The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-08-28
KEoKUK INDUSTRIAL
ASSOCIATION
CONTINUED from Page ID

CONTINUED from Page ID
with every conceivable kind OF q
factory proposition. Some of the
large majority of them are not. Nat
urally then, every proposition, has to
be investigated carefully in order
that the good ones may no be owe
looked.
Thousands Of letters have been
written by the Industrial Association
during the four years. Hundreds OF
personal Investigations have been
made and everything has been done
to bring the legitimate factory prof.
ect into touch with Keokuk.
Many local people have believed
all that was necessary, after the pow
err project was completed, was to SIT
on front porches, mark up prices on
property and receive unthfnkable
prices for real estate, factory build
ings and residences. There has been
much disappointment and some hard
ship as a result of this unnatural be-
lief. Some have become 50 badly
discouraged that they are ready to
throw up their hands, lease to try to
do anything and let the city take
care Of itself.
Takes Years TO Develop.
This never develops anything and
IS very apt to result in hardship, as
we'll as %hindrance to the real growth
OF the city. It will take years to de-
velop the city, q fact which Is COM
monty known. In order to realize h
full benefits the people OF keokuk
have discovered that they must put
their shoulders to the wheel and as
sist in the work being done. It Is
the only way, SO experts have discov-
cred, to make q city metropolitan.
But It will take a constant effort
A great deal OF effort has been ex-
pended by the Association in the en-
tertainment of conventions. Since
the organization Of the Industrial
Association approximately twenty
conventions q year have been enter
tanned in this city. The effort on the
part OF the Association to secure con-
ventions has been so successful that
at the present time the Association
is having all it can do to meet the
demands incident to their entertain
ment. Conventions and excursions
are now coming to the city weekly.
DedEcatins Power Plant.
An important event OF 1913 was
the celebration COMMUNICATING the
opening of the great Mississippi n.y.
d%ro-electric project, held on the 28th,
9th and 2sth Of August. This cele-
bration had the backing OF the Indus
trial Association and was handled
through its officers, being one of the
largest OF its kind known in the cen
trail west. On that occasion there
were present the governors Of Mis-
souri,, Illinois and lows, besides eng1-
neers and scientific men Of high repu-
tation from all parts Of the world, to-
gether with several thousand WISH
tors, making the occasion . notably
successful one.
Because OF the increase in traffic
between Keokuk and the east, agita-
ton was started soon after the con-
struction OF the dam, looking toward
the establishment of q railway bridge
the top Of the dam, around the
north end Of the power house across
union station. The discussion Of the
subject led to the organization Of a
company OF citizens Of Keokuk and
Hamilton for the purpose Of securing
from congress the right to build this
bridge. The Industrial Association
has stood behind the effort to secure
the final consent OF the national gov.
its interest along this line. During
January, 1914, a subcommittee OF
the congressional committee on inter.
state and foreign commerce visited
Keokuk as the guests Of the Indus
trial Association for the purpose Of
going over the dam and power house
in person with an eye to determine
the suitability Of the present install.
lation for that purpose. An entire
day was spent with this committee,
together with representatives Of the
war department, river engineers and
government officials, in making this
investigation and inspection. The
result was satisfactory, but the com
mittee felt that the old bridge COM
pany should rebuild its bridge and
make 1t capable Of handling the in
creased traffic. The immediate pros
pect is not great, however, because
the old bridge company, backed by
Andrew Carnegie, has authorized the
reconstruction of the old bridge for
the purpose Of taking care Of in
creased traffic.
City Improvement In Progress.
During the spring Of 1911 the first
cleanup campaign Of the city was In
stituted under the auspices OF the
committee on parks, Fairgrounds and