The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-17
LOOKS VERY DARK
VERY LITTLE HOPE LEFT FOB ELE-
VATOR PROPOSITION.
II. Caldwell Cannot Wait Any Longer and
Gives the Commercial Club Only q Few
DAYS More to Fulfill the Terms OF the
Contract-Bis Decision Makes the Com
mittee Feel Blue But They Will Make
One More Final Enort-What Success
Will Attend it 10 Rather Doubtful-More
TIn,s May be Asked for.

The elevator proposition has now
reached the critical point. If the terms
of the contract between the Elevator
company and the Board Of Trade are
not fulfilled within a few days every
thing will be declared off and the prop
osition will be abandoned.
Mr.. Caldwell who is one OF the main
gentlemen in the elevator company has
been offered another proposition at an
other place and he is anxious to know
in time what the outcome of the Wich-
tia proposition win be.
At the elevator headquarters in the
city Building last evening everybody
looked blue and disappointed. Not
a few looked Disguised. They were
discussing ways and means by which
they could turn APPARENT failure into
success but fate seemed TO be against
them. They still thought that the peo-
pie would subscribe the necessary loan
if the time was extended but Mr. Cald-
well will probably not extend the time
any farther. Not a few said that they
did not blame him in view of the fact
that the season is getting late and he
does not propose to waste a whole year
on one proposition which, he thinks,
is plain enough to be accepted by any,
body in ten days.
1t may be that the fund can be raised
within the limit but there is some doubt
ABOUT 1t. The idea in some quarters
seems to be that The city could make
up what is lacking but il must be re-
membered that the people of Wichita
are TO donate $1,000 and the site and
that is about all they can do. There is
a great deal OF difference between what
the Commercial club will have to do
and what the farmers are required to
do. The club is 10 make a donation
out and out while the farmers are SIM
ply asked to make a loan The club
VIII get nothing back for what they
are called upon to invest while the
farmers win get every dollar of their
investment back within a year. It
can be seen that the business men of
Wichita who are in the club, compared
with their number and the fact that they
Will get nothing back, are giving a
great deal more than the farmers.
Robert Coates who has taken a great
deal of interest in, and has devoted an
of his time to, the enterprise was very
cad last night when a reporter for the
Eagle met him. He had been up two
nights without sleep working in the
townships and while he got some en-
enlargement it did not come fast
enough 10 SUIT him considering the
snort time allowed by Mr.. Caldwell.
ut makes me SICK he said to a re-
porter Tor the Eagle last night "to think
mat we came so near success and are
now meeting apparent failure. This
was the best proposition the farmers
or this valley ever had and 1 am afraid
1t will be a long time before they will
nave an opportunity to accept another
one like it. They will regret if inst
as sure as two and two make four.
While l admit that fate seems to he
against US have not lost all hope and
l believe that if we had a little more
time we could make it,"
Have you been over the county very
much?" he was asked
Yes, In some parts Of the county
we found the people very willing while
IN otner places We found them different
1 could go back to townships 1 have
heretofore visited and get some morn
money but 1 don't want to ride a. free
horse too much l believe that this
loan should be borne equally by the diff
ferent localities in the county for the
elevator viii benefit all alike. II all
the townships were as much alive TO
the Importance of the enterprise as the
southern and western townships are
We would not have much trouble. We
will start our again for q final effrt
and If L fails We must throw % our
hands IN despair.
IL certainly Is o. At pity that the
future Of tee eiesa'Cr lc, ks SO dark.
Tie oro.,osit,-.n was e good one and #
successful would be of incalculable ad- |
to the farmers of this valley. |