Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-11-01

knew nothing about dam building;
so 1 began 10 kick worse than ever.
But he went on, finished up the dam,
then stopped and said he had done all
he would do. He saw he had made a
mistake, and then the city saw spec
ulaiion in it and paid $500 In bonds
for his interests. And what were his
interests? He did not even have q
lease, nor anybody elsc-nothing but
II contract for Il lease. wanted to
give a lease and had Mayor OpperInan
write 10 that effect, and they wrote
that they had q lease, sending the con-
tract for one. / took il TO Judge
Webb aud he said that l was right,
and if they wanted lease they had
better get one made.
After the city got control Of the
power l tried to get my power, but
got no satisfaction until after they had
tried all outsiders that they knew OF
aud had written TO all they could hear
of, and then finally found man 10y
the name of T. j. Bloom, who lived in
Ohio, who agreed to build mil! with
j. W. Morrison. Morrison would not
take the chance, but came to me and
proposed 10 build mill If / would 90
in with him. / told him would aud
we began in few days and built one
thar you are all proud of.
The city agreed to pay Inc $1,000 if
i would take my power al the dam i'll
stead of west of the slough. l did so.
Now all / ask is for them 10 do as they
agreed to, but they have walked up To
sense OF duty and say they arc doue
with the dam business unless I will
give them u deed 10 all the mill prop
eriy, and have made some propositions
to-wii: LIST. Willard quit claim to
city all his interest in the two acres at
the cast end Of dam, two acres at west
end of dam and about two acres north
of road, and release city from all
claims. City to furnish him (Willard)
Is horse power SO long as he keeps up
a mill there. City to settle with Stone
Il Cove. I'd. Willard settle one-hali
Of Stone & Cove claim and make the
conveyance above and city will pay
him $4,000 and give him Is horse pow
er. Sd. Willard furnish city 90 horse
power for water works, permit all par
ties using power there to continue UNI
disturbed ami without expense pay
off Stone & Cove claims and release
city from all claims, city to convey to
Willard all its interests in the dam.
Now these propositions sound like
the story about the white man and In
dian going hunting and agreeing to
divide the game equally. They killed
a turkey and a crow. The white man
said to the Indian "You take the crow
and Ill take the turkey, or else I'll
take the turkey and you take the
crow"
Stone & Gove's claim is about $500
and the dam aud wheels can be put in
TO give as much power as we have at
present for that amount. We only
have So horse power, and the city paid
over $1,000 for putting in the forebay
and wheels. At this time Mr.. Morri-
son was agent for the Laffell wheel, as
good wheel, which could have been
put in for less than one-fourth of what
they paid to put in these wheels. Mr..
Morrison and l tried TO get them TO
put in the Laffell wheels but they
would not, and offered Morrison 5000
If he would keep his mouth shut about
the wheels, but he came up and told il
to one of the contracting parties, and
these assertions were made public by
w. B. Spencer ut one of their meet
ms, but the wheels went in just the
same.
/ did all could to keep the city
from being swindled. 1 got the name
of being the worst kind of a kicker,
opposed to all public improvements.
1 am opposed to spending three dollars
of city money for one dollars worth
of work and now am ready TO do as
| agreed to in the first place-giye the
lease and take what was promised NE.
And now who is 10 blame? The city
council says "No, we cannot do that"
They say must give a deed to all the
ground and mill and they will give a
lease 10 me. That is something will
never do unless they pay me for it.
All | ask is for the council to do as
they agreed to.
At one time Mr.. Harvey came TO mo
and said they had 10 money to pay,
and as would rot take the scrip they
had he wanted 10 know If / would not
make n contract to give them sixty
DAYS to raise the money, l to make
quit claim deed and deposit them in
the Baxter Bank. So we made the
contract and signed it up and took u
copy home. l saw that it said moth
ing about sixty days so l never depos-
tied the papers, and the contract was
not completed until they were deposit
ed. 1t ended right there aud now the
council know they have stepped out
side their Jurisdiction, and they know