The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-10-19
GIVES BANQUET
| IN A FOUNDRY
Many Representative keokuk Men
Guests Under Bright Lights, With
Black Sand for the
Floor.
NEW, BASIC INDUSTRY
Speakers Appreciate the Importance
to keokuk of the Iron Works
Just Completed
Here.
NEW, BASIC INDUSTRY

Charming, important and unique
was the banquet at the Pechstein
Iron works last evening.
The brilliant lights in the ceiling
of the foundry shone down on snowy
white damask and silver covering
the tables standing on floor of very
black and very fine sand. The i'm
mense dining hall with it's roof of
beams and glass and its floor of sand
was heated by giant braziers shining
red and as big as barrels.
c. f. Mcfarland, the POSTMASTER.
did not tell single story, and the
only story told after dinner was at
the very end of the very last speech.
The after dinner speeches were all
really short
All in all, it was remarkable din
ner in many ways.
What Energy and Grit Has Done.
When the ITS guests, all represen-
tative men Of Keokuk, reached the
| stage of cigars and the rising Of the
POSTMASTER, each speaker said Some
thing worth while.
| c. F. Mcfarland voiced apprecia-
ton Of the work of Paul T. Pechstein
in getting started SO large an insti-
tuition by his own energy and grit,
a credit to himself and to the COM
munity.
A. w HUDSON spoke of troubles Of
| the last year, due to reconstruction
and now happily past, and then told
som ething about what such a foundry
and machine shop is worth to Keo-
| kuk. He explained how nearly all
Keokuk plants of all kinds need such
a factory and to some the foundry is
vital. This foundry is basic indus,
| try without which other Industries
here could not exist, and 1t caused
at least 100000 to be brought into
Keokuk and spent here last year,
said Mr.. HUDSON.
| importance Of Basic Industries.
j Carl Weber told how the Pechstein
| Iron works fills perfectly real need
here.
N. T. Wilcox Of the Mississippi
River Power company, said that see
ing very many plants all over the
country makes him appreciate this
plant, and he is afraid Keokuk people
generally do not appreciate how good
a plant it is. He. told how such facili-
ties as these shops are often the
deciding factor in the location Of fac
tories. THE foundations of the in
dustrial growth OF any town must be
laid Deep" said Mr.. Wilcox, land
this is just what Keokuk is doing.
This very complete iron works plan
is better than three or four smaller
ones, and Paul T. Pechstein is en-
titled to much credit for giving Keo-
kuk this basic industry"
One Way to Make Big Town.
G. S. Scholl, general superintendent
of the smelling and refining plant,
gave an interesting resume Of the
iron industry and spoke of his own
large experience in cast iron before
coming to Keokuk. He said he was
glad to find an acquaintance that the
Pechstein works meets the needs of
the smelter, making it unnecessary
for the smelling company to build a
foundry and shop Of it's own. Mr.
Scholl endorsed all that had been
said about the value of the iron
works to Keokuk as a basic industry.
J. P. Ingle, manager Of the electric
company, gave a delightful narrative
of his failure as youth in foundry
! before he found his proper place
around gas and electric generators.
| In closing, he said. Instead Of sit
ting down and waiting for the water
power to make big city here, Paul
J Pechstein started in to make a big
town here himself"
Keokuk, Startling Well in Big Things.
j. S. Sand. Of a Chicago house
dealing In fabricated steel, expressed
his appreciation Of the very large
iron works here and it's large place
in the iron and steel trade Of this
section He said it's business had H.
creased five hundred percent in eigh.
teen months and 1t Is one Of the very
best iron works in Iowa.
Wells NJ Irwin told how iron and
steel is the basis of nearly all in
dustries and manufacturing. He
recognizes the tendency Of the iron
and steel industry to move toward
the Mississippi river. and now the
government fleet is bringing iron ore
right past our door. "T can see great
| chances for the iron and steel indus
tries along the Mississippi river"
said Mr.. Irwin.
Paul Pechstein Praises His Men,
In response to vociferous calls
Paul T. Pechstein came to the head
table and said he was glad so many
came to his party and to see the
works. because he is mighty proud
of them-proud because of what the
men there are doing. and it is the
men who are working there who
really should have the praise, he said
in closing
A rising vote Of thanks and appre.
citation. with ACCOMMODATING loud ap-
plause was given Mr.. Pechstein. and
! all the many guests crowded around
! him as the BANQUET ended
| It was served perfectly and the
Imenu was excellent. The tables