Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-12-03
ABOUT the DAM.

NOW tudt thC WdtCA PoWCA 4aSc
ton is in fair way to be settled,
much discussion is going on about
the matter, but underneath II all
there is a feeling of gladness or
satisfaction that the city 10 to get
out of the expense of keeping the
dam in suitable condition to fur
nish power. 80, h
It has been suggested that the
property 10 worth more to Mr.. Ser
geant and his associates than the
city 10 to get out of It This is of
course true. No man buys q piece
of property unless he thinks he can
make q profit on II. But on the
other hand, under the circum.
stances, the city could i'll afford to
retain control of the property.
While the power has been and 10.
the means Of furnishing power to q
few people, yet We feel that the ben
Gifts to be derived from the i'm
provements contemplated by the
new owners will far more than com.
pensate for the relinquishment of
the city's rights at the river. The
plants now in operation at the dam
can secure power from the new
company az cheaply as they can
bear their share of the expense of
keeping the dam In repair. They
do not need to move, either, even II
the new dam 10 built q mile and q
half farther down the river, unless
they want to get closer to the rail
road, because the power to be gen.
Grated, electricity, can be applied to
their machinery just a. easily with
the dam a long distance away, as
water power can directly.
Coal 10 too high for steam ma.
chinery, and probably will be for
all time; gas is uncertain, in that II
may play out or weaken at any
time; but water power will stay "as
long as grass grows and water
runs" Hence il must be the cheap.
est. The cost to maintain il 10 less,
II is always ready, even, and never
falters.
As we have said before, we have
optimistic views, always. II 10 go.
ing to cost Mr.. Sergeant and his as
sociates half million dollars to
build the improvements they con-
template. They are not going to
spend this money for fun. When
they have their power ready to sell
they are going on the market and
sell it. And they will have no trou-
BILE in finding sale for all of IL,
either, because it will be cheap and
everlasting. To use the power, fac
tories will of necessity have to come
where the power 10. Baxter Springs
will be closer to that power than
any other town. Baxter Syringe
has excellent railroad and chip
ping facilities and will have better.
Because of the loss of power of
electricity in transmission to any
considerable distance, Baxter will
be the natural location for factories
in search of cheap aud perpetual
power, and our city 10 bound to
profit in the end.
The bonds voted for the dam were
$4,000. Of this amount, about $500
was put into the dam. The other
$ll 500 was put into the bridge. This
the county took of of our hands
and paid ne for, but the money was
squandered-at least no man can
today tell what became Of il. We
have paid in interest on the $4,000,
up to date, about $22,sOo. This ad.
ded to the principal, makes $42,S00
the dam has cost us. But 10 this
all2 No. We have spent in repairs,
improvements and for goodness
knows what, about $500, making a
grand total for. the, monument Of
about So 300 And the $4,000 10 still
debt on the city. ,.,,fs
Baxter Springs win profit By the
change. OF that we have mot q
doubt The. power will pass' into
the hands of men of experience
men who will moi be supplanted
every spring by'a lot of ignoram'
| uses who know just about as mach
about water powersas bog does
about a side pocket.
Baxter Springs will have the rep.
utation of having the cheapest per-
oatual nowar In the c0uf1trv Fac.