[Mississippi River]. [Hydroelectricity]

Electric Power from the Mississippi River Bulletin No.1 [-10]

Keokuk, Ia. Mississippi River Power Company, 1911-1913. Ten volumes, complete. Profusely illustrated. Oblong folio. Each issue measuring 9 x 12 inches, in original pictorial wrappers, two holes punched along spines and bound together in a later gray cloth Tatum-style Y binder with leather corners. Minor edge wear and staining to boards. Light edge wear to contents. A couple of panoramic photographs detached but present. Very good. Item #5027

A complete run of bulletins tracking the progress of construction on the Keokuk Dam & Power Plant, which was then the longest monolithic concrete dam in the world and a pioneering effort in large-scale, low-head hydroelectric power. Still in operation today, the dame served as a prototype for many future power plants, harnessing the power of the Mississippi River between Keokuk, Iowa and Hamilton, Illinois, generating clean, low cost, and reliable energy, enough to power 75,000 homes. The present bulletins are chock full of facts, figures, photographs, renderings, and progress reports intended to familiarize the public with the project by illustrating the methods employed in its construction from beginning to completion. The bulletins are about equal parts text and photographs, providing an easy-to-follow format for learning about the Keokuk project. Some of the issues also have folding maps or larger-format photographs, which provide further visual accompaniment to the explanatory text.

Known as a "run-of-river" plant, the Keokuk Dam uses the natural energy of falling water to generate electricity. The power of this part of the river was identified by none other than Robert E. Lee in 1836 when he was serving as a surveyor for the U.S. War Department. Lee called attention to the turbulent waters, but found no way to control it. In 1899, a group of leaders from Keokuk and Hamilton teamed up, raised the backing funds, received governmental approval for the dam, and hired Hugh L. Cooper to oversee the project. Cooper had previously engineered construction of a hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls. Interestingly, an observation tower was also built on both sides of the river to allow the public to watch the progress of the Keokuk project, then the largest privately-funded construction effort in the world. In addition to the dam, a powerhouse and a new lock and dry system to accommodate river traffic were also built. The final bulletin includes comments from the chief engineer who noted that in the first bulletin it was stated that the project would be completed by July 1, 1913. He remarks: "It is naturally a source of great satisfaction to all concerned with construction to see this prediction fulfilled."

An informative and substantial production relating to a major construction project on the Mississippi River in the early-20th century. OCLC records a smattering of institutional holdings, but complete runs appear to be rather rare.

Price: $1,750.00