The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-04-13
KANSAS BOOSTERS VISIT
KEOKUK ENROUTE EAST

train pulled out for Burlington. In
order to save time, the special was
locked at the sea wall,
The Kansas boosters wore blue lin
en- hats and on their lapels had sun
flower badges. The sunflower was
big enough to be seen mile away,
and on ths ribbon attached to the
flower was the legend, Southeastern
Kansas Boosters Association" The
boosters carried band with them to
furnish music at the various stops.
Size Surprises Them.
From the time the crowd entered
the works OF the Mississippi Hsver
Power company to the minute the
train pulled out, they were asking
questions about the big works here.
This construction features were ex-
planned to them, and the figures OF
the more interesting features were
given. The visit to the power house
caused many remarks Of wonderment
as the crowd saw the big generators
at work. The travelling crane in the
house caught the eye of many OF
them.
By the time they got out on the
dam they were pretty we'll versed IN
situation and were displaying the
greatest OF interest. The experience
which seemed to please many of the
visitors was seeing the lock operate.
The regret that boat was not going
through was expressed by several
The universal exclamation was,
This is wonderful. and SO much big
ger than had any idea it could be-"
One of the party said to Gate
City reporter that he had been read
ing about the dam for some time, and
that he had been seeing pictures OF
the power house, but that neither d.
scription or pictures could do credit
to the work, and that it would be
necessary to see it. and to be on 1t.
Many of the boosters declared they
were coming back here later, when
they had more time and so over the
WORKS carefully.
Samples on Train.
On the train are samples of the
famous Kansas mineral wells, Oil
fields, coal pits and the like, and
wheat, alfalfa and other crops are not
forgotten in getting the samples on
board. The plan is to take interested
people through the cars at the various
stopping places, and show them the
output of the Kansas districts.
The purpose of the trip is explained
in one Of the advance sheets IS fol
lows:
This train is making $500 mile
trip to call attention to the wonder
full resources and advantages Of south.
eastern Kansas.
This is the wealthiest, busiest part
of the great state Of Kansas. 1t is
rich in everything that goes to make
agricultural and commercial suprem
acy. and great fortunes are being
built up by investors.
Oil and natural gas abound. and the
country is ribbed with pipe lines. The
Standard Oil company has an i'm
mense refinery, and the Prairie com
pany, the Kansas Oklahoma branch OF
the Standard, maintains its headquar'
tiers in this region. The National Oil
company also has large refinery in
the field. and other independent com.
panic IS have similar plants scattered
over the district.
Natural gas is so abundant that
millions of cubic feet are available
at low rates for manufacturers, and
no other fuel can compete with it in
cheapness and convenience for domss
tic use.
Petroleum Development.
Petroleum development has been In
progress for twenty years, and the
period OF prospecting is long since
past, the business having settled down
to an established industry which EN-
ploys hundreds Of men, brings to the
surface untold wealth annually and
distributes to the fortunate landown
GTS oNSiS sSoI III "A'N
royalties.
This region Is the most thickly
populated part of Kansas, but there
is room for many more people be
cause OF the great industries deve
oping It's mineral wealth and the
| wond srful fertility of its soil 1t is
watered by important rivers, and IS
we'll timbered, the shipping of walnut
logs being an important industry.
Eight counties in southeastern Kan
, sas have a combined population one
fifth that in all the other ninety-s ever
counties in the state, this, too, in
spite Of the fact that six OF the lar
gest cities Of Kansas are located out
side this region.