USA > Illinois > Massac County > History of Massac County, Illinois > Part 12
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Mayor Beane proclaimed August 19-26 as
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OTHER RECENT EVENTS
Booster Week. The five largest peach orchards harvested 53,000 bushels but prices were poor. More than 100 youths exhibited at the annual 4-H Club show on August 25. County school enrollment was 3272, one less than 1953. Peak college enrollment from the area was expected. The drouth was broken by a record rain September 20. Metropolis was still holding a lead in per business sales tax payments. Brookport dial phone conversion was slated for De- cember. Perfect local TV signal reception from the new Cape Girardeau KFVS station was experienced. Rapid progress was being made on Memorial Hos- pital by the John Cassidy Construction Company in September. Massac County was added to the group of counties eligible to receive drouth disaster loans. A flood wall around the Metropolis power plant was authorized September 27, to cost $33,600. District Rotarians convened at Metropolis, October 11-12. Approximately 1700 construction workers began the second year of work at the Joppa Steam Electric Plant without a work stoppage.
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
-Courtesy Bechtel Corporation
JOPPA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION
CHAPTER XXIV
THE ATOM IN OUR HOUSE-
THE FUTURE
It is a long way from Hiroshima and Bikini to Massac County. Few at the time fully compre- hended the world-shaking significance of the A- bomb and H-bomb, or paused to predict we would soon be so intimately linked to such revolutionary developments. Like a bomb-shell the news fell into our midst on December 15, 1950. As Time Maga- zine said, "It hit Paducah like a double shot of fine Kentucky bourbon." On that date the Atomic Energy Commission announced that it would build a uranium gaseous diffusion plant across the river near Kevil, Kentucky, on 6100 acres of land.
The AEC project is especially important to Joppa and Metropolis. That statement deserves re- iteration. The three plants are not only important to these two places but also to Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky, and the Nation as a whole, as a vital part of our defense program.
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
To supply the power the Shawnee steam electric station has also been erected, up the river from the AEC plant. In addition the Joppa steam electric station is supplying power. It is located on the west boundary of Joppa. The TVA supplies the power for Shawnee; Electric Energy, Inc., that for Joppa.
The $700 million atomic plant is now in produc- tion, but of course all production statistics are top secrets. The total power requirements is 1,940,000 kilowatts. The Shawnee station cost $216,500,000 and is now supplying three-fifths of the power which is needed. It has ten giant turbine generators. Con- struction at Joppa began under the Ebasco Com- pany, February 1951, and was continued under Bechtel Corporation from August 1953. The cost is expected to reach $90 million. It will supply the remaining needed power, or about 937,500 kilowatts. Four units are operating. The last two generator units will be completed by the fall of 1955. Electric Energy, Incorporated, is formed of five utility com- panies : Union Electric Company of Missouri, Cen- tral Illinois Public Service Company, Illinois Power Company, Kentucky Utilities Company, and Middle South Utilities Company. J. W. McAfee is its pres- ident. Turner White, Jr., is vice-president and general manager. A prime contractor is Bechtel Corporation, of which A. J. Orselli is vice-president and project manager. The Prudential and Metro- politan Insurance Companies financed $195 million of the project.
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THE ATOM IN OUR HOUSE-THE FUTURE
Of equal importance are the facilities for han- dling the coal which will be needed-two to three millions of tons annually. The C & EI Railroad has already spent $1,000,000. Across the river the Dravo Corporation has built extensive docks and a giant coal barge unloader. The prime motive of top man- agement in all the companies involved in the AEC is to make the nation more secure.
Peak employment at Joppa was 3500 men; it is now about 1500; and it is expected eventually to level off at 250.
It hardly seems necessary, but at the risk of being trite it may be said that atom bombs are not being made nor will be made at the AEC plant.
It would require a scientist to explain in detail the process of producing Uranium-235. Only a few notes, taken from an AEC handbook, will be pre- sented here. The purpose of the gaseous diffusion plant is to separate the uranium isotope 235 from a chemical compound of uranium. The process in- volves several thousand stages. The result is a sep- arated and concentrated U-235, an essential ingredi- ent of the atomic bomb.
The AEC project is a climactic event, placing one on the heights to see dimly a new horizon. Truly, the atomic age has dropped down in the very midst of quiet Massac County. At this new height of activity and prosperity is a fitting place to close this account of the history of Massac County. Some- one has written: "Everyone seems to take for
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
granted that the next war, if and when it comes, will be an atomic, hydrogen, or cobalt war. The most destructive of bombs offers no absolute salvation, for others may beat us to the draw. Ultimately, moral force is the most invulnerable."
