The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-03
ON SHORT NOTICE
Street Car Material is Ready
to Ship.
COMPANY WILL PAY
All the Extra Expense of Sc
curing Arc Lights.
'ANY WILL PAY

In regard to extending the franchise of
the new street car company for new street
railway and electric lights. Holt Gates.
the Chicago contractor, writes Mayor Ross
Interestingly. as follows;
Chicago, April Is, 1888.
Finlay Ross. Mayor. Wichita. Kan.
Dear Sir-I wired you yesterday asking
II an extension of The Wichita Railway.
Light & Power company's franchise and
contract could be secured, and have your
reply this morning that no extension will
be granted. have just received a letter
from Mr.. H 3. Church of New York,
stating the bankers q" letters, stating
they would take the bonds when the war
scare was over was on the way to you.
These letters of the bankers were prom
ised TO be sent to yearly this week OF
course, not having a copy of the same ]
don't know just what they are. l do per-
sonally know, however. that Messrs.
Church & Ellis have made strenuous eff
forts in many directions in New York to
raise the necessary cash to build the plant
in Wichita in first-class shape as con-
templated, and matters were practically
at close several weeks before the dec
laration of war with Spain. l feel sure
If you can possibly grant this company
an extension Of four months that first
class road and frst-class lighting plant
will be installed in the city of Wichita.
1 cannot see that the city has anything TO
lose by making this extension, as the
present railroad company agreed to pay
the extra amount between their bid for
city lights and what you will have to pay
another company. By their competition
you certainly get a lower price for city
lighting than was ever obtained before
in Wichita, and it certainly seems as If
you have evtrything to gain and nothing
TO lose by granting an extension.
1t has unfortunately been the experience
Of all the new enterprises that they had
not obtained the money as soon as ex-
pected, and an extension or two has been
more often the case than the completion
Of an enterprise without an extension. I
don't know what efforts are being made
by other parties for a franchise for a
street railroad and lighting contract. but
we do absolutely know that unless the
parties applying for the franchise have the
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obtain it in Chicago or New York, or sell
bonds to obtain it at the present time. 1
should certainly think you would require
about a $4,000 or SIS 900 bond from any new
parties who apply for a franchise, as they
can do no better, if as well, as the present
road. We know of seven railroads in the
vicinity Of Chicago which are now hung
up on account of inability TO float secur-
tiles for the next several weeks.
In conclusion, I hope your council can
gee their way clear to help the present
company In their unfortunate dilemma,
as we think in the end 1t would be largely
TO the benefit of the city of Wichita. I
know the Walker company with its enor-
nous financial interests) has tried to help
Messrs. Church & Ellis in floating their
securities in the last few weeks, but find
IL impossible 10 do so. If an extension
should be granted this company. our COM
pany vii Iendeavor in every way possible
to again help them out.
We would be pleased to have your views
on this matter. If an extension could be
granted we would put in the most modern
plant that could be bought for money.
Yours, truly,
] HOLT GATES & CO