The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-26
WILL BUILD BRIDGES
CompauyBeing Organized TO
Build Steel Bridges.
LOCAL MEN AT HEAD
Wichita Viii Have Another
Big Industry.

The latest proposition in the way of
establishing manufaeu ring interests in
this city is the building of a steel bridge
plant. The men behind the movement are
not asking a bonus They simply ask
the good viii of the commissioners OF
this county.
George H. Bradford OF the Wichita
Bridge company is going TO make a prop
osition to the county commissioners.
which. if accepted, will insure the build
ing of a steel bridge plant in the city
that win employ from thirty TO fifty men.
The proposition viii be for the county
commissioners to contract the bridge
building for term of three years at the
same profit the county has been paying
10 foreign companies for the work.
Mr.. Bradford stated last night that he
had secured the site for the factory, and
that it would be built if the county COM
unissioners would promise to stand by him.
He said in the establishing Of a plant Of
that kind here they would run up against
one Of the strongest trusts in the country,
and that unless they were guaranteed
some favors they would not be able to
hold their own against the trust. The
county could do this. and get their work
done for the same prices that they viii
be compelled to pay if there IS no steel
bridge plant in this city.
Mr. Bradford told reporter for the
Eagle that the machinery necessary to
start the plant would cost 200, and the
freights would have TO be added to that
amount Then a suitable building would
have TO be erected on the ground. which
he had secured. He was confident that
such a plant would pay here. and the
money would be forthcoming to build it
lust as soon as he was assured by the
county commissioners that the bridge
trust would not be allowed TO take an
unfair advantage of the Wichita concern
for the purpose of closing it.
He thinks there is q good deal Of loyalty
in the city to home industries and he be
lieves the people will favor standing by
an enterprise of this kind when they
are shown that it is not costing them
any extra money. He would not expect
90 confne work to this county, but Sc
curing the county work would give the
company a standing on the outside and il
could get a part Of the bridge building
in all this southwest country. or compel
the trust to build the bridges for moth
ms.
Chairman Wilson Of the board Of county
commissioners was seen on the street last
night. and when told by a reporter for the
Eagle what kind Of a proposition Mr.
Bradford proposed to make to the board
he said:
Il would be in favor or a thing like
that but the law Is all wrong. It com
pcls the county commissioners to let the
bridge contracts TO the lowest bidder, and
st doesn't make any difference where they
live Now. I don't suppose there is 4 mar
in this county who would refuse to trans
fer his trade from his home merchant
If some foreign merchant were to Offer
TO furnish goods for a small per cent
less. but the law compels the county com
1nissioners TO do that very thing. 7 an
satisfied that a Wichita bridge company
would manufacture steel bridges and pu
them up for lis just as cheaply rs We
are getting them, but suppose these for
ciCn companies bid low on purpose I,
injure our home company. what are yol
going TO do about it? The law ought t.
be changed"
Editor Lynch of Daily Post" Phillips
burg. N. J.. has tested the merits Of Fol
EY'S HONEY AND TAR with this re-
suit: Il have used a great many patent
remedies in my family for coughs and
colds. and / can honestly say your Honey
and Tar is the best thing of the kind
have ever used and cannot say too mucl
in praise Of it." c. Gehr.ng. 400 Eas
Douglas. Geo. Van Werden, 32S Nortl
Main. Wichita Drug Co, no East Douglas