The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-11-14

automobile storage with the owners
Of the different garages in town and
have them offer the very best facili-
ties at the lowest possible cost 10
out-of-town visitors who wish to leave
their cars at these garages. OF
course. we realize that all automo-
biles cannot be left in the local
garages and we further realize that
1t will be necessary to charge a small
fee for such cars as are left in care
of the different garages. but we be-
lieve that If this matter was brought
to the attention of the owners Of the
different garages that this matter
can be worked out.
Comfort Stations.
Almost all towns have now come
to realize that 1t is absolutely neces-
sary to provide one or more comfort
stations for the use Of visitors and
many towns have already built and
maintain these com fort stations. This
matter is OF SO much Importance that
at the last session Of the legislature
bill was passed authorizing cities
and towns to establish comfort sta
tions and to maintain these comfort
stations by taxation. The city COM
missioners. therefore, II they see fit
can levy tax of one.half mill for
the purpose OF building. equipping
and maintaining a comfort station
which tax will amount to approx
mately $1,700 per year. We feel
that steps should Immediately be
taken to have such q tax levied and
comfort station with the proper
attendant Immediately provided We
understand that a committee has al
ready been appointed to look after
this matter and that this committee
will use their best endeavor to see
that a comfort station is provided
Just as promptly as possible.
It has been matter of common
knowledge for sometime that there
exists among the farmers and resi-
dents of small towns adjacent to
Keokuk more or less unfriendly
feeling that Keokuk does not obtain
anywhere near as much Of the busi-
ness from the outlying districts as
should come to Keokuk. This is a
condition that can and should be
corrected. and your committee knows
Of no better way to eliminate this
lSCIhh5 eAoh w TONY V'Siy
opportunity that presents itself to
have Keokuk merchants become per-
sonally acquainted with the farmers
and residents Of smaller towns in
Lee, Clark and Hancock counties,
particularly.
Meeting the Trade.
The Retailers league, by meeting
in the neighboring towns is already
working in this direction, but there
Is much that the Individual merchant
can do alone Your committee feels
that every Keokuk merchant should
personally make it a point whenever
the occasion presents itself to go
into the districts surrounding Keo-
kuk and to the smaller towns and to
become acquainted with as many OF
the people In these districts as pos
sible. Other means OF getting ac-
quainted with our neighbors are
the medium Of community
picnics, trade excursions, fairs, cele-
brations and any number OF other
similar enterprises. This ia a matter
that cannot be handled entirely BY
the retailers as body. although
much good work can be done collec-
lively, but the most effective way OF
this prejudice ts for
every merchant In Keokuk to make
It his individual business to meet
and cultivate the acquaintance of out
of-town prospective customers.
We have in Keokuk one of the
prettiest parks in this section and
this park can be made an ideal
place for out-of-town auto parties to
rest and eat a picnic lunch Your
committee recommends that the re-
tailers wait upon the city commits.
sioners and arrange with them to
have Rand park kept In first class
condition, the grass trimmed and
neat, ample drinking water provided
at several different locations, tables
and benches provided for picnic par
ties, and that the lake near the
Grand avenue entrance be made into
q wading pond for children. All Of
the suggestions could be carried out
at very small cost.
The retailers should then request
the travelling men going out of Keo-
kuk to mention on their trips when
ever the occasion presented itself
that the ideal auto trip Is to Keo-
kuk II they could say that the
roads to Keokuk were excellent, that
we had comfort station for the use
OF visitors and that Rand park was
the ideal spot for eating a picnic
lunch. many auto parties would come
to Keokuk on pleasure and from a