The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-04-29

nrSt be earned Dy SOulcptuy. uS
/ factory. the farm. the office and
the store are the scenes where
| the hand and brain produce that
which makes possible the better
things of life. The very-compleN
tiles Of our commercial, civic and
social conditions render all our
activities interdependent, one re,
lying for its development upon the
character of tile other. The
march of progress must embrace
ell lines of human activities In
order to complete and harmonize
the efficiency of the whole. Thus
il becomes clear that the modern
commercial organization has a
two-fold mission and purpose. II
must promote the material adj
vancement simultaneously with
promoting the civic, moral and
educational progress of the COM
munity.
Mr.. Bruce has the correct idea.
Factories. commerce, jobbing, loaded
rail trains, belching smoke stacks. the
turning of wheels, and sparks of cleo
tricity with well paid mechanics
come first. then viii follow the city
beautiful. boulevards, parks, churches,
monuments, etc
We have got to offer something 70
the proposed locators. We have got
to go the western Iowa and Nebraska
towns little better in rates on COM
modities; we have got TO prove our
shipping facilities are better, and rates
lower. We have got to demonstrate
there is reason for locating In keo-
kuk: which a thousand towns have
have not got. We have got to show
business men Jreal live business mem
who are posted on ali these matters,
that it will be TO their advantage to 10
cate among us. We already have tne
monuments of Indians and others,
churches. schools. streets. etc But
We have got to show the visitor that
power is cheaper here than anywhere
in the middle of the continent, that
gas is lower than Nebraska, that water
is sold cheaper than many other
places. That taxes are as reasonable
as in any other locality Idle prom
Uses will not accomplish this.
/ have not written this to be fault
finding: but to tell you some truths
regarding sale prices of electricity.
gas. etc. Something no commercial
agent has told US Keokuk has spent
almost $4,000 to accomplish some
thing and we all admit, fallen down.
Now then on the eve of coming pres
perity, are we going to abandon Our
commercial organization and quit?
find many men who once lived in keo-
kuk and were not looked upon by
home people as being very much or
rather big fellows in the dolngs OF
the other cities, and are cutting some
figure There are just as good men
and boys in Keokuk as anywhere, and
Just as capable and bright. Nothing
will benefit Us more than to make
known to US wherein we are falling 20
measure up to the other cities, which
are progressing People out west al
ii say Keokuk has a great future ana
!! they always speak of the great water
ROVER dam But there is always one
thing had to fight shy Of and that
was the rate per kilowatt electricity
! sells for to the merchant and small
CONSUMERS. also the rate of taxation.
and you can imagine when in the no.
tel they were giving the Omaha, LIN
icoln and Hastings rate and the sur
burban towns near by, kept still.
1.-THE northwest is producing electr'c-
tity at one mill CLIO of a cent? per
Kilowatt, and it is being sold very
cheap and we must do our duty if we
wish to attract factories. Talk is
cheap, but manufacturers and locators
want results and low rates.
GEO. E. RADASCH.
On the road, April 25