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Mart L. Robinson
Winfield Messenger, Friday, August 30, 1872.
Albert Yale & Co., Publishers.
As will be seen from their notice in this issue, the Independence Bank has sold out to Hull’s Bank. As we understand Messrs. Reed & Robinson by this sale bind themselves not to engage in the Banking business again in our city; we hope they may conclude to remain among us in some other business. These gentlemen have won hosts of friends during their business career here and should they conclude to go elsewhere, they can have no better reference than to the citizens of Independence generally, as to their standing and business integrity. Independence Tribune.
Winfield Messenger, Friday, August 30, 1872.
The above named gentlemen have located at Winfield, and will commence the Banking business here soon. They have purchased the first lot south of the Winfield Bank, and will erect a large stone building with brick and glass front immediately. We are always glad to welcome such men to our town, and most heartily do we welcome Messrs. Reed & Robinson, knowing that with the above recommendation they cannot help but succeed. They have gone for their safe and books and will soon be ready for business.
Winfield Messenger, Friday, November 8, 1872.
Mr. Robinson, cashier of Read’s bank, has bought Mr. Webb’s residence.
Winfield Courier, May 15, 1873. [James Kelly, Editor.]
The mason work on the new bank building is finished, and we venture to say that it is one of the finest buildings in this part of the state. We hope more of our businessmen will manifest the confidence in our town shown by Messrs. Read & Robinson.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 22, 1873.
W. C. Robinson, brother of M. L. Robinson, Esq., was in the city the past week visiting his friends. Mr. Robinson is one of the busy merchants of Independence, Kansas.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 5, 1873.
The glass for the front of M. L. Reed’s Bank have been received and when they are put in, the finishing touches will be about completed. The glass are six feet ten inches high by four feet five inches wide. There are few buildings in this part of the state that presents the general appearance or that have cost more than this.
Winfield Courier, August 28, 1873.
Committee to see that the trees are not injured in any way: A. T. Shenneman, Sheriff Parker, M. L. Robinson.
Winfield Courier, April 24, 1874. [City Council Proceedings.]
The Mayor, with the consent of the Council, appointed the following city officers for the ensuing year. M. L. Robinson was duly appointed City Treasurer; J. W. Curns was duly appointed City Clerk and qualified as such. T. H. Suits was appointed City Attorney. Z. T. Swigart was duly appointed City Marshal.
Winfield Courier, May 8, 1874.
DIED. On Saturday, May 2, 1874, at 6 o’clock p.m., little Gertrude, only daughter of M. L. and A. G. Robinson, aged 7 months and 7 days.
A ray of sunshine comes gleaming from the sky, and falls upon our floor, and cheers and warms our home. A curtain falls and it is there no more. But has it ceased to shine? No! If we but look upward to the sky we see it shining still. This little life came like a ray of sunshine to this household; it warmed the hearts of the parents—it brightened home. The light that shone so brightly in the life of Little Gertrude is not quenched, it is only hidden from our view. Let us but keep the window of our souls open toward Heaven, and when the cloud is passed, the light of His countenance will shine in upon us, and give to our stricken hearts that peace which the world cannot give, and which no earthly trouble or bereavement can take away.
Winfield Courier, May 29, 1874.
Mr. M. L. Robinson and wife and Mr. Sam. Robinson, of Winfield, arrived in the city, yesterday, and are stopping at the Caldwell House. M. L. reports Winfield prosperous, business not overdone, the county improving, and an almost certainty of getting the Fall River & Paola Railroad. Our Independence men at Winfield are all reported as doing well, and having a large business. Independence Tribune.
Yes, Bro. Burchard, Winfield is prosperous far beyond most of her sister towns, and the businessmen you sent us, are generally, doing as well as could be expected considering the town came from.
Winfield Courier, June 19, 1874.
City Treasurer’s Report.
The City of Winfield in account with M. L. Robinson, Treasurer, June 15th, 1874.
RECEIPTS.
March 28 By Z. T. Swigart, show license: $5.00
April 2 By Z. T. Swigart, Fines, E. G. Headrick ($6.50); Jno. Inman (3): $9.50
April 8 By J. M. Hamilton, Dol. store: $3.00
April 8 By J. Herrington, gift store: $3.00
April 8 By T. A. Bancroft, license to sell medicines: $1.00
April 8 By Z. T. Swigart, license from Grady’s circus: $10.00
April 9 By Furgeson & Quarles, license, Livery stable: $2.50
May 5 By Reinhard Ehret, saloon: $150.00
May 9 By Joe Likowski, saloon license: $150.00
May 12 By T. E. Gilleland, license merchant: $5.00
May 12 By A. H. Green, license druggist: $3.50
May 12 By Fairbanks, Torrance, & Green, attnys, license: $2.50
May 26 By W. R. Sheppard, license job wagon: $4.00
May 26 By Jones & Reynolds, license butcher: $3.00
May 29 By S. C. Smith, license real estate agent: $2.50
June 5 By W. M. Boyer, license stationer: $2.50
June 5 By W. M. Boyer, license dog tax: $1.00
June 6 By Darrah & Doty, license livery stable: $5.00
June 8 By Z. T. Swigart, fine of Burns, Impounding: $4.35
June 8 By Z. T. Swigart, Impounding (5.60) pro stock sold (10.00): $15.60
June 8 By N. H. Wood, J. P. fine Wm. Thurman: $4.35
June 15 By Frank Williams, grocery license: $5.00
June 15 Balance due treasurer: $89.14
TOTAL RECEIPTS: $481.44
DISBURSEMENTS.
March 15 To balance due treas. as statement published: $168.03
March 20 142 paid: $1.00
May 6 174, 169, 164, 178, 166, 141, paid: $145.02
May 16 196, 143, 153, 31, 152, 139, 145, 140, 165, 172, 186, 168, paid: $155.29
June 9 107, 183, 194, paid: $12.10
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS: $481.44
M. L. ROBINSON, City Treasurer.
Winfield Courier, August 14, 1874.
At the election for school board, the following were elected: D. A. Millington for director, G. S. Manser for clerk, and M. L. Robinson for treasurer. Very good.
Winfield Courier, September 4, 1874.
The school board of this city has employed W. C. Robinson, Independence, Kansas, to take charge of our school the coming term. He is a brother to the Treasurer of the school board.
Winfield Courier, September 18, 1874.
We publish elsewhere a call for a meeting of the citizens of this place, at the courthouse on next Tuesday, for the purpose of organizing a Literary and Scientific Association for the establishment of a Library and Reading Room, the employment of public lecturers, etc. This city has long felt the need of something of this sort and we are glad that the matter has been taken hold of at last. Let everybody attend the meeting next Tuesday evening.
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We, the undersigned citizens of Winfield, agree to attend a public meeting to be held in this city, to take into consideration the desirability of organizing a Literary and Scientific Association, having in view the establishment of a Library and Reading-Room, the employment of public lecturers, the encouragement of literature, and otherwise promoting moral and intellectual improvement. Said meeting to be held at the Courthouse, at 7 o’clock p.m., on Tuesday, September 22, 1874.
(Signed) D. A. Millington, W. Q. Mansfield, E. S. Torrance, V. B. Beckett, M. L. Robinson, John E. Allen, James E. Platter, E. C. Manning, T. H. Johnson, A. H. Green, Wm. Bartlow, A. H. Hane, J. B. Fairbanks, J. W. Curns, G. S. Manser, and M. L. Read.
Winfield Courier, September 25, 1874. [Editorial by James Kelly.]
THE POST OFFICE “RING.”
WHAT IT DID, AND TRIED TO DO!
HOW TO KEEP A RASCAL IN OFFICE.
The Men Who Control the Opposition.
Chapter of Sound Reading.
The readers of the COURIER will bear witness to our patience under the slanderous misrepresentations of the Telegram and its allies, for two years past. We have hoped in forbearance to avoid a conflict with the “ring” that keeps that paper on its legs. Long since the people of the county withdrew their support from it on account of its personal abuse and unreliability. For more than a year it has been kept running by desperate makeshifts, by moving from room to room, and from garret to cellar about town because it could not pay rent. By paying its employees with promises, by borrowing material, by taking continuances in court against creditors who were trying to compel it, or its editor, to pay their honest debts, and with the aid of all the subterfuges, practiced only by scoundrels, backed by a ring that we hereafter describe in detail, it has succeeded in maintaining a sickly existence.
The ostensible purpose of its being is reform in politics and abuse of Manning. The real purpose of its being is the maintenance of the “Post Office ring” in Winfield. This ring has no influence in the country whatever except through it organ, the Telegram.
If a democrat in Pleasant Valley wants an office, he knows he must get it without the aid of the republican party—hence he comes to town, joins the post office ring in the abuse of the republican party, and says that Manning runs it. This is reported to the Telegram and at once Mr. Democrat is called a hardy son of toil, and a good man for some office. No questions are asked about his qualifications in reading, writing, or spelling, nor is his past character looked into. It is enough to know that he is opposed to Manning.
If a bull-head from Tisdale township wants an office, whose ignorance and stupidity makes him a failure as a farmer, and who cannot get an endorsement from any intelligent man in the county, he at once seeks the P. O. ring, puts in some heavy anathemas against the Republican party in general and Manning in particular, and he is at once reported to the Telegram as a good man from Tisdale to work up the reform ticket in that locality.
If a bummer of Arkansas City, who has been kicked out of the Republican party for incompetency, ignorance, and rascality, wants an office, he writes an abusive article about Manning specially, and the Republican party generally, signs himself “Republican” or “farmer,” sends it to the Telegram for publication, whereupon the P. O. ring set him down as one of the “good, noble, and true,” men of Creswell Township who are disgusted with conventions and party lines, and who will make a good candidate on the “reform” ticket for some office.
Now and then a man who has voted for the Republican ticket for years from principle, is proposed for some office, and is beaten in convention because some other man is thought to be better, and he in a fit of passion and disappointment will fall to berating the Republican party or some of its members, whereupon the P. O. ring and Telegram fall to besliming him and convincing him that he was beaten by a trick, and that merit has no show in the Republican organization, and his only hope is to be a “reformer.”
When the creditors of Allison or the Telegram press too hard upon the concern for pay, postmaster Johnston, or M. L. Read, step in with either cash or security and give relief. They can’t afford to have the thing go down. Thus the P. O. “ring,” by management, and the Telegram by blowing, have made and are making perpetual war on:
1st. The Republican party of Cowley County.
2nd. On the financial interests of Cowley County.
3rd. On the material development of Cowley County.
4th. On the business prosperity of Winfield.
Now we propose to show how it is done, and to show up the men who are doing it.
As to the first charge: the Republican party of Cowley County is or should be composed of men who adhere to the principle and policy of the national party, and carrying its principles and policy into Cowley County affairs, they demand that honest, competent, and honorable men be put in office, and that the public money be economically used, and strictly accounted for. That manufactories be fostered and markets for produce be established. To this end has the COURIER labored. To this end have the active members of the party devoted their energies politically. We challenge from anyone a successful contradiction of this statement.
The P. O. ring and the Telegram, have done for two years, and are still doing their best, to destroy the Republican party, and to defeat its noble mission. Two years ago this fall the
P. O. ring opposed the Republican nominees and worked up the liberal ticket and supported it. Capt. McDermott, the Republican nominee, was elected to the House in spite of them. As a member of the legislature from Cowley County he sent forty copies of the Commonwealth every week during the session, to the Winfield post office for distribution among the people here that they might know what the action of their representative was. Postmaster Johnston did not distribute those papers, but destroyed them, and Capt. McDermott knew nothing of it until his return. Not one word of reproach can be raised against Capt. McDermott while a member of the legislature.
Nor can one word of reproach be truthfully said against any of the county officers elected by the Republican party two years ago, save it be some acts of the county board.
Now we declare that neither the republican party nor any of its active members were responsible for the actions of the board which were subject to criticism. The county board was composed of two men, Messrs. Cox and Maurer, who were elected by the Republican party, and Mr. Smith, the other, was elected on the liberal ticket. There are but one or two acts of that board that can by any stretch of the imagination be subjected to justifiable censure. One is the erection of the courthouse, without authority from the people, another was extravagance in purchasing books and blanks for the county officers.
For the first act, Col. J. M. Alexander and the P. O. ring are responsible. They are the parties who more than anyone persuaded Mr. Cox to make the contract with the city of Winfield to build a courthouse and jail.
Mr. Maurer, one of the Republican commissioners of the county, never consented to the movement. This action of the board was taken, too, in the face of a protest against it, signed by several prominent Republicans of Cowley County, E. C. Manning among the number.
The Telegram at the time endorsed the action of the board, and ridiculed the protest. This action of the P. O. ring cost the county $12,500.
For the second act A. A. Jackson, a Democrat, elected on the “people’s” ticket, is responsible. He was familiar with the wants of the various county officers, and ordered books and blanks at pleasure. He obtained the confidence of the board and either recommended all the books and blanks that were ordered or else ordered them himself, and afterwards obtained the sanction of the board by stating that they were necessary. Jackson made a certain percent on all the books and blanks ordered by him by special arrangement with the various firms from which he ordered them. Jackson was one of the Telegram’s pets at that time and a howler against the Republican party, and of course that paper had no word of censure for him. By this arrangement the county lost several thousand dollars.
The two acts above mentioned are all that could in any fairness be censured, unless it be claimed that the salaries allowed some of the county officers be considered too high. This may be true, but no party is to blame for that. Col. Alexander and other pets of the Telegram told the board that the salaries allowed the County Attorney and Probate Judge ought to be allowed, and several Republicans, among the number, E. C. Manning, discountenanced all these propositions, and Col. Manning declined to accept one half of the salary of the Probate Judge, notwithstanding he was entitled to it under the terms of his partnership association with Judge Johnson. He told Judge Johnson at the time that the salary was too large and he would not have a cent of any such money. So much for Colonel Manning, who we think deserves this mention at our hands, in passing, as he has been accused by the Telegram and its snuffers with being at the head, or bottom, of all the rascality ever perpetrated in the county.
An examination of County Clerk Jackson’s books, which was demanded by the COURIER and Mr. Troup, the Republican County Clerk, who succeeded Mr. Jackson, developed the fact that Jackson’s books, through incompetency, criminality, or both, were in a scandalously incorrect condition, and that J. P. Short, Deputy County Treasurer, had embezzled several thousand dollars of public money. Short was not a Republican elect, but was a member of the P. O. “Ring,” a pet of the Telegram, and a howler against the Republican party.
An investigating committee of three, two of whom, the Chairman and one other member, opposed the Republican party last fall, has thus far failed to find anything wrong with the affairs of the Republican county officers although they have been in session several months.
The Telegram is for anybody or anything that will keep T. K. Johnston in the Post Office at Winfield, and serve the interests of its masters, Read & Robinson, and Alexander & Saffold.
When the COURIER expressed the sense of the Republicans of Cowley County, by reproaching Judge Lowe, our member of Congress, for his vote in favor of the salary grain bill, the Telegram made haste to endorse Judge Lowe, and the P. O. Ring sent Lowe a marked copy of each paper. About that time there was an effort made to put Johnson out and put in somebody else, but it failed through Lowe’s influence. Lowe was told that all the Republicans wanted was a man in harmony with the party, no one was particular about the individual. But the COURIER had incurred Mr. Lowe’s displeasure for denouncing him in common with the other salary grabbers. This coupled with the “Ring” endorsement of him saved T. K. At the present hour, after abusing the Republican administration, national, state, and county, for two years, the Telegram hoists the Republican State ticket because it knows it will be elected anyway. This is done to get Governor Osborn’s endorsement to keep Johnston in the Post Office. It then hoists J. K. Hudson’s name, a newspaper publisher, as a candidate for Congress because he is a “farmer,” and hoists R. B. Saffold’s name for State Senator because he is a “reformer,” and opposed to the Republican party; while H. C. St. Clair, the Republican nominee, is a practical farmer and a patron of husbandry.
Now the Telegram and the “ring” are moving everything to organize an opposition to the Republican party of Cowley County this fall. Why? Because the Republican party won’t endorse Johnston, a man bitterly obnoxious to the public, and notoriously dishonest, as postmaster; won’t give the carpet-bagger from Leavenworth, Alexander, an office; won’t favor the bonding of the County debt so as to enable Read & Robinson, and a few non-residents, to convert the several thousands of dollars of Co. scrip that they hold, into cash. These are the real reasons, no matter what their pretended reasons are. This disposes of charge No. 1.
Now for charge No. 2. “War on the financial interests of Cowley County.”
At the time the County Board let the Courthouse contract, Read & Robinson, bankers, were behind the scenes with the money bags. No one would take the contract unless the scrip could be cashed. Read & Robinson, bankers (known as M. L. Read), took the scrip at 65 cents on the dollar. They got it all. In August of last year, the Telegram “Ring” tried to hold a “farmers” political meeting at Winfield. They partially failed of their purpose. Rev. William Martin was one of the speakers of the occasion. The “ring” saw that Martin was the kind of stuff to make an available candidate out of, for the Legislature. He was just about stupid enough to be “above suspicion.” So T. K. Johnston went out to the old man’s home shortly after the meeting to interview him. He found the old man “sound,” found him possessed of that qualification without which no “reformer” in Cowley County is considered sound, that is, he was opposed to Manning (that he didn’t know why he should be, doesn’t matter), and were he not a Reverend, might be induced to curse him, which would make him the more desirable. Anyway, he would oppose him and that was a good start in the right direction (although Manning was an invalid in the state of New York at that time and had been all summer, but at last accounts he was alive and consequently dangerous); then he would keep T. K. in the Post Office, and favor bonding Read & Robinson’s scrip, and besides was “above suspicion.” But the old man didn’t want to be the representative, or said he didn’t, nor would he consent to run. T. K. came back gloomy. The horizon about the Post office was beginning to get somewhat cloudy. By a little strategy, however, by representing to the old man that the people considered him “above suspicion,” and demanded that he make the sacrifice, the old man yielded. “Reform” delegates were worked up in Martin’s interest, and he was nominated. By Telegram falsehoods he was elected, and almost the first thing he did was to try to bond the scrip. The Telegram, backed by Read & Robinson, at home, and Allison at his elbow at Topeka, helped him. But the COURIER and the people opposed the measure and he failed.
Last week the Legislature met in extra session to relieve the destitute. Martin went to Topeka. Just before he went to take his seat, he had an interesting interview with members of the “ring.” We understand they went in a carriage to his residence in the country and what took place at that interview, of course we can’t tell, except by what the Hon. William did when he reached Topeka. The second bill introduced into the House was “House bill No. 2 by William Martin to bond the debt of Cowley County.” It is no measure of relief, no stay of law, no postponement of taxes, no appropriation for the needy, no act of any kind for the relief of the poverty stricken of Cowley County, but an act to convert the scrip of Read & Robinson, Geo. L. Thompson, J. C. Horton, et al, into Cowley County bonds. This, too, in the face of the well known opposition of the taxpayers of Cowley County to bonds of any kind.
Charge No. 3: they make “war on the material interests of Cowley County.” To this we say, that by stirring up strife, by seeking to promote personal ends, by detracting from the influence of those who would work unselfishly for the welfare of the whole county, they prevent that material development that awaits us if our people would work and counsel together.
The one overshadowing interest to Cowley County, after the distress of the present hard times is provided for, is the building of a railroad through the Indian Territory. The Republican party is turning its attention to this question.
The P. O. ring and the Telegram are too busy looking after county bonds and “available men” who are “above suspicion” to pay any attention to it. The “ring” delegates to the “reform” congressional convention (Allison and A. Walton) did not go to Emporia and demand a recognition of the interests of Cowley County in that convention. They remained at home still looking for available men who were “above suspicion,” and to help Johnston watch the post office for fear Manning might steal it in their absence.
Cowley was not represented in the convention that nominated J. K. Hudson. What did these fellows care about a market for the farmer’s produce so long as they could get their votes? On the other hand, the Republicans sent active, able men to represent them, in the Republican convention at Emporia. Those delegates demanded that the candidates should be pledged to a railroad direct to Galveston, through the Indian Territory. The majority of the delegates in that convention lived on railroads that already lead to Galveston, and defeated the Cowley County resolutions offered by Col. Manning.
Now the Telegram jeers those delegates for their failure. The Telegram and the P. O. ring sneers at the efforts made to wake the people of Cowley up to the importance of this question.
As to the fourth charge, “war on the business prosperity of Winfield.”
The P. O. ring, and the Telegram, in order to divert attention from their real designs, must abuse and malign someone, and these are generally the best men in town and county. A. T. Stewart, J. B. Fairbanks, C. M. Wood, Rev. Parmelee, C. A. Bliss, W. M. Boyer, and others, together with all the county officers it could not control, have suffered calumny at its hand. The people of the county are taught that the citizens of Winfield are thieves and cutthroats. This drives people away from the town. This divides our people among themselves. It prevents a cooperation among the citizens of the place in any laudable endeavor, either charitable, educational, religious, moral, or social, or for the general prosperity of the place. No one can deny this.
The COURIER has endeavored to establish good feeling among our own people, and to show to the people of the county that there was no cause for bad blood between town and country. It and its friends have received nothing but abuse in return.
The cabal that backs the Telegram in its baseness has its head and front in Alexander & Saffold, Read & Robinson, and T. K. Johnston. This “ring” is what Alexander calls the
“respectable faction in the Republican party.”
We have written what we have written in calmness, after carefully considering the whole subject. We have no desire to make personal assaults on any man. But we have come to the conclusion that longer submission to the assaults of this “ring” upon us, through their mouth-piece, would be cowardly. And in the interests of the people of Cowley County, who have so long been mislead by the misrepresentations of this “ring,” we herewith fire our first shot.
Winfield Courier, September 25, 1874.
Proceedings of the Meeting of the Winfield Literary and Scientific Association.
A meeting of the citizens of Winfield was held at the Courthouse September 22, 1874, for the purpose of organizing a Literary Society.
W. Q. Mansfield, M. L. Robinson, J. C. Fuller, Rev. Mr. Platter, Rev. Mr. Rigby, W. W. Walton, and E. B. Kager were appointed a committee to prepare a plan of organization to present at a future meeting to be called by a committee.
We hope all the citizens will take an interest in this society for such an institution, well sustained, can be made a source of much pleasure during the winter, of great and lasting profit.
Winfield Courier, October 22, 1874.
The Presbyterian sociable last night at the residence of M. L. Robinson, Esq., was, we understand, a very enjoyable affair and netted the society $10.55.
Winfield Courier, March 25, 1875.
Notice.
There will be a meeting of the stockholders of the Winfield Cemetery Association on Wednesday, March 31, 1875, at W. H. H. Maris’ store. All persons owning a lot in the Winfield Cemetery are stockholders, and entitled to vote at the meeting. A full attendance is requested. The following is a list of the said stockholders.
JOHN B. FAIRBANKS, Secretary.
John Lowrey, C. A. Bliss, Mrs. Clara Flint, Robert Hudson, W. L. Fortner, W. H. Dunn, _____ Mallard, Dr. D. N. Egbert, J. H. Land, W. M. Boyer, A. Menor, S. J. Swanson, Mrs. Eliza Davis, M. L. Read. S. C. Smith, _______ Kenton, _______ Marshall, Henry Martin, W. H. H. Maris, Mrs. K. Maris, E. Maris, J. Newman, L. J. Webb, J. W. Smiley, George W. Brown, John Rhoads, H. H. Lacy, L. T. Michner, George Gray, N. H. Holmes, John Mentch, M. Steward, J. J. Barrett, J. W. Johnson, J. Evans, ______ Cutting, W. G. Graham, S. W. Greer, Dr. W. Q. Mansfield, J. D. Cochran, C. C. Stephens, W. H. South, J. C. Weathers, Mrs. Joseph Foos, G. S. Manser, Mrs. Southworth, A. A. Jackson, J. F. Graham, Mrs. H. McMasters, S. H. Myton, S. H. Darrah, M. L. Robinson, D. H. Rodocker, R. H. Tucker, James Kelly, W. Dibble, D. F. Best, Z. T. Swigart, R. Rogers.
Winfield Courier, August 12, 1875.
A. Read Robinson, traveling man for Henry W. King & Co. clothing house, Chicago, has been visiting his brother and other relatives here. Will C. has been introducing us to his “brothers” until we have lost all count, and if it were not that the last is always an improvement, we’d say “dis was about blayed oudt.” [Another brother of M. L. Robinson.]
Winfield Courier, September 2, 1875.
Several of our farmers are about to introduce sheep into their business of stock raising, and with every prospect of success. Read & Robinson, Bankers, will soon send into Missouri for a large herd. A late article in the Times on the subject of sheep-raising has had its influence, and would be well if the Press, generally, would inform itself on all such subjects, and, in turn, inform the public. Leavenworth Times.
Winfield Courier, September 2, 1875.
We neglected at the proper time to say that M. L. Robinson was reelected Treasurer of School District No. 1.
Winfield Courier, October 28, 1875.
Railroad Meeting.
Railroad meeting at the Courthouse Tuesday night, Oct. 26th, 1875.
Meeting called to order for the purpose of discussing the railroad question; organized by electing Dr. Mansfield chairman, and Amos Walton secretary. Col. Alexander stated the object of the meeting to be to work up correspondence with different parties on the railroad question.
Mayor Millington spoke at some length of the necessity of such an enterprise and that action should be taken immediately in order to cooperate with the counties north of us at once. On motion D. A. Millington, J. E. Platter, M. L. Robinson, and J. C. Fuller were appointed as a committee to carry out the intention of said meeting. On motion, adjourned.
W. Q. MANSFIELD, Chairman.
A. WALTON, Secretary.
In the “Centennial” issue of the Winfield Courier, published January 1, 1876, during the time when E. C. Manning was publisher, he stated that at the Second Annual Election, held April 8, 1874, the City Council appointed M. L. Robinson as City Treasurer.
Winfield Courier, January 1, 1876.
READ’S BANK is conducted on business principles; does business in the first brick building built in our town, and is owned by M. L. Read, Esq., one of our leading citizens. M. L. Robinson is the urbane cashier and Will C. Robinson his gentlemanly assistant. The bank is in a flourishing condition.
Winfield Courier, January 27, 1876.
STATEMENT
Showing the amount of monies collected by the City of Winfield from May 6th to December 31st, 1875, and the disbursement of the same by the city.
Received from liquor license $600.00; dog tax $24.00; fines $27.00; billiard license, $10.00; auctioneer license, $40.00; show license, $1.00; E. B. Kager, $348.00. Total receipts: $1,050.00.
Paid out on city warrants as follows:
Clerk of election $2.00; Printing $19.47; Recording deed $1.25; Building sidewalk $90.60; City Marshal $319.15; Removing nuisances from the city $5.20; Clerk District Court (costs) $14.50; Repairing public well $15.88; City clerk $106.65; Police judge (costs) $27.70; Stationery $3.50; Padlock $.60; Guarding fire $4.00; City Attorney fees $74.00; Costs city, V. S. Mansfield & others $5.25; Boarding prisoners $5.55; Witness fees $2.50; Blankets for calaboose $3.00; M. L. Robinson, ex-city treasurer $28.85; Amount in city treasure to balance $320.35.
Total paid out: $1,050.00
I, B. F. Baldwin, clerk in and for the city of Winfield, Cowley county, Kansas, do hereby certify the foregoing is a true and correct statement of the financial transactions of the city for the time aforesaid, as shown by the report of the city treasurer and his receipts and vouchers now in my office.
Witness my hand and seal in the city of Winfield this 21st day of January, A. D. 1876.
B. F. BALDWIN, City Clerk.
Winfield Courier, April 20, 1876.
From the Railroad Meeting.
CANOLA, KANSAS, April 18th, 1876.
EDITOR COURIER: The delegates selected in Cowley County met at this point today with the Elk County men, and a railroad company was organized. L. B. Fleming of Arkansas City was selected as Chairman, and R. C. Story, of Lazette, was made Secretary of the meeting. S. M. Fall, E. P. Young, J. E. Platter, M. L. Robinson, S. B. Fleming, and W. M. Sleeth were the delegates from Cowley County. The title “Parsons, Walnut Valley and Southwestern,” was given the road, and a committee of three was appointed to draft a charter for the same. By vote of the meeting the capital stock was placed $1,500,000 dollars, and shares at fifty dollars each. The road is to be in at Parsons, run west to Independence, thence to Longton, Elk Falls, Greenfield, Lazette, Tisdale, Winfield, and terminate at Arkansas City.
The Elk County delegates speak positively of the willingness of their people to vote bonds for this enterprise.
N. B. Cartnell, J. E. Platter, and L. J. Johnson drafted the charter, which was considered, discussed, and adopted in the evening.
The Board stands as follows: M. L. Robinson and J. E. Platter, Winfield; W. M. Sleeth and S. B. Fleming, Arkansas City; E. P. Young, Tisdale; S. M. Fall, Lazette; A. A. Toby, Canola; H. E. Hitchings, R. R. Roberts, and L. J. Johnson, Elk Falls; J. C. Pinney and N. B. Cartnell, Longton; and Wm. Wright, Elk City, Montgomery County.
The Board adjourned to meet at Tisdale on the 2nd day of May.
If the people of Cowley County want a railroad, now is their opportunity to get one. Quick, vigorous, and unanimous action will place them in such relations with wealthy railroad companies that a road over this line will come speedily. Elk County is alive to its interests in this matter, and success will crown our movement if Cowley County joins hand and heart in it. People of Cowley County, what do you say? X.
Winfield Courier, April 27, 1876.
On April 21 articles of incorporation were filed in the office of the Secretary of State for the Ft. Scott, Winfield and Western railroad. J. B. Lynn and M. L. Robinson, of Winfield, are on the board of directors.
Winfield Courier, June 1, 1876.
Quite a delegation from Winfield started this week for the Centennial. On Wednesday M. L. Read and wife, M. L. Robinson and wife, Frank Williams, Mrs. Maris and granddaughter, Mrs. Powers, Mrs. Boyer, Mrs. Mullin, and J. C. Franklin lit out.
Winfield Courier, June 8, 1876.
Will C. Robinson is conducting Read’s bank during the absence of the Cashier, M. L. Robinson.
Winfield Courier, July 6, 1876.
MR. GEO. ROBINSON, another brother of Will C.’s, has just arrived from Illinois. Of course, he is a school teacher. All of the Robinson boys are. He has made application to teach the Arkansas City school. We hope he will be able to secure it.
[George Robinson was also a brother of M. L. Robinson.]
Winfield Courier, July 13, 1876.
WILL ROBINSON, cashier at Read’s bank, showed us a curiosity the other day. It was a twenty dollar Compound Treasury Note of date Aug. 15, 1864. It set forth that after three years from issuance, it would be paid, with compound interest, at the treasury if presented. If not presented in Aug., 1867, interest to cease. It is worth just $23.88 now.
Winfield Courier, August 10, 1876.
Last week in speaking of the action of the school board in reference to employing teachers for the primary and intermediate departments of the Winfield schools, we omitted to mention the fact that Mr. George Robinson had also been engaged as principal. We did not understand at the time that the contract had been closed with him.
Winfield Courier, September 14, 1876.
THE SITUATION.
EDITOR COURIER, Dear Sir: I wonder if the people of this county fully understand the animus of the opposition in this place, to Col. Manning? Nobody doubts but that he would make an able, energetic, faithful worker for the interests of his constituents. But there is a certain bank and broker faction here, which never will consent that any man whom they believe will do anything to ameliorate the condition of the poor shall be placed in a position where he can be of any service to them. Who are they, who are so fearful lest Col. Manning be elected to the State Senate this fall?
Read & Robinson, bankers; R. B. Wait, S. D. Pryor, James Jordon, Curns & Manser, money lenders; with such fellows as A. H. Green and W. P. Hackney, attorneys. It is the same faction that are so violently opposed to the election of Judge Campbell.
Why do they oppose Judge Campbell? Because in every case of the foreclosure of their cut-throat mortgages, Judge Campbell, so far as he can do so legally, throws the strong arm of the law around the poor man. These men want the usury laws abolished; and consequently will not consent that any man go to the legislature who they cannot use for that purpose.
They are afraid that Manning will be able, in some way, to do something to cut down their three percent per month. They will not consent that Manning shall go to the legislature, lest in some way he may obtain such legislation as will make it possible for Cowley County to secure a railroad. This three percent ring do not want railroads. They do not want anything that might by any possibility cut down interest on money below the present ruinous rates.
For these reasons these money changers and extortioners will spare neither time nor money, will stop at no slander or abuse to defeat both Col. Manning and W. P. Campbell. Hundreds of people in Cowley County are already beginning to feel the grip of this soulless money power at their throats. Will they stand still and allow themselves to be choked to death without an effort? CITIZEN.
Winfield Courier, September 28, 1876.
M. L. ROBINSON has had an addition built on his residence, and made other noticeable improvements about his premises.
Winfield Courier, October 12, 1876.
A sister of Mrs. M. L. Robinson is sojourning with friends in this city.
Winfield Courier, February 22, 1877.
THE PARTIES RESPONSIBLE.
For nearly two years we have labored for the construction of a railroad into our county. Others have labored with us. Considerable time and money have been spent by four or five men in Winfield to that end. If a policy that was marked out in November, 1875, by those who really wanted a railroad had been followed, the cars would now be running to Winfield. We desired the railroad bond law so amended last winter as to secure the building of a road. But it was not amended, and we have no road. We have labored to secure that amendment this winter, but it has not nor will it be amended. Consequently, Cowley County will be without a road for at least two years.
