The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-09-12
Committee Appointed to Look
into Trade Situation and
to Suggest I'm
provements.
TENT SHOWS THIS FALL
Company May be Secured to
Play on Main Street-Sales
Day With Every
body In It.

Retailers league voted to look into
trade conditions In keokuk; amuse-
nent committee empowered to take
steps to bring attraction here early In
October; unanimously voted to have
special sales day; will take part in
farmers picnic to be held near Mooar.
Steps to make Keokuk the best trad
ing center in this section of the coun-
try, will be taken by the Keokuk Re-
tailers league along lines to be sug-
gested by committee of five or six
members Of the league, according to
action taken last night by the league
at its regular September meeting at
/ the Hotel Iowa. If there are ten peo-
lpl in the vicinity who could come to
Keokuk to trade, and only five of them
come here. and five go to other towns.
! the committee is authorized to learn
why, and to devise some plan to make
I keokuk trading centers so attractive
that all of the ten people will want to
come here.
4 One or two speakers last night sug-
gested reasons that they had for Keo-
kuk's failing to get all Of the trade OF
this section Other speakers just as
vigorously defended the city, and de.
clared that business was better, and
gave figures. This difference of opin
ion brought the suggestion that a COM
mittee be named to Investigate all
these things, to visit the people in the
rural districts, to visit other cities in
this vicinity, and to make q report at
subsequent meeting.
Roses and Cabbages
r. A. French suggested putting up
hitching racks for the farmer teams,
since the posts have been taken off
Main street, and also asking the COM
Intssioners to remove the supplies and
sheds from the market ground. Henry
Duncan said he thought he was right
in saying that trade was better than
usual, and that If people would make
their stores attractive and carry the
goods. they would get the trade He
deplored the habit Of knocking. John
Rovane insisted that the town was
not getting ahead, and he suggested
that it was due to individual boosting
rather than concerted action OF
everyone. He said the government
was spending money for plant loca-
just what the league had done to try
to get plants here
}. w. Winger answered this ques-
ton, speaking for the Industrial as
ISOLATION and told Just what efforts
had been made, especially in the ar
NOR plate proposition. The nitrate
plant was suggested and Secretary
Fulton of the Industrial association
said the government was appropriating
money to build a water power plant
not to buy power. J. p. Ingle said he
thought the town was going ahead,
that there were more gas and electric
light customers, and he understood
more water works Gus tomers. E. L.
Williams said the telephone lists had
not fallen off.
Committee Authorize
After some more discussion, the
speakers who had started the talk,
each explained his talk, and Mr.. Ro-
vane suggested taking the ten acre
tract at Mckinley avenue, owned by
the baseball association and turning it
into race track and park ]. Schou-
ten said he thought census of Keo-
kuk now would show 1900 people
and he outlined briefly few of the
improvements in the year, additions to
the plants already here, and the build
ing of the Briar Mills. the new Iowa
Can company and additions to the
Electro Metals and Standard Four.
The league then voted unanimously
on Mr. Ingle's motion to have a com
mittee look into trade conditions and
get all Of the people around here into
the habit Of coming to Keokuk to
trade.
To Meet Farmers.
The league members voiced Presi- !
dent Justices sentiment that they
should go out and meet the farmer and j
voted to join in farmers picnic to
be held at Meister's grove near Mooar. |
The picnic would consist of a general |
session, and han'i-shaK:ng !
and there would be picnic dinner and |
athletic stunts and perhaps some
spea king. 1t seemed the unanimous
sentiment Of the members that they |
would like to meet the people from
the country somewhere that wasn't !
over the counter. and that they could ,
have most enjoyable time into the .
he rgain. Sc they are going Whenever
The picnic date is set. A com ait,ca |
was appointed Z work out details.
Amusement Plans.
When the question of having some |
sort Of amusement here this fall was
preached by the president, T. J. Nc !
Grath said that the record attendance /
at the county fairs this season show
ed that people were amusement hun
cry and he favored having something,
II 1t could be held on Main street. The !
league has the tentative offer from
an agent for the booking of a high |
class carnival company, better than !