The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-09-03
Pastor Of FIrst Christian Church
Here, Who Was At Poplar Bluff
on Visit, Boosts Home
Town.
TELLS WHAT WAS DONE
Work Of j. Albert kiedaisch, Who Is
Well Known In Poplar Bus.
is Related In an
Interview.

The idea of boosting ones hon1a
town, when one is on vacation, has
been forcibly suggested by an inter
view which was given the Poplar Bluffs
Republican by the Rev. William NJ.
Baker. pastor of the First Christian
church of this city, who is visiting
Poplar Bluff. Rev. Baker told the
Poplar Bluff paper about the work be-
ing done by J. Albert Kiedaisch as
president OF the Keokuk Industrial
association. MIR. Kiedaisch is a SON
in-law Of prominent Poplar Blum
man. w. E. Pringle, q former Keo-
lkuk newspaperman, is city editor of
tie Poplar Blur Republican.
Here is the story which the Poplar
Bluffs paper published:
1 In speaking with Republican man
this morning, Rev. w. NJ Baker, of
Keokuk, Iowa. recently pastor of the
Christian church here, paid the son-in-
law OF well known Poplar Bluff
man. high compliment, while telling
about what that Iowa city is doing to-
ward interesting manufacturing con-
Germs in the advantages that city has
/, to offer.
| j. Albert Kiedaisch, who married a
daughter Of C. H Moss, the dairy man
and popular farmer, Is known here, as
he spent two months or more with
the Moss family last summer, making
the trip from Keokuk In his auto.
| In Keokuk they have what is called
an Industrial association, similar 10
our Commercial club. This club has
only one object in view, which is 20
bring factories of financial standing
to that city. And Albert Kideaisch.
this young man SO well known by our
people because of his last summers
visit, is the president Of this associa-
| ton.
| And It is because OF his plan Of
Handling the big affairs. and boosting
his city along that he finally won over
the other officers of the Industria,
association to his way OF thinking.
when it came to handling the big fel.
lows.
Started on Wrong Way.
Right after the $26,00O,000 water
power for the developing Of electrical
energy was built at Keokuk, the land
grabbers got 1t into their heads that
the factories would commence spring
ing up all around like mushrooms.
Why should they not move west, 10
cate along the banks OF the Mississippi.
when there was to be had of the ask.
ing, and for the buying, 100000 horse
power, coming from the generators IN
the power house 1868 feet long. built
at the end Of the dam mile long or
more, which spans the great river al
1.-THE town where Rev Baker is located
That was before the days Of Indus.
trial associations in Keokuk, and the
little real estate dealers and the spec
|ulators with a few thousands, goi
busy and acquired options on nearly
jail the valuaDie factory sites within
live miles Of the city limits Of Keokuk
| When the power was turned on
60, 600 power was transmitted to st
Louis, for use by the street car com
lpany, being transmitted all the way
from Keokuk, then sold at profit.
But that was simply an incident
that 10000 transaction. There was
more power for sale at Keokuk thar
could be used by all the street cal
l1ington, Fort Madison, Quincy and
other cities within radius of seventy
tfye miles.
| Factory Owners Run Away.
i
this vast electrical force which might
lbe utilized and at smaller cost than Il
required to continue developing power
with coal and electricity peddled OFT
by various corporations.
They went to Keokuk in droves
shortly after the big dam was formal
lily opened two years ago. They met
THE real estate trust" then turned
laround and took the next train out OF
Keokuk. They found that factory
isites were worth a much In Keokul
las gold dollars are worth at the Unit
ed States mints. 50 they made frantic
lefforts to break away for fear they
might have to pay its weight In golc
flor the drinking water that fowet
Through the wonderful dam.
"Hoid-up" Men Were Scared.
There were no new factories com
ing to Keokuk, and the Business Men.
association was in terrible flutter
They could not understand why PEG
lple would not come there and buy
their land at $4,000 per front foot
pay ten times what residence property
was worth, and then settle down snt
grow rich manufacturing something
tout OF the power coming from the BIZ
dam Put the only satisfaction thos.