Every step taken towards securing a road has been headed off by a ring in Winfield. The leaders in that ring of wreckers we give below. There are a few less important members in the ring, but they are only small potatoes and do the bidding of the leaders, who own them. These are the men who have damaged the people of Cowley County one half million dollars by their course in the past, and which course is likely to damage them in the future a half million more. Let them be held responsible.
M. L. ROBINSON.
M. L. READ.
T. K. JOHNSTON.
W. P. HACKNEY.
CUT THIS LIST OUT
and paste it on the cover of your pocket-books, where you can see it each time you open them to pay from 50 to 75 percent per annum interest on every dollar you borrow at the banks; paste it where it will come in sight every time you sign a cut-throat mortgage; paste it on your wagon boxes to be cursed on the road to Wichita with your wheat and other products for the next two years. And when the sheriff sells your home, and you close the door for the last time to leave what was once your own, nail this list upon that door and tell your wife and children that those are the men who are responsible for the calamity that has made you homeless.
Winfield Courier, April 26, 1877. [Editorial by E. C. Manning.]
The people and newspapers of Chautauqua County are having a warm time over the location of a state road.
And now comes the great Kansas City Times and begins a fight on the Memphis, Parsons & Wallsworth, Western Branch, to Cowley. There must be something pretty serious about this move from Parsons to shake up Kansas City.
The Arkansas City Traveler of April 25th contains six columns of opposition to an east and west railroad into Cowley County. That is a good paper to lay away for future reference. It may be that the Traveler and Arkansas City can afford to fight a railroad proposition that proposes to come to Cowley county and it may be that they cannot. Winfield has made no fight on the north and south road, it has made no fight on Arkansas City. Each word in those six columns may add one stone to a monument erected on a barren mound at the mouth of the Walnut to mark the spot where the fool killer has been.
Winfield Courier, April 26, 1877.
STATEMENT OF THE R. R. COMMITTEE.
The undersigned, a railroad committee chosen by the citizens of Winfield, having learned that certain persons opposed to the projected road from Parsons to Winfield and advocates of a road from Emporia to Arkansas City, via Nennescah, have circulated reports that Messrs. Eskridge and Young, at a conference with the committee holden a few weeks since, offered to so modify their proposition, that county bonds voted in aid of the Emporia road via Winfield should not be issued until a certain part of the road should be built in Cowley county, we positively deny that any such offer has ever been made to us by Messrs. Eskridge, Young, or any other person authorized by them.
They insisted that bonds should be issued and placed in escrow.
We further affirm that this committee never refused to entertain a proposition from the Emporia road, but on the contrary at the very first conference with the representatives of this company, we offered to support $100,000 in county bonds for their road (allowing townships chiefly interested to make up the $20,000 additional), providing the objectionable conditions were withdrawn.
We made this offer in good faith and in no way contingent upon any east and west proposition.
This is much better than the terms they are now pretending to accept from the townships to which they are now making propositions and shows that if bad faith exists anywhere, it is on the part of this company and indicates a deliberate purpose to discriminate against Winfield.
The committee never have withdrawn this offer and the only difference between this committee and the representatives of this road is that we would not give the $20,000 additional and they would not consent to the withdrawal of the escrow and litigation clauses.
Messrs. Eskridge and Young never asked for a public meeting to be held in the interest of this road.
(Signed by) S. C. SMITH, W. Q. MANSFIELD, FRANK WILLIAMS, J. E. ALLEN, D. A. MILLINGTON, acting for E. C. MANNING, M. L. ROBINSON, acting for J. E. PLATTER.
Winfield Courier, April 26, 1877. [Editorial.]
THE RAILROAD BONDS.
On the 22nd of May our county is to vote for or against aiding the railroad from Parsons to this place. It is an important step for Cowley County. The favorable or unfavorable decision rendered at that time will tell largely upon the future welfare or illfare of our people. The eyes of all south and southwest Kansas are upon us. At least a dozen railroad projects are looking towards this county. Of course, the manipulators of eleven of these enterprises hope that the bond proposition in favor of the twelfth will fail.
Of course, all the towns from which the eleven start and through which they propose to run also hope the present bond proposition will fail.
Of course, Independence, Emporia, Eldorado, and Wichita all hope the bond proposition will fail.
Of course, every locality that lives off from the industry of Cowley hopes the bonds will fail.
In view of these facts, no man living in Cowley can afford to oppose the bond proposition simply because the proposed line of road does not touch his farm or his town. If a man is opposed to voting bonds from principle, or is opposed to voting any bonds, as a matter of business, then is the position tenable; but it is an evil day for him as a citizen or for they as a community, who take the responsibility of opposing aid to a railroad into Cowley county merely because it does not run everywhere to suit town site speculators.
The farmers of Cowley county want a railroad and those men and that locality will not increase their chances for favors or railroads in the future who now oppose this one before us.
The people of Arkansas City are trying to create the impression throughout the county that Winfield has rejected the north and south road and hence they (citizens of Arkansas City) are justifiable in opposing an east and west road. This effort of theirs is a shystering trick. Winfield offered to stand by a proposition to give $100,000 bonds to a north and south road without any reference whatever to an east and west road. Winfield further offered to stand by a county proposition for $100,000 to each, a north and south and an east and west. But no; the managers of the north and south proposition would have $4,000 per mile and the privilege of building as many miles in the county as they were pleased to, and the bonds must first be delivered before work was commenced. This Winfield would not agree to.
After an east and west road had submitted a proposition to build into the county and nineteen hundred petitioners had asked that an election be ordered on the question of voting $120,000 in bonds thereto, then, and not till then, did the friends and projectors of the north and south road conclude that they could build their road for $120,000 in county bonds; but even then, they wanted the bonds issued as soon as voted. Of course, the friends of an east and west road could not support the proposition at that late date, because:
FIRST: The county cannot vote but 200,000 dollars.
SECOND: The east and west road does not ask to have the bonds issued until the road is built.
THIRD: If the bonds for the north and south road were voted and put in escrow, of course they would take precedence even if the road was not built first.
FOURTH: No east and west road would be built and take the chance of getting $120,000 in bonds after a like amount had already been issued for the benefit of a north and south road.
Note: The first “Sheriff’s Election Proclamation,” dated April 9, 1877, was for the east/west railroad. The following is the second “Sheriff’s Election Proclamation,” dated April 17, 1877, for the north/south railroad. Election on both propositions to take place on the same day: May 29, 1877.
Winfield Courier, April 26, 1877.
SHERIFF’S ELECTION PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, on the 17th day of April, 1877, the board of County Commissioners of Cowley county, in the State of Kansas, made and entered on record the following order, to-wit: In the matter of the petition of E. G. Willett, et al, for an order calling a special election to be held for the purpose of voting aid to a certain railroad company therein named.
Now comes the said E. G. Willett, et al, and presents to the Board of County Commissioners a petition in writing, signed by one hundred and ten resident taxpayers of the municipal township of Rock Creek, in the county of Cowley and State of Kansas, praying that a special election be called for the purpose of submitting to the electors of said township the question of making a subscription to the capital stock of the Kansas City, Emporia and Southern Railroad Company to the amount of twenty thousand and five hundred dollars ($20,500) and issuing a like amount of the bonds of said township in payment therefore.
And upon full consideration of said petition and the evidence and arguments adduced and offered in support thereof, it is found by the Board that said petition has been duly signed by two fifths of the resident taxpayers of said municipal township of Rock Creek and is in all respects regular and sufficient.
It is therefore, on this 17th day of April, A. D., 1877, conformable to the Statute in such cases made and provided, and pursuant to the conditions and prayers on that behalf in said petition set forth and contained, ordered by the Board that a special election be held in the municipal township of Rock Creek, at the usual place of voting therein, on the 29th day of May, A. D., 1877, for the purpose of then, there and thereby submitting to the qualified electors of said municipal township the following proposition, to-wit:
Shall the municipal township of Rock Creek, in the county of Cowley, by the County Commissioners of said county, subscribe for and in behalf of said township take the capital stock of the Kansas City, Emporia & Southern Railroad Company in the amount of 20,500 dollars, and in payment therefor issue and deliver to said railroad company the bonds of said township to the amount of 20,500 dollars, payable, principal and interest, at the fiscal agency of the State of Kansas, in the city of New York, in thirty years after the date thereof, with the privilege reserved to said township of paying the whole or any part of said bonds at any time after five years from the date thereof by giving notice thereof for twelve months; and the further privilege reserved to said township of paying cash for and redeeming the whole or any part of said bonds at the time of the delivery thereof as herein provided, at the rate of 85 cents for each dollar of the face value of said bonds so paid and redeemed. Said bonds to be issued in denominations of from one to five hundred dollars each, as said company may desire, and to draw interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of their delivery to said railroad company, payable semi-annually, on the 15th days of January and July in each and every year, and all interest coupons matured or about to mature at the date of the delivery of said bonds to be canceled and returned to the county.
Said bonds to be issued in consideration of the construction, operation, and maintenance of the said railroad into or through said township from the direction of Douglass, in Butler county, over the most practicable route to Arkansas City, with two stations in the said township; and upon the further condition that said road shall be completed and trains running thereon into said township within twenty one months from the time designated for the commencement of the work at Emporia.
Immediately after the proposition is voted by the people of said township, and the result of the election duly ascertained and declared, said subscription to the capital stock of said railroad shall be made.
The said Kansas City, Emporia & Southern Railroad Company or their assigns shall construct and equip as aforesaid and have in operation a railroad of a gauge of three feet, so constructed as to form one continuous and unbroken line from Kansas City, in the State of Missouri, by way of Emporia, in Lyon county, Kansas, and Eureka, in Greenwood county, Kansas, Augusta and Douglass, in Butler county, Kansas, to Arkansas City, in said Cowley county, within twenty-one months from the beginning of the work thereon as hereinafter set forth from Emporia; and from Kansas City within three years from such beginning. Said road to be constructed in a substantial manner and the equipment thereof to be first class and sufficient for the ordinary traffic of the road, and the work of constructing said road to be commenced within ninety days after the voting of bonds in aid of said railroad by the counties of Lyon, Greenwood, and the municipal townships in Butler county through which said road is to pass, and the said work to continue uninterruptedly from the commencement to the completion thereof and no part of said bonds shall be delivered to said railroad company, nor be of any binding force or validity upon said township, until said railroad is completed and trains running thereon into said township.
When said road is completed and trains rushing thereon into said township, the bonds of said township to the amount of $20,500 shall be delivered to said railroad company or their assigns and the stock of said company in equal amount, dollar for dollar, shall be delivered at the same time to the County Commissioners for said township.
The forms of the ballots to be used at said election to be, “For the railroad Stock and Bonds,” or “Against the Railroad Stock and Bonds.”
And it is further ordered by the Board that the Sheriff give notice of the time and purpose of said election by his proclamation on that behalf, to be published in the Arkansas City Traveler and Winfield COURIER for the period of thirty days preceding the date of election.
STATE OF KANSAS, Cowley County, ss.
I. M. G. TROUP, County Clerk in and for the county and State aforesaid do hereby certify the above and foregoing to be a true and correct copy of the original order.
Witness my hand and seal this 17th day of April, A. D., 1877.
M. G. TROUP, County Clerk.
NOW, therefore, I, R. L. Walker, Sheriff of Cowley county, Kansas, do hereby proclaim and make known that on Tuesday, the 29th day of May, A. D., 1877, there will be held a special election, at the usual place of voting in the municipal township of Rock Creek, in said county of Cowley, for the proposition contained in the above order, in the manner and form therein provided and set forth. R. L. WALKER, Sheriff of Cowley county, Kansas.
Winfield Courier, April 26, 1877.
Forgery.
Zebulon Foster, charged with the crime of forgery, is in custody awaiting trial at the next term of court. Zeb. sold a note for fifty-five dollars on Monday to M. L. Robinson. The names of John and Sol Smith, and Barney Shriver had been put to the note and he expected to get the money for it from one of the banks. He offered to sell it to Mr. Fuller, of the Winfield Bank, but did not effect a sale for the paper did not look just right. He then took it to Mr. Read’s bank and Mr. M. L. Robinson received the paper and was to have paid him for it as soon as the young man could produce a reference. Having obtained possession of the note, Mr. Robinson was looking for the sheriff while the young man was hunting a reference. As a result of all the good management on one side and bad management on the other, Zeb. and Dick. were soon walking the streets arm in arm. Zeb. is now waiting to learn what Judge Campbell and a jury of twelve men will have to say about the matter of writing other people’s names to promises to pay.
Winfield Courier, August 9, 1877.
At this week’s meeting of the county board, Mr. M. L. Robinson was appointed Trustee of Winfield township in place of J. S. Hunt, resigned.
Winfield Courier, September 6, 1877.
P. Stump drives the fine bays formerly owned by M. L. Robinson.
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1877.
Our readers will not fail to notice the new advertisement of M. L. Read, which has appeared in the two last issues. It contains an excellent cut of Mr. Read’s substantial bank
building. Mr. Read is a substantial banker, does business in a substantial way, has a substantial safe that neither fire nor burglars can penetrate, and a time lock that will keep the cashier and his assistant from delivering up the contents of the safe during the night, though strongly persuaded by an exhibition of shooting irons.
AD: CENTERED IS A CUT OF THE FRONT OF BANK.
Our Safe is Guarded By The Yale Time Lock.
Collections Solicited and Promptly Attended to.
M. L. Read’s Bank,
WINFIELD, KANSAS,
Does a
GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS.
M. L. ROBINSON, Cashier. W. C. ROBINSON, Asst. Cashier
Possessing ample means for the successful conduct of our business we would be pleased to receive accounts from any believing we can make it to their advantage to do business with us.
REFERENCES:
First National Bank, Kansas City, Mo.
Cass County Bank, Beardstown, Ills.
Rev. O. M. Stewart, Trinity M. E. Church, St. Louis, Mo.
Wichita Savings Bank, Wichita, Kansas.
F. W. Fraey, Cashier 1st. N’l. Bank, Springfield, Ill.
Donnell, Lawson & Co., Bankers, New York City.
Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.
Read and Robinson have laid out a new addition to Winfield on the southwest.
Winfield Courier, November 8, 1877.
From an article by a K. C. Journal of Commerce correspondent, it was stated:
“The bank of M. L. Read, of which M. L. Robinson is cashier, has been established five years, and occupies the first brick building in Cowley County.”
Winfield Courier, November 15, 1877.
By Terrill has purchased the fine carriage of M. L. Robinson. He now has one of the finest livery outfits in Southern Kansas. He keeps the very best of teams and good buggies.
Winfield Courier, November 15, 1877.
Mr. M. L. Robinson sold his house place to Dr. Emerson. He will now improve his reserved block in the southwest part of town. We expect to see a residence there next spring that in magnificence will eclipse everything else in Southern Kansas.
Winfield Courier, November 22, 1877.
CARD. G. EMERSON, M. D., Physician and Surgeon.
Office over New York Store (Manning’s brick.)
Residence, corner 11th and Fuller Street. (Robinson house.)
Winfield Courier, December 27, 1877.
Samuel M. Martin, of Jacksonville, Illinois, has been visiting his brother-in-law, M. L. Robinson, the past week. Mr. Martin has been county clerk of his county for fourteen years. He thinks of locating with us.
Winfield Courier, January 24, 1878.
The south bridge across the Walnut River is completed, accepted, and in operation, and now we swing our hat and give the three times three and a tiger with the best of them. It is ready for operation just in time, for the river has recently come up booming again, nearly ten feet above the ordinary stage. The bridge is one of the most beautiful iron structures we ever saw, and appears to be in every way strong and substantial. It is 150 feet span, 33 feet above low water, on substantial stone abutments, and the approaches are splendidly graded. When the proposition was submitted to vote $2,500 bonds to this bridge and $3,000 to the west bridge, we opposed the proposition because we did not believe we could build both, and voting so small a sum as $2,500 for the south bridge would ensure its failure. But the bonds were carried and the splendid management of the township board with the contributions and active aid of other citizens has proved us to have been mistaken. But while great credit is due to the board and others, we are mainly indebted to the efficient and persistent efforts of M. L. Robinson that this project has been worked up and carried though to complete success at so little cost to the township.
Winfield Courier, January 31, 1878.
J. Hoenscheidt is the architect employed by J. C. Fuller, M. L. Robinson, Jay Page, the Misses Aldrich, E. P. Hickok, C. Farringer, and others in the erection of their new residences. These residences will be built in modern style, to combine symmetry and beauty with convenience and stability, and will cost from two to seven thousand dollars each; hence the propriety of employing a first-class architect.
Winfield Courier, February 21, 1878.
The foundation for M. L. Robinson’s new house is almost completed.
Winfield Courier, February 28, 1878. [Millington & Lemmon, Publishers.]
SOUTHERN KANSAS.
THE REMARKABLE PROSPERITY OF WINFIELD.
ITS INCREASE IN POPULATION AND WEALTH THE PAST YEAR.
A Glimpse at a Few of Her Palatial Residences—Episode in the Life of One of Her Citizens.
“A Fine Old Southern Gentleman, One of the Olden Time.”
[From the Kansas City Journal of Commerce.]
CENTRAL HOTEL, WINFIELD, KANSAS, February 13, 1878.
A recent census shows a population of 1,611 in this town—an increase of about fifty percent within a year. Without question, it is the most prosperous interior town in the State, and presents more evidence of wealth and permanence and offers greater inducements to businessmen and capitalists than any other.
Real estate is appreciating rapidly, and comfortable tenement houses are in demand and high. Some enterprising mechanic with a little capital could make a fortune by building cottages to sell. There are two dozen houses in course of building now, one-half of which are residences to cost from three to seven thousand dollars, and transfers of lots to parties intending to build others are of daily occurrence. As several of these buildings are being gotten up on a scale of elegance (very unusual for a new county, and especially the frontier), I may be pardoned for a brief description of them.
M. L. Robinson has chosen the southwestern portion of town for his residence, and is building a stately mansion upon an eminence which commands a landscape of surpassing loveliness. The building has only recently been commenced, but the designs according to the drawings of the architect are elaborate and costly. A large force of workmen are engaged and the pleasant weather is being improved.
JOE FLUFFER.
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878.
Work is progressing rapidly on the residence of M. L. Robinson, Esq. The roof has been put on the back part of the house and the walls of the front part are almost done. When complete, this will be the finest residence southwest of the state capital.
Winfield Courier, July 4, 1878.
A Threatened Famine.
C. A. Bliss, G. S. Manser, A. B. Lemmon, E. P. Kinne, J. C. Fuller, M. L. Read, T. R. Bryan, W. M. Allison, J. W. Curns, C. C. Black, D. A. Millington, E. S. Bliss, E. S. Torrance, A. E. Baird, J. B. Lynn, M. G. Troup, M. L. Robinson, J. C. McMullen, E. C. Manning, and probably many others, all with their wives, will make a raid upon Arkansas City, the steam boats, and Newman’s dam on the Fourth. They will seize all the provisions they can find in the city, capture both the “Aunt Sally” and the—the—well, Amos’ steamship, will rip out Newman’s dam, and steam up the Walnut to Winfield, driving a large herd of catfish. Bliss and Harter & Harris will load the steamers with flour at their mills. The party will start at about 9 o’clock a.m.
Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.
M. L. Robinson’s palace residence is nearly completed. He has got his gas works to work beautifully and has bid coal oil “good bye.”
Winfield Courier, August 29, 1878.
M. L. Robinson’s residence is nearly completed, and is one of the most magnificent structures in the Southwest.
Winfield Courier, October 3, 1878.
Mr. M. L. Robinson and wife have gone to Kansas City to purchase furniture for their new house which is nearly completed.
Winfield Courier, October 31, 1878.
WINFIELD, October 30, 1878.
After this date Mexican dollars will be received by us at 90 cents.
M. L. ROBINSON, Cashier Read’s Bank.
J. C. FULLER, Winfield Bank.
B. F. BALDWIN, Cashier Citizens’ Bank.
Winfield Courier, November 21, 1878.
We desire to give M. L. Robinson, the commissioners, and others full credit for saving $4,000 to the county in the final reduction of the Santa Fe proposition to $144,000.
Winfield Courier, December 5, 1878.
The stage, a hack, and a buggy, all well loaded with passengers, made a race of the trip from Wichita to Winfield last Thursday. They left Wichita about 8 o’clock in the morning and until they passed Bushnell it was doubtful which would win. Soon after passing that place a wheel ran off and let the stage down. Not long after that the buggy horses began to wilt. The hack, which was one of Terrell & Ferguson’s rigs, got in before three o’clock p.m., loaded with M. L. Robinson & wife, Mrs. Millington, an Alton gentleman, and the driver, with the team in excellent condition; the stage mended up and got in two hours later, and the buggy got in a little later still, but one of its horses died before morning and the other was not much better off.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 2, 1879.
The following is a list of new buildings erected in the city of Winfield since January 1, 1878, with the name of owner and cost of building.
M. L. Robinson, residence, cut stone: $15,000.
[Paper showed that the total cost of buildings was $180,200. It stated 201 were erected.]
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
[This issue listed Courier advertisers.]
READ’S BANK. This is one of the institutions of Winfield. The bank occupies a large and fine brick building, keeps its funds in an enormous fire-proof safe, with burglar proof chest combination, and a time lock, and all modern safeguards. M. L. Read, the president, is a gentleman of character and abundant means. He owns a large amount of valuable real estate in this city and county, and is reputed one of the wealthiest men in the state. M. L. Robinson, the cashier, is one of the ablest financiers in the county, and under his skillful direction, success is sure. W. C. Robinson, his assistant, is an assistant indeed. Wilber Dever writes up the books. Each member of the force is a gentleman by instinct and habit.
Winfield Courier, April 10, 1879.
On Friday evening last week the young people assembled at the residence of Mrs. M. L. Robinson and a most delightful evening was spent. An elegant supper was served at ten o’clock, after which the tables were removed and the dining room given up to dancing, which was kept up until a late hour.
Winfield Courier, April 24, 1879.
To the Voters of Cowley County.
On the 29th of this month you will be called upon to cast your ballots for or against the proposition to exchange the bonds of your county for $68,000 of the stock of the Southern Kansas and Western Railroad Company. It is your duty to prepare yourselves to vote intelligently, and in order to assist you in doing so, your committee, appointed to look after the railroad interests of your county, desire to advance a few reasons (which appear to them to be well founded), why this proposition should receive the favorable consideration of every vote in the county.
In the first place, the proposed road is greatly needed to advance the material interests and welfare of the people. It is to extend through the county from east to west, affording this county a connection with all the eastern roads running through Missouri to the Mississippi river; with the projected road through southern Missouri to Memphis and with the M. K. & T. road running through the Indian Territory to Texas, with a Ft. Smith connection soon to be made which will open up to us the long coveted market of Little Rock and other coveted southern points.
The advantages to be derived from these connections, in bringing to our doors the cheap lumber from the pineries of Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas, the superior coal of the eastern counties, reduced freights from St. Louis and the east, and in the transportation of our own exports to a favorable market, certainly cannot be over-estimated.
But will the road be built if the bonds are voted? This query, owing to the singularly modest demand of the company in asking but $68,000 for building nearly forty miles of first-class road, using steel rails, and overcoming the Grouse hills, may well be repeated and answered doubtingly by the reflective mind. Nevertheless, we can confidently assure you, fellow-citizens, that if the bonds are voted in Elk and Cowley Counties, the road will not only be built, but will be completed considerably ahead of time. A letter just received by the chairman of this committee from Major O. B. Gunn, chief engineer (and who, we may justly add, stands at the pinnacle of his profession), whose honor and truthfulness are unimpeachable, says: “I told your people that while our proposition was for the first of March, we should expect to reach Winfield by the 1st of January; but I am able to say that if the bonds are voted all along the line, so we can spread out, we shall try to do even better than I stated.”
How do we know that the company mean business, and that the road will be constructed if the bonds are voted? We know it on business principles. The company is backed by representatives of some of the best railways in the country, and possessed of immense capital. The building of this road is necessary to the welfare and prosperity of other roads owned by these backers. The company have deposited with the Winfield Bank the amount of money fixed by the county clerk to pay the expenses of the election, provided the bonds are voted and they fail to comply with their agreement.
The company has placed in the hands of T. H. Bryan, county treasurer, a certificate of deposit of the banking house of Armour Bros., Kansas City, payable to the order of the county treasurer, for $10,000, dated April 12, 1879, to be forfeited to the county, provided the bonds are voted in Elk and Cowley counties, and the company fail to build the road as stipulated.
The contract for the construction of the road from Independence west to the Elk county line has already been let, to be commenced immediately, and the ties and steel rails for the same are purchased and waiting to be used.
But some men say that the voting of this subsidy, though small, will, added to that already voted to the Cowley, Sumner & Ft. Smith company, increase and make our taxation burdensome. Let us see if it will. We propose to make a plain statement of figures that cannot lie, nor be controverted.
The interest on $68,000, for one year, at 7 percent, amounts to $4,760. The road will be assessed at not less than $6,000 per mile. Taking 38 miles as the least length (a low estimate) of the road, the assessment will amount to $228,000. We will average the tax at $3 on the $100 valuation, as some townships pay more, and some less. The tax on the road then will amount to $6,840, or $2,080 in excess of the interest! It is easy to see that this excess, each year for 30 years, without any accumulation of interest, would nearly extinguish the whole debt. But used as a sinking fund, which under the present law, it must be, and availing ourselves of the wise provision in the proposition, giving the county the privilege, after ten years, of paying off the indebtedness, as we become able, no one need feel the least apprehension that the county is assuming more than she is able to bear; but that, on the contrary, she could not do a wiser thing for her future welfare and prosperity, than to buy the construction of this road with her bonds, getting the stock of the company to boot, which may not be considered, by any means, worthless. The time may come when the stock of a first class road like this one, and backed by unlimited capital like this, will be worth nearly par.
But the road itself is by no means all the taxable property that it brings in. Consider the increased valuation of all kinds of property resulting from it! The settlement of unsettled lands—the growth of towns and stations—the increase of crops and stock, and the inflow of capital for all purposes, certainly must convince a reasonable mind—a mind of fair capabilities—that it would not be the part of wisdom to reject such a proposition as the one before us.
In conclusion, fellow-citizens, we would have been pleased to have paid a deserved eulogy to our county, the best and fairest, and to become the richest of the best and fairest state in the Union; a county, in which to be a resident, may justly add to one’s pride and self-respect—but our circular is full lengthy now; and we must be contented with the few plain facts herein stated.
Committee.
J. M. ALEXANDER.
M. L. ROBINSON.
E. P. KINNE.
T. K. JOHNSON.
R. L. WALKER.
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1879.
M. L. Robinson and family started for Colorado last Tuesday and will be absent about six weeks. He goes for health and pleasure, and will take in Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and Manitou. We wish him a pleasant trip. The editor expects to be with him.
Winfield Courier, July 24, 1879.
RECAP: Millington started on a three week junketing excursion of the mountains of Colorado...returned in less than three weeks.
Started July 5th, went to Topeka, Kansas City, and then stopped at Colorado Springs, Colorado. After spending eight or ten days in that vicinity visiting Cheyenne Canon, Ute Pass, Garden of the Gods, Glen Eyrie, Monument Park, Pike’s Peak, etc., the party went south and west, visiting the Veta Pass and the Rio Grande, returning home from there.
While at Colorado Springs, he and his wife were in the company of M. L. Robinson and family, J. C. Fuller and wife, John Stalter, J. L. Robinson, and others. He commented that J. L. Robinson had a jovial wit and sparkling imagination; J. C. Fuller had a dry humor and quick repartee. J. L. Robinson and J. C. Fuller contributed extensively to the pleasure of their various excursions, carriage rides, rambles, walks, climbs, and picnics among the canons, gorges, glens, parks, mountains, and rocks of that wonderful region.
When at Topeka just starting for Pike’s Peak, Lemmon asked the Millingtons who they were going with. Millington answered, “M. L. Robinson and J. C. Fuller.” Lemmon rejoined: “Correct. Never think of going to Colorado with less than two bankers with you.”
At Colorado Springs Mr. and Mrs. Millington joined Frank and M. L. Robinson, who had been riding about in that vicinity two or three days.
“Frank Robinson informed us that the water there ‘runs up hill.’ We were at first inclined to be skeptical on this point; but our own observation soon showed us that Frank had good grounds for his conclusions. We started out for the foot of the mountains, about six miles, and it looked to us to be downhill all the way. Colorado Springs is located on a bench of land above a bluff which rises from a creek valley lying just west of town. Along the streets of the town on both sides are streams of water running south in ditches. We followed north and northwest along one of these streams down into the creek valley to where the ditch was fed from the creek, and we could not make it appear to us otherwise than that the water was running uphill all the way from that creek through the irrigating ditch, winding up the bluff into town. Other ditches bringing water from the foot of the mountain presented a similar appearance.
“Our explanation is that the mountains beyond loom up so incredibly steep and high that in comparison a moderate rise toward them looks like a descent.”
Millington told about his trip to Pike’s Peak with M. L. Robinson. “We started from Colorado Springs before six o’clock in the morning and rode in a buggy six miles, up to Manitou Springs at the entrance of the canon at the foot of the trail. Here we mounted hardy and sure-footed ponies and entered upon the trail at about seven o’clock. Our route was steep uphill, winding around mountain peaks and precipices, up a stupendous gorge or canon; past numerous water falls—many of them covered by enormous granite rocks which had tumbled down from thousands of feet above; winding along in a narrow mule path in the steep sides of fine debris, which had tumbled down from the heights above; hugging overhanging rocks to keep from falling into the stupendous chasm below; crossing over the gorge back and forth to avoid impassible precipices; and finally at the end of four and a half miles, and having risen 3,000 feet, we emerged from the canon into a wider valley, in which there was much vegetation, and which was crowded with splendid quaking aspen trees and many firs; along which valley we passed westward toward the peak, still rising rapidly and winding between lofty peaks. Following this valley a mile and a half we turned to the left, directly south, and went up along the backbone of a very steep ridge for two miles, which brought us up to the Lake House, a log hotel on the margin of a beautiful lake lying in an ancient crater at an elevation of 9,700 feet.
“From this point we went west and southwest, climbing diagonally up the steep side of a spur or ridge, running down southwest from the peak. A mile and a half of the steepest kind of climbing brought us around the point of the ridge. A storm was raging above us, and we rode into it, winding up the west slope of the peak. The storm was rain, snow, and hail with the sharp reports of lightning and thunder reverberating among the crags around us. One discharge splintered a granite rock to pieces but two or three hundred feet from us. But we were well wrapped and comfortable and kept climbing and winding up spirally from the west side of the peak around the north and east sides to the south side, where we emerged above the storm, and still climbing up toward the north, arrived at the signal station on the very summit, having risen above the lake nearly 5,000 feet, about 2,000 up to the storm, 2,000 through the storm, and 1,000 above it.
“We arrived at the summit at about a quarter past three o’clock in the afternoon. The storm was still raging below us. Far down the sides of the peak, all around from 1,000 to 5,000 feet below us, rolled the dark clouds, the lightning flashed incessantly, and the thunder crashed and reverberated; but we looked over the storm down to the east and saw the city of Colorado Springs, eighteen miles distant, lying apparently immediately below us, and many other objects stretching away in the distance. But the storm though still far below us was widening toward the east and soon shut off our vision from the lower world. Sometimes a little fraction of the cloud would roll up from below on one side of the top and plunge down on the other side, but otherwise it was fair on the top.
“The situation forcibly reminded us of the lines of the poet:
‘As some tall cliff uprears his awful form,
Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm,
Though ‘round his breast the rolling clouds are spread,
Eternal sunshine settles on his head.’
“At four o’clock p.m. we commenced our descent. Before we had proceeded a mile down the trail we found ourselves entering the upper side of the storm, and by the time we had descended another mile, we found ourselves surrounded by a war of the elements which cannot be described. The rain, snow, and hail were in themselves terrible, but the lightning and thunder were too frightful to contemplate. The air was filled with rapid flashes, and reports sharp, loud, and incessant, crashed and reverberated among the crags about us. We heard the splintered and exploded rocks rattling and jingling all about us, but could not see them for the darkness and density of the storm.
“My companion, M. L. Robinson, got down from his pony and by the light of the lurid flashes, I thought he looked rather pale. There were several strangers on their ponies along, and not only men but ponies seemed almost paralyzed by fright. There was one woman, strong and courageous as she went up, now entirely demoralized. She and her husband had dismounted when we overtook them coming down. He was standing pale and speechless by the side of the trail. She was on her knees, her face deformed by her fears and distress, large tears rolling down her face, moaning, praying, begging for life. She prayed and promised the Lord that if he would save her from this terrible danger, she would never go to Pike’s Peak again the longest day she ever lived. M. L. tried to soothe and quiet her, but he might as well have attempted to quiet the storm that was crashing around us. We told them that was no place to stop, to get on their ponies and ride down out of the storm. We proceeded to follow our own advice and were soon below the worst of the storm; and when we reached the Lake House, the storm was all above us toward the top of the peak. We arrived at Manitou from the top of the peak in four hours. It had taken us eight hours to go up. We arrived at Colorado Springs at nine o’clock p.m.”
Winfield Courier, July 31, 1879. [Part of an editorial by D. A. Millington.]
