200 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1910. 



there were begun by the United States Government daily observa- 

 tions, which it appears have been continued, almost without break, 

 to the present year. 



Nothing in the nature of a definite enterprise was undertaken, 

 however, until on April 18, 1900, several citizens of Keokuk, Iowa, 

 and Hamilton, 111., met at the State Bank of Hamilton and finally 

 organized a company to develop and utilize the water power of the 

 Des Moines rapids and to obtain the necessary grants for such pur- 

 pose from the Congress of the United States and from the States of 

 Illinois and Iowa. The organizers of the Keokuk & Hamilton 

 Water Power Co. directed theft first efforts to obtaining a charter 

 from Congress, which was granted on February 8, 1901, as public bill 

 No. 43. This act gave the right to construct, operate, and maintain 

 a canal along the east bank of the Mississippi River between Nauvoo 

 and Hamilton, 111. ; to erect, construct, operate, and maintain a power 

 station in connection therewith; to erect, construct, operate, and 

 maintain a wing dam 500 feet into the river from the head of the 

 canal; and to make such other dams and improvements as might be- 

 come necessary within said limits for the development of water 

 power and the generation, transmission, and use therefrom of elec- 

 trical energy and power. Nauvoo, noted as the seat of the first Mor- 

 mon temple, is beautifully located on high ground about 12 miles 

 above Keokuk on the opposite side of the river, and is at the head of 

 the Des Moines rapids. The river at this point is about 1 mile wide. 

 The building of a short dam 500 feet long into the river to gather 

 water for a canal 12 miles long, extending down to Hamilton, 111., 

 it is estimated would not have permitted the development of more 

 than 10,000 horsepower. 



This project was not carried out. In its place there grew the 

 idea of a development which, while utilizing for power purposes 

 the entire energy of the Des Moines Rapids, would at the same time 

 transform navigation possibly as difficult as anywhere along the 

 Mississippi into comparatively safe and convenient water transporta- 

 tion. Instead of a wing dam there was substituted a concrete struc- 

 ture running entirely across the river from the bluffs of Keokuk to 

 the bluffs of Hamilton and the construction in connection therewith 

 of a single lock and dry dock and a power station capable of utilizing 

 the full force of the flow. 



This new plan was indorsed by the Mississippi . River Improve- 

 ment Association and by the Mississippi River Pilots' Association. 

 Acting under authority contained in the river and harbor bill 

 passed by Congress and approved June 13. 1902, the Secretary of 

 War appointed a commission, of which Lieut. Col. Hodges, United 

 States Army, and Capt. Judson, United States Army, were mem- 