What of the history of the past 100 years? How shall one characterize it; how synthesize the great number of events and relationships with other parts of the State, the Nation, and the world? One may say that Massac has followed the path of Conserva- tism, which, in Pope's words, is "Be not the first by whom the new is tried, nor yet the last to lay the old aside."
What of the future? The author does not pre- tend to pose as a local Isaiah or Walter Winchell, but from a study of history and from a view of the present it should not be difficult for anyone to make some good general guesses. To know is impossible. Fifteen years ago the author, in several conversa- tions with close friends, advocated and predicted road consolidation and school consolidation. Both are actualities. He also confidently hoped to see the lakes in eastern Massac County more accessible and used. He felt that agriculture, as the major source of income, should and must give way to more indus- trialization. Many other developments, he felt, were to be realized.
An augmented industry will increasingly sup- plement agriculture. It is absolutely necessary that more factories be established. The agricultural
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THE ATOM IN OUR HOUSE-THE FUTURE
supremacy is probably doomed. Irrigation may be- come common if the drouth cycle continues. No proper need for credit or finance will be ignored. There will be low labor turn-over. There will be more centralization of population. The people will be a home-loving, contented people. The Negro population will continue to decrease unless proper acknowledgment is made of their potentialities. Public utilities will continue to contribute to the prosperity and comfort of the people. River traffic will continue heavy. The new bridge and the con- tinued development of recreational facilities will cause Metropolis and the county to grow in pros- perity. It appears incongruous that a city the size of Metropolis, with a great river at its front door, cannot maintain a public swimming pool or beach. But it will eventually. Mrs. George H. Moseley as far back as 1938 voiced a need for a historical museum. The 1939 Centennial, with its wealth of relics displayed, showed there was ample material for a nucleus. It, and a county historical society, will come soon. Clyde Lindsey said in 1951 that he had built more than 100 homes in the 10 years past. "I have lived in Metropolis for 28 years," he said, "and I believe Metropolis has the greatest future of any city in Southern Illinois."
When old plants fold up, new jobs must be created, as Herrin has done. Numbers of industrial leaders have visited the area recently. They all con-
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
cur in believing that there is a great future for the area.
It is well to have the vision high, for "where there is no vision the people perish." Such will apply to the leaders of the community and to those yet young. Success or failure will depend upon how the citizens meet the challenge. The opportunities are here.
Finally, those of us to whom Massac County is home may look back proudly to its past-ahead, confidently to its future.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. George W. Smith-The History of Illinois-6 vols.
2. A. H. Worthen-Economical Geology of Illinois-Vol. I
3. C. & E. I. Railroad-Industrial Potentialities of Southern Illinois
4. Morris M. Leighton-Illinois Resources
5. Mitchell-Illinois in 1837
6. O. J. Page-History of Massac County
7. Fay-Cooper Cole-Kincaid: A Prehistoric Illinois Me- tropolis (University of Chicago Press)
8. Davidson and Stuvé-History of Illinois
9. Bureau of Census-County-City Data Book 1952
10. The Republican Herald Newspaper Clipping
11. The Metropolis News Newspaper Clipping
12. Randall Parrish-Historic Illinois
13. J. G. Mulcaster in Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society 1927-28
14. Alvord and Carter-The Critical Period 1763-1765 (Illi- nois Historical Collections, Vol. X)
15. Norman Caldwell-Mississippi Valley Historical Review, March 1942. Also Journal of the Illinois State His- torical Society, Summer 1950
16. John M. Lansden-A History of the City of Cairo, Illinois
17. J. H. Schlarman-From Quebec to New Orleans
18. William N. Moyers-Journal of the Illinois State His- torical Society, vol. 24, No. 1
19. Barbara Burr Hubbs-Papers in Illinois History 1940
20. Kip-Jesuit Missionaries cited in Shea's Discoveries in the Mississippi Valley
21. C. W. Alvord-The Illinois Country, 1673-1818 (Cen- tennial History of Illinois, Vol. I)
22. Henry Brown-History of Illinois
23. Judge Hall-Sketches of the West
