The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-03-09

at our little cob house of a venture.
Brouillard." the host allowed at the
lighting of the gold-banded cigars.
You're the government engineer and
the builder of the big dam; but you
cant build your dam in one day, or
in two. and the interval is ours. l tell
you, we're going to make Mirapolis a
buzzhummer while the daylight lasts.
Don't you forget that"
Mirapolis?' queried Brouillard.
is that the new manner"
! Cartwright laughed and nodded. IT'S
Genes name-'Miracle City, Fits like
the glove on pretty girls arm,
doesn't it?"
1T does. But the miracle is that
there should be any money daring
enough to invest itself in the Niquoia )"
why, bless your workaday heart.
Brouillard," chuckled the host, moth
ing is permanent in this shuhling
| growing. progressive world of ours
absolutely nothing. Some of the big
gest and costliest buildings in New
York and Chicago are built on ground
leases. Our ground lease will merely
be little shorter in the factor of
time
SO much shorter that the parallel
won't hold" argued Brouillard.
The parallel does hold; long time.
small profits and slow return; short
time, big profits and a quick return.
You've eaten here before; what do
you pay Bongras for reasonably good
dinner?"
Brouillard laughed. "Oh Poodles.
He cinches us, all right; four or five
times as much as it's worth-or would
cost anywhere else"
That's it. He knows he has to
make good on all these little Injuries
he gives you-cash in every day. as
you might say, and come out whole be-
fore you stop the creek and drown
him. When we get in motion we're
going 10 have Alaska faded to FRAGILE
ON prices-and you'll see everybody
paying them joyfully."
And in the end somebody, or the
final series of somebodies, will be left
10 hold the bag" finished Brouillard
There needn't be any bag holders.
Brouillard. Let me put it in a nut
shell: we're building a cement plant,
and we shall sell you the output-at a
good, round price, / promise you, but
still at lower figure than you're pay
ing for the imported article now, or
than you will pay even after the rail-
road gets in. When our government
orders are filled we can afford to
wreck the plant for what it will bring
as junk. Wen be out of it whole. with
nice little profit"
THAT is only one instance" object
ed the guest.
We'll, Bongras. here, is one more"
laughed the host "And our power
plant is another. You made your little
kick on that to Washington-you
thought the government ought to con-
troll its own power That was all
right, from your point of view, but we
beat you to it. Now the reclamation
service gets all the power 1t needs at a
nominal price. and we're going to sell
enough more to make us all feel
happy"
Sell it? To whom?"
Mr. Cartwright leaned back I'm his
chair and the sandy-gray eyes seemed
TO be searching the inner recesses of
the querying soul
That's inside information, but /
don't mind taking you i'm on it." he
said between leisurely puffs at his CT
gar. We've just concluded a few con-
tracts one with Massingale-he's go
ing to put in power drills electric ore
cars, and a modern equipment gener-
q cl, r.
Little Susan one With new mining
syndicate which will begin operations
at once on half a dozen prospects ON
Jacks mountain; and one with a lum-
Der combination that has just taken
over the sawmills, and will install 9th
ers. with a planning mill and sash fac
tory"
Brouillard nodded. The gray eyes
were slowly hypnotizing him.
But that isn't ALL" continued the
promoter. I'VE are about to reincor-
porate the power plant as the Niquoia
| Electric Power, Lighting and Traction
company Within a fortnight we'll be
lighting Mirapolis and within a month
! after the railroad gets in wen be oper.
ating trolley cars"
Inc enthusiast paused 20 let the
Information sink in. also to note the
effect upon the subject. The noting
was apparently satisfactory. since he
went on with the steady assurance of
one who sees his way clearly.
THAT brings MS down 10 business
! Brouillord don't mind admitting
that had an object I'm asking YOU 40
dine with me this evening. les this.
we feel that I'm the reorganization of
/ the power company the government
which will always be the largest con.
/ sumcr should De represented I'm some
effective way, that its interests shouId
Doe carefully safeguarded. Il is not 60
easy ass &c might seem We can't OK.
actly make the government a stock
| holder"
mo" said Brouillard mechanically
The underdepths we're stirring. heav
ing ass IF from a mighty ground
swell that threatened a tidal wave of
/ Overturnings
I'VE arc going TO make you the gov.
erament director. with fun power IN
/ investigate and to act And we're not
] rfflffn n I.. 81.