The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-27
RAGES&C0. HAVE
NOT ANSWERED
Proposition Made Them by
Wichita Committee.
DID NOT ACCEPT CONTRACT
And Have Not Notified City
What They Intend to do.

More than a week has elapsed since
Mr.. c. L. Davidson wrote to RACES &
Co. at Winfield, asking them when they
would come to Wichita to talk over the
city as regards drilling for gas near
Wichita, and nothing has been heard from
them. Many people have asked about
the matter, and all that Mr.. Davidson
can say is that he has not heard from
the company. The city has asked that
the word wells be stricken from the
contract, and also that the money is to
be deposited in a Wichita instead Of a
Winfield bank. The company, when in
formed of what the city wanted, refused
10 make such a contract. and Mr.. Da-
wilson. chairman of the council commit
tee to look after this work, said that no
other contract would be acceptable. Then
the attorney of the company said that he
would come up and talk the matter over.
and that is the last that has been heard
of them. Mr.. Davidson cannot get an an
swer to his letters, and although he has
tried a number of times to get the at
tcrney by telephone, he has been unable
[, do so.
The city has received several PROPOSE
tons to drill for gas or oil. The money
has been raised and is ready to be
deposited, every cent of it. and the
citizens and councilmen want to start
the drill working pretty soon, but it is felt
that until something definite is heard from
Rages & Co. no steps should be taken to
al, ie.,
and willing TO make the contract with the
two apparently minor but really import
ant details stricken out. and would like
tc know very much just what the COM
pany proposes to DO about tine matter.
After the refusal of the attorney to ac-
Cept the contract with the two sections
eliminated. he said that he would come
up and talk it over. The matter. as far as
Wichita is concerned, is at a standstill.
II RACES & Co. want to make a counter
proposition the committees are perfectly
willing to take the time 10 discuss it
freely with the representative or discuss
the contract as it now stands. Action of
e. me kind is wanted. and wanted right
away. for this is a matter of great i'm
portance TO Wichita, and something must
b. and will be done at no late date
Mr.. Davidson, in speaking OF the mat
ter yesterday. stated that he supposed
that the reason for the company's delay
vas in the fact that they are working
hard on the new well at Winfield. The
Grill has gone down a little more than
three hundred feet, and some two hundred
feet of casing has been put in. The old
well has been abandoned and the COM
rany is hard at work putting down the
new well, and its success is a matter of
vital Importance TO the company.
The reason for the city not accepting
the contract is that the committee felt
that the flow Of five hundred thousand
cubic feet Of gas every twenty four hours
was to come from one well. and not from
several wells, as is possible under the
contract. 1t is a well known fact that
gas in small quantities has beeu found at
q number of points east Of the city. hut
this is supposed 10 be marsh gas. The
committee who have the matter in charge
feel that the city and citizens should be
protected in every way possible. and
hence refused to sign the first contract.
The committee also thought that the
money should be deposited in a Wichita
hank. and not have 20 so forty miles
away TO get a depository for money that
rightfully belongs in Wichita until an
outside party fully satisfies this commu-
nifty that they are entitled to the cash.
and then il will be turned over to them