The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-17
Ready for Another 9 Industrial Drive
PRES, MCFARLAND REVIEWS
ASSOCIATION WORK IN 1916

Ou0u0 U0O
is all wrong and for two reasons. In
the first place, we might find the
to take care of these small con-
Germs and. in the second place, they
will doubtless be Of more value to the
community inasmuch as any one, or
everyone of them for that matter,
might become as large or larger than
the large concern which would cost us
so heavily. For instance. take the
American Cement Machine company
of our own city and the Quaker Oats
company Of Cedar Rapids. You know
what the first named concern is doing
and I am told that the last named
started with four or five hands and, IN
less than five years. has grown until
it employs over a thousand.
But, gentlemen, even these small
concerns are not going to throw them
selves at our heads. They have got
to be encouraged and helped. Some
times they will have to have factory
furnished rent free for a few months,
sometimes 1t may be few machines
must be bought for them or few hun
dred dollars loaned them for bill or
two of material until they can get
started and take care of themselves.
And these things take money, not large
amounts. but some. The Industrial
association, IN order to be ready 10
render the assistance when needed,
should have fund ready for such
cases. / believe they would and
themselves much more useful and ef-
should be fund of $4,000, and be-
nr,1u hln nj tn
locate many small concerns. but 1t
could be so handled that it would pay
good interest to the people who should
contribute to the fund. 1t has done 1T
in other places. Why not here?
have SO much faith in 1t that. If such
fund can be raised here, I will take
the first FIVE hundred dollars.
Review Of Year.
And now for short review Of the
past year. The association has been
busy with great many things and has
found way to be useful in more ways
than appear to the public eye. You
know that in the great war now going
on in France there seems to be many
weeks and sometimes months of pre-
paration for what they call a drive.
their thousands of huge shells, the
clouds of poison gas roll across the
fields, the soldiers in the trenches
tighten their belts and rush out with
set bayonets to slaughter and be
slaughtered, and we hear of a great
victory. Then there comes a time.
sometimes weeks and sometimes
months, when it Is said that the army
is consolidating its lines and rein
forcing its positions ready for another
drive. In the year 1915 we had an In
dustrial drive in this city. During 1916
We have been streng thenfng our posi-
ton and getting ready for another
charge. The industries secured in
1915 have grown and expanded in
wonderful way in 1916. I find eight
concerns which have either commenc-
ed business Or have entered the lists
of important industries, and come out
of their swaddling clothes in that time.
Here are some figures about them
which surprised me, and. I believe,
will surprise you I find that on De-
cember 31st, 1916, these concerns were
employing an average total of 3S9
hands and using capital Of $4,000
and covering a population at a ratio
of five to one of 1,945 people. / further
find that these same concerns have al
ready perfected plans and made ar
rangements for an expansion. which
has either now started or will soon
start, which will bring the number OF
hands employed in them up to 5S5 and
the capital to $1,246,OOO, and cover
population OF 2,sl5.
The Industrial association during
the wear has been instrumental in help
- ;o1 ~ fv,v W. has
spent time and money on the improve
ment Of the Industrial tract and now
has thirty or forty of the best build
ing lots in the city ready for sale. as
soon as the time seems opportune.
with a fine house on one Of them; has
worked out the plans for the extension
of the street car line. in which WORK
the Keokuk Electric company has
most cheerfully cooperated. and in
which Mrs. T. F. Brady and Mrs. En-
ma Kilbourne Wright most generously
aided by giving the right of way
through their property.
Work for Bridge Street.
The association has shown the ne
cessity of just such an organization
In two instances, which illustrate how
necessary it is to have someone who
can act in an emergency when the oc-
casion arises. Just a few weeks ago,
an industry here which employs about
twenty hands went on the rocks and
would have had to stop If help had not
come quickly. This help came through
the association and we feel sure that it
will remain a Keokuk industry for
many years to come. The other in
stance was even more important. 1t
may not be generally known, but 1t is
fact that we would not now have the
splendid approach to our new bridge
which we have but for the assistance
of the association. Primarily, the de-
termination Of our old friend, JOS. A.
NJ. Collins, and his enthusiasm in the
project is accountable for its success.
But even Mr. Collins could not have
put 1t through without the associa-
TONS aid Owing to the depleted city