Meeting at the
Industrial Association Offices
This Morning Was
Pleasant One.
MEANS A STEP FORWARD
With Power and Rates Considered
Keokuk Will Have Advantage
in Offers to Fac.
tories.

Stock in a greater Keokuk advane-
ed by leaps and bounds today with
the announcement of the decision OF
the interstate commerce commission !
in the famous Mississippi river ra;e
case. which gives reduction on an
rates from the Atlantic seaboard ano
means an estimated annual saving TO-!
Keokuk shippers Of $4,000. Local.
business men consider it as secono
only to the water power in its import
ance to the city, and throughout this
morning Manager John De Witt OF
the Industrial Association was busy
receiving the congratulations of Keo-
kuk jobbers and manufacturers on the
greatest victory yet attained by his
organization
Under the schedule of freight rates
as it has existed, the Industrial Asso,
citation has been practically helpless
in its work of securing big industries
! for Keokuk. Whatever advantages
might be offered in the way of cheap
power and location were offset by
the disadvantages occasioned by high
rates, and to the manufacturer rates
are equally as vital as the cost of
power when change In site is under
consideration.
i After the new adjustment in the
/ schedule Keokuk will be at small dis
advantage in the matter of rates as
compared with other Mississippi
points. After thorough study of the
decision this morning. Manager De-
\ Witt stated that when the difference
4 in the cost of power between Keokuk
and other cities in the power zone Is
i considered, any difference in freigh,
rates that may still exist will be o,
; no consequence.
4 General jollification marked the
meeting OF the executive committee
of the Industrial Association thrs
morning. To Manager De Witt Is
; given the credit for Keokuk's victory
|. Members of the committee are con,
WINGED that the last big barrier has
4 been removed toward developing an
Il Industrial center in Keokuk, and the
!, decision alone is the most important
4 achievement that the association
, could possibly have put through to
successful completion.
It will be remembered that on &C
count of the unusual conditions pre-
yailing at Keokuk, in that the city
: stood to lose whatever benefit CHEAP
power might bring, special hearing
, for Keokuk was arranged. at whicr
Special Examiner Burchmore, the per
sonal representative of Judge Harlan
presided That was in January, 1917
, Complete testimony on the peculiai
: conditions at this point was taken
{ Clifford Thorne, chairman of tn,
{ state railway commission, was of the
: opinion that Keokuk occupied a STRAIT
1 egic position that should result in {
favorable decision for upper Missis
: sippi river cities such as otherwise
/ could not be obtained. II was on thu.
account that the special hearing her,
was followed with so much interes
by cities not directly interested IL
Keokuk. While the direct effect o
the testimony presented by Keokul
+ shippers, the Industrial Association
Judge Logan and Hugh L. Cooper ma,
never be known, Mr.. Thorne Otter
has expressed the appreciation of tn,
state of Iowa for the able assistanc,
rendered by Keokuk in the presenta
ton of the states case.
AS stated elsewhere the commission
has ordered reduction in all rate
from the east, placing Keokuk in
position practically as advantageou
as that of st. Louis.
The difference in rates after Nov.
9 will be SO slight that Keokuk vii
have marked advantage over citie
to the south, when the combinatio,
of freight rates and cheap power /
L considered. Heretofore our loves
= power rates have been Offset by higf
: er freight rates.
:. Another advantage will not be over
= looked by the man who is intereste
. in local freight rates as a Keoku
!. shipper The manufacturers VIII
a have been paying excessive rates III
q der the old schedule will show a sa,
!, ing of 100000 year. This alone
without any outside consideration.
has more than justified all the none
s and effort spent on the propositio
/ by the Industrial Association.