Wichita eagle., 1888-05-20
BURTON CAR WORKS.
SOME VERY INFLUENTIAL EAST
ERN CAPITALISTS HAVE
Acquired Large Interests in Wich-
ita'sGreatest Industry and Will
at Once Increase the Ca
pacity on a Grand
Scale.

OF all the numerous mammoth manu-
featuring and other enterprises which
have during the year just past been Sc.
cured for Wichita and are now Just be-
ginning to operate, there is no one to
which our people as a unit point with
more justifiable pride than the great
Burton Stock Car company's immense
and complete plant in this city. The
magnitude of Wichlta's institutions-be
they educational, commercial, manufac-
turing or otherwise, is a source of con-
slant congratulation to her citizens and
universal astonishment to her visitors.
| The degree of fidelity with which the
numerous projects {for which our citi-
zens exerted themselves, have been con-
sumated) is a pleasure and credit lot
only to the projectors, but to all con-
| cerned and to our city as a community.
In very many instances these institutions
have far surpassed in magnitude
the original stipulations upon which they
were secured and are therefore sources
of great pride to everyone. There is no
+; institution in our city which is more
striking exemplification of the PROPOSE
! ton just stated, than the Burton Car
| works.
Mr.. j. O. Davidson, president of the
| Citizens Bank, who it is well known to
| all our people, is a very heavy stock
! holder in the Burton Stock Car company
hos +,.,,N
TO Boston and New York, where he was
called about six weeks ago to assist in
consummating some very important
matters, not only for the company, but
also for Wihhita. The business for which
Mr.. Davidson went east and which was
all settled in most satisfactory manner,
consisted in largely interesting in the
company, some very wealthy and infiuen-
tial capitalists and railroad magnates of
New York and New England. These gen
tlemen, who are widely known, not
only for their immense wealth
but for their business sagacity and push,
have not only secured large blocks of
the company's stock, but have been
made active directors. There were five
new names added to the directorate and
these gentlemen, together with other
members Of the board. will some time
during the month of June, pay Wichita
a visit for the purpose of taking a look
at their magnificent property, which
now has capital stock of two millions
of dollars. While here they will also
thoroughly investigate Wichita and it is
not at all improbable that their visit viii
result in their acquiring other very large
interests in the city. The influence of
such gentlemen, will be of inestimable
value to Wichita, not only for the wealth
which they actually control themselves.
but also for the large amount of capital
which they can attract to this city.
Mr. Davidson was called upon by an
EAGLE representative, who found him
in the best OF health and spirits.
IN response to an inquiry about
the Burton Car Works and the
results of his trip, Mr.. Davidson replied
that he had gone TO Boston in response
to a message from the leading officials
of the company, and had spent all Of his
time in New York and Boston. The
company, during the time mentioned.
has consummated some very satisfactory
arrangements with representative cap
italiSts and railroad managers. whereby
fully $1,000, 900 will be immediately ex-
pended in building cars in this city
Large amounts of supplies have been
ordered and are being purchased. The
works will, within thirty days, be run
ming with fully 500 employees, which
number will be rapidly increased as fast
as room can be made for the men, until |
the works are running to their full ga
pacity, which will be largely increased,
as there are now on the books of the
company bona fide orders for 1900 Bur
ION stock cars, and contracts for over
5000 more are awaiting the companys
action Railroads all over the country
are rapidly falling into line and adopt
ing the cars for exclusive use over their
lines. In order TO satisfy the very ur'
gent demand for their cars,
it viii be absolutely neces-
sary to enlarge their works so
as to make them beyond any question |
the largest car works in the world. |
They will then be able to, and will, |
all kinds of cars, including !
street cars. The present capacity is six |
teen cars per day, but this, by the addi- !
ton of some machinery and a little more
building room, can quickly be enlarged |
to twenty-five cars per day. The opera |
ton of the cars is everywhere giving the |
greatest satisfaction The cars stand in /
the highest favor with leading railroad |
men and the company is regarded in the |
east as one of the coming most gigantic /
III the entire country.
Speaking of the gentlemen who have |
recently become large stockholders and |
directors in the company, Mr.. Davidson
said they were ali gentlemen of the
highest financial standing and acknowl- |
edged business tact In proof Of this |
remark. he referred to the mercantile
agencies reports, in which it was found
that each of the gentlemen was rated at
the top notch" used by those reliable
authorities on the financial pulse.
Mr.. Ezra H. Winchester, of Ports
New Hampshire. is
large capitalist and a member of the
great importing and manufacturing sad
dlery firm of Main, Winchester & Co. OF
San Francisco, California.
Mr. Frank Jones, also of Portsmouth.
New Hampshire, is leading capitalist
and has a controlling interest In the Bos-