The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-15
NEARING THE END
ELEVATOR COMMITTEES WORK
WILL SOON CEASE


Committee Still Lacks $4,000 of the
Required Amount, He Declares He Has
Too Much Faith in the Intelligence and
Enterprise of ssdEwick County Farmers
to Let Slip This Golden Opportunity.
This week viii decide the question as
to whether or not Wichita, Sedgwick
county and the inhabitants within a
radius of $50 miles viii secure the great
elevator or not. The establishment OF
the elevator means much 10 every man
who has grain 10 sell, /. e. il means
whether or not grain can be raised al
a profit for shippers TO other markets
It means, providing the elevator is Sc
cured, an advance from 70 cents on
every bushel OF grain offered upon the
market, and il does not seem possible
that the farmers, in whose interest the
elevator is 70 be built, when their We'll
known intelligence and enterprise is
considered. would long keep in the bal
ance Of uncertainty, Yet still uf1e COM
mittee reported last night that they still
lacked some 81 600 OF having the requir-
ed amount.
That all may understand the fun
status OF the proposition which was Of
fered 70 the farmers Of Sedgwick coun-
". and in fact 10 the farmers within a
territory OF at least $50 miles Of Wichita
in all directions, a reporter for the
Eagle called upon the committee yes
terday for brief statement OF The
proposition which is made by Mr.. Cald-
nell nd n-1 70 nth 70
ference TO the building OF the elevator
and what guarantee the people had that
the proposition would be carried out.
Mr.. E. T. Alien acted as spokesman
for the committee and gave in sub
stance the following review of the
proposition:
The elevator which Mr.. Caldwell
and company propose TO build in Wica-
ita is a public elevator. Now. there il
a big difference between a public and
private elevator. The former IS con-
Quoted under the laws Of the state and
the man who places grain therein Sc
cures all the advantage of extra rates
given for shipment OF the grain. There
IS one thing which find that the peo-
pie do not generally understand and
that is why the elevator will secure for
them the advance which is promised,
and it viii De necessary in getting this
matter before the public 10 briefly re-
view the subject from its conception
until the present time.
The Commercial club, after thor
oughIy discussing the subject OF freight
rates, which every man well knows -
the vfcal question TO Wichita. was met
by Mr.. W. E. Caldwell OF Louisville,
Ky, with a proposition 10 build an
elevator Of 800. 900 bushels capacity at
Wichita provided he could get the peo-
PIE 10 take hold OF the matter and give
the company a guarantee OF business
by subscribing S25. 900 in stock. the
stock all TO be redeemed by the COM
pany at its face value by giving stor-
age and in handling grain Mr. Cald-
Wei also minated that it was his opin-
ion from the business which ne had
done with The railroad companies that
IN case the elevator OF the capacity
which he proposed by the plans sub
mitted to the Commercial club, was
built and sufficient amount OF bust
ness was secured that the railroads
would give to Wichita the same rates
accorded TO Missouri river points, and
in fact make Wichita a basing point
not only for grain but for other ship
ments. He expressed his plan of NOV
ing upon the railroads and the club a {
once recognized that he thoroughly IN
derstood The subject and also gave
them several new points n the solution
d the vexed freight problem.
The club told Mr.. Caldwell TO meet |
with the railroad managers and see
what concessions they would make 70 |
Wichita provided the elevator was I
built He did so and found that the /
railroad companies were perfectly will |
ng 10 do the right thing and at once |
made Mr.. Caldwell a proposition that |
Z the elevator was built al Wichita 1
With capacity OF 500. 600 bushels and |
"a pable of handling 100 cars per day.
hat they, the raiLarods centering at
Wichita, would accord 10 the city the
same rates as are given at the Ms |
.ouri river. They would also make /
Wichita a basing line with the same
privilege both in and out OF the city.
Mr.. Caldwell returned and made
lis report and at once the club was
moved to action and at oncs subScrih-
d s., 600 IN stock and also agreed 20
i've the site for the elevator Mr..
Caldwell told them that he believed
hat before the people could be asked
o subscribe 20 the proposition that the
X u RAL
heir promise in black and white so
hat there could be no afterclap about
he matter.
With this object IN view Mr.. Cald-
FELL wired the traffic agents al Kansas
,ity and asked II they would hs will
ng 10 put the verbal promises made 70
i'm in black and white and in answer
ecsived a request that he would meet
hem IN Chicago, which he did. AZ
'hicago the whole matter was re-
uced % writing. signed. sealed and de-
vered. and Il the elevator IS built
ew day VIII dawn upon Wichita. This
; no idle talk but a simple plain propo-
stion. II means the same price fo-
orn and wheat at Wichita as "a paid
Z Kansas CITY.
Why should not the rate BE- given?
Wichita VIII then have facilities for !
Sndling the entire crop. not only OF
iSt year but OF this year as cteaply as
an he done al the Missouri river.
Vhea the grain - ready for market Il
nearer an export market than any :
ONT on the Missouri river and 70 tbs (
10y VII come The grain OF the country (
nd leave In large cargoes. Think OF ,
. car loads OF grain gong out OF the |
" daily. and when the cars return !
hey VII bring hi5her the merchant Sc
sns nded for the wholesale trade trshp-
1sry 70 this point. {
The question OF freight rates - r. Z
reat question which Rot Only effects !
fjch1ta bat the entire west and Okla I
clsa- Here Is a solution signed. seal I
and delivered by the railroads {
y-esng % give Wichita Missouri rsv- 7
rates and 20 accord - & basirE line 4
-iyileges provided the elevator = :
lit.
'.Hsretofore Wichita has rot asked :
= farmers for many do1s ions, but
hen 81 enterprise was % Be built :