The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-02

ITO the Editor or Inc G0Lo CITY.
/ The year of 1916 was tolled out. and
before we realize where we are 1917
will have slipped by. In the past year
keokuk has made substantial prog
ress. There Is a stability about Keo-
kuk which gives 1t a standing in the
commercial world it has not hereto
fore enjoyed. It has acquired many
new factories and large additions to
1.-THE ones 1t has, and this is an indica-
tion that we are growing and moving
forward. The enlargement OF some OF
our factories and industries is sure
! sign of soundness and success. While
the building permits do not show up
SO well, 1t must be remembered that
tkeokuk has buildings and capacity
| for city Of much larger population,
IL not another building were erected.
/! 1t Is factories we want and need. We
have ample schools, churches, parks,
streets, public buildings, fraternal and
religious societies and a score OF other
things sufficient for city Of much
larger population. Its area Is sufn-
Iciently large with the new additions
which have been added. inside Of what
might be termed Thirty-ffth street to
the west, Prices Creek to the north.
and the Des Moines river to the south.
Within this area We have room for 3
city OF 10000 population. Develop
ment Of what we have is needed. I'd.
ditions to the factories, the careful
handling Of our resources and money.
Keokuk has many things to be proud
OF. It has opportunities not possessed
By many cities in the reat west; but
we have got to fight for what we want.
or other towns will forge ahead of Us.
we can't idly sit by and say to the
lother fellow It is "up to you" It ia
iup to every man. woman ard child In
Keokuk to boost our town. We must
Ipractice what We preach and become
patrons Of products made by
i orr home factories. It Is up to our
wholesalers TO encourage the home
factories. it is up to the workers to
buy homemade products. II II up to
the home fellow to burn up his mail
order house catalogue and become an
enthusiastic buyer OF home sold goods.
!. II he does not do this, he is not good
booster. In fact, the year 1917 rings
out tune OF Joy and gladness and in
ringing In this new year let rs al re-
solve to boost and make Keokuk what
| 1t should be.
Keokuk is in the heart Of the cont.
1nent. It IL surrounded by rich fields
tof grain. live stock Of every kind. rail
roads in all directions. mighty river
for commerce. q splendid new double
deck bridge across the Mississippi
It has electricity. coal. and oil pipe
lines, all kinds OF fuel for all purposes.
iKeokuk can light the whole state OF
Iowa. 1t mas local power SUFFICIENT
when fully developed. Hugh Cooper
said. to light every city in Iowa, move
every stree.car In the state, and gen.
crate power to run every mill and fac
tory. What other town can show as
much? In other words. IL all OF Iowa
was in one municipality with every
building. town. city and village. Keo-
ikuk could take care of the whole mop
uIati (flectrica ly) asgregatinu
about 2.224,0o0.
/ What ails this community if We can't
move forward? 1 with tell you It will
fbe our own fault. So let us make a
showing in 1917 which viii make the
lpeople sit up and take notice. It Is up
ito the home folks. and IL we fail to do
our duty we shall fail to increase in
population. There is nothing to get
discouraged about. because q. few peo-
tple are always following hearse and
trying to bury the town. There il no
use In following one OF these fellows.
1t is up to us to be up and doing and
let US make 1917 the banner year for
keokuk. There is much to live for in
this good old world. and too much en-
ijoyment to be found without constant
lly singing funeral dirges. Have you
lever noticed how the song "A Hot
Time in the Old Town" will bring joy
and gladness?
It will take too much time to chron-
iical all we have done during the past
year but we have made good, healthy
record which can be sung In any live
community and get an encore. 1915
has been good; but We want to make
I1917 better, bigger and greater year.
1 NINETEEN HUNDRED AND
SEVENTEEN.
IKeokuk, Iowa, Jan. 1, 1917.