The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-20
DISASTROUS ALLIANCE WORK.
Their Vicious Legislation Keeps Million Do
lars Ont of This Vicinity

]
Their Vicious Legislation Keeps Million Dol
lars Ont Of This Vicinity.
Messrs Turnkey and Seppings, of Runny-
mede, were in the city yesterday for the
| purpose of attending meeting of the di-
rectors of the Wichita and FL Paso Rail
road company and making u statement be-
fore the said board involving the details of
their work during their recent visit to
England in the interest of the proposed
road referred to. Many of the members of
the directory were not present, and in the
absence of a quorum no business was
transacted.
An EAGLE reporter called on Messrs.
Turnkey and Seppings at the Hotel Carey
last night and held brief interview with
them.
81 am very sorry to say" said Mr.. Sep
pings, who was spokesman, that the Leg
islation of the Alliance legislature of Kan
sas blocked the enterprises when we had
attained complete success in raising the
money in England TO build not only the
road but to inaugurate and build up GER
tain other important enterprises. In this
instance alone the legislation Of the Alli-
ance stood as a barrier to the investment
of no less a sum than 81. 100000 in South
ern Kansas. AS you are aware we left
here early in the spring and went to work
at once in England to report progress to
the members Of the investment company
who were encouraging US in this
enterprise. They were absolutely delighted
with what we had done in the line OF get
ting aid voted to the road and the options
we had taken on such lands as they need
ed to carry out their gigantic scheme, and
Immediately the required amount of
money was raised. We had options on 12,-
600 acres of land, and everything was so
pleasing to the company that arrange
ments had been made for Mr.. Turnley's
return to America to purchase 5000 acres
more. Before the date set for Mr.. Turn
ley's departure the final arrangements
were to be made and the company's solic-
itor went to the American consul to ascer-
tain the legal complexion and status of
the proposed deal. There, to our aston
ishment, we ascertained that the Kansas
legislature had passed law prohibiting
the ownership of land by nonresident
aliens. This information. of course, threw
cold water over the whole proceedings and
caused them to be stopped right there. The
investment company considered the propo-
sitiOn we made them so advantageous to
them that we barely escaped lawsuit for
the recovery of damages from US. We, of
course, couldn't help what the legislature
did and our personal loss was greater than
theirs, for we had actually spent over $10,-
900 on the work, which is an entire loss"
"How much money did the London in
vestment company propose to expend on
the scheme?"
mot less than 100000. They had
this moned actually raised and
deposited in the bank ready to transfer to
America for the purpose of commencing
operations on Sept. 1. What did they
propose TO do?
$40 build the Wichita and FL 'Paso rail-
way for two fold purpose. Their first
purpose was to develope the salt mines |
along the route and their second object |
was to put up elevators along the line |
tol handle the grain business. For |
the purpose of developing the salt mines
we had 900 acres of land contracted for |
them and would purchase 5000 more acres !
had it not been for the fatal law the Alli-
ance legislature passed. 1t was the cause |
Of keeping this vast amount of foreign |
capital out of this immediate neighbor
hood. 1t is a very injudicious law and
created scare among English investors
80 that 1t will be doubtful if dollar of
foreign capital is circulated in this state
until tits repealed. la my opinion it is
,he most damaging and disastrous piece
If legislationiever enacted in any state A
Kansas man can show the London capital
st hundreds of opportunities in the state
Tor investment but this law stands forth
against all argument and there is no over
coming it."