The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-13
new LINES WILL
Be BUILT SOON
President Tells About Pro-
posed Improvements
TO STREET CAR SERVICE
S. [. Nelson Discusses the
Money Market.

s. L. Nelson, president of the Wichita
Railroad and Light company, arrived in
the city last night. He appears as jovial
and healthy as ever, and talked quite
freely of the magnificent success OF his
company and the plans for the future
He also. had some pleasant expressions
to make Of Wichita and her wonderful
growth.
In conversation with reporter for the
Eagle Mr.. Nelson said:
Il am always in a happy mood when L
come to Wichita. There are several Things
that contribute to make me feel good.
One Of these is the solid, steady growth
Of the city. Another is the favorable ous-
iness our company has done ana the
bright prospects we have for the luture'
Each successive year since We com
1nenced business here has given US an
increase Of 20 to 40 per cent in service
and / am quite sure that We will do stlh
more this year. Every promise We have
made in the past to the city OF wichita
will be fulfilled. The lines on Cleveland
and Pattie avenues will be extended just
as soon as the weather will permit.
1.-The power house. of course, is now
under WAY of being cleaned up and great
deal of repairing Will be done immedi-
etely. There will be a new boiler in
stalled. and we intend to put in another
engine for the street lighting business
"A much better service could have been
given to the West Side, but the extern
sion of lines has been delayed owing to
the laying of pavement. The services on
West Douglas will be improved and there
Is no question but that we will be in
shape to give better service all around"
In regard to what eastern capitalists
think of Wichita he said:
People in the east do not forget
Wichita They have their eyes fixed on
her, and whenever an opportunity pre-
eents itself you may be sure that they
do not fail to invest.
LAS to myself, L have taken unusual in
terest in the city. OF course that is nat
ural that l should. To prove my loyalty
to the metropolis of southwest Kansas l
will say that l have never missed having
at my disposal the daily papers of
Wichita / always kept tab on her devel-
opmerts And somehow / consider this
my home as much as 1 do Fort Wayne"
Pertaining to the industrial and eco
nomical situation prevalent, Mr.. Nelson
said:
1.-The east is suffering from a money
panic There is a stringency in the money !
markets such We have not seen for
years. The east is looking jealousy to the |
west, for they know out here is where |
there is plenty of money. Back east |
they charge and 61A per cent for money, |
while a year ago the interest was only
( and AZ per cent at the most.
Labor and material is unusually eX-
pens;ve. Just few days ago was talk
ing with a steel magnate and he told me
that they had cancelled orders for nearly |
a million rails within the past few
months. This, of,erate for r., account
OF the approach arrived shortl III money
stringency. IT, Sellers quote Aaon also /
tends to make things iectsne, worse, and
therefore 1904 cannot be looked to as q
banner year for any amount of great i'm
provements or developments in any line
Mr. Nelson will take a recreation trip
to the West Indies in company with Mr..
Mckinley and Mr.. Woodman, who are as
ISOLATED with him in his business. OF
this trip Mr. Nelson said:
81 have been planning each year for
the last eighteen years to take trip to
the West Indies, and this year 1 am going
On the 9th of February we leave New
York and go to San Domingo. From there
we will visit the various islands and then
we will visit Martinique-the unfortunate
island on which Mt. Pelee is situated
Then we go TO Spain and the Trinidad is
lands before returning. L consider this
Q wonderful trip and / am sure 1 shall
enjoy it,
Mr.. Nelson will remain in Wichita to-
day, and will leave for his home .sroba-
bly, tonight