The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-01-08
A TREATY OF PEACE.
The two Gas Companies Settle Their
DiSagreementS cut of Court with
Compromise Which is
A MOST HAPPY SOLUTION.
OF Most Vexed Problem and Which AS
sures lola not only the Cheapest
Gas in the World but Peace
and Harmony.
THE AGREEMENT IN FULL.

Last Thursday morning the trial of
the Allen County Gas Company
against the City of lola and the Co.
Operative Gas Company for heavy
damages was begun in the district
court. The case was closely contested
through that day and the next, and
on Saturday evening there still re-
manned so many witnesses to be heard
that it seemed certain the case could
not go to the judge before the follow
ing Tuesday or Wednesday. Just as
court was about to adjourn on Satur-
day evening, however, some questions
and answers between Mr.. Benton and
Mr.. Henderson led to the suggestion
that the suit might be ended by the
purchase of the Allen County Gas Co.
interests. The>suggestiOn led to dis
cussion of the feasibility of comprO-
mise and this was so favOrably re-
ceived that on Monday, instead of
going on with the trial, the contend
ing parties, with the consent of the
court, met to consider the terms of a
settlement. 1t would be long story
to tell of all the negotiations of the
next two days. but the short of it is
that on Tuesday evening the attor-
neys of the two companies returned
to court with an agreed Judgment
and decree" which the court gladly
rendered, and which put an end
let US hope forever to a controversy
which has divided the town into
factions for nearly two years past and
which was the one great stumbling
block in the way of IOla's prosperity
and peace. We publish this judge
ment and decree in full below, and it
states so clearly the terms of the set
Element that no explanation is neces-
sary.
The REGISTER has contained no
news since the announcement of the
location here of the Lanyon Smelter
so full of the glad tidings of great joy
for lola as is this one. If this law
suit had been pushed to completion it
would have been carried to the
supreme court, whatever the judg-
ment of this court may have been,
and that would have meant that for
an indefinite period 8 large amount
of capital would have been tied up
and there would have remained the
bitterest factional feeling. By this
happy compromise this capital is set
free to be used in building up the
town, and every remnant of factionaI
strife among the business men of
lola is wiped out. The compromise
was made in such absolute good faith
on all sides and Is so fair to all con-
cerned that no feeling remains except |
one of mutual congratulation and good
will. The value of this state of af- !
fairs just at this moment in the his !
tory of lola is incalculable. 1t means |
united, harmonious and enthusiastic |
action from this time forth; and that
means that lola will realize the |
great future that her splendid and |
resources warrant.
While great credit is due to the
level headed men on both sides for
the good sense and moderation which
made the settlement possible, the
attorneys for both parties,-Benton
and Campbell for the plaintiff and
Ewing and Ritter for the Defense
are entitled to special praise and
thanks. Without their help it is
hardly possible that the differences
could have been reconciled, and it is
greatly to their credit that
hey put peace and patriotism above
lees and worked with zeal and success
10 put an end to a case which might
nave furnished them employment for
years to come.
Tho fOilouipO io a ooYx of rho doo-oo ,