The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-07-19
Scintillations.

To the Editor of The Gate City:
The decision of the interstate COM
merce commission. refusing the applf-
cation of fifteen per cent. increase
in rates in freight rates is a great vic
tory for the western states.
This brings to my mind communi-
cation which appeared few days ago
where contributor suggested that
the Keokuk Industrial association
turn over its affairs to the Stone and
Webster company. l would suggest
that there are many things a CONNER
cial organization can accomplish and
approach, which a public utility com
rany cannot. 1t is therefore well for
each organization to be intact and
free to act Much good has been ac-
complished by the commercial organ
ization and by vigorous cooperation
greater good can still be done.
There is just one thing which sug-
gests itself to my mind. enc. that is
that the industrial association should
have suitable quarters On Main street
with upstairs rooms and place large
enough to accommodate its mem ber-
ship and exact small initiation fee
from member and small monthly
dues. Why not have club rooms like
other cities?
A few years ago we suggested that
Lake Keokuk by reason Of being 50
well hemmed in and on one of the
largest navigable streams of water,
with a depth sufficient for a suEna-
rine to work, would make an ideal
Place for an inland naval training
camp. A sort of a preparatory school,
before sending the cadets and arti-
sans down east. A few days ago such
Ia school for training was opened at
Dinniwood institute, near Minneapo-
lis. The body of water and location
at Keokuk surpasses in every way the
Minneapolis location, and II the gov
eminent is planning to furnish 1000
of more artisans for the navy during
the next few years where would there
be finer body of water than this lake
formed by the great dam at Keskuk
and in the very heart of the ct,nti-
nent? But such a proposition must
be worked out by some war enthusias.
who favors all these things. America
has become world power, ard such
being the case there is every reason
why an inland naval station SHOULD
be located at some central point It
is UP to the Industrial association to
solve WAYS and means.
Well, the old T. P. and W. railroad
has at last gene into tho bands Of
in a way been dictated by the Eur
lington" system for many years. 1t
leads nowhere and ends no place. If
it .hou1d be the good torture Of Keo-
kuk to have this road fall into the
hands Of the Pennsylvania system Civ
ing that road an outlet to the Missis-
sippf river, or better SIN should The
great Rock Island railroad system get
control of the road ana follow nut the
plan of the expe!t hired by the f..Ed-
holders of that 50, .sfl That tie rcut-
ing of all Roc'- Island business sh,"l.d
be via Eldon. Keo'7uk Peoria, three
on their own line g Chicaco, cutting
out Davenport rs 'ne river crossing
point" it woplI lie something for Eec-
kuk. The expert SAID this wa.s the
practicable AMI feasible thing for the
Rock Island to follow and he was
paid man. thousands Of dollars for his
opinion and suggestions. But here is
which live, energetic
commercial club manager should work !
out and present in a feasible manner.
Don't tell me the railroad men know |
it all In my opinion they are about |
as big set of chumps as you will find |
anywhere. 1t not, why did the Penn
sylvania or Wabash not get control of I
the Keoguk and Western and have a |
connection with the Union Pacific |
railroad at Omaha, giving the most |
direct and shortest route from the !
to the east and all points |
such as Washington and New York? |
There are all kinds of undeveloped /
around Keokuk but they t
must be developed and "hitched up"
like the water in the Mississippi |
which is working overtime.
"a. RUMMEY."
Keokuk, Iowa, July 10 1917