The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-05
81. w. c. Williamson, Who is Visiting
Here For First Time Since Dam
Was Built, Sees Much
to Commend.
IS BETTER THAN BOOM
He Thinks Steady, Slow Growth
Which Is Permanent, Has Fallen
to Keokuk's, Lot and is
Optimistic.

SHs'pssSssSs .
That Keokuk has grown in every
way since the construction of the pow.
ar plant and dam here, slowly perhaps,
but nevertheless permanently, is the
opinion expressed by DR.. w. C. Will
Hanson, former, paster OF the United
Presbyterian church who is visiting
IN the city. DR.. Williamson is max.
ing his first long visit to Keokuk since
the construction of the dam and he
sees plenty of evidence Of KeolSuk' )
growth in his trips about the city The
general appearance and condition of
Main street is better; there have been
improvements in the residence dis
tr;cts; the extension of the residences
in the new additions; the acquisition
OF factories giving employment to
many menall Of these the former
pastor thinks are concrete examples
Of the city's growth and point to q
still larger Keoknk.
at is better than If 1t had been a
boom growth" DR.. Williamson said.
perhaps it was not as rapid as the
people would have wished it. But l
believe that a steady, slow advance
ment of this sort is more permanent
and better than that of boom.'
Dr. Williamson left Keokuk thir-
teen years ago. He was always, as
he expressed it. jealous for Keokuk
and hated to hear disparaging remarks
usually prefaced with poor old Keo-
kuk." After he left Keokuk and came
back once or twice for funerals or
weddings, he felt that perhaps there
might have been some merit in some
of these remarks, although he never
lost his faith in the city.
Much to Commend
This time, however, he finds much
to commend and little to criticisc
a.out the city, and he is optimistic
over its future and happy in the fact
that his Judgment has been indicated.
He had heard so much about the
changes wrought by the dam and the
power house construction in the gen
eral topography OF the river and sur
roundings that he was afraid perhaps
some of the natural beauty had been
changed, but his mind was put at rest
on this point the minute he saw the
view from the park and the lake shore
drive
THE first thing that struck me was
the improvement in your Main street.
he said. 1T was always fine street
because of its width. The stores ara
presenting new fronts, and the ap-
pearance is generally more business
like than it used to be.
Natural Beauty Retained,
And then, the dam and power
house haven't changed the natural
beauty Of the location a Dit While
It may still be lake, there is the
beauty of the river with it all and the
power house and dam there in the
river have added to the attractiveness
Of the view. If anything. Keokuk is
SO beautifully located anyhow, with
those bluffs on both sides Of the river.
The residence changes are many
and am surprised and pleased to see
the way the newer sections of the city
have been built up. especially in the
vicinity Of the new factories. And
they look like fine institutions, too,
those factories. They are just what
keokuk needed, something to give en-
Payment to the men in the city.
am sure that more will follow these.
Streets Needed Improvement.
There is just one thing to criticise
and that is the streets. They are not
as well kept up as they might be. I
think though the reason is plain. You
nave been busy trying to locate fac
tories here and to bring more capital
INTO the city and perhaps you haven't
thought Of these as much as you other
wise would. In our town of Clarinda
We have concrete streets We don't
think much of brick paving for it sinks
and leaves bumpy places. While con-
crete often cracks. they are filling up
cracks with tar and making the streets
as good as new. The street question
Is the only one with which can find
any fault.
New Bridge Is Great.
The new bridge is a wonderful
thing, and will be a fine thing for the
city. Whoever conceive the idea OF
that approach to the bridge from this
side made fine stroke. 1t will be
great to be able to get on the bridge
without having to go down the hill
and across those car and train tracks
there. The approach on the other
side is not very steep either.
The enterprise of the people in
erecting such q splendid club house in
that wonderful location which the
keokuk Country club has, Is another
commendable feature that have no
ticei
TT seems to me- that Keokuk has
gone ahead in many ways more than
same of the other cities near here"
DR.. and Mrs. Williamson are guests
Of Mr.. and Mrs. E. Layton of SIS Full
ion street. They are expecting to
eaye on Monday for Milwaukee. DR..
Williamson will occupy the pulpit of
Ills cid church tomorrow. He is locat-
ed at present at Clarinda, and Is fin
shing his eighth year there. For five
Years after leaving Keokuk Dr. Will
hanson was in Burlington. Clarinda,
according to the doctor, is very live
little city, and one which Is going