Mrs. J. C. Fuller returned from Colorado last Saturday. She had gained more in health than we could have expected in so short a time. After we left the party, they went to Denver and to Georgetown. J. C. visited the top of Gray’s Peak. He and his wife then left for Pueblo from which point Mrs. Fuller started home and J. C. started up the Grand Canon for Leadville. M. L. Robinson and family were to spend a few days at Idaho Springs and vicinity after which Mrs. Robinson and her boys will probably return and M. L. will pursue his investigations into the mineral resources of Colorado and New Mexico. We did not learn whether it was arranged that the two bankers should join in their travels or not.
M. L. Robinson suddenly and unexpectedly returned from Colorado yesterday morning.
Winfield Courier, July 31, 1879.
The depot of the C., S. & S. F. railroad at Winfield is located three blocks south of M. L. Robinson’s residence.
Winfield Courier August 14, 1879.
We give M. L. Read, M. L. Robinson, and W. P. Hackney the credit of securing the depot where they desired. There had been a desire on the part of some to locate it east of town, but no proposition was made in that direction. The only proposition made to Mr. Strong other than that of Mr. Read was for the location west of town between 9th and 10th streets, but this proposition was not put in form and therefore probably not considered. Mr. Lemmon took no part in these matters. If he holds his office by accident, lightning has struck twice in the same place.
Winfield Courier, September 4, 1879.
M. L. Robinson returned Tuesday evening from his westward wanderings. He left Mr. Fuller at Leadville. M. L., after doing Colorado, turned his attention to New Mexico, visiting Santa Fe and other points in that Territory. He seems greatly benefitted by the trip.
Winfield Courier, September 11, 1879.
M. L. Robinson, who recently returned from his second trip to Colorado, says that in visiting New Mexico he took by rail the famous switch-back over the Raton mountains, but when he returned he walked through the great tunnel. The trains were expected to run through the tunnel this week, and the switch-back is to be taken up and laid over another mountain near Albuquerque. Mr. Robinson made some small investments in several undeveloped mines at Leadville in the vicinity of rich developed mines, taking about a tenth interest in each, on the principle that a thousand invested in testing a mine is only a hundred lost to him, should it prove valueless, while should it prove to be rich, a tenth would be a large fortune. One of the investments is in a new mine named the WINFIELD MINE, in which both he and Mr. Fuller took shares, as well as Boyle and Melville and some others. As this mine has been christened from our city, we shall take great interest in its future fame.
Winfield Courier, September 18, 1879.
SNOW HILL, SALT CITY, KS., Sept. 12th, 1879.
ED. COURIER: After a dusty drive of three hours, we arrived at this Saratoga of the “Great American Desert,” without meeting any hair-breadth escapes, or observing anything wonderful on the way. Having pitched our tent and pegged it down strong, we proceeded to unpack our provision-chest, to find “refreshments for the inner (wo-)man.” A sheet-iron stove, which we found in the garden at home, answered our purpose well, and we were soon provided with a splendid cup of coffee; in fact, a good dinner altogether.
We are waiting and watching for Sunday and that Winfield party: Read’s, Robinson’s, and Spotswood’s, besides Mrs. Best and Mrs. Roberts, with their tent and goodies, which we may be able to borrow, as they are freshly cooked. . . . H. P. M.
Winfield Courier, October 2, 1879.
The city of Winfield now contains between fifty and seventy-five dollars more taxable property than it did last week. The new addition of M. L. Robinson was taken into the city at the council meeting last Friday evening. Besides all the buildings, etc., contained in this addition, there is over $20,000 worth of railroad, side-track, depot building, etc. The river is now the southwest limits of the city.
Winfield Courier, November 20, 1879.
Messrs. J. L. Horning and Ivan Robinson have purchased the hardware stock of H. Jochems and rented the building for a term of years. Mr. Horning is recognized as one of the live, energetic businessmen of our city, and his proprietorship will in no wise detract from the popularity which this store has enjoyed for the past five years. Ivan Robinson, the other member of the firm, has been engaged in the hardware business for several years, and is one of the most popular young men in the city. The fact of his being a brother of M.. L., Will, and George Robinson is a sufficient recommendation.
Winfield Courier, January 1, 1880. Holding New Year Reception:
Mrs. M. L. Robinson, on Mencrest, between Twelfth and Blandon, assisted by Misses Ella Holmes, Sarah Hodges, and Allie Klingman.
Winfield Courier, January 15, 1880.
Read Robinson, who likes traveling too well to confine his usefulness to any one city, is in Winfield inspecting the banking business of the Read’s and Robinson’s.
[RAILROAD MEETING: ARKANSAS CITY TO FORT SMITH.]
Winfield Courier, January 22, 1880.
A meeting was held at Manning’s Hall last Wednesday evening to consider a memorial to Congress asking that a right of way for a railroad be granted through the Indian Territory from Arkansas City to Fort Smith.
Mayor Lynn was called to chair and J. E. Conklin chosen secretary.
A committee, consisting of C. C. Black, C. Coldwell, W. R. Davis, J. L. Horning, and M. L. Robinson, was appointed to prepare a memorial.
Senator Hewson, of Memphis, addressed the meeting, stating the advantages and importance to this section of the country of such a road.
The committee reported a memorial as follows, which was adopted, and the committee instructed to procure signatures and forward.
“The undersigned citizens of Cowley County, in the state of Kansas, would respectfully represent, that this county and the adjacent counties of Kansas are producers of corn, wheat, oats, hay, hogs, and cattle; and that they have large quantities of the commodities named, over and above their own requirements for market; but on account of the present condition of things they are cut off and deprived of their proper and legitimate markets, which should be Memphis, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Little Rock, Arkansas; and the cities and country adjacent to said city. We would further show that our country is almost wholly destitute of timber, while in the state of Arkansas, only a short distance away, there is a superabundance wasting for want of transportation.
We would further show that by building a line of railroad from the line of Kansas at or near Arkansas City, to Fort Smith in the state of Arkansas, relief from all difficulties stated would be obviated.
We would further show that on the 17th day of Dec., 1879, the Hon. H. C. Young of Tennessee, introduced House bill 3032, in which the right of way and charter for said railroad is asked and provided for, and we respectfully request the said bill be enacted into a law and the company or body corporate thereby created be authorized to build a line of railroad and telegraph upon such terms and limitations as Congress may its wisdom provide.
And we especially solicit and request the support and influence of the Representatives and Senators from the state of Kansas and our sister states, in perfecting and passing this bill.
All of which is most respectfully submitted.”
Winfield Courier, April 22, 1880.
M. L. Robinson has been confined to his bed by sickness for a week past. As soon as he is able, he will likely go to Colorado for fresh air and recreation.
Winfield Courier, April 29, 1880.
Last Tuesday evening the marriage of Mr. George Robinson and Miss Ella Holmes was celebrated in the Methodist church, which was filled to overflowing by the friends and acquaintances of the parties. The church was handsomely decorated, one feature being a large horseshoe in evergreens with the initial letters, “R.” and “H.” on either side. Mr. Wm. Robinson and Miss McCoy acted as bridegroom and bridesmaid. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Hyden, assisted by Rev. J. E. Platter. Thus was joined in the bonds of wedlock two of Winfield’s brightest lights.
[George Robinson was a brother of M. L., Will, Read, and Ivan Robinson.]
Winfield Courier, May 6, 1880.
Read’s Bank is being papered and fixed up in fine style.
M. L. Robinson is again on the streets after his severe illness.
Winfield Courier, June 24, 1880.
S. M. Martin, brother of Mrs. M. L. Robinson, and wife are visiting here. They will accompany M. L. and lady on their mountain tour. The party starts today (Wednesday).
Winfield Courier, August 5, 1880.
The last we heard of M. L. Robinson, he was at Colorado Springs, and M. L. Read was at Georgetown.
Winfield Courier, August 12, 1880.
Mrs. M. L. Robinson has returned from Colorado.
Winfield Courier, August 12, 1880.
Read Robinson appeared on our streets last Saturday, direct from Colorado and New Mexico.
Winfield Courier, August 12, 1880.
B. F. Baldwin writes from Colorado Springs thus: “As soon as I can find time, I will write you what I know and think of Colorado. I will say, however, that I like it much better for a place to sojourn during the hot months of summer than a permanent home. My family are here and quite well. I have much improved in health since I came here. J. L. M. Hill and S. H. Myton left here yesterday (August 4th) for New Mexico and home. M. L. Robinson, wife, and boy left for Alamosa and the San Juan country on same train.”
Winfield Courier, September 2, 1880.
Col. M. L. Robinson has returned from the mountains and mines looking as though trout, rabbits, and other game must have suffered in his presence.
Winfield Courier, September 23, 1880.
A very fine and successful lawn party, for the benefit of the Ladies’ Library Association, was held at the residence of Col. M. L. Robinson, last Thursday evening.
Winfield Courier, December 16, 1880.
The Capital makes merry over the Commonwealth because it called Sam Wood an iconoclast. This reminds us of T. A. Wilkinson, who at one time got angry with and demolished our banker, M. L. Robinson, by calling him a “nepot.”
Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.
We have conversed with a great many citizens in relation to the railroad stock owned by this county and the expression so far is almost unanimous that an election should be called to vote on a proposition to authorize the county commissioners to sell our stock in the Southern Kansas and Western and in the Cowley, Sumner and Fort Smith, either or both, at not less than sixty-five cents on the dollar in cash or in the bonds of this county. Of course, they desire to sell at the highest possible rate, but think it better to take even 65 cents than to hold on long for a higher price. If on a close examination of the law, it shall be held that it means that the precise price to be sold at shall be named in the proposition and that it could not legally be sold, at a higher price, it would be necessary to find the highest price that could be obtained; but if, as seems most reasonable, the intent of the law is merely to prohibit the sale of the stock at a lower price than that named in the proposition, but allowing the commissioners to sell at as much higher price as they can after the vote authorizing the sale is carried, then there is no need of any delay in calling the election.
In reply to a letter of inquiry sent to capitalists in Boston by Capt. J. S. Hunt for the commissioners, he received a letter offering sixty-five cents on the dollar for the S. K. & W. stock.
Col. M. L. Robinson has a letter from Robert H. Weems, the bond man of the great financial firm of Donnell, Lawson & Co., which we copy below. From this it will be seen that the writer quotes the K. C., L. & S. stock at 91 to 92. In the consolidation the same stock is rated at 95. The S. K. & W. stock which we hold is put into the consolidation at 75. We presume if put on the N. Y. market, it would be quoted at about 72. The letter quotes the A. T. & S. F. bonds offered for our stock at 99.
If we should trade our $68,000 stock at 75 for these bonds and then sell the bonds at 99, it would realize us $50,490 in cash or 74-1/4 cents on the dollar in cash for our stock.
Another idea is that the calling of the election if done during this month need not cost the county but little extra, for the regular township elections are to be held on the first Tuesday in February and the stock elections could be held at the same time and with the same officers of elections.
The following is the letter above mentioned.
Mr. M. L. Robinson, Cashier, Winfield, Kansas.
Dear Sir: Yours of the 9th was duly received, and in reply we beg leave to state that the stock of the Kansas City, Lawrence & Southern R. R. is worth from 91 to 92. The 40 year 5 percent bonds of the A., T. & S. F. R. R. are worth 99 and interest. The consolidation you mention has appeared here in the various papers and as stated by you. This would result in the county securing $54,000 in 5 percent bonds, which are worth par, and we do not think that they will be worth less in the future. The county can undoubtedly trade them off to the Cowley, Sumner and Ft. Smith road. The 7 percent bonds issued by your county will be hard to get, as they are more scattered.
I will be pleased to hear from you further regarding this matter, and anything which I can do for you or for the county will be done most cheerfully and faithfully. Yours truly,
ROBT. H. WEEMS.
Winfield Courier, December 30, 1880.
With the earliest settlers of Winfield, came Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Millington, since which time their hospitable home has been a favorite with our society people.
At their reception last evening an unusually happy and enjoyable time was had. Mr. and Mrs. Millington, assisted by their daughters, Misses Kate and Jessie, were truly at home in the manner and method of receiving their friends, with a smile and a pleasant word for all. No wonder the hours passed so quickly by. All restraint and formality was laid aside for an evening of genuine good feeling and pleasure.
Among those present were Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Bliss, Mr. and Mrs. N. L. Rigby, Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, Mr. and Mrs. Hackney, Mr. and Mrs. Spotswood, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Baird, Mr. and Mrs. Bedilion, Mr. and Mrs. Moffitt, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. McMullen, Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. H. Brown, Dr. and Mrs. Black, Mr. and Mrs. Hickok, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Pryor, Mr. and Mrs. Troup, Mr. and Mrs. Scovill, Mr. and Mrs. Lundy, Mr. and Mrs. Lemmon, Dr. and Mrs. Emerson, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Short, Mr. and Mrs. Kretsinger, Mr. and Mrs. Shrieves, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Millington, Mrs. Huston, Miss McCommon, Wirt W. Walton, and J. R. Conklin.
Refreshments were served to the satisfaction and praise of all, and not until a late hour came the “good nights” and the departure of friends for their homes, each of whom will not soon forget the pleasant evening with Mr. and Mrs. Millington. Daily Telegram.
Winfield Courier, January 20, 1881.
On Wednesday night there was a meeting held at council rooms, embracing a number of our prominent citizens, to secure, if possible, one of the two roads that Gould proposes building. All the gentlemen present were in favor of doing what was possible to secure this end. W. H. Smith, Col. Alexander, J. L. Horning, T. K. Johnson, Mayor Lynn, and M. L. Robinson were appointed as a committee to confer with the managers, and obtain from them, if possible, a proposition. Messrs. Myres, Read, and Seward were appointed a committee to defray expenses.
Winfield Courier, February 10, 1881.
CRYSTAL WEDDING. Mr. and Mrs. Shrieves celebrated the 15th anniversary of their marriage by inviting their friends to attend their crystal wedding on Tuesday evening, February 8th. Accordingly a merry party filled the omnibuses and proceeded to their residence, one mile east of town, and spent an evening of unalloyed pleasure. Mrs. Shrieves, assisted by her sisters, Mrs. Cummings and Mrs. Wm. Shrieves, entertained their guests in a graceful and pleasant manner. Although the invitation cards announced no presents, a few of the most intimate friends presented some choice little articles in remembrance of the
occasion.
The following were present: Mrs. Hickok, Mrs. Mansfield, Mrs. Butler, Miss Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Kinne, Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Pryor, Mr. and Mrs. Wallis, Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Spotswood, Dr. and Mrs. Van Doren, Mr. and Mrs. Earnest, Mr. and Mrs. H. Brown, Rev. and Mrs. Hyden, Rev. and Mrs. Platter, Mrs. Houston, Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Millington, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. Black, Mr. and Mrs. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Wilson, Rev. and Mrs. Borchers, Mr. and Mrs. Meech, Mr. and Mrs. Mill-house, Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Linn, Mr. and Mrs. Snyder, Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Roberts, Mr. Hendricks, and John Roberts.
Winfield Courier, February 24, 1881.
In making out the papers for the sale and transfer of the stock in the S. K. & W. railroad from the county to the purchaser, there were some errors which made the transfer defective and the papers were sent back for correction.
Commissioners Gale and Bullington met at the county clerk’s office on Monday of this week and made the proper correction. It is said that they also sent Messrs. James Harden, treasurer, and M. L. Robinson to New York and Boston to buy bonds.
These two gentlemen started east on Monday eve, but we suppose on their own expense and for their own purposes for the Commissioners have no power or authority to put the county to any expense for such a mission. They probably have gone to see the inauguration of the president and other sights and can well afford to do so, but the idea that they expect the county to pay their expenses is preposterous. The idea that they would be of any particular use to the county in finding and buying bonds at a low rate is equally absurd. The state has a financial agency in New York and the bankers of that institution live in the midst of bonds and stocks and know now more about our bonds, where to get them and what they are worth, than two new men could learn in six months. All our Commissioners need to do is to send the funds to the financial agency and instruct them to buy our bonds to the best advantage for the interests of the county. The idea of sending men from here to do the business is absurd and ridiculous.
We suppose that the howl raised in some quarters because the bonds were not bought in when the stock was sold, might have worried the commissioners some and made them feel that they ought to hurry up the matter of buying in the bonds in some way, so that when asked to send these experienced intelligent men east to hurry up the matter, without looking up the law or considering the use of sending them, they in their individual capacity and not as commissioners told them to go. But the story soon got out that the commissioners had sent them on this wild goose errand at the expense of the county and then commenced a howl indeed. Almost every man we met made either an angry comment in condemnation or a ridiculous comment in disapproval.
We would ask the people interested to keep cool and not to get excited. The commissioners are trying to do the best thing for the interests of the county and will not pay out the people’s money for any expenses not warranted by law.
The gentlemen named have a right to go east and buy bonds for that matter just as we fellows who stay at home have the same right.
Winfield Courier, February 24, 1881.
Treasurer Harden and M. L. Robinson, the committee appointed to buy our bonds, left on Monday’s train for New York and Boston. If bonds are to be had, they will get them.
Winfield Courier, March 3, 1881.
Treasurer Harden telegraphs Capt. Hunt that he and Robinson have bought $35,000 of Cowley 7 percents on good terms.
[ITEM TAKEN FROM COWLEY COUNTY MONITOR.]
Winfield Courier, March 3, 1881.
We are very much surprised at an editorial in this week’s COURIER in relation to the subject, “Our Stock and Bonds.”
The following is the official action of the commissioners, and we want to say for Messrs. Gale and Bullington that neither of them were to blame for the necessity that caused the board to take the action detailed below.
On Feb. 21, 1881, the Board of county commissioners met in official session. Present: G. L. Gale, chairman, L. B. Bullington, member, and J. S. Hunt, county clerk.
The board directed the county clerk to correct the journal entry of February 4th and February 7th, 1881. Said entries were accordingly corrected. These errors were informalities in regard to the transfer of the stock of the Southern, Kansas and Western railroad.
On motion of the chairman it was resolved that James Harden, county treasurer of Cowley county, and M. L. Robinson be appointed and empowered as a special committee to take the corrected papers relating to the special election, held February 1st, 1881, and AT THE EXPENSE OF COWLEY COUNTY, proceed to Kansas City, Missouri, and have the same approved by Wallace Pratt, attorney, to whom the original papers had been referred by Charles Merriam, trustee; then proceed to New York and Boston and purchase for and in behalf of Cowley County, Kansas, forty-six thousand two hundred and forty dollars worth of the outstanding bonds of the said Cowley County, Kansas, provided the seven percent bonds of the said Cowley County can be purchased at a commission or premium of not more than two and one-half percent; the six percent bonds of said Cowley County at not more than par and accrued interest, and the ten percent bonds of the said Cowley County at a rate correspondingly beneficial to the interests of said county, or any of said specified bonds to the amount of forty-six thousand two hundred and forty dollars worth at as much better rates for the interest of said county as possible. And if the present purchase can be made at such rates or at most one percent of such rates, this committee shall ascertain as much as possible in relation to whom the holders are of such bonds at what rate and the lowest rate any of said bonds can be purchased, etc., and make a full report of all of said items on their return.
Board adjourned. J. S. HUNT, County Clerk.
We clip the above from the last Monitor and will remark that when we wrote the editorial in the COURIER alluded to and when we went to press we had not been furnished a copy of the commissioners’ proceedings, and as they are usually furnished the county paper by the clerk, we had not been to the records to examine them. We had heard rumors on the street concerning the proceedings, which struck us as improbable for the reasons then given. Now that we have a copy of the official proceedings, we make the correction by publishing them as above.
We do not wish to do injustice to any parties connected with this matter and are disposed to give to all the credit of desiring in their action to accomplish the best interests of the county. We know that the commissioners would act in no other way but for the interests of the county according to their best judgment; but we must be permitted to dissent from the course taken and to hold that there was no use in sending delegates east to buy bonds, and that there is no law to authorize the payment of the expenses of such delegates out of the county treasury. We think a mistake has been made in trying to rush this matter and still believe that a considerable sum of money might be saved for the county by waiting awhile for the holders of our bonds to discover that we are not going to take the first offers at any price, and that they must come down in their prices to value or they cannot sell to us. We believe that we can do better than to pay par and expenses for our 7 percent bonds.
Winfield Courier, March 3, 1881.
On last Tuesday, Feb. 25, there was a panic in Wall street, resulting from the opposition of the national banks to the funding bill and their attempts to coerce the government, and stocks declined largely, ranging from two to seventeen percent decline. Messrs. Robinson and Harden must have arrived in New York at a good time, for we suppose there must have been a pressure to sell our Cowley 7 percent bonds as well as other bonds. If they have chanced upon a time when they could buy at 95, it may not be so bad a scheme after all.
Winfield Courier, March 10, 1881.
We get the following information from Col. M. L. Robinson, who, with Treasurer James Harden, returned from the east Monday night.
The prices paid for Cowley 7 percents, were $15,000 at par and $29,000 additional at par with 2 ½ percent commission to be paid if we keep the bonds, and with an option of the county to return this last $20,000 at any time within six months and receive the cash and accrued interest.
This gives the county a chance to buy $20,000 of other bonds at any time within six months in case they can be had at such rates that it would be a saving of money to return these on which we have the option.
The situation is that if the county, at the end of six months, decides to return the bonds and take par and accrued interest, it saves $700 interest for the six months; but if it concludes to keep the bonds, it must pay $500 commission, and in that case, it saves $200, net of interest over and above the commission, thus giving the county the vantage ground, all the option and six months to figure for better terms.
Before they left for New York, the best offer we had was $1.05. At that rate the $35,000 now bought would have cost us $36,750, but it has actually cost us only $35,000, a saving of $1,250.
There is still left of the proceeds of the stock $10,740 in cash in the hands of the county treasurer which will be used as fast as may be in buying any bonds which may be picked up at reasonable rates. At present it is impossible to buy more 7 percents at less than $1.05; but by watching for chances, it is thought the amount of $10,740 at less rates. Donnell, Lawson & Co., had $50,000 of our 6 percents for which they asked par but it would be a saving to the county to buy 7 percents at 5 percent premium rather than to pay more than 90 for 6 percents.
It appears that our 7 percents are straight 30 year bonds, while the vote which authorized the issue provided for 10-30s, that is, subject to call after ten years. This mistake in issuing would have proved quite serious had ten years run and were we now able to sell 5 percents at par, for by calling the 7 percents, we could save 2 percent per annum for 20 years or 40 percent, equal to $27,200.
We have not time now before going to press to find out whether the same mistake is true of our $128,600 of six percents. From the above we conclude that Messrs. Robinson and Harden have done well and fully justified the commissioners in sending them.
Winfield Courier, March 10, 1881.
One of M. L. Robinson’s valuable carriage horses killed itself last week. It was running in the barn-yard and stepped on the end of a short stick, which flew up, striking the horse between the fore legs, and inflicting a deep wound from which the horse bled to death in a few minutes.
Winfield Courier, March 17, 1881.
While the 5-20 three percent, funding bill, requiring national banks to deposit only three percents for security of their circulation, was pending, after having passed the senate and before and after it passed the house, the national banks, for the purpose of raising a scare to defeat the bill made a rush to deposit greenbacks in the treasury to retire their own circulation. The amount thus deposited in a few days was about seventeen millions of dollars.
Whatever effect this movement might have had on the action of President Hayes, he vetoed the bill; and then the banks wanted to withdraw their seventeen millions of green-backs and not retire their circulation. The question arose whether they could be permitted to do so and was discussed in a meeting of Garfield’s new cabinet, and it was decided that it should not be done; that if the banks wanted to increase their circulation again, the law provided a way and they must go through the whole formula again.
Now, as M. L. Robinson says, we do not understand finance as well as we do some other things, and do not know but the best thing for Hayes to do was to veto the bill; but we do not sympathize with the banks in their bulldozing efforts to scare the house and the president to defeat the bill, and we are glad that they got picked up at their game.
It would be a dangerous precedent to allow them to deposit millions of treasury notes for the purpose of affecting legislation and then withdraw their funds as soon as the object was accomplished or defeated. Perhaps now that they find it is not so easy to get their money back, they will not be in so great a hurry to surrender their circulation and create a scare the next time.
Winfield Courier, April 7, 1881.
On last Thursday evening was gathered in the magnificent salons of M. L. Robinson one of the largest parties which have assembled in Winfield this past season. The honors of the occasion were conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Robinson and Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Spotswood in the most graceful and pleasing manner, making each of the guests feel delighted and happy. A new departure was made in the hour for reception which we cannot too highly commend, that of substituting 7 o’clock for the late hours which usually prevail, but the habits of some were so confirmed that they could not get around until nine o’clock. The banquet was excellent beyond our power of description. Nothing was wanting to render it perfect in all its appointments. At a reasonable hour the guests retired, expressing the warmest thanks to their kind hostesses and hosts for the pleasures of the evening. The following are the names of the guests as we now remember them.
Miss Nettie McCoy, Mrs. Huston, Mrs. S. H. Myton, Mrs. Mansfield, Mrs. Eastman, Mrs. Ticer, Mr. M. G. Hodges, Mr. C. A. Bliss, Mr. W. C. Robinson, Mr. W. A. Smith, Mr. W. J. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Loose, Mrs. Herrington, Mr. and Mrs. Van Doren, Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Linn, Mr. and Mrs. Wallis, Mr. and Mrs. Lemmon, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. Platter, Mr. and Mrs. J. Harden, Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Hackney, Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Pryor, Mr. and Mrs. Black, Mr. and Mrs. H. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Hodges, Mr. and Mrs. Hickok, Mr. and Mrs. Conklin, Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Bryan, Mr. and Mrs. Dever, Mr. and Mrs. Bedilion, Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, Mr. and Mrs. Barclay, Mrs. W. F. Baird, Mr. and Mrs. Mann, Mr. and Mrs. Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Doane, Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Millington, Mr. and Mrs. Horning, Mr. and Mrs. Troup, Mr. and Mrs. F. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Baird, Mr. and Mrs. Emerson, Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, and Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Read.
Winfield Courier, April 21, 1881.
The Winfield Bank was caught in a rather unpleasant predicament Tuesday. On Monday they had a workman fixing something about their safe, and it is thought he accidentally turned the dial on the time lock; at any rate, when the cashier came to open the safe at the usual time, he found that it would not open. This left the bank dead broke as far as the availability of their cash was concerned. In the emergency Read’s Bank came to the rescue and furnished Cashier Fuller with a roll of bills about the size of a man’s hat, with which the Winfield Bank did business until by close watching they caught the changed time of their lock and got the safe open. These time locks are sometimes as annoying to the banks as they are to the burglars.
Winfield Courier, April 21, 1881.
Quite a jolly party left on the A. T. & S. F. Tuesday afternoon on a pleasure trip to Topeka and Kansas City. The party was composed of Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Bahntge, Mrs. Dr. Emerson, Mrs. A. T. Spotswood and children, and Miss Smith. They will be absent several days. M. L. will stop over in Topeka to attend the directors’ meeting of the A. T. & S. F. M. L. Robinson was selected by the commissioners to vote the Cowley county stock.
Winfield Courier, May 5, 1881.
Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Robinson entertained about 75 of the young folks, both married and unmarried, at their pleasant residence last Friday evening. Singing was rendered by Miss McDonald.
Some of the ladies and their outfits were described by editor:
Mrs. Read Robinson, white Cashmere trimmed in white satin, white kid gloves and shoes; Mrs. George Robinson, plain and brocaded pink silk, handsome lace, white kid gloves and shoes; Mrs. George Whitney, heliotrope satin trimmed in brocade of the same color and Valenciennes lace; white gloves; Miss Nettie McCoy, brocaded peacock blue and old gold silk, silver filigree ornaments; Miss Julia Smith, handsome black silk, jet passementerie trimmings; Mrs. Emerson, white French bunting with lace trimming, and black silk velvet skirt.
Winfield Courier, May 19, 1881.
The contract on the McDougall building was let to John Swain, on Monday and work was begun immediately. It is to be completed by September 1st. The work is in charge of a superintendent, and referees have been appointed to settle disputed questions between the contractor and superintendent. The referees appointed are A. B. Lemmon, M. G. Troup, and M. L. Robinson.
Winfield Courier, May 26, 1881.
Messrs. M. L. Read, S. C. Smith, Captain Lowry, and M. L. Robinson have purchased the grove west of town, known as Lowry’s Grove, and will improve and throw it open for the benefit of the public as a park.
Winfield Courier, June 9, 1881.
RIVERSIDE PARK.
Winfield, behind the large cities of the State in nothing, has taken a step ahead of them by the establishment of a pleasure ground for her citizens, to be known as Riverside Park. The park grounds include forty acres, situated but a quarter of a mile from the depot of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, and is easy of access from all parts of the State, from the fact of two lines of railroads running into the town. A splendid flagstaff has been planted in the middle of the park, from which will float the national colors, while a fine fountain of unique design is also to be erected. The river here affords splendid opportunities for boating, and a steam pleasure boat is to be put upon the waters soon, in addition to which will be several small boats, which will be let out to parties for a reasonable consideration. Rustic seats will be placed all around and through the park, which, with the beautiful, shaded and winding walks, fine lawns, the pleasures of the river, the luxuriant velvet grass upon the finest camping ground in the State, will render it the most favored spot in all the West. The citizens of Winfield have taken hold of the matter in earnest, and what they undertake they never fail to put through. A fine flag pavement is now being put down between the city and the park, while the highway between the two constitutes as fine a drive as can be found in the State.
The ground comprising the park was purchased a short time ago by Captain Lowry, Captain S. C. Smith, Messrs. M. L. Robinson, J. L. Horning, A. Spotswood, and M. L. Read, who give it to the city free, for the purpose of holding public gatherings of all kinds, Sunday and public school picnics, camp-meetings, and other pleasure and business assemblage. These gentlemen have shown a public spirit that is commendable, and deserve, as they have received, the thanks of the people of the city, for whom they have done so much.
Winfield Courier, June 16, 1881.
Dr. Davis, M. L. Robinson, and W. P. Hackney will start next week for New Mexico. They did not start this week as was first intended.
[VISIT TO WINFIELD: “CLIFF” - COMMONWEALTH REPORTER.]
Winfield Courier, June 30, 1881.
ARKANSAS CITY, June 15th, 1881.
On Tuesday I took a run up to Winfield to pass the afternoon, and succeeded in doing so to my entire satisfaction. Winfield is a nice place. It has broad streets, and trees, and sidewalks, and nice houses, and above all, a hospitable community of intelligent enterprising citizens. Just now, it being an off year in politics, the attention of the public is devoted to the improvement question, much the same as Topeka has been. Like Topeka, Winfield has “boomed” all the Spring, and business has been good and the citizens have felt like putting their money into those things which attract and hold the admiration of strangers and conducive to the happiness and health of the residents.
At the depot, I met Will. Garvey, formerly of Topeka, who said in the same breath that had inquired how long I was going to stay, “Do you see that park off there? Well, M. L. Robinson will take you over to see it in his buggy.” We went uptown, and, sure enough, in fifteen minutes I was seated in Mr. Robinson’s carriage, and ten minutes afterward was being shown all over one of the most beautiful parks in the State.
It lies a quarter of a mile west of the A., T. & S. F. depot, on the north bank of the Walnut River, and consists of forty acres of grand old trees, and aspiring younger ones not yet freed from the clinging vines which make shade and add a grotesque and charming appearance to them. The place is named Riverside Park, and is the property of M. L. Read, the banker, Mr. M. L. Robinson, his nephew, Mr. S. C. Smith, and Mr. Lowry. They have had a force of men in it cleaning out the underbrush, and locating and clearing drives all the spring, and have really succeeded admirably.
There is a long drive and a promenade along the waters’ edge, covered by the shadiest of trees, and allowing glimpses of charming scenery upon either bank of one of the most beautiful of Kansas streams. Other drives run at all angles in and about beautiful groves, affording a ride of more than ten miles within the enclosure. The trees are full of birds, which are protected and fostered. A speaker’s stand will be placed for the 4th of July, when the park will be used for celebration purposes. This stand will consist of a stone twenty feet square, placed upon pillars of masonry, and will be donated by the proprietors of the celebrated Cowley County stone quarry, Messrs. Holmes & Co. The river affords a fine boating course, and boats will be placed upon it at once. A steamboat is being secured, which will make excursions up and down the river. Riverside Park is certainly a great improvement. CLIFF.
Winfield Courier, August 4, 1881.
Mr. M. L. Robinson and family left on the Santa Fe train Monday for the west. They went first to Kansas City, and from there will start west, Mrs. Robinson and family for California, while M. L. will join J. S. Horning and Dr. Davis in a ramble over the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico.
Winfield Courier, August 25, 1881.
Mrs. M. L. Robinson and children are in southern California for the summer.
M. L. Robinson, Dr. Davis, and 76 Horning are bracing up the wilds of New and Old Mexico.
Winfield Courier, October 27, 1881.
Col. M. L. Robinson returned from California with his wife and boys last Monday. He is looking bright and healthy, and says he has had a grand time. We interviewed him, but he did not dwell on the glorious climate and productions of California. After mentioning that he saw our Kate and Ex Saint looking and felling well at Las Vegas, on his way home, he filled up his interview in an enthusiastic description of his twelve mines, his 640 acres of land just entered, and the great city of Robinson, which is being built thereon, right in the midst of the Black Range mining country in New Mexico.