24. Greene & Alvord-Governors' Letter Books 1818-1834 (Illinois Historical Collections, Vol. IV)
25. Joseph Wallace-Illinois and Louisiana
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
26. Illinois State Historical Society-Publication No. 11
27. Mrs. M. T. Scott-Illinois State Historical Society Pub- lication No. 8
28. C. W. Alvord-The New Regime (Illinois Historical Collections-Vol. 11)
29. W. H. English-Conquest of the Northwest, Vol. I
30. James A. James-George Rogers Clark Papers (Illinois Historical Collections, Vol. VIII)
31. A. B. Hulbert-Military Roads of the Mississippi Basin 32. Mrs. P. T. Chapman-History of Johnson County
33. Otto Rothert-The Outlaws of Cave-in-Rock
34 John T. Faris-Where Our History Was Made 35. D. W. Lusk-Politics and Politicians in Illinois
36. George W. Smith-A Student's History of Illinois
37. Angle and Beyer-A Handbook of Illinois History
38. Robinson and Moore-History of Illinois
39. S. J. Buck-Illinois in 1818 (Centennial History of Illi- nois, Introductory Volume)
40. Governor Thomas Ford-History of Illinois
41. James A. Rose-Illinois State Historical Society Publi- cation No. 11
42. John Moses-History of Illinois
43. Theodore C. Pease-The Frontier State, 1818-1848 (Cen- tennial History of Illinois, Vol. II)
44. C. Ballance-The History of Peoria, Illinois
45. Bluford Wilson-Illinois State Historical Society Trans- actions No. 16
46. Arthur C. Cole-The Era of the Civil War, 1848-1870 (Centennial History of Illinois, Vol. III)
47. Adjutant General's Report. 8 vols. Revised, 1861-66
48. Milo Erwin-The Bloody Vendetta
49. Clark E. Carr-The Illini-A Story of the Prairies
50. Jasper W. Cross-Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Summer 1951
51. M. S. Smith-Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Autumn 1952
52. N. D. Harris-The History of Negro Servitude in Illinois
53. B. A. Hinsdale-The Old Northwest
231
BIBLIOGRAPHY
54. Transactions, Illinois State Historical Society, No. 11
55. Franklin W. Scott-Newspapers and Periodicals of Illi- nois, 1814-1879 (Illinois Historical Collections, Vol. VI) 56. Illinois Blue Books
57. Joint committee on Southern Illinois-Better Farming
58. Executive committee on Southern Illinois (University of Illinois)-Southern Illinois; Resources and Potentials
59. WPA Writers Program-Stories From Illinois History 60. Charles H. Ambler-A History of Transportation in the Ohio Valley
61. J. D. McGuire-Handbook of American Indians
62. C. M. Clark-The Picturesque Ohio
63. Eva Ingersoll Wakefield-The Letters of Robert G. Ingersoll
64. Cameron Rogers-Colonel Bob Ingersoll
65. Republican Herald Centennial Supplement, May 3, 1939
66. Adjutant General's Report-Illinois-Vol. 9 (1897-98)
67. Reports of the Provost Marshal General
68. Colonel Victor Kleber-Selective Service in Illinois
69. Theodore C. Pease-The Story of Illinois
70. Dr. Mary Watters-Illinois in the Second World War- 2 vols.
GOOD READINGS
References listed above Nos. 1, 3, 6, 7, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 27, 31, 32, 33, 35, 41, 48, 56, 58, 59, 60, 64, 69. Also:
Elbert Waller-History of Illinois
Grace Humphrey-Illinois
Centennial History of Illinois-5 vols.
Reuben G. Thwaites-Afloat on the Ohio
Thomas P. Abernathy-The Burr Conspiracy
Temple Bodley-George Rogers Clark
Frederick Palmer-Clark of the Ohio
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HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY
Ross F. Lockridge-George Rogers Clark (high school)
John W. Allen-Pope County Notes
Fred G. Newman-Story of Paducah
Clarence Bonnell-The Illinois Ozarks
Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties
Leland D. Baldwin-The Keelboat Age on Western Waters Lowell Thomas-Hungry Waters (1937 flood)
George W. Smith-A History of Southern Illinois-3 vols. Federal Writer's Project-Cairo Guide
Paul Angle-Bloody Williamson
Merwin and Nickell-Illinois - Crossroads of A Nation (grade and high school)
National Geographic Magazine (December 1953)
Richardson L. Wright-Hawkers and Walkers in Early America
Prairie Farmer Centennial Number (January 11, 1941) Egyptian Key Magazine
Dr. Oliver W. Beimfohr-The Industrial Potential of South- ern Illinois
Southern Illinois University-Life in Southern Illinois
FICTION
(One or more references to Metropolis or Fort Massac)
Winston Churchill-The Crossing
Edward E. Hale-Man Without A Country
Edward Eggleston-Long Knives (juvenile)
Lawton B. Evans-Trail Blazers (juvenile) Edna Ferber-Show Boat
Harold Sinclair-Westward the Tide
Charles F. Lender-Down the Ohio with Clark (juvenile)
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA
977.3997M45H C002 HISTORY OF MASSAC COUNTY, ILLINOIS. GALE
3 0112 025400851
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