The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-10-20
Quincy Commission Would Have Him
Explain His Ideas Of Termin-
ais and Dock Facilities to
Them.
NEED HELP OF EXPERT
Down River Men Seem to be Of
Many Minds AZ to What
VIII be the
Best.

Major NJ. Meigs has been invited to
come to Quincy and address citizens
there en- the question Of terminals.
The Quincy Herald says:
Realizing that the improving OF
the river front Is one calling for en-
cheering skill the meeting held sun
day afternoon resulted in the adop-
ton of a motion made by Aid. Weis-
enburger, following the suggestion OF
Judge Perry, that the mayor officially
invite Major Montgomery Meiss, U.
s. civil engineer, to come down from
his ONCE at Keokuk and confer
with the local joint committee on how
the work should be done to attain the
best possible results.
Major Meigs has studied the river
problems from all angles and further
more has always shown, as pointed
out by Judge Perry, a friendly inter
est in Quincy. His ideas will carry
weight and his suggestions will be
Of a character that will prove OF
value. The meeting of yesterday aft
ernoon showed that there are about
as many ideas on how the river front
should be improved as there were per-
sons present and participating and
other meetings would have the same
result. What is needed, and the need
was realized, is advice, from an ex-
pert, end Major Meigs is an expert.
Speaking Of Major Meigs recalls
remarks he made at dinner under
the auspices of the Chamber OF Com
merce several years ago and which
were referred to by Judge Perry at
Sunday afternoons meeting. In the
course of his Informative talk that
evening what the major said
is reproduced here because the
remarks bear directly on the subject
under discussion, better water fronts
for river cities and improved terminal
facilities;
What Major Meigs Said.
"The time has come when all cities
OF Importance along the river must
be thinking of terminal facilities. BY
this I mean suitable docks for receiv-
ing and discharging freight from
steamboats,. These docks must be SO
contrived that at all stages OF water q
convenient landing may be had with
equipment for loading and unloading
with the minimum Of hand labor.
with q range of 20 feet between
high and low water on this part Of
the Mississippi it Is my idea that
only vertical wall alongside of which
boats may lie conveniently will satisfy
the conditions. Picture such a verti-
cal wall with platform back OF 1t Of
suitable size and above the highest
water. covered with shed for the
protection Of all freight needing It.
At the top of this wall and close to
the outer edge I picture railroad
track for convenient Interchange OF
between boats and rail
road cars.
Plans for Elevators.
~ would have at intervals Of say
100 feet or more, square recesses in
the vertical wall Of the dock, open
towards the river and closed on the
other three sides in which platforms
or elevators are hung. The freight
rolled onto the elevator at the Level
of the boats deck would be hoisted
either to the level Of the open car
door, or IL the delivery is into the
warehouse, to the level OF the floor
OF same. The level of this floor should
/, a, h ais NM IN h =
back doors OF the warehouse should
be loaded and unloaded just as 1t is
done in railroad freight houses with
out heving to lift 1t up to the level OF
the wngon bed. Besides this ware.
house there should be = portion Of the
dock uncovered whore larger stun
could be handled, too big to 60 on
The elevators, like timbers, automo-
biles, threshing machines and the like.
"On this part Of the dock electric
cranes would probably be found the
best solution of the problem Of freight
handling.
TT Is useless to expect that up to
date freight houses and docks can be
or built for nothing. 1t
will cost money OF make them but
It will be money well spent If it will
mitigate the rigors Of freight tariffs
based on the desire to pay dividends
on watered stock Of railroads.
at ls encouraging to think that
where there Is a will there is always
d wag and that on the great lakes
they have so solved the handling of
freight that a 6,000-ton ship gets its
load IN less than four hours and Is
under way again"