When he was going out, he went to the Black Range country and secured his twelve mines, then to make his mines more accessible and valuable, he found in the forks of two beautiful mountain streams a beautiful and fertile mountain valley, right in the pass where everybody must travel from anywhere to everywhere else, where every railroad must cross, and laid a claim to 640 acres. He then formed a town company consisting of railroad and New Mexico capitalists and laid out the city of Robinson. He then entered his 640 acres of land, left his city and his mines in the hands of his colleagues, took steps to have two railroads surveyed to his city, and then went to California and made his visit. On his return he found six good buildings completed in Robinson and fifteen more under contract, and a great rush for building lots. It is already becoming the center of trade to a large and rich mining district, with mines all around from two to ten miles distant. The A. T. & S. F. Railroad Co. have surveyed a route from Socorro to Robinson and are about entering upon the work of construction. The N. M. Central and Southern have also projected a road that will reach this town in a few months. Verily with his town and his mines he must soon become a millionaire.
We have been seeing in the papers glowing notices of the new town of Robinson, and of the Black Range mines; but did not know that M. L. Robinson had anything to do with it. These notices confirm all the good things M. L. says about it and the mining prospects, and more too. The Socorro papers are voluminous about them and we intended to make some extracts, but we have already made this notice longer than we intended. We are going up there to jump his townsite.
Winfield Courier, October 27, 1881.
Wednesday at 12 o’clock, Mr. Fred C. Hunt and Miss Sarah Hodges were united in marriage at the residence of the bride’s father, in this city, Rev. Father Kelly officiating. The assemblage was one of the largest ever gathered to witness a marriage ceremony in this city. The bridal party left on the afternoon train for a short trip in the east.
Among the presents presented:
Silver cake stand, Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Robinson.
Silver butter dish with plates, W. C. and Ivan Robinson.
Silver and cut glass fruit dish, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Robinson.
Will Robinson couldn’t be present at the wedding, but sent his regrets; and hoped “if they must encounter troubles, they be little ones.”
Winfield Courier, November 17, 1881.
Jim Hill and Vinnie Beckett are erecting buildings and putting in dug-outs at Robinson, the new village in the Black Range. We hope Jim and Vinnie will make their fortunes right there.
Cowley County Courant, November 17, 1881.
A special to the Commonwealth from Socorro, New Mexico, contains the following: “Ex-Governor Tabor, of Colorado, has ordered a large smelter to be put in at Robinson City, near the foot of the Black Range. Two new saw mills have been put up. A new fifty room hotel will soon be completed, and two hundred new families have been added to our town within the past month. The real boom of the Black Range has commenced which insures a railroad to that country.”
Cowley County Courant, November 17, 1881.
Jim Hill and Vinnie Beckett, who used to be on the Courier, are at the new town of Robinson, in the Black Range, and are going to erect buildings at once. They think it the finest town site in the country. A two story hotel 30 x 70 will be erected at once.
Cowley County Courant, November 24, 1881.
Mrs. V. B. Gilchrist, from Tennessee, Ill., is visiting her mother, Mrs. S. A. Robinson, and brothers, M. L. and W. C., et al.
Winfield Courier, November 24, 1881.
The Commonwealth says that the new town of Robinson at the Black Range in New Mexico was named for Chief Engineer Robinson, of the A., T. & S. F. This is a mistake. Geo. O. Manchester named the town in honor of our M. L. Robinson, of Winfield, expressly stating that it was due him as the originator and chief promoter of the enterprise that the projected branch of the Santa Fe railroad to Robinson will be built. The following in relation thereto is clipped from the New Mexican.
“The engineers of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, under N. M. Wells, have reached the Rio Grande with a preliminary survey for the Black Range branch from this place. The line will cross the river at the head of the rapids or go down to the mouth of the Cuchilio Negro River and go up the bottoms to the Cuchilio Negro mountains. However, the location of the road will be made as the engineers return, and it is presumed there will be a continuous survey.”
Robinson, New Mexico.
Winfield Courier, November 24, 1881.
The new town of Robinson, New Mexico, is attaining a remarkable growth. Fifteen houses are now up and occupied, and dozens of others are contracted for and the prospective owners are impatient because material cannot be brought in fast enough. When it is remembered that the city is but six weeks old, and that as yet it has not got a post office, our eastern friends can get an idea of how a western town is built. The Socorro Miner lies before us containing a two-column article on Robinson and the mines surrounding it.
A careful perusal of this satisfies us that M. L. has “struck it rich,” and that his town is bound to be the Leadville of New Mexico. Miners and speculators are flocking in by the hundreds and three newspapers will be footing within a fortnight. We are proud of Robinson and of its success for it is a Winfield institution, as it were, and we always sigh for provocation to assert that Winfield can beat the whole Arkansas Valley put together when it comes to building towns and railroads and other enterprises that require brains, capital, and energy.
Winfield Courier, December 29, 1881.
The Ivanhoe Club will meet with Mrs. M. L. Robinson on next Tuesday evening.
The Winfield Courier, January 5, 1882.
A rumor was floating around town last Saturday that Jim Hill was shot and killed at Robinson. It proved to be a canard. One Charles Hill, a miner, was killed; but Jim is still in the land of the living and not likely to be taken off in that way.
Winfield Courier, January 12, 1882.
M. L. Robinson and Dr. G. Black left Tuesday afternoon for Robinson, New Mexico. Mrs. Robinson accompanied them as far as Newton, on her way to Kansas City. Mrs. Robinson will also visit Iowa before her return.
Winfield Courier, February 16, 1882.
Mrs. M. L. Robinson and her son, Frank, have returned. Frank has been attending business college at Burlington, Iowa. Their many friends welcome them home again.
Mrs. Dr. Black will go to New Mexico as soon as the new hotel is finished at Robinson. She intends taking charge of the hotel and making her home there.
Winfield Courier, February 16, 1882.
We have received a letter from Robinson, New Mexico, stating that the town is having a big boom. M. L. Robinson is erecting a two-story hotel and a new paper is soon to be started by V. B. Beckett and Jim Hill of this place. Robinson is in Socorro County, right among the mines.
Winfield Courier, February 23, 1882.
Vinnie Beckett, one of “Our Boys,” who is mining and selling goods at Robinson, New Mexico, came in Friday on his way east. He is purchasing a newspaper outfit, which he and Jim Hill will operate. Vinnie and Jim are in partnership in the mercantile and mining business at Robinson.
Winfield Courier, March 23, 1882.
Mrs. Dr. Black and her son, George, left Tuesday for Robinson, New Mexico, their future home. Dr. and Mrs. Black will take charge of the new hotel there.
Winfield Courier, March 23, 1882.
A Few Improvements.
One of Winfield’s crowning glories is her beautiful residences and snug, comfortable homes. Nothing is more indicative of permanency and prosperity than these and nothing shows more strongly the character of her people. This spring and summer many beautiful lawn improvements will be made, and Mr. Barclay has already on the road a car load of piping and several large fountains and windmills which will be put up in the yards of many of our best residences. Mr. Horning will put up a windmill, have water pipes laid over his grounds, and a beautiful fountain put up in the yard. M. L. Robinson intends putting in extensive improvements of the same sort, and many others will as soon as possible have appliances for watering their lawns and running fountains. Before many summers our city will be noted far and wide for its beautiful homes, as it now is for its sidewalks and brick blocks.
Winfield Courier, April 13, 1882.
M. L. Robinson returned from New Mexico last week. He brings favorable news from all our folks there. Vinnie Beckett and Jim Hill will soon have their newspaper going. Dr. and Mrs. Black opened out the “Black Range Hotel” with a grand dinner last Saturday. They are well pleased with the location and the prospects. M. L. is as enthusiastic as ever over the prospects of the town, and if his energy can’t make it win, it is useless for anyone else to try.
Winfield Courier, April 13, 1882.
At the meeting of county commissioners Monday, M. L. Robinson was appointed to represent the county in voting the stock of the county in the C. S. & F. S. Railroad at their next annual meeting.
Winfield Courier, April 20, 1882.
Ez. Nixon returned home from New Mexico last week. He came directly from Robinson and brings good news from our boys there. Ez. will probably remain at home during the summer.
Winfield Courier, April 27, 1882.
The Ivanhoe Club met Tuesday evening at M. L. Robinson’s residence. After the program M. L. threw open his elegant parlors and for two hours the young folks had a jolly round of dancing and promenades. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are perfect entertainers and always make their guests feel at home. The place for the next meeting has not been decided upon.
Winfield Courier, April 27, 1882.
M. L. Robinson received quite a compliment from the Santa Fe management by his election as a director of the Cowley, Sumner & Fort Smith road at the recent annual meeting in Topeka.
Winfield Courier, May 18, 1882.
On last Thursday evening Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Robinson entertained a large company of their young friends at their elegant residence, which they have been fitting up with new paper of a very beautiful and expensive pattern. Having the carpets up in the parlors, it was considered a good time to give a party and take the opportunity to indulge in a dance. The evening was just the one for a dancing party, for although “May was advancing,” it was very cool and pleasant, and several hours were spent in that exercise, after which an excellent repast consisting of ice cream, strawberries, and cakes was served, and although quite late the dancing continued some hours, and two o’clock had struck ere the last guest had lingeringly departed. No entertainments are more enjoyed by our young folks than those given by Mr. Robinson and his estimable wife. We append a list of those persons on this occasion: Misses Jackson, Roberts, Josie Bard, Jessie Meech, Florence Beeny, Jennie Hane, Kate Millington, Jessie Millington, Scothorn, Margie Wallis, Lizzie Wallis, Curry, Klingman, McCoy, Berkey; Mr. and Mrs. George Rhodes, Mr. and Mrs. Jo Harter, Mrs. And Dr. Emerson, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bahntge, Mr. and Mrs. George Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hunt; Messrs. W. A. Smith, C. C. Harris, Charles Fuller, Lou Zenor, James Lorton, Lovell Webb, Sam E. Davis, Eugene Wallis, C. H. Connell, Dr. Jones, Campbell, Ivan Robinson, W. C. Robinson.
Winfield Courier, June 1, 1882.
The party given on last Thursday evening by Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Bahntge was one of the most enjoyable ever given here, and was looked forward to with pleasant anticipation for some time previous, for it is a well known society fact that Mrs. Bahntge’s charming little house with its merry occupants insure a lively time to their fortunate guests, and last Thursday evening was no exception to the rule. The evening was spent in dancing and other amusements, while a refreshing repast was served at a seasonable hour which was fully appreciated, and at a late hour the company dispersed, with hearty thanks to their kind host and hostess for the very pleasant evening spent. We append a list of those present.
Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Robinson.
Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Read.
Mr. and Mrs. Spotswood.
Mr. and Mrs. Buckman.
Judge and Mrs. Soward.
Dr. and Mrs. Emerson.
Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe.
Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Hunt.
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Robinson.
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. M. Whitney, of Wichita.
Mrs. Carson, of Cherryvale.
Mrs. Hackney.
Misses Nettie McCoy, Jennie Hane, Ama Scothorn, Kate and Jessie Millington, Margie and Lizzie Wallis, Belle Roberts, Florence Beeny, Josie Bard, Sadie French, Hila Smith.
Messrs. W. C. and Ivan Robinson, L. D. Zenor, L. H. Webb, Henry Goldsmith, C. C. Harris, W. H. Smith, C. E. Fuller, Jas. Lorton, C. Campbell, C. H. Connell, S. E. Davis, R. M. Bowles, Eugene Wallis, and O. M. Seward.
Winfield Courier, June 22, 1882.
M. L. Robinson has his windmill in running shape and will now proceed to irrigate his grounds.
Winfield Courier, July 6, 1882.
Dr. and Mrs. Black and their son, George, returned from New Mexico Tuesday and will hereafter be content to make their home in Cowley. Apache Indians, mining camps, and kindred inconveniences are not relished as an every-day dose by many of our people.
Winfield Courier, July 6, 1882.
Mr. H. W. Hall and her daughter, Edith Hall, of Burlington, Iowa, are visiting Mrs.
M. L. Robinson, who is a sister of Mrs. Hall. Major H. W. Hall is Inspector of the P. O. D. Free Delivery system, and was business manager of the Hawkeye under Frank Hatton.
Winfield Courier, August 10, 1882.
Another Enterprise.
Some months ago Messrs. A. F. Morey, M. L. Read, and M. L. Robinson established a brick yard in the south part of town for the purpose of burning brick from the bank of fire clay mentioned before. The first kiln has just been finished and gives entire satisfaction. The company will now open out on a large scale and intend manufacturing three kinds of brick—the common red brick, a mixed fire-clay, and the pure fire-clay brick. The fire-clay brick is as white as paper and as durable as marble, being perfectly fire-proof. The company have contracts for a large amount of brick already. Mr. Morey is an old brick maker and is satisfied that their vein of fire clay is the finest and purest in the county. A first-class pottery will be the next addition to the company’s works.
Winfield Courier, August 17, 1882.
Mr. M. L. Robinson has spent a good many hundred dollars on his grounds this year. His grounds are completely irrigated by their own system of water works. These grounds are so extensive that they should be worked under the direction of a landscape gardener, and M. L. is the man to have it done.
Winfield Courier, August 31, 1882.
A number of the businessmen of the city convened at Doane & Kretsinger’s office Monday evening to consider the proposition of Messrs. Morse, Scott & Harris for building a glucose factory at Winfield.
On motion, Mayor M. G. Troup was called to the chair and J. W. Curns elected secretary.
Mr. M. L. Robinson being called upon stated that the object of the meeting was to consider the matter of building said factory and discussing the propriety of giving aid by subscription to the institution and taking stock in return.
Messrs. Harris and Kirby, representing the company, were present, and were called upon to state to the meeting their proposition and plans for carrying into effect the construction of said factory. Mr. Harris then submitted his proposition, in substance as follows.
That the citizens of Winfield raise the sum of $30,000 and they put in $50,000, and capitalize the institution so as to have a capital stock of $150,000. The factory to have a capacity of using 2,000 bushels of corn per day, and probable cost of the building and works would be from $60,000 to $75,000; that the institution would employ at least 5 skilled workmen at from $100 to $125 per month, and 45 laborers, and 2 of the officers of the company should be in Winfield. In return for the $30,000 put in by citizens they would get $50,000 in stock, and Messrs. Morse, Scott & Harris were to have $100,000 of stock.
Messrs. Harris and Kirby then retired for a few minutes to give the meeting time to discuss the proposition and arrive at some definite conclusion. After mature deliberation the following conclusion was unanimously adopted.
It is the sense of this meeting that we, the citizens of Winfield, will undertake to raise the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars toward the erection of glucose works at Winfield, Kansas; Messrs. Morse, Scott & Harris shall furnish fifty thousand dollars and an expert under contact for five years to manage the manufactories of the institution out of this $75,000. The said Morse, Scott & Harris shall purchase the grounds suitable for said manufactory, and erect same according to specifications, fully equipped for business, with capacity of consuming two thousand bushels of corn per day of twenty-four hours, and converting same into syrup and sugar; said grounds, buildings, and equipments when completed shall ordinarily be considered of the value of $65,000, and furnish out of this amount $10,000 temporary working capital; said property shall be capitalized in the sum of $150,000, non-assessable stock.
The Citizens of Winfield to be entitled to Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) of the said stock and said Harris, Morse & Scott to have One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) of stock. The Citizens of Winfield to be entitled to 3 directors and the other parties 4 directors and the Citizens of Winfield to have the secretary, treasurer, and vice-president of the organization.
After Messrs. Harris & Kerby returned, the above proposition was read to them and after considerable discussion they accepted the proposition. On motion a committee of five consisting of M. L. Robinson, J. B. Lynn, J. C. McMullen, A. T. Spotswood, and J. P. Short was appointed for the purpose of raising the ($25,000) and putting the matter in shape.
On motion G. S. Manser, M. G. Troup, and D. L. Kretsinger were appointed a committee to draw up articles of incorporation and file with Secretary of State and procure a charter and M. G. Troup, J. P. Short, J. W. McDonald, and J. W. Curns were appointed a committee to make contract for the carrying into effect the proposition. On motion adjourned.
M. G. TROUP, President.
J. W. CURNS, Secretary.
Winfield Courier, August 31, 1882.
GLUCOSE WORKS.
The Largest Glucose Manufactory in the West to be Located at Winfield.
Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars to be Expended at Once in its Erection.
Winfield “Takes the Cake.”
A meeting was held on Monday evening at A. H. Doane & Co.’s office for the purpose of considering a proposition for erecting a glucose factory in this city. About thirty of our leading businessmen were present. M. G. Troup was made chairman and J. W. Curns Secretary. M. L. Robinson stated the object of the meeting, setting forth clearly and concisely the advantages to be derived from the establishment.
Mr. Harris, representing eastern capitalists, was present, and made a proposition. Another proposition was made by citizens, to organize a joint stock corporation and erect a building and works to cost $75,000, of which $25,000 should be furnished by citizens and $50,000 by the eastern capitalists; the building to be 175 by 225 feet, four stories high, with a capacity for using 2,000 bushels of corn per day; and to be called the Winfield Syrup and Sugar Refinery. The proposition was accepted.
Committees were appointed as follows.
On soliciting subscription to the capital stock: M. L. Robinson, J. C. McMullen, A. T. Spotswood, J. B. Lynn, J. P. Short.
On incorporation: G. S. Manser, M. G. Troup, D. L. Kretsinger.
On contract: M. G. Troup, J. P. Short, J. Wade McDonald, J. W. Curns.
We regard the success of this enterprise as of the most vital importance to the interests of this city and county. We believe in home manufactures, which will make a market for home productions. A factory in this county which would make a market for 2,000 bushels of corn a day, 700,000 bushels a year, would be of immense value to the farming community. Besides it would furnish employment for a large number of workmen and operatives and add very largely to the general prosperity and wealth. At the same time, the stock would doubtless be a splendid investment for capital, paying large dividends.
We hope our enterprising citizens will come forward with their subscriptions at once, and have the building under process of erection as soon as possible.
Winfield Courier, August 31, 1882.
When completed the Glucose Works will furnish a cash market for all the surplus corn raised in the county. Not a bushel of it will have to be shipped out of the county except in the way of syrup. It will, in reality, make a Kansas City market at home for our corn.
The Glucose Works will be one of the largest buildings in the state. It will have a frontage but little less than one of our blocks and will cover just half a square, being a story higher than the Brettun House.
Wichita will feel sore over the loss of her Glucose Works. We would like to sympathize with her if we didn’t have a finger in the pie ourselves. It’s unfortunate for Wichita that it is located so near Winfield.
[Note: Glucose Works did not come into being.]
Winfield Courier, September 21, 1882.
Mr. M. L. Robinson has purchased a new phaeton, built a new iron fence around his residence, treated his family steed to a new set of harness, and shows reckless extravagance in the recent purchase of a new black necktie. We always supposed M. L. would try to live within his income.
Winfield Courier, September 28, 1882.
Messrs. M. L. Robinson and John W. Curns started yesterday on an excursion to Chihuahua, Mexico, and will visit various points in New Mexico and Colorado. Mr. Curns will write to the COURIER any items of interest he may pick up.
Winfield Courier, October 26, 1882.
The firm of Horning, Robinson & Co., has been dissolved, Mr. Ivan Robinson retiring. The firm will hereafter be Horning & Whitney.
[Ivan Robinson was a brother of M. L. Robinson. MAW]
Winfield Courier, November 2, 1882.
M. L. Robinson and John Curns returned from their western travels last week.
Winfield Courier, November 23, 1882.
M. L. Robinson is making some changes and improvements in his residence.
Winfield Courier, November 30, 1882.
The regular meeting of the Ivanhoe Literary will be held at the residence of Mr. M. L. Robinson Tuesday evening, Dec. 5. A full attendance is desired. The following members will resume the reading of “Kathrina,” five pages each, in the order named: Miss Crippen, Miss Klingman, Miss Hane, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Berry, Mr. Webb. Miscellaneous selections, Mr. Smith and Miss Beeny. FLORENCE A. BEENY, Rec. Sec.
Winfield Courier, December 21, 1882.
CITY WATER WORKS.
An ordinance is before the City Council to charter a city water works company and is being pressed for immediate action. The subject is one of great importance, too great to be hurried through. We have not seen the proposed ordinance, but are informed that it contains two very objectionable features. One is that it binds the city to pay the company $3,000 a year perpetually. The other is, that it grants exclusive privileges to lay pipes in all parts of the city. If such features exist, they must be modified or the city will be placed under the heel of a monopoly. We give Frank Barclay and the promoters of the scheme the largest credit for working up a water-work plan intending to yield very important benefits to the city, but we know from the experience of other cities that the cure will be much worse than the disease, that we shall find ourselves in a fatal trap if this thing is hurried through without being first laid before the people to be considered, discussed, and scrutinized, with plenty of time to determine whether the measure can be improved so that its probable benefits will equal the cost to the people and at the same time leave the city free to do better when it can.
It is thought that the works proposed would certainly not cost more than $25,000, but if it should really cost $50,000 and the city should issue $50,000 in 6 percent bonds and then own the works, the yearly interest would be only $3,000 and this is not necessarily perpetual.
Besides if the citizens pay $2,000 per year for water rents with the probable increase up to $6,000, they would pay the cost of running a part of the interest and, in a reasonable time, extinguish the bonds. Thus in a few years the city would own the works clear of debt, with no perpetual $3,000 a year rents to pay. Look into this thing before you jump in the dark. There are precipices around here.
Winfield Courier, December 21, 1882.
Water Works.
Mr. Frank Barclay is circulating a petition to the Council to grant him the right of way to lay water mains through the streets and alleys of the city. He proposes, if this right of way is granted, to go immediately to work and put in a complete system of Water Works for the city at a cost of not less than fifty thousand dollars. He asks this right of way, and a company stands ready to put the works in at once. Mr. Barclay has purchased the mound east of town, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, where he will locate the reservoir. The water will be pumped from the river into this basin and conducted by mains throughout the whole city. The height of the mound will give the hydrants on Main Street a throwing capacity of sixty-nine feet, which will make a magnificent power for fire protection. The water will be furnished private residences at a cost of not exceeding six dollars per year. We regard this as one of the most important enterprises for the welfare and prosperity of our city ever inaugurated. The fire protection alone will be worth thousands of dollars. As it is now, we are liable at any moment to be swept out of existence, without being able to raise a hand to stay the devouring element. With the pressure Mr. Barclay claims, an ordinary fire could be drowned out in fifteen minutes. Aside from this the works will be of priceless benefit to us for household purposes, for irrigating gardens, grounds, and public enclosures, and make Winfield as attractive as any city in the country.
Winfield Courier, December 28, 1882.
THE WATER-WORKS.
Address of the Senior Editor of This Paper to the City Council Tuesday Evening, December 26th, 1882.
“On Monday of last week, Frank Barclay asked me to sign a petition, asking the city council to pass an ordinance granting him the right of way to lay water mains in the streets and alleys, with a view of establishing a system of water-works. I certainly wanted to give anyone a chance to put in water-works if he would, and signed his petition.
“The next day I was informed that Monday evening an ordinance had been presented to the council granting him and associates an exclusive right of way and giving him $3,000 a year bonus for twenty-one years; that it had been pressed vigorously for passage that very evening, and that some of the councilmen had insisted on more time for examination and had caused the council to adjourn to the next Friday evening to consider it further.
“The features of $3,000 a year and exclusive right, as reported to me, struck me as fatal objections; and the haste to pass it as a suspicious circumstance.
“As the COURIER was to go to press before I could examine the ordinance, I sounded a note of caution, or rather of alarm, in the COURIER, and called for delay and time to investigate and consider. I then obtained the ordinance and read it carefully. I did not find therein that the ninety-nine year franchise given by it was exclusive in terms or necessarily so in any sense, except as a construction of law; but I did find the provision that the city should rent forty hydrants at $3,000 a year and an additional and practically unlimited number of hydrants at $75 a year, each for a term of twenty-one years, with practically no provision by which it could be possible for the city to buy the works and terminate the said rentals until the end of twenty-five years, if ever, as it seemed to me. Yet I felt that I had not had time to fully understand it.
“On Friday evening the council met, but the ordinance was not to be found. It was traced into the hands of Judge McDonald, where it was placed by my associate, and what the judge did with it was not known. The council adjourned to the next Tuesday evening. On Saturday morning it was given out that the ordinance had been found and the mayor called a special session of the council for that evening to consider and pass it.
“This haste and the fact that it had been falsely charged that the ordinance was found in the COURIER office, the source from whence opposition was expected, tended more strongly to confirm the idea that the ordinance would not bear investigation.
“I was present at the Saturday evening meeting to continue to study the ordinance, and if possible, to get to the bottom of it. I think I succeeded to some extent. As the council adjourned before coming to a vote on its final passage I did not obtrude my views on your attention. Since then I have investigated all I could in the limited time, but should need a month to correspond with persons in such business as contractors, and with others, to get a complete understanding of the matter. I have gone far enough however to be positive that this is not the best proposition for water-works we can get, and that if it is, we can far better afford to do without them. So now that this matter is still crowded upon you, demanding immediate action, before you can possibly have found out what others would do the work for, or how enormous a burden this will put upon us, I must now say what I have to say, though none of us can yet fully understand the matter, or it may be forever too late.
“I do not underrate the great advantages to this city and its citizens, of a well organized system of water-works; but we must remember that it is possible to make it cost in taxes and water rents so much that it would be a grinding curse rather than a blessing. We must remember that we know too little about this business, to jump into the only proposition before us at this time, without taking ample time to find out whether it is the best we can do, and if it is, whether we can afford to accept it.
“The total city assessment this year is $520,000 in round figures. It is a rule of taxation that you must count off one-fifth for losses and delinquencies in the collection of taxes. One-fifth off from $520,000 leaves $415,000. A seven mill tax on this sum produces only $2,905. So it will take more than a seven mill tax to raise $3,000, the very lowest sum which the ordinance proposes to raise by taxation.
“This sum, $3,000, is the interest on $50,000 at 6 percent; therefore, the binding of the city to pay $3,000 a year for a long series of years is nearly equivalent to issuing $50,000 of six percent city bonds running the same time. Under the ordinance, every time 600 feet of main is laid, after the first five miles and 40 hydrants, another hydrant will be added and $75.00 per year added to the city tax, which is nearly equivalent to bonding the city $1,250 every additional 600 feet of main.
“Now if you will look over the city carefully, and look over the plat which accompanies this ordinance and shows where the first five miles of main are to be laid, you will find that there are more than 24,000 feet of streets, not touched by the first five miles of main, where the owners of buildings, six within 600 feet, can demand and require under the ordinance and in equity that mains be laid at once, within the first year; and this would require the city to pay a yearly rent on 40 additional hydrants at $75.00 each, as well as requiring the company to lay 4-1/2 miles of additional main. It would be outrageously unjust to tax these men heavily to pay the city water rents and then compel them to lay pipes at their own expense to a main—one or several blocks away—or be excluded from the use of the water. This would probably double the city tax the first year, raising it to $6,000 a year, or 14 mills, and would be together nearly equivalent to issuing $100,000 of six percent city bonds. If anyone will take the time and trouble to examine the matter, he will find that this statement as to the streets, is substantially correct.
“Thus we see that this rather big looking ordinance is a much bigger thing than it looks at first view. Though we might pass by this item of a 14 mill tax to pay $6,000 a year for 21 years, as no killing affair, the taxpayers would soon find out that it was a cursing affair if not a killing affair.
“We have not yet gathered sufficient information to determine more than approximately what such works as the ordinance proposes would cost should the city wish to let the contract to the lowest responsible bidder.
“Two or three years ago, Russell & Alexander estimated the cost and proposed to put in a system of works for $16,500, but after they had been manipulated some time in the city they raised their estimates to over $20,000. I think the works they proposed were not more than three-fourths as expensive as the works proposed in this ordinance. They proposed to take city bonds in payment. After a considerable talk and figuring, their offer was rejected; and they requested as a particular favor that whenever the city should be ready to go ahead with a water-works system, they should be notified, and would bid against anybody who might propose. I suppose their proposition on this plan could be had in a reasonably short time and that they would put in this works for about $25,000 or $26,000 in city 6 percent bonds.
“One Perkins has been figuring on this matter and may have made a proposition. He evidently wants a chance to make one if he has not done so, but I have not had time to look this matter up. I do not doubt that there are many other persons and firms who would like to bid if they had a chance.
“From estimates which I have got from Frank Barclay and others, and from my own knowledge of figures, I conclude that the entire cost of work proposed by the ordinance, including engine, pumps, engine house, reservoir, 40 hydrants, and over five miles of main, all complete and in working order, would be perhaps over $25,000, but certainly less than $30,000; and that with an additional five miles of main and forty additional hydrants, the whole cost would certainly be less than $40,000.
“If the city can afford to pay $3,000 to $6,000 a year for 21 years as water rents, she can certainly afford to issue $30,000 to $40,000 of six percent bonds to own such water-works and save those rentals.
“Let us figure on ten miles of main and 80 hydrants. Under the ordinance this would compel the city to pay $6,000 a year for 21 years, or $126,000; and then it must pay some $40,000 for the works and what the franchise should be worth, or not own the works. The issue of $40,000 in 6 percent city bonds would require the city to pay the yearly interest, $2,400, which would in 21 years amount to $50,400, and also the $40,000 principal to extinguish the bonds. The difference in the two plans is that the ordinance plan costs the city $75,000 more than the bond plan in addition to whatever the city should have to pay for the franchise on the ordinance plan. By the ordinance plan, the city gets no income and pays no expenses except the $6,000 a year. By the bond plan, the city gets the water rents collected of individuals and citizens and pays the expenses and repairs.
“Frank Barclay estimates, that with five miles of main, the water rents would start in at $2,000 a year and increase annually. He made that estimate to show us that the water rents to citizens would pay so little that it would be necessary to make the city pay $3,000 a year. I estimate that with ten miles of main, double that on which he estimated, the water rents would be $4,000 a year and increase to $5,000. It is probable, or at least possible, that the running expenses and repairs would not exceed $1,600 a year; at least it is reasonably certain that they would not exceed the excess of the water rents above $2,400. In that case these rents would pay the expenses, repairs, and interest on the bonds, and the city would have absolutely nothing to raise by taxation for the first 21 years, or even after, until she paid the principle of the bonds, after which she would have a net income of $2,400 for general revenue from the rents.
“If the city should get the boom which it is predicted the water-works would give it, the water rents would probably increase enough to sink the bonds in the 21 years and give the city the “franchise, works, and chosen in action,” and all without it having ever cost her a cent, or a mill of taxation; while in the same time the ordinance plan would have cost the city $126,000, all of which would have gone down into the pockets of Frank Barclay, his associates and assigns, and the city would not own a franchise, a work, or a chose in action. “There is a wonderful difference in the two ways of getting water-works. There is no wonder that every man wants to be one of the associates or assigns if this ordinance is to pass.
“One thing is in its favor. Frank Barclay and all his associates, we believe, are Winfield men and taxpayers.
“If this city has such a tremendous franchise to give away, it should be given to the taxpayers of this city that they might put into one pocket what they take out of the other. It is especially important that the owners of buildings, of real estate, should all be in on the ground floor and have a chance to recover from the crushing drain upon them. It would be particularly rough on those who pay taxes on personal property only, but they have a chance to escape. They can get out of here with their property, but the real estate has got to stay and pay taxes. Every real estate owner in the city should be an “associate” of Frank Barclay with an interest in proportion to the amount of taxes he has to pay on his real estate.
“All we know of John Worthington is that he is not a real estate owner in Winfield, and that is against him. I do not believe he will ever be an associate or assign of Frank Barclay in this matter. He probably would like to take the contract to put in the works for somewhere from $25,000 to $40,000 and would probably be willing to take his pay in the bonds of Frank Barclay and associates if secured by such gilt edged security as a mortgage on such a franchise and works would be. It would be about as good security as city bonds. There are probably other men and firms in the water-works business who would be glad to do the work and take such bonds in payment.
“Much stress is laid on the alleged reduction in insurance rates on goods and other property which would be caused by the erection of water-works.
“As the effect would be the same whether the works were built and owned by the City or by Frank Barclay & Co., the insurance question cuts a small figure in this case; but we are informed by insurance agents that there would be very little reduction of rates in any case, and absolutely none unless the city should organize a paid and efficient fire department. The water-works is the engine, but the engine is useless in extinguishing fires without the accessories of a trained organization ready to use it at all times night and day; and it needs all the aids of hose, hose reels, hook and ladder company, etc., that any other fire department does. It must be remembered that all this costs money and taxation, so that what the owners of goods may reduce from their insurance fees they must pay in additional taxes.
“We are told that $3,000 or even $6,000 a year is a consideration not to be compared with the dangers of losses from fires. Here we take issue. It is doubtful if all the losses from fires in excess of the insurance, in all the past history of Winfield, would amount to $3,000, much less to $3,000 a year. In calculating the chances of such losses, to put them as high as $1,000 per year in our present condition, would be extravagant. Of course, it is possible that a loss of many thousands should occur in any one year; so it is possible that a cyclone may destroy nearly every house in the city, but these chances are so remote that they do not affect our calculations or probabilities to any great extent and should not.
“However, we are not arguing against water-works, but against this peculiar mode of getting them.
“I have saved to the last, the worst feature of this ordinance, which I would now present to your attention.
“If you pass this ordinance, you give away to Frank Barclay and associates a certain something called the franchise. Whether this something is worth little or much, the city gets nothing for it, and if it is to be worth any certain sum of money in ten years, it is really worth that sum now. If at the end of ten years, you conclude that the city can no longer stand the tremendous burden of taxation which this ordinance imposes, and want to buy the works and end the taxation; you have not only to buy at an appraised valuation the works which have cost money, and the choses in action which have been earned, but you must buy back this franchise at an appraised valuation, which you now donate to the company.
