Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-02-06

haps could. be sold for twice as much as all we |
possess now On the other hand, place yourself
in the condition we would be in case of repeat
ed failures of crops, with no industry. How |
many of us can stand it! How many would /
leave?
Frequently in the past years, good sugges-
tions have been made for the good of the city |
and county, but hardly any were needed If |
We continue to do so, then fear that even the |
best timber viii grow tired of working In vain |
and viii also leave But nobody asks US to |
spend one-third of our property. The assessed
valuation of the city and township is in the |
neighborhood of 100000. If we vote bonds for
about $S5,000, it viii only be one-twentieth
Then. if we take the property at its real value,
say next fan, when the sugar plant and water
works are in operation, when the houses will
be filled again, when the business houses can
do vice the business they do now. it would not
exceed one-fortieth part, and get water works
and prospect hole thrown in at these figures.
And we are asked to pay the interest on those
bonds only for number of years. True, the
bonds will come due some time, so do our
debts and interest, with little show to pay
them, unless we all put our shoulder to the
wheel and make start tor the better.
As TO the location of the sugar plant, that is
only secondary. Let us get one. 1t is imma-
! terial to the city or township, and must be
simply located where the owner finds it most
profitable and convenient in regard to water,
territory and railroad.
We have made serious mistakes within the
past three years. Let us profit by our losses,
and at least notrepeat them. We depended too
much on the future and were disappointed. So
let us now deal with the present and let the far
future take care of itself. Let us be somebody.
| no oh TO- n
vertise our town and country, so they will not
have to struggle to fill two columns with news.
and then a big part of it is for mite societies
and texts forsermons.
1t is entirely too lonesome all around now.
! Don't give the city marshal any more oppor-
! tunities to hire men to cut the weeds in the
streets next to Main Street; have it cut by
wheels and business
II. l.. Shannon moved that Col. FL
dred's proposition be accepted, and on
this motion a general discussion fol-
lowed.
Councilman DeLisle favored it, but
wanted the township to share it's part
of the burden. If the city furnishes
the SO, 200 already voted for water
works and prospect hole, the town
ship should vote the amount necessary
to complete the $50, 600 demanded.
d. VanSlyke wanted to know how
long before the waterworks rentals
would revert to the city.
Councilman Logan would not be will
ling to divert the bonds voted without
the consent of the people. He thought
the sugar industry as yet in the expert
mental stage, and the chances of sue
cess were not absolutely certain; some
plants had proved failures, and others
would likely fail. Plants established
during the ensuing year would demon
strate what localities were suitable.
Are we ready to bond the city nearly to
the full extent of its legal ability
Might this not put us in such shape
that we can not help other worthy en-
terpises
Judge Edwards was somewhat oppo-
sed to bonding for public improvements,
but we are now at a crisis when we
must grasp the bull by the horns" He
understood the sugar industry to be
past the experimental stage, and it is
reasonably certain that we can make a
success-our soil is peculiarly adapted
: to it. The committee, if possible, should
par, instead of cash. He also wanted
to know when the city will get the wa
ter rentals. To accept the Eldred prop
: osition is the only way to get sugar
plant here thls year.
E. p Caruthers was, as a general
> proposition, opposed to giving public
l money to private enterprises, but it ap-
$ peared that time had arrived in oul
affairs when it is absolutely necessary
that the public make some concessions
He had unbounded confidence in Col
Eldred-his ability to carry out any
proposition he may make, and in hi:
ability to command UNLIMITED capita
in the proposed industry. He thought
\ the township should do its part, and he
t lieved that it was possible for the town
l ship to vote road and bridge bonds thai
; could be diverted. He thought imme
: date steps should be taken to ascer
! tain the feelings of the Taxpayers Of
: the township and city.
y Z. Sample favored the proposition
under consideration. The county Cal
certainly raise cane under any condI
= ton, as certainly as 1t can raise gyp
: sum, and this is an opportunity tina
r should not be lost, to secure means OF
developing an industry that should no
: be dormant. If the necessary aid Cal
4 be secured by whipping the devi
b around the stump" be was willing tina
j. the whipping should begin at once.
p. D. Cunningham considered tn,
; proposition plain and fair, and all tina
s is necessary, if it is adopted, is to tax,
the precaution to have satisfactory wa
rter works and a prospect hole. He be
. ieved the p eople of the township ar,
willing to do their part, as the farmers
e will be the ones principally benefited
e He would want all details arranged .,
that thar55 may not be dissatisfaction ii
! the future
d Chairman J. w. McNeal thought 1t ;
f mistake to say that Barber county hat
experienced failure of crops last year
for such was not the fact Last yea
. we sold more than quarter of a mil
e lion dollars worth of live stock: W.
+ raised plenty of corn and oats for home
CONSUMPTION, and sold wheat to eastern
counties. We can raise anything thai
grows in Kansas. and we are especially
: fortunate in the production of sorghum
He favored the Eldred proposition. and
the means proposed to insure its sue
cess, though he wanted the detail:
more fully arranged, and he thought