Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-11-26
THE DAM QUESTION.

A mass meeting OF the Citizens
of Baxter Springs was held in the
commercial club rooms on Monday
evening of this week to consider a
new proposition from W. 6. Ser
geant regarding the city's water
power. The proposition, which
was made to the council the next
night, was discussed at considera-
BILE length by the large crowd out,
and finally, on motion of Fribley,
seconded by Opperman, it was de-
clared the sense of the meeting
that the council 60 ahead and
make the best terms possible.
Mr.. Sergeant, we understand, rep.
resents the firm of James Brown,
Jr., & Sons of Chicago, and it is the
intention of these people to build a
mammoth dam on Spring river be-
low the reunion grounds for the
generation of electricity which 10
to be sold commercially for power
purposes. These people have al
ready secured control of the two
dams at Lowell, where another
big dam will be built. We under.
stand it 10 the intention to connect
the electricity generated at Lowell
with that generated at the lower
dam. If this is done, and the stor-
age system is used, there will be
power enough to run all the ma.
chiuery in this district.
Following is the proposition as
made to the council at it's regular
meeting Tuesday night:
Nov. "a, 1903.
To the Honorable Mayor and Coun.
Gil of the City of Baxter Springs,
Cherokee County, Kansas:
Gentlemen: I propose to pur-
chase from you the Baxter dam,
dam site and real estate thereto be-
longing, free and clear of incum.
brance of every description, ex.
cept the existing contract with A.
Willard, upon the terms following:
$500 cash; $500, to be paid within
two years, or upon the commence
meut of construction of my pro-
posed dam; and for the further
consideration of the selling or buy
ing of You refuuding bonds to the
amount of $4,000, bearing four per
cent interest for term of ten years
from date of Issue. I further pro-
pose that the possession of the
property shall remain in you until
all of the foregoing conditions are
fully complied with.
In the event of my failure to per-
form any of the foregoing condi-
tions, or to make any of the pay
ments, then In that event all mon
les paid shall be forfeited to the
city of Baxter as liquidated dam
ages. / further agree that should l
commence conrtruction before the
expiration of two years, that / will
if called upon to do so, furnish the
city of Baxter a good and secure
bond that I will buy or sell bonds
TO the amount of $4,000, bearing in
terest at the rate of four per cent
per annum, and payable quarterly.
Said bonds to be legally issued
and run for ten years.
This proposition 10 made subject
to your immediate acceptance.
Vim. G. Sergeant.
The matter was discussed in all
of its phases and some modifca-
tious and provisions made, which
will appear in the ordinance pro-
viding for the transfer. One very
important thing, and to which Mr..
Sergeant agreed, is that if the dam
goes out before the $500 10 due he
will pay it anyway. Also, II any
repairs are made on the dam before
Mr.. Sergeant takes charge he will
bear half the expense.
An ordinance providing for the
transfer of the property will be
drawn at once by the city's attor-
neys.
Asked when work will begin on
the big dam and plant Mr.. Ser.
geant said il would begin in the
spring; that supplies and materials
are being ordered now.
The deal may be for the best. A
very large majority of our people
seem to think 30. We have opti'
1 ae