“Should Frank Barclay and associates now, on receiving the franchise, mortgage it and the future works and choses in action for $25,000, $30,000, or $40,000, and issue 6 percent bonds thus secured for such amount; by the sale or hypothecation of these bonds, they could raise on them the money to build the works as fast as it was needed, or could contract for the works payable in these bonds, and Frank Barclay and associates, without advancing a cent of money from their pockets, would own the ‘franchise works and choses in action.’ Now if their receipts from water rents and from the city should be only sufficient to pay the interest on these bonds and the running expenses and repairs, the franchise would prove of little value and might be appraised at one dollar. If such a condition was probable, neither Frank Barclay nor his associates or assigns would do a thing towards the construction of the works, and you have no means to compel them, no means to collect damages of them for breach of contract, nothing but to wait and see if they will perform. But if the yearly three to six thousand dollars from the city, and two to five thousand from the citizens from water rents are sufficient to pay this interest, expenses, and repairs, and leave an annual surplus of $3,000, the franchise is worth $50,000, for that sum at six percent will produce only $3,000 per year. If this annual surplus should amount to $6,000 ten years from now, it would prove the franchise to be worth $100,000, for the $6,000 net profit would simply represent the interest on the franchise.
“Now, as I have already shown, it is highly probable that this surplus will reach $6,000 long before the first ten years expire. With interest $2,400, expenses and repairs $1,600, and surplus $6,000, it makes only $9,000 a year to be raised from both the city and the citizens together, and we have shown that it is highly probable that the city will pay $6,000 and the citizens $5,000, making $11,000 a year, or $2,000 a year more than is necessary to make the franchise worth $100,000.
“Then at the end of ten years when the city can purchase, the appraisement will read about like this: Franchise $100,000, Works $40,000, Choses in action $5,000: total $145,000—all of which the city must pay in twenty years in yearly installments with legal interest. Probably $5,000 of this would be the floating debt of the company, $40,000 the company’s bonds, and $100,000 in our city bonds. The legal interest is 7 percent, and the average of the time to run is ten years. The interest on $145,000 at 7 percent, for ten years, is $101,500, which added to the principal will raise the amount which the city must pay in twenty years to $246,500, which is $12,325 each year for twenty years; and the city, after taxing its citizens from $3,000 to $6,000 a year for ten years must raise the yearly tax up to $12,325 per year for twenty years longer or she cannot buy the works; and most of this is to buy back the franchise which it has donated.
“I tell you this is a big thing when you look down to the bottom of it. It binds the city hand and foot and loads it down into the mire; and every struggle it makes for relief will crush it in deeper and deeper.
“Even if it could be made to appear that this surplus would not be over $3,000 a year and the franchise not worth over $50,000; with the works $40,000 and choses $5,000; the appraisal would amount to $95,000 in all, which with 7 percent interest thereon for an average of ten years—$66,500—amounts to $161,500, and must be paid in twenty years or at the rate of $8,075 per year, and you are really no better off. The sum is so large as to make it impossible for the city to buy the works.
“There is much that might be said against the ordinance on minor details, but the great points I have elaborated sink all minor matters and make its passage too dangerous to contemplate.
“You are making a record in this matter. That record will be a sad one if you make a mistake of such fearful import.
“I would recommend that you appoint a committee consisting of yourselves and citizen taxpayers other than Frank Barclay and his associates, to investigate this matter for the next thirty days, correspond with men in the water-works business and others, get estimates, plans, offers, terms, and information, and report by ordinance or otherwise at a meeting of the council not less than thirty days hence, and then postpone this matter to that time.
“If you are determined on final action on this ordinance now:
“First, amend it so that it shall plainly state in words that neither this ordinance nor the contract therein shall exclude the city from granting like privileges to other parties or from making like contracts with others.
“Second, amend it so that the city shall not pay more than $1,600 per year for the rentals of the first 40 hydrants, nor more than $20 each per year for the next 20 hydrants, nor more than $10 per year for each subsequent additional hydrant. This will probably keep the city taxes, for this purpose, down to $2,400 per year.
“Third, amend it so that when the city may buy the works it shall not pay a cent for the franchise. Make it clear and certain that the franchise shall then return to the city as freely as it was given.
“Fourth, limit the interest that the city may have to pay to six percent.
“Fifth, require Frank Barclay and associates, or whoever takes this contract, to give sufficient bond and surety that they will build the works and carry out the terms of this contract.
“Give Frank Barclay and associates the first chance at it; but if they refuse or neglect to accept the terms and file the bond in a reasonable time, offer it to others on the same terms and if after thirty days with notice as far as practicable, it finds no takers, it will be early enough to offer better terms, should you then conclude that the city could afford them.”
[NOTE. In reading to the council, the introduction and minor points were omitted because of the lateness of the hour.]
The council then adjourned without taking the vote on the final passage of the ordinance.
Winfield Courier, January 4, 1883.
MORE ABOUT WATER-WORKS.
The Only Way to Break the Force of our Figures is Somewhat Personal.
The article in the Telegram of last week on the water-works question, would, we are sure, never have appeared in that paper had its editor been at home. He is, in our opinion, too good a writer and too decent a gentleman, to have written or published such an article; besides, he left the state two days before our article, which it attempts to answer, was written or made public, and had not returned several days after that issue.
Some sneak whom we will not flatter so much as to call him a “coward, scoundrel, liar, and horse thief,” in the language of the immortal Greeley, took advantage of the editor’s absence to befoul his paper. One who hides his identity to make a personal attack is so mean that it is impossible to libel him.
He starts off with the statements that Barclay is backed by the Worthington Water Power Company; that this company is financially able, has a wide reputation, and has built and operated more water-works than any other company. There has not yet appeared the slightest evidence of any of these things.
He then says that the ordinance before the council is framed in accordance with a proposition from Worthington, which compels Barclay’s company to purchase twelve acres of ground on the mound; compels them to purchase three acres of Shenneman by the river; and compels them to lay ten inch pipe from the river to the mound. These statements are false. We find no such provisions in the ordinance.
Our figures of last week were so completely invulnerable and unanswerable that the only thing he could do to break their force, is the following, which we clip entire from that Telegram article to give our readers the whole argument against our petition.
“We do not wish to tire the patience of our readers with a tirade of senseless trash like that advanced by the senior sage of the COURIER at the last session of the council, and which may be seen in this week’s issue of that old fogyish and antediluvian production. Our people are too well acquainted with Father Millington’s rule of figures, and can see at a glance that the same rule was applied when he, in his owl-like wisdom, sought to tell our people how to sell railroad stock and buy up our railroad bonds. His ‘lesson in figures’ cost the taxpayers of Cowley County the locking up of over $7,000 in the county treasury and paying 7 percent interest thereon. It is there, waiting our railroad bonds to rush in and be reduced (?). He has made use of the same old slate on which he figured St. John’s majority. The fact of the matter is the old man is in his dotage and he won’t progress worth a cent. Every citizen knows him to be an unmitigated, uncompromising old crank, opposing every proposition that has ever come up for the advancement of our city and county, and well our people know that had it not been for the push and enterprise forcing the old man to the wall every time, he would today be publishing a little old musty 8 x 10 sheet in some slab-boarded shanty on one of the by-streets or alleys of our city.”
The person to whom “everybody” attributes that article, declares to us by all that is good and great, that he did not write or instigate it in any way. We take his word for it, but as we know that he was busy on the street for three days before it was published, disseminating the ideas in about the same language, and has since repeated similar language in the city council, it is impossible for us to properly reply without apparent personality to him, but we will avoid it as much as is possible without weakening our argument.
We have some reason to think that we are as big a fool as he represents, for we have in the past ten years spent of our time and money, ten dollars to his one, in working up and carrying out schemes for the general benefit of this county and city and in all this work, expense, travel, time, and writing to promote several railroad and other schemes and to head off jobs; we have never received or hoped to receive, one cents worth of slush, or reward in any way which was not shared alike by the general taxpayers and people of the community, and the result is that we are in about the same financial condition as we were when we came here and, as would appear from the above, we have failed to secure enough respect to shield us from a gross personal attack; while he, who has never in all these years touched a thing without the expectation that there was money in it which would stick to his hands, who has squeezed greenbacks and coin out of everything he has taken hold of until the sum he brought here, similar in amount to ours, has been multiplied by twenty and though he is not a millionaire, he is traveling rapidly in that direction.
He at least, is not a fool. While he slurs our figures on taxes and interest to be taken out of the city, he double discounts us on figuring interest, as all his borrowing debtors can testify.
He slurs us about the sale of the east and west railroad stock and the purchase of the county bonds. We are loaded on this question, but as it cuts no figure in this water-works business, we will hold our fire, and content ourself now with a mere retort.
Coler & Co., a firm of sharp New York brokers, put up a job to buy Cowley County’s stock for three to five thousand dollars less than it was worth, and to sell the county bonds for three to five thousand more than they were worth. We opposed it and “got beautifully left.” He supported it and having money, influence, power, and oily persuasion, he beat us out of sight and had things about as he wanted them. The result, whatever it is, is chargeable to him, and not to us in any sense. If Coler & Co.’s most powerful aid, succeeded in buying from Coler & Co., for the county $35,000 of bonds at $1.02-1/2, which were not worth in the market over 94 cents; and succeeded in bulling the market so that other holders of similar bonds would not sell for less than $1.02-1/2, it is his fault and not ours.
He supported the proposition to vote $180,000 bonds to the Santa Fe road. We with three others opposed it so strongly that we got the limit cut down to $140,000. He put in his oar, and got it raised to $144,000. Believing then that this was necessary to get the road, we supported it and did much more to secure the road than he did. He got pay for his work to that end. We didn’t. Since then we have been convinced that we yielded too much to him and that the county could have got the road if its citizens had insisted on a limit of $100,000.
We mention this, not because it cuts a figure in the water-works question, but to show that we have not been “fogyish” and “uncompromising” whatever these terms above applied to us may mean, and that we have opposed jobs when he supported them.
Now comes the biggest and most dangerous job of all; and as heretofore, we oppose and he supports.
Besides his wealth, power, and influence, he is gifted with unflagging energy, wonderful tart, and persuasive eloquence in conversation. He can convince the average man that black is white. It is little wonder that he succeeds in most which he undertakes. If we should assert that six times six equal thirty-six, and should support the assertion by the most unassailable demonstration that figures are capable of; he could go upon the street and in half a day convince his satellites and a host of others that though our figures might look plausible on their face, they were cranky, that the product of six by six is no definite sum; probably not more than fifteen, but certainly not more than eighteen.
He says our opposition to this water-works scheme is simply personal or a bank fight. We are sorry to say that we have too little in any bank to afford to fight for it. On the contrary, it is greatly to our personal interest to be on good terms with our neighbors and patrons, particularly with one so strong financially, politically, and popular socially, so agreeable as a companion, so polite and gentlemanly, that when he figures you out of your money, you thank him for taking it. So we have carefully avoided saying in this article anything that should be personally offensive to him, aiming only to break the force of his objection to our figures so personal to us.
But we are the publisher of a newspaper; a kind of watchman on the walls; and how could we answer to our conscience, to our citizens, and to posterity; if seeing an octopus approaching to fasten itself upon our city, we failed to warn our citizens of the danger which besets them?
Winfield Courier, January 4, 1883.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
A New Water-Works Proposition.
At the session of the City Council, on Monday evening, a new water-works proposition and ordinance was presented by Ed. P. Greer. Before expressing our views on that document, we wish to state that we are not entitled to the least credit in connection with that proposition. Without our assistance or instigation in any way, Ed. Worked up his material, took it to Leavenworth, consulted with one of the best hydraulic engineers in the country, who knows as much about the business as Frank Barclay, consulted with the men who are putting in a $250,000 water-works in that city, found out what they would do and what he could do, got all the points and essential differences between his ordinance and Barclay’s in good shape and better expressed, came home, and with such assistance as he got from bright young lawyers here, perfected his ordinance without any of our assistance and advice.
It is, in our judgment, a better expressed document than the Barclay paper, except that certain sections relating to the plan of the works, the location of the mains on the streets, and the water rates, were copied from the Barclay ordinance.
So far as the works and the backing is concerned, there appears to be no difference. Neither Barclay nor Greer has the means of his own to build the works. Barclay says one Worthington, unknown here, will furnish the money, or build the works, on the security of his ordinance, if passed. Greer says he has similar assurance on the basis of his ordinance, from men as well known here. There is no doubt that either would get a plenty of money-backing. Either would be magnificent security for the investment.
The only points to determine are:
First, is either of the two propositions the best the city can get? If yea, then can the city afford to secure water-works at the expense in taxation which either of them would fasten on the city for at least twenty years? If yea, again, then which would burden the taxpayers of the city the least? On this point there can be no controversy. Barclay’s plan requires that the city shall pay a rental of $75 per year for 21, or perhaps 99 years, on every hydrant which the city council may require, in addition to the 40 hydrants at $75 yearly rent each, in the original plant. The city would have to pay $1,500 in rents for each and every hydrant which should run 20 years. Greer’s plan provides that the city may put in as many hydrants as it pleases, in addition to the 40 on the first plant, and one on each additional 600 feet of main at actual cost of putting in and keeping in repair, which could not certainly exceed $75 each for the whole 20 years, a saving to the city of at least $1,425 on each such hydrant.
Now we showed so conclusively last week that no one has attempted to point out an error in our calculations, that Barclay’s ordinance would compel the city to raise by taxation $6,000 a year after the first year, or two at most, to pay rents on eighty hydrants.
By Greer’s ordinance, probably thirty of such hydrants would not tax the city for rents. These, at $1,425 saving each, would save to the city the very large sum of $42,750 in twenty years, and would reduce the taxation for rents $2,137.50 per year, making the probable limit of taxation $3,862.50; instead of $6,000.00, as by the Barclay plan. This is a startling difference, and worth looking into.
But if such were not the fact; if it did not reduce the taxation at all, the right it would give the city to have more than one hydrant to six hundred feet of pipe, without the $75 yearly tax each, would be an additional benefit to the city which is inestimable.
Competent engineers tell us that a force which would throw water sixty feet high, directly from the main, would not throw water ten feet high through three hundred feet of hose, and that the shorter the hose the higher it would throw. It is then of the greatest importance as a fire protection that the hydrants be near together, and that they be much oftener than six hundred feet apart along the mains. The right to put in two to every block along Main street, and one to every block where pipes are laid on other streets, might double the value of the works for fire purposes, yet not cost the city over $75 in all for each extra hydrant, instead of $1,500 each, as under the Barclay ordinance.
The Greer franchise expires in 21 years, but the Barclay franchise lives 99 years, and this is a very essential and important difference in favor of Greer’s plan.
Under the Barclay ordinance, the city could never buy the works, for as we showed last week it would cost the city a taxation of $8,000 to $12,000 a year for twenty years to do it and that would be impossible. Under the Greer ordinance, the city can buy the works at value at the end of 21 years without paying $100,000 or $50,000, or a cent for the franchise.
With these important differences in favor of the Greer ordinance, there is not a single point in it which is less favorable to the city than the Barclay ordinance.
Now we are not in favor of passing even this. Though we consider that it would tax the city at least 25 percent less than Barclay, it will yet tax us largely too much. Barclay’s may tax us 14 mills a year; Greer’s may tax us 9 mills. We are in favor of no ordinance that can possibly tax us more than 6 or 7 mills, and that is largely too much. In Leavenworth the tax for water purposes is limited to two mills a year. Here it should be limited to five mills at most.
Probably before the first meeting of the council in February, there will be other propositions and perhaps much better, but not touching the real issue. The bulldozing style of argument has no terrors for us.
Winfield Courier, January 4, 1883.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY OF WINFIELD, JANUARY 1, 1883.
Council met in regular session, Mayor Troup in the chair. Present: Councilmen McMullen, Gary, and Wilson; absent, Read. Minutes of last regular meeting and of the adjourned and special sessions were read. A motion was carried to amend the minutes of the meeting of Dec. 26 so as to show the votes of the several Councilmen on the tie vote there recorded. Upon the motion to reconsider Sec. 1 of the proposed ordinance, the vote was as follows: Those voting aye were Councilmen McMullen and Gary; those voting no were Councilmen Wilson and Read. Upon the motion to amend Sec. 1 by the addition of the provision, Councilmen McMullen and Gary voted aye and Councilmen Read and Wilson voted no. Upon the motion to adopt Sec. 1 as originally adopted, Councilmen Read and Wilson voted aye and Councilmen Gary and McMullen voted no. The minutes as amended were then adopted.
A petition from citizens of 1st ward to postpone definite action the proposed water-works ordinance was read and ordered filed.
A proposition from E. P. Greer in reference to water works, in the shape of a proposed ordinance, was presented and read, and Mr. Greer addressed the Council thereon. Several citizens then addressed the Council on the question of water works.
On motion the Council adjourned. M. G. TROUP, Mayor.
Attest: L. H. WEBB, City Clerk.
Winfield Courier, January 4, 1883.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY OF WINFIELD, DECEMBER 23, 1882.
Council met in special session on call of the Mayor.
On motion, it was resolved to consider the proposed ordinance in relation to water works.
The proposed ordinance offered with the petition in relation to water works was then taken up for consideration by sections, with the following result: Sections 1 and 2 were adopted as read. Section three was amended and adopted. Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 were adopted as read. Section 9 was amended and adopted. Section 10 was adopted as read. Sections 11, 12, and 13 were amended and adopted. Sections 14 and 15 were adopted as read. Adjourned to Tuesday night.
DECEMBER 26, 1882.
Council met pursuant to adjournment, Mayor Troup in the chair. Present, Councilmen Read, Wilson, Gary, and McMullen, City Attorney and Clerk.
The proposed water works ordinance was again taken up for consideration. Sections 16 and 17 were amended and adopted, Sections 18 and 19 were adopted as read.
It was then moved that Section 1 be reconsidered. The vote upon the motion was a tie. The Mayor voted in favor of such reconsideration. It was then moved to amend Section 1 by adding the following:
“Provided, That nothing in this ordinance shall be deemed or held to give to said Barclay or assigns the exclusive privilege to construct, operate, or maintain a system of water works in said city.”
The vote upon such motion was a tie, and the Mayor voted against such motion to amend. It was then moved to adopt Section 1 as originally adopted. The vote upon said motion was a tie, and the Mayor voted in favor of such adoption.
A motion was carried to reconsider Section 19; the following was adopted as Section 19.
“Section 19. That the said Frank Barclay, his associates, successors, or assigns shall be required under the provisions of this ordinance to do the business pertaining to their said water works company within the corporate limits of the said city of Winfield.”
Former Section 19 was then adopted as Section 20.
The Council then adjourned without taking final action in the matter.
M. G. TROUP, Mayor.
Attest: L. H. WEBB, City Clerk.
Winfield Courier, January 11, 1883.
The Water-Works Question.
It has been industriously reported around town that we have weakened on our figures in relation to the water-works question, and that we admit that Barclay’s statement of what the water-works would cost is substantially correct. We admit that we do not know what the actual cost would be and that Barclay had a better means of making the estimate than we had, and that our subsequent investigations tend to show that his estimates of from $46,000 to $52,000 for the first plant according to his ordinance are the limits, while our estimate of $30,000 was too low.
But this does not weaken our figures in the least, as will be seen by careful attention. The question of importance to the citizens is not what it will cost the contractor to put in the works, but what will it cost the city in taxes, etc. The city can no better afford to pay a yearly tax of 7 up to 14 mills for 21 or 99 years, or forever, for the service should the plant cost $100,000 than should it cost him only $30,000. The question is: can the city afford to pay an annual rental of $3,000 up to $6,000 for such service as Barclay’s ordinance proposes? If so, then can the city get more and better service for the same yearly rentals, and can she get such service at less yearly cost and to be bound for a shorter time?
Of course, the greater the cost of the works, the great er the objection to the city issuing bonds, and building and running the works, but the general repugnance to this course is so great that we do not consider further this method.
The real points of objection to the Barclay ordinance are: that it makes the city pay a yearly rental of $75 for each and every hydrant put in, that there must be forty hydrants on the first plant at a yearly cost of $3,000; that justice and actual need will immediately require as many as 40 additional hydrants, at an additional yearly cost to the city of $3,000, making the probable yearly tax to the city amount to $6,000; that the city cannot ever buy the works because it must buy back the franchise therewith at an appraised valuation, which would be so valuable that it would never be possible for the city to buy it; that the franchise lives for 99 years and is in its nature, and possibly by construction of law, exclusive, and that it is not the best proposition for the city that can be obtained. Our figures of two weeks ago and last week prove all this as conclusively as we can prove that the product of six by six is thirty-six. Should it appear that Greer cannot carry out his proposition, that would not prove that a proposition as good, or even better, for the city could not be obtained in a reasonable time.
Winfield Courier, January 11, 1883.
Bank Rivalry.
It is getting fashionable to tirade about the rivalry between the two banks of this place
and dignify it with the appellation of “bank fight.” At the council meeting the other night, Senator Hackney made a characteristic onslaught on the “bank fight.” Now we take no stock in the sentiment that leads to such speeches and remarks.
Nothing but good to this community has ever come out of this bank rivalry and it is one of the best and most valuable circumstances of our situation that we have two very strong and vigorous banks, so nearly equal in wealth and business ability that they are real rivals to each other.
In material improvements in the city, two splendid bank buildings and four of the best residences, grew out of bank rivalry. The grand Brettun House and the Stewart Hotel, the Telegram office, and several stone and brick stores and edifices were stimulated by the same rivalry. All we have in the line of the improvement of parks grew out of the same rivalry and much of the success in getting railroads and other improvements has been enhanced by it. Through such rivalry you can buy eastern exchange without the premium that is charged almost everywhere else, and the rates of interest are doubtless much lower than they otherwise would be, though a little brisker rivalry in the latter direction might be very desirable.
Whenever there has come up a public project of real merit for the welfare of the county or city, both banks have worked together for it. Banks, like other business, are apt to be hatching up schemes for their own profit and in this they serve as a check upon each other. Whenever a scheme is strenuously advocated by one bank and as strenuously opposed by the other, you may depend there is a job in it, at least, it is safe to keep out of it until you can see through it in all its ramifications. There has never yet been such a case in this city in which the opposing bank did not prove to be on the side of the people.
Competition in any kind of business is valuable to the community and especially so with the banking business. So long as these two banks are real rivals, and so long as the people refuse to go into any financial scheme while one of these banks opposes it, we are comparatively safe.
Winfield Courier, January 18, 1883.
Water Works.
The tedious waterworks question was settled on Tuesday evening by the Council accepting the Barclay ordinance as amended, which amendments embodied substantially the self-same provisions contained in the proposition originally offered by Ed. P. Greer. While Mr. Greer’s ordinance was not accepted, it at least had the effect of giving to the city one of the best propositions under which waterworks have ever been put in by a private corporation in any town of like size in the country, and while he feels that his efforts in the matter might have demanded more consideration at the hands of the Council, the matter is a personal one with them alone. We have neither time nor space to treat the matter as it deserves this week, and will attend to certain points at another time.
Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883.
THE WATER WORKS QUESTION SETTLED.
Job Reduced But Still Big.
Last week we went over east with Joe. E. Conklin on business in the interest of Winfield and her citizens, and in our absence the water works question came up before the city council on Monday evening, and as we expected, was not concluded by the passage of an ordinance. We further expected that the matter would go over to the next regular meeting, by which time it could probably be determined whether a better proposition could be obtained than either of the two propositions before the council. Contrary to our expectations the council adjourned to Tuesday and then to Wednesday evening and rushed the matter along, finally passing an ordinance substantially that offered by Ed. Greer with his amendments, but giving the contract to the originators of the Barclay ordinance, contrary to all rules of justice and fair dealing. Instead of giving the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, it was given to the highest bidder on the condition that he should accept the terms proposed by the lowest bidder.
This was an outrage which admits of no excuse, and we believe that no one pretends there was any excuse for it. Ed. had the backing of at least as much Winfield capital and character as had the parties to whom the job was awarded, and in addition he had the indorsement of one of the strongest water works builders in the country who promised to build the works if Greer’s proposition passed; while the parties to whom the award was made, had no outside backing at all, and now boast that their pretended backing, John Worthington, has been dead two years.
Such an outrage could not have been perpetrated by councilmen Read and Mayor Troup alone. One other councilman was necessary to complete the job. Councilmen Wilson and McMullen could never have been inveigled into such a measure. Councilman Gary was their only chance. He had been the most stubborn opponent to the Barclay job and held that the city could not afford to go into any plan of water works which had been presented or was likely to be presented. Wilson and McMullen were in favor of water works on the best terms the city could get. Read and Troup were as certainly in favor of giving as big a job as possible to Barclay’s assigns, viz., Read’s Bank. How they managed to win Gary to their side is a matter on which our citizens will all have an opinion, but we need not state ours. Some circumstances, however, will not be overlooked. In the first place, it seems that only Read’s Bank was in the scheme. It becoming necessary to have a good talker and a lawyer, Hackney was enlisted, either on a fee or with a share in the job. We have too much regard for his shrewdness to suppose he went in without either. The job did not rush through as suddenly as was expected and Hackney had to go to Topeka. Several outsiders tumbled to their racket, probably without pay or shares, but simply because their souls belonged to Read’s Bank. But they did not count for much. Greer had put in an ordinance that would favor the city at least $55,000 over the other ordinance and something had to be done or the original job would be beaten. They must have a lawyer and a shrewd talker. They selected J. Wade McDonald, probably on similar terms to those on which Hackney was engaged, and because it was claimed that Wade had Gary in his vest pocket. But somehow Gary did not tumble at once. He promised Ed. that he would vote for his ordinance unless the other fellows should present something a great deal better, that he would never vote to allow any other to take the job on Ed’s bid. There was still a hitch in the matter and other arguments had to be used on Gary. Other parties were taken into the ring to help out. We did not hear the new argument which was presented to Gary, but whatever it was it brought him down. On the first test vote, Gary went over to the enemy. He even refused to support Wilson’s motion to reduce the rents on additional hydrants from $75 to $65, according to Greer’s offer. This showed that Ed’s ordinance would certainly be passed and given to the other fellows, and Ed. wilted and gave up the fight. Believing that it was necessary to have water works and that the matter was reduced to the best terms the city could get, Ed. urged Wilson to vote for the measure with Read and Gary and thus settle the question. Had we been present we would have continued the fight for two weeks longer if possible, with the expectation of getting, within that time, a much better proposition for the city than that which is now saddled upon us.
We consider that Ed. has succeeded in his main point, that of saving the city a large sum of money by compelling Robinson & Co., to accept a franchise not worth one-half as much as that which they would have got but for his efforts.
Under the original ordinance, which would certainly have passed but for him, the City would have had to pay rents on at least eighty hydrants after two years at most at $75 per hydrant per year to the end of the 99 years, amounting to $6,000 a year, and if the City should require 20 more, or 100 hydrants in all, it would cost the city $7,500 a year.
Under the ordinance as passed, it will cost the city $3,000 a year for the first 40 hydrants, $65 each per year for perhaps 20 more, and the other 40 hydrants to make up 100 may be
free of rent to the city, thus possibly costing the city only $4,300 a year rent for 100 hydrants, a possible saving to the city of $3,200 a year. As this sum is simply interest on the franchise, it reduces the value of the franchise by a sum which would produce $3,200 a year at 6 percent interest.
But we hold that this ordinance ought not to have passed, simply because the city cannot afford it, and because the city could have established and maintained the same kind of works with less than half of the expense, and possibly with no expense at all after two or three years; by issuing $50,000 six percent bonds and letting the individual water-rents pay the running expenses, repairs, and interest on the bonds and creating sinking fund to extinguish the bonds. Because too, as we are now informed, a proposition would soon have been made, on the same basis as the one passed, in all respects except that no hydrant should cost the city more than $60 per year, which would be a further saving to the city of about $700 a year.
But we have not got altogether a sure thing on the savings of $3,200 a year on the ordinance as passed, over the first ordinance as presented. It depends upon the structure of our future city governments. If the persons who own this franchise should be allowed to control the city legislation as in the past, they will make their stock pay, “you bet.”
The only way to preserve what we have gained is to always elect mayors and councilmen who are not interested in this stock. Even with the closest care we are liable to elect persons who are secretly stockholders or who may be bought.
The grand objection which was urged against the City building its own water works, was, that it would make a big hubbub and quarrel at every city election in the struggle between parties and individuals to get control of the water works offices. We have got the same troubles or worse ones fastened on us with this ordinance. At every city election there will be a struggle and bad blood to determine whether water works men or other citizens shall fill the city offices.
Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883.
SOME JOKES.
Ed. Greer is the butt of some rather keen jokes since his ordinance was passed and given to M. L. Robinson & Co. Ed. is pictured as Diogenes with a lantern looking for an honest man, and thinking he had found one, rested in security. The result was that he got left. Another is that John Worthington, the backing of the Barclay ordinance died two years ago, and M. L. beat Ed. with a “stiff.” Ed. retorts on M. L. inquiring if he means to say that he fooled our worthy mayor so completely with a mere “stiff.” Another is that the Council passed Ed.’s ordinance and then beat him out of it by striking out his name and inserting those of Robinson et. al. Ed. consoles himself that his ordinance saves the city two thousand dollars a year for ninety-nine years over the original Barclay ordinance, and that is some glory, though others reap the harvest of profits and fortune which his ordinance still retained for the poor fellows who now get the benefits of it.
Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY OF WINFIELD, JANUARY 15, 1883.
Council met in regular session, Mayor Troup in chair. Roll called. Present: Councilmen Read, Wilson, McMullen, and Gary; City Attorney and Clerk.
Minutes of last meeting read and approved.
Mr. McMullen moved to consider by sections the so-called Greer water-works ordinance. Those voting aye were Councilmen McMullen and Wilson; those voting no were Councilmen Read and Gary. The Mayor voted no.
Mr. Gary moved that the Council go into committee of the whole on all questions relative to water-works, and the motion was carried and the Council then went into committee of the whole. Upon rising the committee reported back the two water-works propositions with certain proposed amendments submitted to them in relation to the proposition made by Frank Barclay, but without making any recommendation in regard thereto. On motion the Council adjourned until January 16, 1883, at 7 o’clock p.m.
Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883. [Typing up only a portion of minutes.]
COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY OF WINFIELD, JANUARY 16, 1883.
Council met pursuant to adjournment. Mayor Troup in the chair. Present: Councilmen Read, Wilson, Gary, and McMullen, and Clerk.
A petition to indefinitely postpone the propositions before the Council in reference to water-works was presented, read, and ordered filed.
The Council then listened to propositions in relation to water-works by Frank Barclay and certain others, and by Ed. P. Greer and others.
It was then moved that the Council accept the proposition made by Mr. Barclay and certain others. Those voting aye were Councilmen Read and Gary; those voting no were Councilmen McMullen and Wilson. The Mayor voted aye.
On motion the Council adjourned until January 17th, 1883, at 7 o’clock p.m.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY OF WINFIELD, JANUARY 17, 1883.
Council met pursuant to adjournment. Mayor Troup in the chair. Roll called. Present: Councilmen Read, Gary, and Wilson; absent, McMullen.
A communication from Councilman McMullen was read and ordered filed.
A motion was carried to reconsider the vote by which the proposed ordinance No. 167 was adopted, for the purpose of considering said proposed ordinance with certain amendments thereto. Said proposed ordinance as amended was taken up for consideration by sections, with the following result:
Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were adopted as read.
Section 8 was amended and adopted.
Sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 were adopted as read.
The ordinance as a whole was then submitted to a vote upon its final passage with the following result. Those voting aye were Councilmen Read, Wilson, and Gary; noes none, and the ordinance was declared adopted and was approved by the Mayor.
A motion was carried to adopt the following as the title and number of such ordinance: “Ordinance No. 169. An ordinance contracting for and providing for a system of water works for the City of Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, for domestic, sanitary, and other purposes, and regulating the rates thereof.” On motion the Council adjourned. M. G. TROUP, Mayor.
Attest: L. H. WEBB, City Clerk.
Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883.
The water-works agitation has afforded our local wags much amusement. One of them, in speaking of the action of one of the councilmen says: “It is evident that the proposition he was considering and the proposition then before the Council were two different and distinct propositions.”
Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883.
Ed. Greer’s little romance, as read before the council at its last meeting, has afforded businessmen much amusement. Telegram.
Our neighbor is eminently correct on this point. Our “little romance” afforded several businessmen much amusement—more amusement than they have enjoyed in like enterprises during recent years. It also afforded our citizens about sixty-five thousand dollars worth of amusement, while our worthy mayor is amused beyond expression. The amusement is so general that a taint of it may possibly affect the spring elections.
Winfield Courier, February 1, 1883.
THE TRUE “INWARDNESS” OF THE PETITION TO HACKNEY.
The original petition is drawn in the hand writing of M. L. Robinson, the originator and principal member of the water-works scheme. That measure entails a heavy tax on the citizens, of which its projectors will have their portion to pay, besides this tax is likely to create a prejudice against the originators. It is said that there are three men who are willing to pay three thousand dollars a year each for the privilege of opening and running saloons in this city. This three thousand dollars a year, with a probable increase after the first year, would be about enough to pay the water rents saddled on to the city. Besides, Read’s Bank is supposed to hold Frank Manny’s paper to a large amount, which would be largely enhanced in value if Frank could g et to making money in selling intoxicating drinks.
