The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-03-17
ANOTHER LONG STEP.
In Iola's Cityward Progress Taken by
the Execution of Contract
Which Assures the
PORTLAND CEMENT WORKS.
Ihe Same Company Nearly Certain to
Put in Water Works and May
Add Il Beet Sugar Mill.

Some weeks ago the REGISTER an.
nounced that the Michigan Portland
Cement Company would build a 2OOO.
barrel plant at lola. In making the
announcement at that time the REo-
IsTER was taking just few chances.
for 1t was relying upon the citizens of
lola carrying cut the agreement that
the Commercial Club had made. The
event has proven, however, that its
confidence in the people was well
founded, for when called upon they
responded promptly and generously.
subscribing in four days sum that
VIII fully meet all demands. with
THIS fund assured the officers of the
Commercial Club, by virtue of the
authority veste in them by the mass
meeting last week have execute
contract with "The Ameri-
can Construction Company whereby
in consideration of the donation n
one gas well the said Company agrees
to build and operate n plant for the
manufacture of Portland cement. the
plant to cost not less than 500 600
and to employ not less than rs men.
AS matter of fact the Company will
probably spend more than twice this
amount on their plant, and will prob.
ably employ more nearly hundred
and seventy-tive than seventy-five
men. But they preferred to make
their contract conservative. They
will order their material at once and |
the work of construction will be
pushed as rapidly as possible. So
extensive is the plant, however, that
1t will be at least six months before
it is in operation.
Mr.. John 7. Holmes, who rep
resents the Company here, tells
the REGISTER that this company has
sold it's cement plant at Coldwater,
Mich, and will therefore be able to
concentrate all its efforts I'm this line
on business at lola. Negotiations are
on foot, he said looking to the estab-
lishment of a large export trade, and
IL they are perfected the lola plant
viii be enlarged to capacity of 1000
or 5000 barrels daily.
immense as such an establishment
would be, it would employ but a
small part of the capital which Mr..
Holmes represents, and the chances
are very flattering that his Company
may establish other enterprises here.
One that Mr.. Holmes mentions is a
Beet Sugar Mill This would of
course depend wholly upon the pro-
bable success with which the beets
may be grown here, and the REGIS
TER would be glad to have reports
from any who have experimental
with them. In this connection the I
REGISTER wishes to say that il has
the promise Of the Agricultural De-
partment at Washington to send 1
quantity Of sugar beet seed to be dis
tributed for experimental purposes, :
80 that by next year at farthest 1t will
be kno wn whether sugar can be made
here. 6
Another enterprise that greatly in
terests Mr.. Holmes is Water works. |
He sees clearly that system of water
works is Il prime necessity for city
like lola, and I've feels sure it would
be good investment. AT any rate
ne has the matter under consideration
and will almost certainly submit
to the city in the near flu
ture. 8
Mr.. Holmes believes enthusiastical-
ly in the future greatness OF lola. In
the REGISTER office this morning he