So to help out the securities of the bank and to provide a fund for paying the water rents without taxation, these hitherto ultra prohibitionists have become the most ultra advocates of saloons and breweries we have. For the sake of paltry dollars, they are anxious to open up the flood-gates of drunkenness and debauchery upon our city and county. Hackney has an interest in the water-works stock, and judging him by themselves, they concluded that by fortifying him with a tremendous petition, he might be won over to help them in their schemes. It was an insult to him, and he has duly resented it in his answer in this paper.
Instead of 300 names on the petition as stated in the Journal, and other papers, there are just 209 only. These names are the owners and employees of Read’s Bank. Mayor Troup and Councilman Gary, about a dozen fellows whose souls are not their own, all those who wish to run or patronize saloons, all the anti-prohibition element, and besides this, a very considerable number of respectable businessmen or citizens, who evidently signed without thought or consideration, merely to please the person who presented it. Many of these have stated that they signed under the explanation that the petition was to ask that laws be passed that would enforce the prohibitory law in the large cities of the state as effectively as it is enforced here—a construction which the ambiguity of the petition may well bear. Others say they never signed it nor authorized their names to be attached. We do not believe that one half of the signers are in favor of saloons here, or would have signed if they had understood that such was the meaning of it. We consider it a fraud upon its face, starting out as it does with statements which are well known to be false and concealing its object under ambiguous language.
It is well known here that the prohibition law has been better and more effectively enforced than the dram-shop act, which preceded it, ever was; that the sale and use of intoxicating drinks have been very largely decreased, though not entirely suppressed; that drunkenness has become ten times more rare than under license, and that the moral and business interests of the community have been greatly enhanced.
Some of the businessmen whose names are on this petition have told us that their business has been greater and better the past year than ever before, and much better than it could have been but for the prohibition law.
Winfield Courier, February 1, 1883.
WINFIELD DON’T WANT SALOONS.
On looking over carefully the list of signatures on the petition to Hackney, we find a considerable number of names of persons who live in the country, and many more whom nobody knows. We find only 101 names, less than half of those on the petition, who are known as citizens of Winfield. Less than half of these probably understood what they were signing, and are in favor of saloons. It is presumable that the originators got all the names of prominent Winfield men they could by any kind of representations; and, considering all these things, the petition is not so very formidable after all. But it is enough to give our city a bad name, and give a severe stab to the cause of prohibition. The Kansas City Journal’s Topeka correspondence says that the names of all the prominent men and business firms of Winfield are found on that petition, except one bank and one hardware store. We notice that the following Winfield firms and names are conspicuously absent from the petition.
COURIER Office, Winfield Bank, S. H. Myton, W. E. McDonald & Co., W. C. Root & Co., Hughes & Cooper, J. W. Johnston, J. S. Hunt, A. B. Arment, D. F. Best, F. M. Friend, C. E. Steuven, N. M. Powers, H. D. Gans, T. R. Bryan, C. Farringer, McGuire Bros., A. H. Green, T. J. Harris, Wm. Newton, Jacob Nixon, Curns & Manser, T. B. Myers, L. B. Stone, Frank Jennings, Henry E. Asp, G. H. Buckman, H. H. Siverd, Frank Finch, J. Wade McDonald, T. H. Soward, Ed Bedilion, J. M. Dever, Bliss & Wood, W. P. Hackney, P. H. Albright & Co., R. C. Story, Youngheim Bros., E. S. Torrance, Mr. Tomlin, Brown & Son, H. Brotherton, E. T. Trimble, W. A. Lee, A. B. Robinson, A T & S F R R STATION, Holmes’ Packing House, K C L & S R R Station, C. Trump, Dr. W. G. Graham.
Besides all the clergymen of the city and more than four hundred other businessmen and voters of the city. It does not show up big when we remember that but a very small proportion of the 650 voters in the city signed the petition.
Winfield Courier, February 1, 1883.
A Monumental Fraud,
With an Attempt to Make Anti-Prohibition Capital,
And Establish Glickeries in Winfield.
A PETITION AND REPLY.
The following petition was circulated last week by Frank Manny, taken to Topeka, and presented by him to Senator Hackney.
WINFIELD, KANSAS, January 23, 1883.
HON. W. P. HACKNEY, State Senator, Topeka, Kansas.
Inasmuch as the Prohibition Amendment, as enforced, has always resulted in injury to the material development of our town—it having signally failed to accomplish the object sought, the suppression of the sale and use of intoxicating drinks—we would respectfully urge upon you the necessity of so providing for the enforcement of the law that its application shall be uniform throughout the State. If this is impossible, don’t sacrifice our town on the altar of inordinate devotion to an impracticable principle.
D. L. Kretsinger, John Bobbitt, S. G. Gary, H. S. Silver, J. P. Short, John M. Keck, J. B. Schofield, J. H. Vance, D. R. Gates, N. Myers, W. H. Smith, M. L. Robinson, Vic S. Mays, Geo. Emerson, M. L. Read, L. F. Hess, J. Birdzell, A. A. Jackson, J. B. Richards, G. W. Miller, W. K. Davis, V. B. Bartlett, Chas. Schmidt, Allen Johnson, W. S. Mendenhall, J. N. Harter, Quincy A. Glass, F. J. Sydal, R. E. Wallis, Jr., Geo. C. Rembaugh, J. B. Lynn, M. B. Shields, J. P. Baden, J. F. Burroughs, G. L. Rinker, W. J. Cochran, C. L. Harter, D. V. Cole, J. E. Snider, J. S. Mann, Henry Goldsmith, R. M. Boles, John H. Hyde, W. B. Simpson, Hudson Bros., Edwin Bailey, Horning & Whitney, James M. Stafford, Alonzo Wharton, W. H. Shearer, R. Allison, J. Headrick, John Feuquay, H. F. Miller & Co., R. Carter, August Kadau, Beuler Buck, L. L. Beck, A. F. Kroan, D. H. Long, D. M. Harter, Joseph O’Hare, L. D. Zenor, J. W. C. Springston, J. N. Hall, R. J. Brown, M. C. Adair, E. C. Sengby, H. S. Bixby, O. [?C.?] A. Garlick, Geo. Daily [?], F. C. Nomnsen, G. D. Headrick, D. C. [?] Carr, M. W. Tanner, F. L. Weaverling, J. B. Goodrich, J. G. Kraft, O. H. Herrington, C. H. Mahler, C. C. Harris, H. L. Snivers [?Shivers?], E. F. Blair, John J. Zant, M. H. Mount, B. F. Harrod, A. G. Wilson, E. C. Goodrich, Dick Silver, S. C. Smith, L. C. Harter, S. S. Major, W. Kenell, S. Burkhalter, A. Herpich, J. Flickinger, H. J. Weaver, W. H. Hudson, G. H. Wheeler, Charles Wm. Keef [?], Geo. H. Ratzer, C. W. Nichols, N. S. Ollie, Wm. W. Fleming.
NEXT COLUMN:
J. L. Horning, W. C. Robinson, Chas. F. Bahntge, Wm. J. Hodges, A. T. Spotswood, Sam’l Bard, A. H. Doane, Wm. Whiting, A. E. Baird, L. C. Scott, A. D. Hendricks, R. C. Wilson, N. C. Clark, T. K. Johnston, G. W. Yount, Geo. M. Miller, John Dix, J. W. McRorey, G. H. Allen, G. E. Brach, C. Callins, F. M. Burge, Geo. Leiman, M. Hahn, A. J. Burguaer, Joseph Finkelling, J. A. Waggoner, C. M. Wood, John Fraser, W. D. Shotwell, J. Fleming, Wallis & Wallis, E. C. Seward, A. C. Taylor, J. L. Hodges, O. M. Seward, W. H. Dawson, L. B. Lattiff, S. H. Crawford, E. A. Cook, George Olive, C. W. Lathrop, Elijah Perigo, A. Bixbee, Devore Parmer, J. Batchelder, John A. Edwards, Isaac Behner, J. E. Miller, C. B. Dalgarn, Wm. Whitford, Ed Lamont, Wm. H. Fox, H. L. Wells, F. R. Hinner, Robert M. Woodson, W. F. Dorley, Brettun Crapster, A. C. Bangs, Berry Scroggins, G. J. Lockwood, E. H. Nixon, W. J. Wilson, G. J. Swind, Geo. F. Cotterall, H. C. Chappell, Edwin G. Fitch, Jas. McClain, J. W. Beard, S. L. Gilbert, W. A. Tilston, R. A. Lett, Jerry Cland,
J. G. Myer, S. B. Stills, W. L. Hands, B. F. Cox, John D. Pryor, J. L. Littington, Harry Foults, Philip Sipe, T. E. Cochran, J. Heller, J. S. Mater, C. Seifert, John Fashing, J. S. McIntire, A. N. Emery, W. H. Allen, J. A. Patterson, [?] Morris, T. W. Hambric, B. J. Mays, John Likowski, Ed F. Nelson, F. B. Clark, W. L. Webb, John E. Silany, W. H. Strahn, C. H. Limbocker, Samuel Layman, F. E. Sears, Wm. Kelly, M. G. Troup.
AN ANSWER.
GENTLEMEN: I am in receipt of the above and foregoing petition, and replying to those of the signers who are the sworn officers of the law, whose duty it is to enforce the same, I have to say: that were I to pay any attention to your petition, I would be as unworthy of the confidence and support of the good people of Cowley County, as you have shown yourselves to be, by signing such a paper as the above.
You do not seem to know what your duty is, and I will try and enlighten you with the information, that it is my duty under my oath to make laws, and it is yours to enforce them. What right have you to criticize laws, and parcel out those to be enforced, and those to be ignored?
Such petitions as you sent me, will do more to give aid and comfort to the band of outlaws now seeking to subvert constitutional obligations and duties in this state, than any one thing you can do. How is it your business, whether this or that law works well or not? You have taken an oath to see that all laws are enforced, and this coupled with your duty as men, should make you swift to throttle all infringements, and to punish all infractions. And I can assure you one and all, that I need none of your counsel or advice, and did I need any, I should look to men who have some regard for their constitutional obligation and oaths.
If you will devote your time to the performance of your duty as assiduously and vigorously as I do to mine, the discontent of the people at your pusillanimous duplicity and negligence of constitutional obligations would soon be among the things of the past.
To that portion of the signers who make their living by the sweat of other men’s brows, and who have no particular principles save and except schemes to amass wealth, I will say, that while the question of constitutional prohibition was before the people, you were unanimous for prohibition; but, when you came to adopt facts instead of theories, and for the first time you realized that under the old system the drunken debauchee paid your municipal taxes, and that under prohibition you pay your own, of course you at once there and then lost all faith in your prohibition laws because such of you would rather the county would go to the diminution bow-wows if your taxes were thereby paid than to live in a heaven on earth and pay your own taxes.
Under the old saloon system, the people who drank liquor paid your taxes for you, be they residents of the city or county. Now you must pay your own, and hence “these tears.” Under the former system families went hungry for bread that you might fatten. Under the new system you enjoy no such franchises. What do you care for betrayed trusts or broken promises, whether made by me or the officers of the law, so long as you escape what you have so often by fraud and perjury, escaped—namely taxation. Hence your discontent, hence this petition.
Winfield is not suffering from the saloon system or of the want of it. What Winfield needs is more men of capital and less Shylock’s; men of large minds and fewer small ones; less money changers and more money makers. She wants manufactories, and business that will employ honest men at honest wages who have families to feed and support. That man who has money and will spend it in these enterprises is a public benefactor. You have none now, and the prospect for getting such is not flattering.
What Winfield wants is less such Christians as you fellows are, and more of the character patterned after Him who died on the cross; less cant, hypocrisy and double dealing; more honesty and earnestness of purpose. With all this change brought about, Winfield will prosper. Without it, all the saloons outside of Hell will not add one iota to the prosperity of your town. Either wake up and rub the mildew from the prosperity of your town, or continue to swap dollars and sit upon your own prosperity.
Others of you signed this because you are devoid of the moral courage to say no. Others for fear thereby you would lose a nickel, while a very few of you favor a change hoping that you might better your condition thereby. There are a large number of you who, I cannot believe, would have signed the petition knowing that it meant saloons in Winfield. I believe that many believed it only meant strict enforcement in the large cities of the state. Its language would admit of such construction to one who was off his guard.
Now in conclusion, permit me to say that until this Legislature adjourns, I shall continue to do all I can to make prohibition a success, though by so doing I “sacrifice Winfield on the altar of inordinate devotion to an impracticable principle.” And all petitions asking for a change, will only be that much waste paper. The people who voted for prohibition two years ago and whom I promised to help, will find me steadfast until my stewardship with them ceases—which will close with this session of the Legislature, after which they may select someone else to serve them. Until then you may look for no change in my conduct on this question. I, after reading your senseless twaddle in this petition, know that I am better prepared to take care of the interests of Cowley County than are any of you.
Trusting that time will soften the poignancy of your grief, the result of contemplating the possibility of having to pay your taxes yourselves, I remain your Senator,
W. P. HACKNEY.
Winfield Courier, February 1, 1883.
Public Meeting.
The citizens of Winfield, irrespective of party or sentiment on the prohibition question, are requested to meet at the Opera House on Monday evening, February 5th, for the purpose of discussing the petition forwarded to Senator Hackney, advising him as to his action with regard to the legislation on the subject of the prohibitory law. F. S. JENNINGS, H. D. GANS, M. L. ROBINSON, J. S. HUNT, A. T. SPOTSWOOD, P. F. JONES, JAS. E. PLATTER, D. A. MILLINGTON, M. G. TROUP, T. R. BRYAN. HENRY E. ASP.
Winfield Courier, February 1, 1883.
SOME PERTINENT ITEMS CONTAINED IN ORDINANCE NO. 167:
SECTION 1. That the right of way along the streets and alleys, and the privilege to construct, operate, and maintain a system of Water Works within the corporate limits of the City of Winfield, for supplying the City and citizens with water for domestic, sanitary, and other purposes, as well as for the better protection of the City against disaster from fires, be and is hereby granted to Frank Barclay, J. L. Horning, J. Wade McDonald, W. C. Robinson, J. B. Lynn, W. P. Hackney, and M. L. Robinson, of the City of Winfield, Cowley County and State of Kansas, their successors and assigns for the term of ninety-nine (99) years from the passage of this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the right of way as held by the City of Winfield be granted to said Frank Barclay, J. L. Horning, J. Wade McDonald, W. C. Robinson, J. B. Lynn, W. P. Hackney, and M. L. Robinson and their successors and assigns for the term of ninety-nine (99) years to lay pipes in any and all streets, lanes, alleys, roads, or other public places within the corporate limits of said City, and to extend the pipes, and to place, construct, and erect hydrants, fountains, conduits or such other useful and ornamental structures as may be necessary for the successful operation of the said water works.
SECTION 3. That the general plan of the works shall be, an engine house built of either brick or stone and roofed with metal, not less than twenty-four [24] feet by forty [40] feet, and divided into two apartments to be known as pump and boiler rooms; attached to the boiler room, a coal shed built of stone or brick and roofed with metal, of sufficient size to store twenty-five [25] tons of coal.
The pump to be capable of pumping through the connecting main one million U. S. Gallons of water into a reservoir one hundred feet higher than Main Street, in twenty-four hours, the said reservoir capable of storing not less than two million gallons of water; the boiler of sufficient size to make with easy firing ample steam to supply the pumping machinery; the original pipe system to be not less than five miles and twelve hundred and seventy feet of main, composed of standard iron water pipe and to vary in size from ten inches to four inches in diameter; the hydrants to be what is commonly known as six inch post and two and one-half inch double discharge with frost jackets with four inch connection.
SECTION 16. That the location of the mains provided for in section 3, shall be as follows, to-wit: Running from the pumping works to Ninth Avenue on Walton street, 740 feet; from Walton street to section line on Ninth Avenue, 4580 feet; from Ninth to Twelfth Avenue on Mansfield street, 1100 feet; from Seventh Avenue to Riverside Avenue on Menor street, 2670 feet; from Ninth to Sixth Avenue on Manning street, 1100 feet; from Sixth to Twelfth Avenue on Main street, 2220 feet; from Ninth Avenue to Blandon street and from Seventh to Eighth Avenue on Millington street, 1870 feet; from Millington to Loomis street on Twelfth Avenue, 370 feet; from Twelfth to Riverside Avenue on Loomis street, 740 feet; from Main to Andrews street on Eighth Avenue, 1500 feet; from Millington to Maris street on Eleventh Avenue, 2150 feet; from Ninth to Tenth Avenue on Fuller street, 370 feet; from Fuller to Andrew street on Tenth Avenue, 370 feet; from Ninth to Fifth Avenue on Andrews street, 1480 feet; from Andrews to Fuller street on Seventh avenue, 370 feet; from Ninth to Eleventh Avenue on Maris street, 740 feet; from Ninth to Seventh Avenue on section line 740 feet; from section line to reservoir 3220 feet; from mains to 40 public hydrants 1340 feet, making a total of 27670 feet.
SECTION 17. That the following maximum rates shall be annual and become part of this franchise:
Aquarium: $3.00.
Bakery, each oven: $8.00 to $20.00.
Bar Room: $10.00 to $80.00.
Banks: $8.00.
Barber shops, first chair: $5.00.
Barber shops, each additional chair: $2.50.
Bath, private: $3.00.
Bath, hotel or boarding house, each additional tub: $6.00
Bath, public: $10.00 to $30.00.
Brewery, special: _____.
Billiard saloon, each table: $3.00.
Boarding house per room, 1st opening 5 rooms or less: $6.00.
Book bindery: $8.00.
Brick work per m. Laid: $.12-1/2.
Brick yard each gauge or table per season: $20.00.
Churches, free.
Candle factory, special: ____.
Candy manufactory: $8.00 to $40.00.
Cigar manufactory, per hand: $1.50.
City officers, free.
Cows, each: $1.50.
Distilleries, special: ____.
Drugstores: $8.00 to $10.00.
Dyeing and scouring: $15.00 to $30.00.
Fountain, ½ inch jet, not exceeding 6 hours per day, during season: $7.50.
Fountain, 1/16 inch jet, not exceeding 6 hours per day during season: $5.00.
Fire protection, to individuals special: ____.
Forge, first fire: $6.00.
Forge, second fire: $2.00.
Halls and theaters: $10.00 to $20.00.
Hydrant supply 1 lot 50 ft. Front: $6.00.
Hydrants supply each additional hydrant supply: $5.00.
Hotel, special: _____.
Ice cream saloon: $8.00 to $50.00.
Laundry: $$15.00 to $100.00.
Locomotive, each engine out per day: $.75.
Locomotive, each switch engine out per day: $1.50.
Office or sleeping room: $3.00.
Packing house, special: ____.
Photograph gallery: $$10.00 to $30.00.
Plastering per sq. Yd.: $0.001/2
Printing office, special: ___.
Residence of six rooms, one family: $6.00.
Residence, each additional room: $.50.
Residence, any connection: $6.00.
Saloons: $10.00 to $30.00.
Schools, free.
School fire protection, special: ____.
Sprinkling, private garden, special: _____.
Sprinkling, public garden, special: _____.
Stable, livery, board or sale including carriage washing, per stall: $2.00.
Steam boiler per horse power, ten hours per day: $.20.
Stone work per perch: $.05.
Stores: $6.00 to $40.00.
Two public drinking and watering fountains, to be erected by the city, free.
Water-closet, public, each seat: $8.00.
Water-closet, private family, special: $1.00 to $3.00.
Meter rates 10,000 gallons and over per day per 100 gallons: $.02.
Other, special: ______.
Motor, special: ______.
Factories not enumerated, special: ___.
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
We understand that Robinson and Troup are going to freeze out the COURIER. We will keep from freezing if we can. In this number we have thrown in an extra hod of native coal which we can get, not only in this county but in Missouri and other places. We think we can keep it warm for awhile, at least.
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
AN ARDENT PROHIBITIONIST.
It is stated that the man who originated the petition to Hackney in the “glorious cause of prohibition,” before that petition was circulated, approached County Attorney Jennings and asked him the following question in substance: “Now if the city council should pass an ordinance licensing the sale of lemonade and other drinks, something like the Topeka ordinance, and could thereby raise a revenue of $3,000 a year on the sale of liquor, would you not be willing to leave the prohibition and liquor business to the city authorities and refuse to prosecute?
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
DESIRES RELIEF!
Mr. Seaton offered a bill for the relief of Frank Manny, the Winfield brewer, whose name and fame have become national through the lectures of St. John, who held Frank up to the world’s gaze as a bright illustration of the success of prohibition, as having converted his brewery into a conservatory and turned his attention from the brewing of tonics Teutonic to floriculture. Frank has a large collection of plants and flowers and a large, pleasant, cool and shady garden, on the banks of a little creek, but he says his $25,000 brewery is no good for raising flowers, and he asks reimbursement from the state in the sum of $15,000 for losses suffered by reason of the prohibition law. C. C. Black.
The following article is the one that makes me really laugh! Can’t you just visualize these two gentlemen (!) hopping up on chairs while the audience is leaving?? MAW
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
A TREMENDOUS MEETING.
Robinson in the Role of Prohibition Leader of Antis.
MAYOR TROUP BITTERLY OPPOSED TO PROHIBITION.
TIPTON AS A WISHY-WASHY.
Another Crank.
When the COURIER of last week came out with the petition to Senator Hackney, his answer and our remarks, some few of our anti-prohibition friends were red hot, particularly those few who were specially hit. Our friend, Robinson, was the hottest of them, and after the call of the meeting for the following Monday evening of all citizens, irrespective of their opinions on the prohibition question, to consider the petition to Hackney, he spent about four days on the street, trying to infuse his anger into other citizens, particularly to show those who signed the petition and were not hit that they were hit; and in organizing a crowd to attend the meeting and defeat prohibition resolutions. A plan was adopted and was carried out in the meeting of Monday as far as the noise and howling was concerned.
On last Monday evening, at an early hour, the Opera House was packed full of people. Every seat and every foot of standing room was filled. There were not less than eight hundred, and possibly one thousand, present.
Judge Tipton, not one of the callers of the meeting, pushed himself into the position of temporary chairman, and nominated Rev. J. E. Platter as Chairman, who was elected. Mr. Platter refused to be silenced in that way, and nominated Hon. T. R. Bryan for Chairman, who was elected and took the chair.
Millington offered a resolution to the effect that this meeting is utterly opposed to the establishment of saloons in this city, and moved its adoption, which was seconded by numberless voices all through the hall.
Robinson jumped up and made a long, loud, and excited speech to show that the resolution was unfair and unjust.
Tipton moved to lay the resolution on the table. A vote was called on Tipton’s motion, and the saloon element set up a tremendous howl of ayes, repeated by comparatively few voices. The nays were general throughout the house. The Chairman could not decided, and a rising vote was taken. About 150 rose to lay on the table, and nearly the whole congregation rose on the vote against the motion. The prolonged howling prevented the Chairman from deciding the motion, and Millington withdrew his resolution temporarily.
Robinson then got the floor and read in a loud tone, very slowly and excitedly, a long speech abusive of Senator Hackney, and stating, substantially, that he drew the petition to Senator Hackney, and knew what it meant; that it simply meant that the prohibition law was not as well enforced in other cities as in Winfield, and that somehow this operated against Winfield; that he was enthusiastically in favor of the “glorious prohibition amendment and law,” and the petition was to urge Senator Hackney to procure the passage of a law that would strictly enforce prohibition everywhere in the State; and that the closing clause, “If this is impossible, don’t sacrifice our town on the altar of inordinate devotion to an impracticable principle, did not mean anything at all, but was only some big words which hee had on hand, left over, which he threw in merely to round off the paragraph.
During this tirade of three-quarters of an hour the audience sat quietly and heard him out, except that Mr. B. F. Wood raised the point of order that abuse of Hackney was foreign to the object of the meeting as stated in the call. The Chair ruled the point well taken, but the orator was permitted to proceed.
When he yielded the floor, Millington remarked that, as the originator of the petition meant only prohibition in its strictest sense, there seemed to be no controversy, and he therefore offered the following resolutions as the sense of the meeting, and moved their adoption after debate, which motion was seconded by hundreds of voices.
We, citizens of Winfield and vicinity, in mass meeting assembled, to express ourselves in relation to the matter of the late petition to Senator Hackney, do hereby declare;
First—That we are utterly opposed to the establishment of saloons in Winfield, or in this county.
Second—That we are opposed to the re-submission of the prohibitory amendment.
Third—That we are earnestly in favor of such legislation as will make the prohibitory law more effective.
Fourth—That we heartily endorse and will stand by Senator W. P. Hackney in his efforts to make the prohibitory law more effective, and honor him for his fearless and manly course on this question.
Fifth—That we request our Senator and Representatives to continue their efforts to strengthen this law and to guard against unfavorable legislation.
Sixth—That the prohibition law has been much better enforced in this city and county than any former law in relation to the sale of intoxicating drinks.
Seventh—That, through the operation of the prohibitory law, drunkenness and the sale and use of intoxicating drinks have very largely decreased in our midst; that our city has become largely more orderly and moral than before it went into operation, and that all legitimate business is more prosperous and flourishing than it could have been in the presence of saloons.
Eighth—That it is our honest conviction that the temperance movement in Kansas has been a blessing to thousands of our citizens.
Rev. J. E. Platter then made a short, concise, and practical speech showing the obvious meaning of the petition as interpreted by almost everybody and expressing his strong and earnest dissent from its evident objects.
Mayor Troup then got the floor and spoke loudly and slowly for about an hour and a quarter with the evident intention of worrying out the temperance people in the congregation and making them leave the hall, but they quietly heard him out. He took an entirely different view of the meaning of the petition from that of the originator. He signed that petition because it meant to him that the prohibitory law is an utter and absolute failure; that the amendment ought to be repealed; that it urged Hackney to vote for the re-submission of the amendment, and for revenue purposes, saloons ought to be re-established in Winfield. He knew that prohibition in Winfield was an utter failure; for there were two of the dirtiest saloons here, where the stench of liquor offended the nostrils of the noble mayor (who is also assistant county attorney and don’t prosecute) and that three awful saloons are know as Express offices, and are bringing in intoxicating drinks by railroad every day.
Mr. T. H. Soward was called out and took the floor. Troup tried to choke him off by interruption and the audience tried to yell Troup down. Soward in a gentlemanly manner got through with his remarks in a few minutes.
Judge Tipton took the floor for the purpose, evidently, of worrying out the temperance people, for he had absolutely nothing to say but rambled on for fifteen minutes with the most wishy-washy and senseless jargon we had ever heard from the lips of a sane man.
Another old crank got up with a nose about three by six and as red as a beet, and howled about Hackney.
It was evident from the first that three-fourths of the audience at least, were in favor of passing the resolutions offered by Millington, and the scheme of Robinson was to prevent a vote being taken on them by howling. This was kept up until the chairman got so disgusted that he pronounced the meeting adjourned, and the crowd began to move toward the door and go out.
Robinson sprang upon a chair and called the meeting to order. Millington sprang upon another chair and called out swinging a paper in his hand. The audience halted a few moments in quiet, and Millington said in a loud voice:
“The question in order before the house is on the passage of the series of resolutions presented by me. All in favor of the passage of these resolutions will say, Aye—meeting with a general response of ‘Aye’ by nearly the whole crowd.
He then said, “those opposed will say ‘No.’”
A few feeble responses were heard and he proclaimed that the resolutions were carried by an overwhelming majority. The crowd then continued to pass out amidst such a noise that nothing could be heard.
Robinson sprang upon the stage and swung his arm, yelling something at the top of his voice about “coming to order,” but he could not be heard and the audience continued to pour out.
The writer remained until nearly all the audience had passed out and the lights were turned down. Nothing more was done and he left.
This meeting demonstrates that the people of this city are overwhelming in favor of all the above resolutions, and particularly enthusiastic in their endorsement of Senator Hackney.
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
THAT SALOON BUSINESS.
Speaking of the petition to Senator Hackney in behalf of saloons in Winfield and the remarks in the Kansas City Journal from its Topeka correspondent, the Wellingtonian remarks:
“While it is true that Cowley County was the banner prohibition county of the state, it is equally not true that Winfield was ever anything of a banner prohibition city. None know this any better than the Journal’s clever Topeka correspondent. None better than he know that the businessmen of Winfield, as a class, never were prohibitionists. He also knows what he dare not tell, for the effect it would have, that the ‘prominent manufacturer and ice dealer’ is, or rather was, a manufacturer of beer, only. There are in the town, exclusive of the hotels and drug stores and including the two banks, eighteen that could by any decent reasoning, be called ‘largest’ business houses. Of this number—fifteen of these same ‘largest business houses’ never were prohibitionists. So that leaves but three to be accounted for, and the correspondent does that for two of them, namely: the bank and hardware, and leaves but the grocery house to be accounted for, and we can do that. Winfield, like other towns of its like, and for purpose of this sort, too often counts every peanut vender, billiard saloon keeper and lunch counter president, as ‘prominent’ businessmen.
“Again: had the astute correspondent said, something over 200, instead of almost 300 names, he would have impressed us as being nearer the truth. It would also have been better had he told his readers, that many of these same businessmen allowed themselves to be classed as prohibitionists, when in reality, they were not; but on the contrary, their sympathies were all the other way. Senator Hackney himself was not; and is perhaps not yet, a prohibitionist, as he himself says in this interview, and yet it would be hard for Journal readers to understand that. While it is true that Winfield has always been rated a prohibition city, yet these same businessmen have no settled convictions upon this or any other subject, any farther than it may effect their pockets and their standing in society. There are more people in Winfield whose lives go to disprove the Bible doctrine, ‘a man cannot serve God and Mammon,’ than any other town in the state. Hence it will be seen that any apparent reaction in this town is not much of a ‘pointer’ and bears with it but very little significance.”
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
A SLIGHT MISTAKE.
Mayor Troup in his speech Monday evening complained that Hackney in his letter of reply called him a money changer.
Why, my dear fellow, Hackney did not call you a money changer. You neglect the coat the senator prepared you, don the coat made for the other fellow, and complain that it don’t fit. Please read carefully the first part of the letter about sworn officers of the law disregarding their oaths and their duties and doing all they possibly can do to subvert law and render aid and comfort to outlaws. That is the coat made for you. The onslaught on money changers was prepared for the other fellow. Are you not the mayor of the city whose sworn duty is to see the laws are enforced? Are you not assistant and acting county attorney whose duty is to prosecute violations of the law? Did you not state in that speech that you knew of two of the meanest, dirtiest kind of saloons which have been selling intoxicating drinks for a long time in this city, known as express offices? Have you prosecuted these men for violation of the law? Have you closed up these places as nuisances? Are you not owned body and soul by the money changer who will use you just as long as you will do his dirty work and squeeze a nickel out of you and then sell you to someone else or kick you one side among the rubbish?
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
JUST RIGHT.
Some conservative prohibitionists have admitted that Hackney in his answer to the petitioners, handled the originators of the petition too roughly. Now if they knew all the badgering and attempted intimidation these same men had heaped upon the Senator to induce him to violate his promises to his constituents before his election, to violate his oath to support the constitution, and to second and help them in their schemes to have saloons opened in Winfield and the law set at defiance, they would say as we do, that his answer was just right. Nothing that the popular senator has ever said or done has made him so many enthusiastic friends as that letter. Hundreds of men have called into our office to express their warmest approval of the letter and of course on this question, and many of them who have always opposed him politically, say now that they would vote for him for anything he should want. We believe that a majority of those petitioners would now vote the warmest approval of his letter.
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
Frank Manny is confident that his bill for $15,000 damages against the State on account of closing his brewery will pass.
The call for extra copies of the COURIER last week was simply immense. We printed almost a double edition, and then didn’t have enough to supply the demand.
M. L. Robinson’s amateur circus company which performed so satisfactorily to themselves Monday evening at the Opera house are expected to take the circuit and will next perform at Wellington and Wichita.
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
Is He Fish or Fowl?
A Remarkable Record Made by a Remarkable Man.
“A WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING.”
[NOTE: FIRST PART WAS SET UP IN TWO COLUMNS.]
[Left column]: FOUR WEEKS AGO.
“Suppose the City Council were to license three persons at a thousand dollars each to sell ‘soda water and other drinks, what would you do?’”
M. L. Robinson to County Attorney Jennings.
[Right column]: THIS WEEK.
“Friends, let us not do anything to injure the glorious cause of prohibition, so near to our hearts!” M. L. Robinson at meeting Monday night.
[Left column]: PRESTO!
“Inasmuch as the Amendment as enforced has always resulted in injury to the development of our town . . . . We would respectfully urge upon you the necessity of so providing for its enforcement that its application shall be uniform throughout the state. If this is impossible, don’t sacrifice our town on the altar of inordinate devotion to an impracticable principle.” Petition written by M. L. Robinson.
[Right column]: CHANGE!
“That petition meant that the law should be enforced in other parts of the state as well as here, and did not mean saloons in Winfield.”
M. L. Robinson’s explanation of the petition.
Above we present four utterances from the tongue and pen of M. L. Robinson. Placed as they are the reader will have no difficulty in determining that M. L. Robinson is either a vacillating hypocrite or a knavish fool.
But in order to show the peculiar manner in which this gentleman works to secure the backing of citizens in his schemes, we will be pardoned for referring to the above chronologically.
Some four weeks ago Robinson approached County Attorney Jennings and in the very cautious manner shown in his language above quoted, intimated to him (Jennings) that three men stood ready to pay a thousand dollars each for a license to sell “soda water and other drinks” in this city, and asked him what he would do, in his official capacity, if such license was granted and they opened up. Mr. Jennings very quickly told the gentleman that he would prosecute all infringements of the law to the fullest extent—that he had sworn to enforce the constitution and the law, and should regard his oath and his duty without fear or favor. This was a fitting reply to such an insult, and Mr. Robinson sought elsewhere to find a man who would betray his honor, his pledges, and his oath to accommodate a “smiling, influential banker.” Strange as it may seem, he settled upon Senator Hackney as the man. Wily in all his undertakings, he knew that backing must be secured for such a proposition, so a petition, ambiguous in language and uncertain in construction was drawn and placed in the hands of a man interested in opening saloons, and by him circulated. Upon its face the petition meant something or nothing, or anything. To the businessman, glancing at it in the hurry of business activity, it meant just what his convictions on the prohibition question were. To the prohibitionists it meant “Strive to have the law enforced in other places as it is here.” To the anti-Prohibitionist its true and real animus could be shown in a moment. Thus, in the hurried way petitions are always signed, this harmless looking document was signed by lawyers, doctors, businessmen, and citizens generally who would no more lend their names to assist M. L. Robinson in his efforts to subvert constitutional obligation and trample law under foot than they would start on a trip to the moon. The petition was then taken to Topeka and placed in the hands of Senator Hackney, by Frank Manny. Had the petition been a fair and square declaration of principle, either for or against prohibition, every sane and sensible man knows that it would have received respectful and candid consideration at the hands of Senator Hackney. But he knew a few things that the signers of the petition did not know. He had spent the Sunday before in Winfield and at that time learned of Mr. Robinson’s proposition to County Attorney Jennings. He also knew that he was equally interested with Robinson in a scheme whereby three thousand dollars saloon tax would materially benefit both of them in a financial way—and this scheme was the water-works business. He looked at the petition and saw that it was in Robinson’s hand-writing. He also saw it was not a fair, square statement of principle, but contradictory, ambiguous, and calculated to deceive. In an instant he saw through it all, as would everyone who signed the petition had they known these facts. He saw that M. L. Robinson, seeing an opportunity of adding to his hoarded wealth, was willing and anxious to open up the “flood gates of drunkenness and debauchery” in our city. He knew that Robinson had approached a sworn officer of the law with intentions looking to that end, and receiving no encouragement, had come to him, thinking that he, if fortified with a respectable petition and with the same personal interests involved, would betray the pledges made by him to the people of Cowley County, turn his back upon the constitution and his oath to support it, and sell himself and his people for gold.
M. L. Robinson little counted upon his man when he reckoned that W. P. Hackney could be cajoled or influenced into such an action. Turning upon his maligner, he hurled the petition back into his teeth in words of burning indignation—words that will live in the hearts of the people of Cowley County as long as love of honor lasts, and words that will rise to haunt the author of that petition until he passes beyond the scenes of human weakness. With that desire for fairness so characteristic of Senator Hackney, he did not confine the full measure of his wrath to the one at whom it was directed, but supplied a part of it to some officers of the law. This loop-hole was eagerly seized by the doughty banker, and through it he seeks to wreck his vengeance on the Senator by drawing into the fight the men who had signed his petition, and who hoped to express a matter of principle, knowing nothing of the sordid motives and dark pit-falls behind it. In this he partially succeeded, until the above facts were brought out at the Monday night meeting.
When a resolution, severely condemning Mr. Hackney, was offered, to defend the Senator from this gross and venomous assault, Rev. Platter opened the eyes of the people to Robinson’s duplicity by making a statement of the facts, as given him by Mr. Hackney. Since then one of the best men who signed that petition, a citizen as highly respected as any in the community, said to us: “Until I learned the true inwardness of this matter, I thought Hackney’s letter was ill timed and intemperate. I now think he did just right, and wonder why he didn’t make it hotter.” Others of our businessmen, signers of the petition, have expressed the same feelings; and all of them, except a few who were in collusion with Robinson, or whose souls are owned (through the medium of mortgages or overdrafts) by him, will take a similar view, and, instead of feeling outraged toward Hackney, will put their anathemas where they belong.
By his action in this matter, M. L. Robinson has lost the confidence of all the better classes of this community. Having betrayed the principles he has heretofore, and now pretends to avow—betrayed men into supporting him with a false document, written with the intention of deceiving, he has certainly placed himself in an unenviable light before his fellow men, and must of needs, reap the consequences. A man who works honestly, openly, and fairly against a cause he believes to be wrong, is a freeman exercising the highest and noblest rights of citizenship decreed him by the Constitution of a free country. But when a man steals forth under the cloak of hypocrisy, and attempts to subvert law and unduly influence those in whom the people have vested power, he sinks below the level of a freeman, and becomes a menace to liberty and good government.
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
Frank Finch tells a good joke on M. L. Robinson, and which portrays certain traits in the gentleman’s character so clearly that we reproduce it.
Frank and Troup were coming into town, Monday evening, before the meeting. When passing near M. L.’s house they were hailed, and that worthy came rushing up to the buggy, stuck his head under Troup’s nose in that confidential manner so peculiarly his own, and said: “We’ve got ‘em on the hip! Now don’t be too strong anti-prohibition. We want to go slow. Just keep cool; we’ve got the resolutions!” He had his resolutions, and he has them yet—in his pocket. By the way, how do the anti-prohibition boys, who turned out so nobly at his solicitation, like the way he kicked them overboard and flopped back to the “glorious cause of prohibition, so near to his heart?” His eagle eye must have detected a nickel on the side of prohibition that he hadn’t seen when he was negotiating with them.
Winfield Courier, February 15, 1883.
During the past week banker Robinson has fretted and fumed and worried himself nearly into a fever over some fancied reference to him in late issues of this paper. He has grown hollow-eyed and haggard, and mopes around seeking to inflict people with the tale of his wrongs. At first he found a few sympathetic listeners, but now they merely smile and wag their heads when he raves. We, together with other friends who never forsake the afflicted, hope to work a thorough reformation before we leave him. In this undertaking we have the best wishes of the whole community.
Winfield Courier, February 15, 1883.
Mayor Troup’s letter on Senator Hackney is a wonderful document. Withering in sarcasm and running over with scintillating invective, it metaphorically dangles the mangled scalp of our Senator before a horrified public. We understand he wrote it with a stick. What would it have been if he had written it with a steel pen? The thought is too saddening for contemplation.
Winfield Courier, February 15, 1883.
Last week’s COURIER made some unhappy souls hereabouts. One of them came down and stopped his paper, his brother’s paper, and his uncle’s paper, and from indications we were lead to believe that he would have stopped the whole edition had it been the right time of the moon. Our subscribers will rejoice with us that the publication is still allowed to go on.
Winfield Courier, February 15, 1883.
Senator Hackney has been overrun with letters and numerously signed petitions thanking him for his stand on the prohibition question. The people are with him in his stand for law and order as against hypocrisy and Shylocks.
Winfield Courier, February 22, 1883.
M. L. ROBINSON’S DEFENSE.
How the “Courier” was to be Squelched.
“Oh, that Mine Enemy Would Write a Book!”
M. L. Robinson has another defense in an article in the Telegram of last week. We are glad he has got mad enough to write over his own signature instead of skulking behind an assumed name. When he goes around and pleasantly persuades men to agree with him he is a success, but when he gets howling mad and rants, and when he writes a newspaper article and vituperates, he is an utter failure, and hurts himself more than anyone else.
He defends himself by calling us such names as “whited sepulcher,” “vile wretch,” “enemy to truth,” “senseless old idiot,” “old bag of wind,” “dog,” “falsifier,” “base,” “treacherous,” “dastardly,” “animus,” “apostle of temperance,” “stole the livery of heaven,” etc., and says he “could write volumes of such stuff,” which he calls “red-hot coals.”
He remarks that, as he is “opposed to mobs,” he “will let the law (of morals and decency) take its course.”
Ah! Was that his little game? Had he tried to get up a mob to “squelch” us and the COURIER, and failed? When he found not more than two or three, if any, who would like to have it done and they as cowardly as himself, did he then conclude to announce that he would not mob us? How kind!
But he “will let the law take its course.” That beautiful threat has a hole to crawl out of in the parenthesis, “of morals and decency.” Well, as we are very careful to make no charges until we have the proofs at hand, we do not fear the law. Were he on the bench, we might fear being hauled up and fined two hundred or two thousand dollars for contempt, but that danger is spared us.
We have had many dark hints about some terrible punishment for opposing and exposing his jobs, frauds, and schemes, but could not discover exactly how we were to be “squelched.” We had hints that he had such tremendous power and influence everywhere that he would turn us out of the post office, take the county printing from us; the city printing, too; induce our subscribers to dessert us; induce businessmen to withdraw their advertising and their job work; create a tremendous public sentiment against us; start a rival newspaper; “write volumes of such stuff,” etc. Some of these things would hurt; but the fear of them would not excuse us for sitting on a shelf, “like a Stoughton bottle,” and letting him draw two hundred thousand dollars out of the taxpayers of the city, and establish saloons in the city, without a protest or an attempt to expose his jobs.
Then we had some doubts of his power to do all these things. He has certainly demonstrated his ability to take away from the COURIER one advertisement and three subscriptions, and his ability “to write volumes of such stuff;” and we do not doubt his ability and disposition to turn the screws and squeeze hard some of his customers with matured notes or overdrafts due his bank, unless they should do his bidding. Of course, he can hurt us in many ways; but we shall continue to do our duty by our readers and the community, all the same.
We don’t believe he can “squelch” us with a mob, or stir up popular indignation against us; and we don’t believe that, when he “writes volumes of such stuff,” it will hurt us as much as it will him. He may go on with the “volumes” under the assurance that we shall never descend so low as to write any “such stuff” in reply.
The COURIER has often been criticized because it did not “pitch in” and “make it hot” for such men. Our excuse is that we have always had a horror of doing any man an injustice, and preferred that ten guilty men should escape than that one innocent man should suffer injustice at our hands.
Now, supposing that M. L. has told the truth about us, we do not see how it proves anything in his defense. Does it prove that the rumors of fraud which come from Missouri are false? Does it prove that he did not make money out of that sale of stock and purchase of bonds of this county when he was the trusted agent of the county? Does it prove that he did not get up and work through a scheme to make one or two hundred thousand dollars off from the taxpayers of this city? Does it prove that the franchise he asked was almost valueless, as he asserted and spent hours and days to prove to the council and citizens? Does it prove that the present franchise, of not half of the value of the first proposed, is not claimed by him to be worth one hundred and fifty thousand dollars? Does it prove that he did not get up a scheme to establish saloons in Winfield, that the license money might enrich his pockets? Does it prove that he would not sell his best friend for a dollar, if he could make more out of him in some other way? Does it prove that he is worthy of any confidence or trust? Does it prove anything to his advantage? We think not.
He accuses us of having objected to his name prominently on a card, and of saying that M. L. Robinson is getting too much strength, and must be kept down. No such thing ever occurred in our presence. We have used no such language; but since he gives us the hint we will say it now, and add that it is dangerous to trust such a grasping unprincipled man with anything that he can sell, or by any scheme turn to money for himself.
Winfield Courier, February 22, 1883.
Frank Manny contemplates turning his brewery into a chemical laboratory for the manufacture of “Stomach Invigorator.” If he would include an efficient “Liver Regulator” among his compounds, our friend Mart Robinson might interest himself in the scheme. His liver is evidently disordered.
Winfield Courier, February 22, 1883.
The feeble-minded bill has passed the Senate and is now pending in the House. It will probably pass that body, as M. G. Troup, the author of the reply to Hackney, went up Monday, and will exhibit himself before obstreperous members when other arguments are of no avail. A committee of citizens should be appointed to try and get Mart Robinson to write a letter. It would have a powerful effect upon members who doubted the necessity of such an institution at Winfield.
Winfield Courier, March 1, 1883.
COMMUNICATED.
After returning from the public meeting at the Opera House on last Monday night, I felt completely unstrung, my feminine nerves not being accustomed to such a strain. It was a long time before I fell asleep. Toward morning, however, I fell into a troubled slumber. I dreamed a dream which was possibly suggested by incidents in the meeting.
THE DREAM.
I dreamed that I was standing on the corner of Main St. and 10th Avenue. The street was full of people, the cause of whose coming together I could not at first discern. My eye soon caught sight of a banner down the street, and behind it I could distinguish what seemed to be the outline of a procession. They were evidently coming in my direction, so I waited to see the sight. As they drew near I saw that the bearer of the banner was Mr. Frank Manny. On the banner was inscribed the words, “Prohibition Forever.” Following the leader was a magnificent chariot drawn by four milk-white steeds, and in this chariot was seated with arms folded in solitary grandeur, Mr. M. L. Robinson. The reporter of the Telegram was standing by and I asked him what that meant, and he said, “There is the author of a grand declaration and petition in favor of Prohibition, and the four milk-white steeds are symbolical of the purity of this mission.”
After the chariot came the Mayor and City Council in carriages. Some Councilman seemed to be missing, however. Next came a hearse with three men on top bearing petitions to the City Council. I could not read all that was written on them, and the men wore black masks. I could, however, distinguish the words “petition,” “soda water and other drinks,” and the figures “$1,000.” Then came a procession of men on foot who looked rather dazed and bewildered. As the procession moved on, a party of women in which I found myself, followed along on the pavement to see what was going to happen.
When we came abreast of the front of the procession the solitary man in the chariot saw us, and waving us back with his hand, said, “This is no place for women!”
We dropped back a little, but when some men who were following along said, “Go ahead. You have just as much right to see this performance as anybody!” we kept on.
The procession passed east on 11th Ave., to Millington Street, and thence south until they came in front of Senator Hackney’s residence, where they paused. Then the man in the chariot said, “No. 1 to your post!” and straightway one of the masked men on the hearse dismounted and went forward and took hold of the bridle of Mr. Manny’s horse. Mr. Manny dismounted and carrying the banner in one hand and a roll of paper in the other, went up the steps and rang the door bell. After a pause Senator Hackney came out. He took the paper, which was smilingly handed to him, and read it aloud. I may not remember the exact words, but it ran somewhat thus: “Inasmuch as the prohibitory law as enforced has always resulted in injury to the material development of our town, we would respectfully petition our honorable senator to use his endeavors to secure its uniform enforcement throughout the state. If this is impossible, do not sacrifice our town on the altar of inordinate devotion to an IMPRACTICABLE PRINCIPLE.”
He rolled up the paper and looked over the procession. Seeing that the man holding the horse had a paper, and also the other two-masked men, he said, “What’s that paper you fellows have in your hand?” When they saw he was getting mad, they hastily folded up their paper and said nothing. Just then County Attorney Jennings, who had followed the procession, said: “They contain petitions to the City Council for licenses to sell soda water and other drinks for $1,000 each, and they are in the same hand writing as the petition you hold in your hand.”
Then the Senator’s eyes blazed and he said so that it could have been heard all over the town: “You fellows want me to violate my constitutional obligations and help you to get a law framed under which you can open up saloons in Winfield.”
Thereupon he flung the paper at the petitioners. Some of it dropped in the chariot and some fell into the carriages of the city officials. Then up rose the man in the chariot and said vociferously: “This is an outrage! It isn’t fair! It isn’t just! No representative has a right to treat petitioners this way! It don’t mean saloons! It only expresses our devotion to the glorious cause of prohibition, so dear to our hearts!”
Some profane person in the procession or crowd, I couldn’t distinguish which, yelled out, “In a horn!” At this point a large number deserted the procession and all became confusion.
I awoke and it was broad daylight.
Winfield Courier, March 1, 1883.
WATER-WORKS CRAZE.
The water-works craze seems to have struck half of the towns in the State. Places of not more than fifteen or twenty hundred inhabitants are moving for a complete system of water-works and grievous taxes. A town of less than eight or ten thousand people should not think of such a costly luxury, and then only the best system should be accepted. Emporia did the wisest thing when she erected her own water-works, which she operates and controls. Already the revenues pay all expenses and the interest on the bonds. Emporia has iron mains and pipes and the direct pressure. Eagle.
Winfield Courier, March 1, 1883. A Card. My attention has several times been called to a card in the Telegram of last week from S. G. Gary to the effect that I had offered him ten thousand dollars worth of stock in a water company as a consideration for his vote and influence in support of my proposition. The statement is a Democratic lie, pure and unadulterated, without the usual embellishment given to utterances of like character.
As the gentleman has taken upon himself to draw so largely on his imagination for a question of fact, I may be pardoned for briefly referring to his official action in the water-works matter—a thing I have refrained from doing thus far only through the personal solicitation of his friends.
When the Barclay ordinance was first proposed, I thought it was a steal. When I learned its origin and studied its provisions, suspicion became conviction. Observation had taught me that faith without works accomplished little—especially when combated by wealth and the prestige of success. To defeat the proposition with three of the council pronounced in favor of water-works, was out of the question. A better proposition must be secured, and that speedily. On Tuesday evening the Barclay ordinance had been passed by sections, and adjournment was had until next Monday evening, when the question of final passage would come up. In the four succeeding days I traveled a thousand miles, secured the backing and necessary data for a proposition infinitely better for the city, and broke the Sabbath day getting the papers in shape to lay before the council. I did this at my own volition and at my own expense. When the council met on Monday evening and my banker friend had gathered himself there to carry away the spoils, my proposition was presented. It was received with derision and sneers by Mr. Robinson and his co-laborers—that gentleman going so far as to assert that it was simply a ruse to defeat, and that no man could build the works under such a proposition.
Up to this time Mr. Gary had been the sturdy defender of the city’s interests. Messrs. Wilson and McMullen declared themselves in favor of water-works on the best terms that could be had. Mr. Read’s position was conceded to be for it, regardless of the interests of the city, while Mr. Troup acted but at the beck and call of M. L. Robinson.
During the pendency of the question, I interviewed all of the council except Mr. Read. Councilmen McMullen and Wilson unhesitatingly said that my proposition was much the best and they would support it until a better one was offered. Mr. Gary said he wanted to “investigate,” and when I put the question squarely to him whether he would support my proposition until a better one was offered, he evaded it by saying he would “support the best one.” I had unbounded confidence in his integrity as a man and an officer, believed that he meant what he said, and did not question him farther. In this I erred. Others who had less confidence than I in integrity and official honor, were at work. Sunday evening a caucus was held and plans laid to “fix Gary.” What those plans were I do not know, but they were eminently successful, and the results were clearly apparent at the council meeting on the following evening. Mr. Robinson then appeared with his ordinance modified to cover some of the salient improvements in mine and Gary seemed to be supporting him.
On Tuesday evening Mr. Robinson had further modified his ordinance until it embraced exactly the same material provisions contained in mine. I then reduced my proposition, making the terms of the franchise sixty years instead of ninety-nine, and the price on extension hydrants sixty-five instead of seventy-five dollars, making a better proposition for the city than any that had been presented by possibly five thousand dollars.
In this shape the two propositions were placed before the council in committee of the whole.
Before a vote was taken, Mr. Gary rose up and said that he wished to “explain himself.” That he considered the two propositions about equal, but that the Robinson proposition had a little the best financial backing, and for that reason he should vote for it. I then told him that I would quiet his fears on that score and produced a paper signed by citizens representing probably two hundred thousand dollars of capital, guaranteeing the erection of the works under my ordinance if accepted by the council. In a rather confused manner Mr. Gary replied that “it was too late as he had indicated how he intended to vote.” I told him he was supposed to be acting in the interest of the city, had not yet voted, and would be expected to cast his vote for the best proposition regardless of any previous condition of mind.
The question was called, Messrs. Gary and Read voted for the Robinson ordinance and Messrs. Wilson and McMullen against. Mr. Troup, after a lengthy apology for so doing, cast the tie for Robinson, and the council adjourned.
On the next evening the council again met for the consideration and final passage of the ordinance. Mr. McMullen was absent. When they came to the section relating to extension hydrants, Mr. Wilson moved to amend by making the price sixty-five instead of seventy-five dollars each, and stated that while he did not wish to obtrude his ideas upon the council, he must insist upon this reduction, as Mr. Greer had offered to do it for that and a contract for a higher price would never receive his vote. Mr. Gary would not second the motion. Without Mr. Wilson’s vote, in the absence of Mr. McMullen, the ordinance could not pass, and after an hours’ wrangle, Robinson consented to allow the reduction; and then, and not till then, did Mr. Gary consent to vote in the interests of the people whom he pretended to represent, as against the man whom he evidently was doing his utmost to assist.
Mr. Wilson, by his firm and determined stand, forced Robinson & Co., to consent that Gary should vote for the reduction.
The ordinance as finally passed is exactly the same in every material point as the one I proposed, with the exception of the term of franchise, which in mine was reduced thirty-nine years.
That some subtle influence guided Mr. Gary’s actions in the matter, no sensible man will deny. What that influence was, no one but Mr. Gary and those interested will ever know. The facts will remain, however, and he will be regarded with distrust that it will take years of penance to remove.
The result of the water-works was not a disappointment to me. Mr. Gary’s action was. I had always regarded him in the highest estimation and felt that his spirit of fairness, aside from his duty as an officer, would accord any citizen the common courtesy which a bidder at a street corner auction never fails to receive—namely, the precedence of bid until a better offer is made. When I found that he, too, could be suborned to act in the interests of a Shylock, regardless of every principle of justice, fairness, and his duty, I was painfully surprised and disgusted.
Mr. Gary claims to publish this card in order to refute certain “innuendoes” which have appeared in this paper against him. If any innuendoes appeared, it was at least five weeks ago. Since that time the assassin’s bullet has taken from our midst a true, noble, honest officer—one whose highest aim was to serve the people faithfully and well, and who would have scorned to do a questionable act. While his remains lay yet unburied, surrounded by weeping kindred and embalmed in the heartfelt grief of thousands of sympathizing friends, seventeen persons met at the call of men whom Mr. Gary’s action had most benefitted, and nine of them decided upon him as a fit and proper person to fill the dead sheriff’s place. One of the parties went immediately to Topeka, urged the appointment, and succeeded in having it made. The intelligence was conveyed by telegraph to M. L. Robinson, which telegram he exultingly displayed to me and industriously exhibited upon the streets.
Mr. Gary holds the office of sheriff of this county by virtue of his action in the water-works matter. Under such circumstances it is meet that he continue to do the master’s bidding. He seems to have treasured up his righteous indignation for five long weeks, during which time the changes above referred to have taken place, and during which time the COURIER, aided by the people of this city and county, have been making it exceedingly warm for his benefactor.
It is but consistent that he do all he can, even to the sacrifice of his little remaining character, to assist in diverting public attention from a much abused subject. In the roll he has been following, this action is much more creditable to him than any he has yet attempted. I must at least accord him the one virtue of gratitude. If this seeming virtue proves but a cloak for avarice, then I know not where to turn for another. ED. P. GREER.
Winfield Courier, March 1, 1883.
The brick yard in the south part of the city is assuming mammoth proportions. The proprietors, Messrs. Read and Robinson, are putting about ten thousand dollars into improvements. Large sheds have been erected, an immense boiler and engine put in, and a force of men are at work building patent kilns. The firm has contracts for a large amount of brick which go to other towns, and also for many miles of tile, which it will also manufacture. It will employ a large number of hands and is an important enterprise.
Winfield Courier, March 1, 1883.
The Water Works Company have begun work on the well near the river. They propose to have it twenty-five feet in diameter. Work will also be begun on the mound as soon as the surveys can be made.
Winfield Courier, March 8, 1883. [Re City Council Meeting March 5, 1883.]
The City Clerk notified the Council that there had been filed with him and laid before the Council, an acceptance of the terms of the Ordinance in relation to Water Works, signed by all the persons named as grantees in such ordinance, and also a notice of an assignment by said individuals of their rights and privileges therein to the Winfield Water Company, and an acceptance of the terms of said ordinance by the Winfield Water Company. The Clerk was instructed to report the above facts in the journal.
The committee on streets and alleys was instructed to report at the next meeting as to the proper places for the location of the City’s hydrants to be erected under the terms of the ordinance in relation to Water Works.
Winfield Courier, March 8, 1883.
M. L. Robinson has taken the advice of the COURIER, and on Monday purchased a bottle of Liver Regulator. We are in hopes that it will cure him. Our prescriptions hardly ever fail.
Winfield Courier, March 8, 1883.
The House has passed a bill providing that no ordinance shall pass except by the vote of a majority of the councilmen, excluding the mayor from exercising the right of casting a vote. If this bill applies to cities of the second class, it will be a severe stab at Mayor Troup’s usefulness.
Winfield Courier, March 8, 1883.
SENATOR HACKNEY’S SPEECH
In the Senate, February 22nd, in Reply to Senator Buchan’s Charge That There Are
Eleven Saloons and Much Drunkenness in Cowley County.
A bill amendatory to the prohibitory law being the special order was then taken up and Senator Hackney took the floor and said:
MR. PRESIDENT: It was not my intention to say anything while the subject of prohibition was under discussion; but rather to listen to the many able men on the floor on both sides of this question, who I knew desired to be heard; and I would not now ask the indulgence of this body for a few moments only did I not deem it my duty to defend the grand people whom I have the honor to represent from the aspersions of the senator from Wyandotte. I am aware of the fact that in this assault upon the good name and fair fame of the people of Cowley, he is assisted by a former partner of mine, and by the present able partner of the county attorney of my county. And in reply to the statement of the latter, I will say that he is likewise the mayor of Winfield, and the deputy county attorney of my county. And when he says that there are eleven places in Winfield where intoxicating liquor is sold in violation of law, I answer, how does he know this? I further answer that I know of no prosecutions being commenced for a violation of that law since July 3, 1882, at which time my employment to assist the county attorney in liquor cases ceased. If there are eleven places in that city, and this mayor and deputy county attorney says there is, why has he not put a stop to it? Either he violates his oath of office in permitting such, or his statement is false. I would rather think the latter than the former. But I say to this senate, and the people of this state, that there is no place in Winfield or Cowley County today, and that there never has been since August, 1881, where liquors were kept and publicly sold in violation of the law.
Much complaint has been indulged in against the express offices, which ship in liquor to any and all persons ordering the same, but this class of business is beyond our reach, since any man out of the state may sell to any person in the state and ship it to him without violating the law. It is charged that drug stores violate the law in our town, and yet if they do, it is so slyly done that paid and expert detectives have been unable to detect the crime. From the very first in Cowley County, commencing with May, 1881, the law has been observed as well as any law in our statute books. With one exception no man ever has openly defied the law, and he lasted only a very few days, and his venture cost him nearly $1,000. But on the contrary, all of our saloons closed on that date, and the keepers left the country, or went into some other business.
The towns of Udall, Seeley, Dexter, Cambridge, Maple City, Burden, Torrance, and Arkansas City, in my county, all with populations ranging from 100 up to 1,500 people, never had a saloon or other places where liquors were sold in violation of law since the prohibitory law went into effect.
Senators upon this floor opposed now and always to the prohibitory law, tell us they speak from personal knowledge when they say that under prohibition more liquors are sold and more saloons exist now than under the old dram shop act. If this is true, I pity their condition indeed, and that of their constituents who submit to such a shame and disgrace. Under the old dram shop act, any, all, and everybody drank that wanted to; under that act every keeper of a saloon in Kansas openly and notoriously violated its provisions, and sold to drunkards and minors in violation of their bonds and of that law, and in spite of the pleadings of wives, fathers, and mothers, they trampled that law under foot and nobody molested them or made them afraid. Under the old dram shop act, in my town, our jail was occupied by drunken men, while our streets were thronged with men under the influence of liquor. In fact, drunkenness was so common with us as to cease to attract attention, while under prohibition, drunkenness is so uncommon that a man can attract universal attention. Under the old dram shop law saloons were licensed for the money that they paid the municipality and a harbor was thus formed for every cut-throat, horse thief, and dead beat in the land. A saloon is simply a harbor for the worst elements of society; it is a lounging place for the idle and the vicious everywhere; it furnishes a home for the gambler, the robber, and murderer; its surroundings are all vicious, all bad, and without one single virtue to recommend it in any way. A saloon is a monstrous crime against the people of a state, whether it be licensed or unlicensed, and whether a common doggery or a gilded palace of sin. And that community that tolerates either, simply sows the wind of human misery and will sooner or later reap crime and horror.
I know a man, and have seen him on this floor during this session—a constituent of mine—a man of fine attainments, a courtly gentleman, and when sober an ornament to society, who under the saloon system reduced himself to beggary by strong drink, and who has lead a sober life in my county since the saloons were closed. He came to this city a few days ago, and finding open saloons here, the old habit came back, temptation was too strong, and he fell, and has not drawn a sober breath since.
I can name a hundred cases in my county of men who under prohibition have ceased to drink, and are now respectable and sober men, who formerly were always found around the old saloon of my town. Go to them and ask them what they think of prohibition, as I have done, and they will tell you as they do me, to stand by the old ship, and never to go back to that damnable blot upon our civilization. Go to their wives, ask them what prohibition has done for them, and they will point to a happy home and reunited family.
Go ask the votaries and supporters of saloons, what saloons have done for them, and their answer will be impoverishment of my family, degradation and shame to myself. In the wake of the saloon system follows degradation and shame, and yet men of sense and respectability are found who defend the crime.
With the experience that nearly two years has brought me under prohibition, I could not, and would not under any circumstances go back to the saloon system. I have found from experience that the financial question involved in it, is a delusion and a snare, and if it were not, I would rather, with the experience I have gained by a fair and practical test of the question, vote for a pest house in my town than to vote for saloons.
And, in conclusion, permit me to say that as far as the people of my county are concerned, that they are a sober, law-abiding, and industrious people—a people that any senator on this floor might well be proud to serve, and of whom I am justly proud, and they are today as of yore, sound and solid for prohibition, and they do not want this law changed in any manner, whereby licensed saloons may once more disgrace our fair name and honorable fame as a prohibition county. We have tried the saloon system, we have tried prohibition, and I know from experience that a licensed saloon never made a sober or better man of anyone. I know from experience that prohibition has benefitted hundreds in my county, and I know from experience that prohibition can be enforced in Cowley or any other county in this state, when the officers of the law love their duty and fear to commit perjury. When the officers of the law think more of their pledges to honest men than they fear the frowns of the venal and the vile, this law is enforced. It is a good, a grand, and a wholesome law, and receives the support of the best men in all counties, while time-serving and venal scribblers everywhere will continue to howl at and against it, the debased, and venal everywhere despise it, but justice and right will prevail yet and make this law a success.
Questioned by Senator Williams: “I desire to ask the gentleman a question.”
Senator Hackney: “Very well.”
Senator Williams: “Is it not a fact that prior to your election to the senate, you were the paid attorney of all the saloons in your county? I demand a square answer.”
Senator Hackney: “I will answer the senator by saying that prior to my election, I was the paid attorney of all or nearly so of the saloon keepers of my county. But I am unlike the senator from Doniphan in this, that in this senate I represent the better portion of the people of my county, and not the saloon bummers as he does.”
Winfield Courier, March 15, 1883.
THANKS OF THE PEOPLE.
The thanks of all good citizens are due Senator Hackney for the passage of his bill to preserve the purity of the judiciary. That is what the framers of the constitution intended. That is its spirit, its true intent and meaning, but it has been most shamefully spurned and spit upon. The framers of the constitution intended to say that no judge while holding the office should be a candidate for any political office; that judges should not become politicians. Senator Hackney’s bill effectually prevents the judiciary of this State from disgracing their positions by becoming ward politicians. A political judge ought to be looked upon with the same disgust that a political military officer is. Leavenworth Press.
Winfield Courier, March 15, 1883.
DRUNKENNESS.
The new law, just passed, to suppress drunkenness, reads as follows:
SECTION 1. If any person shall be drunk in any highway or street, or in any public place or building, or if any person shall be drunk in his own house, or any private building or place, disturbing his family or others, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding thirty days.
SECTION 2. Prosecution under this act must be commenced within thirty days after the said misdemeanor is alleged to have been committed.
Winfield Courier, March 15, 1883.
A RINGING SPEECH.
The ministers of the Methodist conference having on Monday, the last day of their session, a time in the afternoon in which they had no special business to transact, concluded that they wanted to hear a prohibition speech from Senator Hackney. They therefore got after him, and after a considerable urging, they got him out, and without preparation he appeared before them in the M. E. Church and gave them the most pronounced and ringing prohibition speech we ever heard. He did not mince matters, but spoke right out in meeting. He rehearsed the history of the saloon rule in our city and strongly contrasted the improved condition of things since prohibition took effect; stated that he started in for prohibition because he was pledged, not only to his constituents but by his oath of office, to support the constitution of his state, though he did not believe in prohibition as a practicable state policy; that his experience and observation and the history of the prohibition movement for the last two years had since fully convinced him that prohibition was the only right and true policy, and that it can and must be a complete success in this state. He is now a prohibitionist from conviction and principle and shall stand by the flag and hold the fort; that hereafter he intends to be not only a prohibitionist but a temperance man in the strictest sense of the term. He cautioned his hearers not to draw the line at temperance. Many men who totally abstain from the use of intoxicating drinks will vote for prohibition and do as much good with their votes as the preachers before him. The place to draw the line is at prohibition. Preaching and lecturing and singing and playing are all good; organization and funds are better, but it is the votes that count. The hardest of the battle is yet to be fought; the enemy are organized, have the funds for the campaign, and will vote together and poll every vote. The prohibitionists are doubtless in a good majority in this state and when thoroughly organized and polling a full vote in harmony they will win, and the time will then come when, as in Maine, no political party will dare to go before the people without a prohibition plank. The Senator called things by their right names. To him black was black and perjury was perjury by whatever prettier names they may be called. It was the duty of every citizen to aid in every way to enforce the law as it is.
No sketch would begin to do justice to this speech. It was received with the greatest enthusiasm. As but few had notice of it when it commenced, the audience was not large, but as it became noised about the streets, people came crowding in and filled the House.
Winfield Courier, March 15, 1883.
SUGAR FACTORY.
MR. MILLINGTON—Dear Sir:
My brewery having been closed for two years, in compliance with the law, hoping for some change to be made by the legislature, but in their wisdom they saw fit to make none—and it having become the settled conviction that all beer used in this county must come through the new and undisputed channels, viz; the express offices and railroads; therefore, I would like to enquire of you the amount of sugar cane grown in this county, and the probable expense of turning my brewery into a syrup and sugar factory. I make this public request for the reason that your paper reaches many farmers, and they may e able to give me information as to the amount of cane raised in this section. Very respt.,
FRANK MANNY.
We cannot answer Mr. Manny’s question but hope this will call out some information on the subject. We are disposed to treat this matter seriously for we are satisfied that the works could be utilized in that way to make them pay handsomely on the investment and that our citizens would gladly give any assistance and encouragement possible. A sorghum sugar works is the most important material want of this city and would do the farmers as much good as any other factory. But if Mr. Manny is serious in this matter, he must expect that some will be skeptical on the subject of his intentions for a while until he has shown by his acts that he really means it.
Winfield Courier, March 15, 1883.
M. L. Robinson and J. L. Horning start for St. Louis today on business connected with the M. W. & W. Railroad. Mrs. Robinson will accompany M. L. as far as Jacksonville, where she will meet her sister and go on to Chicago with her.
Winfield Courier, March 22, 1883.
Some fiend tried to burn up Robinson & Morey’s brick-house Tuesday evening. The fire was started about the center of the sheds and engine house and burned through one side, leaving a hole in the building about ten feet square. The fire went out of its own accord. The fire was started on the inside of the building and the draft through from both ends carried it out. It is only a miracle that the building and machinery were not destroyed. A fellow who would do this kind of business ought to be harshly used if apprehended. The loss of this institution would be a severe stab to the material interests of our city. It is hard to assign any object for incendiarism in this case.
Winfield Courier, March 22, 1883.
It now appears that Robinson’s main object in going to St. Louis was to look after this water works business. Mr. Read was also taken along. As we, in common with twenty others, have a monied interest in their trip, having furnished the wherewith to pay their expenses, we hope they will have a good time and do well. This accounts for Robinson’s eagerness to perform this mission after having refused to go everywhere he has been asked to go heretofore.
Winfield Courier, March 22, 1883.
The Waterworks Company has changed its location for the pumping house and purchased ground near the Santa Fe depot on which the works will be erected. This will probably necessitate somewhat of a change in the piping system. Aside from this, that location is entirely impracticable on sanitary grounds. The water must and should be taken from the river above the city—above the slaughter houses, hog lots, and wash of the town. The original location as designated in the ordinance was above all this sewerage. The new location gives the water the seasoning of two slaughter houses, and numerous pig pens and garbage-dumping grounds, aside from the fact that all the drainage of the city naturally tends that way. When the managers of the Company were awarded the contract, it was with the understanding that the water would be taken from above the city. This is one of the most vital points in the health and well being of the community and will be guarded with a jealous care. We hope the Company will reconsider its action on this matter without further trouble as it will be compelled to do in the end.
Winfield Courier, March 22, 1883.
Senator Hackney has sold his residence property on Twelfth Avenue and Millington Street to Mr. Geo. Ordway for twenty-five hundred dollars. Mr. Hackney gives possession April first.
Winfield Courier, March 29, 1883.
STRATEGY, MY BOY.
Some of the fellows have got up a ticket for the city election next Tuesday. They call it a kind of compromise ticket, claiming that it is on both sides of party politics, prohibition, water works, and every other question. Most of the candidates named are good fair men, but there is too little prohibition in it to call it a compromise on that question, being one prohibitionist to eight antis. In politics it is five Democrats, three Republicans, and one Greenbacker. The names are: Emerson for mayor; Kretsinger and Keck for council; Snow for police judge; O’Hare for city attorney; Silver and Wallis for school board; and Long and Pratt for constables. It looks to us that the main point of the ticket is to elect councilmen in the interest of Mart Robinson’s water works, for the getters up are willing to trade off any of their candidates except Krets. The water works fellows want Krets bad. They would trade off the balance of the ticket if necessary, but he must be retained at all hazards. The fact is, they know Krets would do anything that Mart would ask and he would ask even worse things than he would do himself. If they had put Frank Finch and Capt. Siverd on their ticket for constables, they would have shown a great deal more sagacity, for they are tried men doing their duty honestly, carefully, and fairly, and will get the votes of the best men of all parties and factions. There is talk of calling a public meeting to nominate a ticket.
Winfield Courier, April 5, 1883.
The city election Tuesday passed off very quietly, but little interest being manifested. On Monday evening a number of citizens met at the Opera House and placed a ticket in the field. Another meeting was held the same evening, which made up a second ticket. Dr. George Emerson was the unanimous candidate for Mayor by both meetings. The two tickets represented no distinctive issue of any character, unless it might have been termed a “water-works” issue. In the first ward John McGuire was elected to the council over H. Silver by three majority. In the second ward D. L. Kretsinger was elected over S. L. Gilbert by forty majority. Capt. H. H. Siverd and Frank W. Finch were re-elected constables.
Votes shown.
MAYOR: George Emerson: 4481.
POLICE JUDGE: J. E. Snow, 230; L. L. Beck, 255.
CITY ATTORNEY: Jos. O’Hare: 432.
TREASURER SCHOOL BOARD: George W. Robinson, 270; W. J. Wilson, 225.
CONSTABLES: H. H. Siverd, 299; Frank W. Finch, 251; David Long, 225; Jas. McLain, 222.
COUNCILMEN: 1st Ward, John A. McGuire, 132; H. Silver, 129.
COUNCILMEN: 2nd Ward, D. L. Kretsinger, 132; S. L. Gilbert, 92.
SCHOOL BOARD: 1st Ward, Dr. W. G. Graham, 259; 2nd ward, J. P. Short, 137; 2nd Ward, H. Brotherton, 89.
The new council is made up as follows.
All including the Mayor are Republicans, three councilmen and the Mayor are “anti-water-works”; in other words, in favor of holding the company down to the strict letter of their contract. Three are prohibitionists, and one an anti-prohibitionist.
Winfield Courier, April 5, 1883.
MANNY AND HIS SYRUP FACTORY DEFENDED.
An Open Letter to the Editor of the “Courier.”
MR. EDITOR: Dear Sir: We read with pleasure, Mr. Manny’s letter of inquiry concerning the amount of cane grown in the county, and the probable expense of turning his brewery into a syrup and sugar factory. But, why, Mr. Editor, did you in your reply cast the wet blanket of suspicion upon his proposed enterprise? They who live near the brewery as well as many others feel certain that Frank means business. Do they not know that he has been testing the adaptability of his brewery to this syrup business? Why Mr. Editor so enthusiastic has he become of late over his project that night after night has he disturbed the quiet slumber of his neighbors by running the machinery of his brewery to ascertain its adaptability for manufacturing syrup! True, some of those “hypocritical fanatical prohibitionists” have hinted that he might be grinding malt and brewing beer or making more of his famous ginger! But you should not have allowed yourself to be misled by these hypocritical insinuations. For though they claim to have seen large piles of hops thrown out back of his brewery, and to have inhaled the odor of malt fermenting only a few weeks ago, yet no doubt, the odor was that of syrup scorching, while he was engaged in throwing out his hops hoping to make sugar.
There is not a doubt in the world that Frank has become a radical temperance man. Why Mr. Editor it is no secret that Frank was out to hear the Bishop preach during the M. E. Conference! It is also known that of late he has been calling together into his brewery some of the most intemperate men of our city, doubtless for the purpose of convincing them that it will be better for them that he change his brewery into a syrup and sugar factory. So powerful have been his arguments at times, that while some have given loud cheers of approval, others—terror stricken, have issued trembling from his door. Yea! Some even casting forth the contents of their stomachs—so terrible was their conviction!
And again Mr. Editor, had you so soon forgotten that only a few weeks ago Mr. Manny went before our legislature with the express purpose of securing more effective temperance legislation? And had you forgotten that M. L. Robinson, to whose heart prohibition is so dear, is Frank’s most intimate friend and counselor? Do you say in defense, that Mr. Manny’s beer wagon has been seen even in midday loaded with beer kegs, drawn from his brewery to certain parts of our city? We admit this to be a fact for we have seen the same, but you overlook the fact that the beer kegs were hauled directly past the office of your mayor who is so zealous for the enforcement of our laws. Would he have dared do this had he not first explained to the mayor that he was simply trying the capacity of his wagon for hauling syrup?
Again Mr. Editor, where have been your eyes that you have not seen Frank buttonholing weak-kneed temperance men and bracing them up to stand firm for temperance and the laws of our state?
Pardon me for saying so much for my feelings in behalf of injured innocence would not permit me to say less. I do most sincerely hope that the minds of our farmers have not been poisoned by your prejudicial expressions, and that they will proceed at once to plant vast fields of cane. Yours Truly, IRON PEN.
Winfield Courier, April 12, 1883.
Messrs. Robinson, Horning, and Barclay returned from the east Saturday. During their absence they purchased the pumps and pipe for the water-works and did some railroad work.
Winfield Courier, April 12, 1883.
STARTED UP.
The New Brick and Tile Works in Successful Operation.
A Big Enterprise.
Last Thursday morning our reporter visited the Winfield Brick and Tile Works, and was shown through by Superintendent Morey. The works were put in operation last week and have already corded up 100,000 brick ready for the kiln. It is a mammoth institution. The drying house is thirty feet wide and one hundred feet long; and arranged with racks on which the brick are placed to dry. These are arranged like the shelves of a book-case and have slatted floors, allowing the air to circulate freely through the green brick. The molding room is thirty by thirty and contains a crusher for grinding the fire clay and one of the new brick and tile machines. This machine is a wonderful improvement over the old method of hand-moulding. The dirt is shoveled in dry, ground up very fine, and pressed until it becomes almost as compact and solid as stone. It comes out of the machine in a continuous square column 4 by 8 inches, and a boy cuts off three brick at a time with a lever on which wires are strung. The green bricks are so solid as to admit of stacking ten deep without injury. The tile attachment is a mold in which a core works, fashioning the tile nicely and as smooth as glass. The engine room joins the moulding room and contains a large boiler which supplies steam to a fifty horsepower engine. The whole structure is one hundred and sixty feet long. The kilns are located at the north end of the building, and are being constructed on a pattern designed by Mr. Morey. One is just being completed. It is a large round concern, lined with fire brick with openings for firing every three feet. The heat is carried to the top of the kiln by flues and brought down through the brick. It is then carried off through a smoke stack located about twenty feet from the kiln. This stack serves for both kilns. Each kiln has a capacity of 100,000 brick. The capacity of the works will be 100,000 per week. Nineteen men are now employed and when running to its full capacity, will furnish work for thirty men. Over ten thousand dollars have already been invested, and if this season’s work proves successful, the capacity will be doubled next year. The enterprise is a very important one for Winfield and we are heartily interested in its success.
Winfield Courier, April 19, 1883.
Location of Hydrants.
The following report of the committee on streets and alleys was adopted by the Council Monday evening, locating the forty hydrants.
1. Northeast corner Walton St. and 9th Ave.
2. Southwest corner Mansfield St. and 9th Ave.
3. Southwest corner Mansfield St. and 10th Ave.
4. Northeast corner Mansfield St. and Menor St.
5. Northeast corner 7th Avenue and Menor St.
6. Southwest corner 8th Avenue and Menor St.
7. Southeast corner 9th Avenue and Menor St.
8. Southwest corner 10th Avenue and Menor St.
9. Southwest corner 11th Avenue and Menor St.
10. Southwest corner 12th Avenue and Menor St.
11. Southwest corner Riverside Avenue and Manning St.
12. Southwest corner 6th Avenue and Manning St.
13. Southeast corner 8th Avenue and Manning St.
14. Northeast corner 9th Avenue and Manning St.
15. Northeast corner 6th Avenue and Main St.
16. Northwest corner 7th Avenue and Main St.
17. Northwest corner 8th Avenue and Main St.
18. Southeast corner 9th Avenue and Main St.
19. Northwest corner 9th Avenue and Main St.
20. Southeast corner 9th Avenue and Main St.
21. Southwest corner 9th Avenue and Main St.
22. Northwest corner 9th Avenue and Main St.
23. Southeast corner 10th Avenue and Main St.
24. Northwest corner 11th Avenue and Main St.
25. Northwest corner 12th Avenue and Main St.
26. Southwest corner 7th Avenue and Millington St.
27. Northeast corner 8th Avenue and Millington St.
28. Southwest corner 9th Avenue and Millington St.
29. Southeast corner 10th Avenue and Millington St.
30. Southwest corner 11th Avenue and Millington St.
31. Northeast corner 12th Avenue and Millington St.
32. Northeast corner Loomis Avenue and Blandin St.
33. Southeast corner 8th Avenue and Fuller St.
34. Northeast corner 10th Avenue and Fuller St.
35. Southwest corner 11th Avenue and Fuller St.
36. Northeast corner 8th Avenue and Andrews St.
37. Southwest corner 10th Avenue and Andrews St.
38. Southeast corner 9th Avenue and Andrews St.
39. Southeast corner 10th Avenue and Andrews St.
40. Northeast corner 11th Avenue and Andrews St.
The apportionment of hydrants leaves the part of the city east of the schoolhouse entirely unprovided for. It will take forty more hydrants to give these citizens the fire protection necessary.
Winfield Courier, April 26, 1883.
Mr. W. D. Alexander, of the firm of Russell & Alexander, is in the city figuring on a contract with the waterworks company for the erection of the works here.
Winfield Courier, May 3, 1883.
Senator Hackney has purchased of Mrs. L. A. Conklin the lot on the southeast corner of Ninth Avenue and Millington Street, and a residence lot on Sixth Avenue for one thousand dollars in cash and five thousand dollars of water-works stock.
Winfield Courier, May 3, 1883.
The contract for building the Water-works has been let to Russell & Alexander and the workmen will be put on next week. The water will be taken direct from the river above Bliss & Wood’s Mill.
Winfield Courier, May 10, 1883.
[At City Council Meeting.]
J. Wade McDonald, attorney for the Winfield Water Company, appeared and filed and presented to the mayor and councilmen a notification and request from said Water Company, in the words and figures following, to-wit:
Office of the Winfield Water Company,
Winfield, Kansas, May 7th, 1883.
To the Honorable Mayor and Council of the City of Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas:
GENTLEMEN: You are hereby notified and requested to proceed with all practicable dispatch to have condemned in the name of the City of Winfield, the right to perpetually divest from the Walnut River, at a point thereon northwest of the north end of Walton Street, of said city, all such quantity or quantities of water as may be necessary to enable the Winfield Water Company, its successors or assigns, to supply the said City of Winfield and the inhabitants thereof, with water, in pursuance with the provisions of ordinance numbered 167, of said city.
This notification and request is made in pursuance with and under and by virtue of the provisions of section 14 of said ordinance, numbered 167.
The Winfield Water Company by M. L. ROBINSON, President.
Attest: CHAS. F. BAHNTGE, Secretary.
And thereupon upon motion of Councilman McMullen it was ordered by the mayor and council that the city do forthwith, by Joseph O’Hare, Esq., city attorney, present, in the name of the city, a petition to the Honorable E. S. Torrance, judge of the district court of the County of Cowley, State of Kansas, requesting the appointment of three commissioners to lay off and condemn to the use of the city the right to forever divest from the Walnut River at a point thereon northwest of the present north end of Walton Street of said city, so much of the water of and from said stream as may or shall be or become necessary to forever supply from day to day and from year to year said city and the inhabitants thereof with an abundance of water for the extinguishment of fires and for domestic, sanitary, and other purposes as specified and provided for in and by ordinance numbered 167, of said city.
On motion, the Mayor, Councilmen Kretsinger, and Mr. J. P. Short were appointed a committee to examine the question of providing the city with fire hose and carts.
Winfield Courier, May 17, 1883.
Proceedings have been inaugurated by J. Wade McDonald, attorney, to condemn the water in the river above the Winfield Mills for the purposes of the City Waterworks, and Judge Torrance has appointed to appraise the damages R. F. Burden, G. L. Gale, and W. M. Sleeth.
Winfield Courier, May 24, 1883. [City Council Meeting.]
On motion it was resolved to ask the Winfield Water Company to give the city a bond of indemnity against loss or expense on account of possible suits concerning the condemnation proceedings for water works.
Winfield Courier, May 24, 1883. [Comments by correspondent Prentis.]
One thing has been lacking, that is soon to be supplied, to-wit: waterworks. The contract is now let, and in a short time six and a half miles of cast iron pipe will be laid, connecting with a reservoir of 2,000,000 gallons capacity, supplied by a Worthington pump. The reservoir is to be 108 feet above the level of Main Street, giving it all the pressure needed. The work is being done by a home company and will cost about $75,000.
Winfield Courier, May 31, 1883.
The Water Works company received a car load of pipe Monday and had them distributed along the line of the mains. The work of putting them down will be begun at once and prosecuted through to the end as rapidly as possible.
Winfield Courier, June 21, 1883.
The water mains are being laid along Main Street to Twelfth Avenue.
Winfield Courier, June 28, 1883.
The boiler for the water works came in Monday evening. It is a mammoth thing and covers a railroad car.
Mr. Maxwell, contractor on the Water Works, has gone to Leavenworth to employ a large force of men to assist in laying the pipes. Most of the Main Street line is now in and the hydrants set.
Winfield Courier, July 5, 1883.
A bid for the furnishing of hose and hose carts received by the city clerk discloses the fact that it will take about two thousand dollars to furnish the city with hose and carts with which to utilize their water privilege. Fifteen hundred feet is the amount of hose required, and 90 cents per foot in Chicago is the price asked. The hose carts will cost $175 each, and nozzles and fixtures a hundred more. Rather expensive, but they would be excellent things in a Fourth of July parade.
Winfield Courier, July 5, 1883.
Mr. Robt. Allison, of Winfield, spent a day or two in our town, this week, on business. He is a very agreeable gentleman, and we hope he will visit our town often. Mr. Allison has purchased a half interest in Grand Summit and will immediately commence the erection of several dwelling houses, a store building, and a blacksmith shop. M. L. Robinson, cashier of M. L. Read’s bank at Winfield, also owns a half interest in the town site. Grenola Chief.
Winfield Courier, July 5, 1883.
Messrs. Gale, Burden, and Sleeth, the commissioners appointed to condemn the water privilege for the Water Company, met Thursday and made the awards. Bliss & Wood were allowed twenty dollars as their share of the damage, the Tunnel Mill ten dollars. None of the mills were present to put forward their claims and it is understood will contest in the courts the right of the Water Company to take what they have before legally acquired.
Winfield Courier, July 19, 1883.
There are thirty-five hands now employed by Mr. Maxwell, contractor, on the water mains, and the work is moving along lively.
Winfield Courier, July 26, 1883.
Service pipe from the water mains was run into Read’s bank Monday.
The laying of the water works mains has left the streets in a very bad condition. It seems to us that the street crossings should be left in a passable condition, at any rate.
Winfield Courier, August 9, 1883.
The Water Works Company have made twenty-five taps so far.
Winfield Courier, August 9, 1883.
The hose and carts purchased by the city amount to over fourteen hundred dollars.
Winfield Courier, August 16, 1883.
The council met Monday evening and passed sidewalk ordinances for 7th Avenue East and Manning Street east side south of Tenth Avenue, six blocks. The Marshall was instructed to abate the nuisance existing in the hide house and back of the Commercial Hotel. There are various other loud-smelling places around the streets and back alleys that ought to be abated even without the authority of that honorable body. The council also changed the frontage of some lots near the Santa Fe depot on petition of M. L. Read, M. L. Robinson, and C. C. Pierce. The cellar digging bill of $331 was allowed and the report of committee on purchase of hose adopted. This embraces the purchase of about $1,400 worth of stuff. The matter of tax levy was laid over.
Winfield Courier, August 23, 1883.
At the special session of the council Monday evening, a tax levy of 5 mills for general purposes, 2-1/2 mills for fire department supplies, and 5 mills for paying off the Carpenter judgment, was made—12-1/2 mills in all.
An application for levy for water works rents was made and earnestly pressed by councilman Kretsinger, but the council seemed to think it was time enough to make the levy after the contract had been completed and so sat down on the proposition very hard.
Winfield Courier, August 30, 1883.
The engines of the water works company are in place and will be ready to start up by September 10th.
Winfield Courier, September 6, 1883.
The Water-works engines were started up Saturday, several hydrants opened, and Main Street flooded with water. Everything seemed to work nicely.
Winfield Courier, September 6, 1883.
The Water-works pumps were running Tuesday, furnishing water to consumers by direct pressure. Several lawn sprinklers were in operation.
Winfield Courier, September 13, 1883.
Our New Water-Works.
The two hose carts and one thousand feet of hose for the city, representing fourteen hundred dollars, arrived Tuesday. On Tuesday afternoon the hose was attached to the fire-plugs on Main street, the pressure put on, and the street fairly deluged with the bright, clear water of the Walnut. Solid streams shot over a hundred feet into the air with terrific force. It was indeed a grand sight to see the crystal drops sent whirling through the air from the five or six plugs running at once. Only a third of the power of the huge engine was brought to bear and yet so strong was the force that the nozzle of the hose at several different times downed the efforts of four or five men and they went sprawling around over the ground like some great serpent. The “fire company” turned the stream on everybody who ventured near enough, and the number of “drowned rats” was appalling to see. It produced much jovial excitement and was engineered by our city marshal, G. W. Prater. A constant pressure is now kept on the pipes and over fifty persons have taken water. Many lawn sprinklers are now affording relief from the brazen elements. But one leak has been found in the entire piping since the first test, which certainly reflects great credit upon the workmanship of Mr. John Maxwell, the contractor. The next thing in order to the completion of our fire department is the organizing of a fire company; this done, we can down any blaze that pokes up its head. The extraordinary ability of the superintendent, Frank Barclay, as a draughtsman, plumber, and machinist has been finely demonstrated by the quality and adeptness of the water-works machinery. Frank’s knowledge in this line can’t be beaten.
Winfield Courier, October 11, 1883.
The water works company has a large force of men at work on the mound east of town, building their reservoir. The work is under contract by James Conner, who expects to complete it by November first.
Winfield Courier, October 11, 1883.
Thirty men and eight or ten teams are at work on the water works reservoir.
Winfield Courier, November 22, 1883.
Fire Companies.
It is getting about time to organize fire companies in this city. We have the water, the hose, carts, and every necessary appliance except men to handle them. Let the Council, or someone in authority, arrange for the organization of rival companies, one in each ward, and get up some life and competition in the matter. The insurance rates have already been reduced from fifteen to twenty-five percent, but if some means of handling our fire protection is not speedily perfected, the old rates will be restored. Let everyone take hold of this matter and let us have two fire companies.
Winfield Courier, November 29, 1883.
The Water Company has closed a contract with the Brettun to furnish its supply of water.
The reservoir east of town will be completed and water turned in by the middle of December.
Winfield Courier, December 13, 1883.
THE WATER WORKS.
The Waterworks Company have notified the mayor and councilmen that they have completed the works and require a test to be made on or before the 15th.
This has raised the questions, whether the works are completed as the ordinance requires; what is the intent and meaning of the ordinance; and what test is required. The discussion of these questions has raised the points whether the city is bound to pay the hydrant rents whether water is furnished the city or not; whether the holders of the company’s bonds can compel the city to pay the interest on the bonds though no water is furnished the hydrants after the test is made, whether the test is satisfactory to the council or not.
We paid some attention to the ordinance when it was first before the council and were satisfied that it then protected the city’s interests in these respects. A week before the passage of the ordinance, we left for the east part of the state on railroad business and when we returned, the ordinance had been materially changed in many important particulars and had passed.
We have not scrutinized it since, until now, but have had no doubt that the intent and meaning of the councilmen in passing that ordinance was: that unless the company should furnish the required quantity of pure wholesome water, taken from a point where the drainage from the city and cemetery could not contaminate it, well filtered through an abundance of gravel; unless the works stood the test by reservoir pressure only and without pressure from the pumps, the council should not accept the works and that no hydrant rents should accrue until all these conditions should be accomplished; that in case there should afterwards be a time when any of these conditions were not maintained, the rents for hydrants should cease to accrue during such time as such deficiency existed, and that the bond holders could not get from the city any interest in excess of what had thus accrued as due from the city.
But it is now claimed that it cuts no figure whether the water is pure or not; whether a
sufficient reservoir is constructed or not. The company can compel the test when they choose and if the force of the pumps proves sufficient to throw six streams from six hose of fifty feet each through inch nozzles to the height of sixty feet for one second only, the council is compelled to accept the work and the hydrant rents will commence to accrue from that date; and that no failure to supply pure water, or to supply any water at all; no failure to keep the works in repair; no failure of the reservoir; no failure in any direction, will release the city from the payment of the interest or any part of it on the company’s bonds, or in any way interrupt the accruing of the rents of hydrants against the city. That from the moment the test is made, the city is bound to pay the full sum of three thousand a year and sixty-five per year for each other hydrant in addition to the original forty, and pay to that extent the interest on the company’s bonds; and there is no escape, whatever the delinquencies of the water company. We are told that the company “don’t care a continental” whether the city council accepts the waterworks or not, for “the company have got the city foul” and it cannot help itself.
This kind of talk has called our special attention to the ordinance and after scrutinizing it carefully, we find a great many specious insertions and omissions which seem to bear the construction which the water company puts upon it. It has been fixed up by sharp men and shrewd lawyers in such a way as to conceal the claws of the animal, the tricks to catch the city, and at the same time, the words to protect the city are as speciously omitted in such a way as to leave the impression that they still remain. So while the ordinance has words that seem to bear the construction which the company now place upon it, there is nothing which openly denies the meaning which the council believed they were voting for, and there seems to be only two ways for the council to act; to surrender to the waterworks company all they claim or to test the matter in the courts. Of course, we are decidedly in favor of the latter course.
We find from the ordinance that the company agrees to build an engine house according to certain specifications; provide a pump capable of throwing a million gallons of water into a reservoir one hundred feet higher than main street in twenty-four hours; a reservoir capable of storing two million gallons; a boiler; five and a half miles of pipe with certain specification; and forty hydrants. The works, when completed, to be capable of throwing six streams sixty feet high through 50 ft. of hose and inch nozzles; to extend mains and build additional hydrants when required by the city council; to make a satisfactory test as to the capacity of the pumps and the throwing of fire streams; and to keep said works at all times up to the standard of such tests; to lay the pipe in certain streets; to leave the streets in as good condition as before if practicable; to charge consumers not exceeding a certain schedule of rates for water; to keep the said works always in operation and supply the city and its inhabitants with an ample quantity of well settled and wholesome water; and to do their business in Winfield.
The above in substance is absolutely all that the company agreed in words to do. It is provided that in case any hydrant shall remain out of repair more than one day after notice, ten days rental of that hydrant shall be deducted for each day it remains out of working order through the fault or neglect of the company. This is the only penalty for not fulfilling, prescribed in words. It is provided that the hydrants rented by the city shall be used exclusively for extinguishing fires, drill practice, and flushing gutters.
The city grants the company the right of way in the city for ninety-nine years and agrees to condemn for the company such property in and out of the city which they require. The named consideration for this is, “for supplying the city and its citizens with water for domestic, sanitary, and other purposes as well as the protection of the city against disaster from fires.”
The city agrees to pay three thousand dollars a year for the use of forty hydrants, sixty-five dollars a year for each hydrant in excess of 40 up to a hundred, $60 for each in excess of a hundred up to 150, $50 in excess of 150 up to 200, and $25 in excess of 200; and out of which to pay the interest on the company’s bonds to the extent of the amount due the company for hydrant rents but not in excess of such amount. The named consideration for this is “the benefit that will accrue to the city of Winfield by the construction of such a system of water works as contemplated herein.”
It is provided that the city may locate the mains and hydrants; and may buy the works at the end of ten years and every five years thereafter at the appraised value of “the works, choses in action, property, and franchises belonging or appertaining to said water works.”
The above is substantially all there is in the ordinance, certainly all that bears upon the questions in dispute. All else is left to implication and any question not settled by the words of the contract, in our opinion, must be settled by the meaning and intent on which the councilmen intended when they passed that ordinance; if indeed, the ordinance is not void altogether. So while the ordinance is very weak on the part of the city, we do not think it quite certain that the water company have yet gobbled up the whole city and all it contains. We do not quite see that the company has got the city so foul that she cannot help herself. We are not quite convinced that the city must pay three to six thousand dollars a year anyhow—whether any water is supplied or not.
We hold that the city council cannot see a satisfactory test of the water works until everything that the company have agreed to do is complied with. We do not doubt that the pump is sufficient to throw water sixty feet high from six hydrants and that alone may be satisfactory to the company, but not a satisfactory test to the city council. It must do it by reservoir pressure alone first. They should not take part in the test or accept the work at present.
The ordinance does not require the city to make the test or take part in it. Neither does it require the council to accept the work in any contingency. It should never take part in any test and should never accept the works until the whole works are completed according to contract; until reservoir pressure is sufficient; and until they supply an ample quantity of well settled and wholesome water. And further, they should take no part until it is determined authoritatively that the city will not be holden to pay hydrant rents in interests on the company’s bonds, or in any other way for such time as the works are not maintained up to contract thereafter.
No councilman ought to be satisfied with any test until all these things are tested and satisfactory.
It is a notorious fact that the reservoir does not hold water well and there are strong doubts if its strength is sufficient to hold two millions of gallons. It is a notorious fact that the water supplied by the pumps is foul, that it is not well settled and filtered, not wholesome; that it is taken from a place in the river where it takes the drainage from the north part of the city and from the cemetery. These must certainly be remedied before there can be a satisfactory test. Then the council should get the best legal advice and have the question of the city’s liability to pay the rents for such time as the works are not maintained up to test settled judiciously before the test can be satisfactory. If as it is claimed, it makes no difference as to the city’s liabilities whether the test is made by the council and the works accepted or not, the council will do no harm by keeping their fingers out of it, and if it would make a difference, in the interest of the city, the council should now take no part in it.
Winfield Courier, December 20, 1883.
A social party were entertained at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. H. Buckman on Tuesday evening. The guests present were:
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Rembaugh, Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Pryor, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Black, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Doane, Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Spotswood, Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Bahntge, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Green, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brown, Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Millington, Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Soward, Mr. and Mrs. Henry E. Asp, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Horning, Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Troup; Mrs. Schofield, Mrs. G. H. Allen; Misses Josie Bard, Jennie B. Hane, Nettie R. McCoy, Margie Wallis, Sadie French, Jessie Millington; Messrs. M. O’Meara, R. B. Rodelph, Louis B. Zenor, E. H. Nixon, W. H. Smith, H. Bahntge, L. H. Webb. The affair was delightful in every way, and the guests were profuse in their thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Buckman for their many and pleasant attentions which secured them so much enjoyment.
Winfield Courier, December 13, 1883.
Council met Monday evening, and fixed the day for the water-works test at next Monday at 1:30 p.m. The clerk was ordered to invite the mayors and councilmen of neighboring towns to be present and observe the same. The council also instructed the mayor to appoint a committee of three disinterested citizens to examine and report upon the works. The mayor was also given power to arrange for the entertainment of the visitors.
Winfield Courier, December 13, 1883.
Water was turned into the reservoir Friday and about four feet pumped in when it sprung a leak. The water was then drawn off and the breaks are now being repaired. During our limited career as a “hydraulic engineer,” we formed a theory that a successful reservoir must be constructed something on the order of a wash basin. At least this is the plan upon which nature constructs her reservoirs, and nature is an excellent authority.
Winfield Courier, December 13, 1883.
The leak in the reservoir was repaired Tuesday and about a million gallons were pumped in Tuesday night. The water is now about five feet deep, and the basin holds well.
Winfield Courier, December 20, 1883.
Water Works Test.
The Water Works were tested Monday in the presence of a large crowd of people. Six streams were first put on with reservoir pressure and the streams were thrown to the height of the Post Office. Afterwards the reservoir valve was closed and the pressure from the pumps forced the streams to a height of seventy or eighty feet. The committee appointed by the council examined the pumps and reservoir on Saturday and made measurements of the streams on Monday. The reservoir test of the throwing capacity did not come up to the expectations of many who witnessed it. One or two of the six streams with reservoir pressure alone would not do execution on a two story building. The fact that the reservoir was less than half full of water when the test commenced perhaps had a depressing effect on the force of the streams thrown.
Winfield Courier, December 20, 1883.
During the water works test on Monday, Jo. Harter and Henry Goldsmith had some of their goods injured by the streams from the hose being turned on their respective places of business. The loss was satisfactorily adjusted by the water company.
Winfield Courier, December 27, 1883.
More Water Works.
At the council meeting last Friday evening, the special committee on water works made the following report.
To the honorable mayor and councilmen of Winfield.
The undersigned having been appointed by his honor, the mayor of said city, as a committee to inspect and report on the condition of the Winfield water works, respectfully submit the following.
We find the engine house and coal shed required by section 3 of Ordinance No. 167 to be of the required capacity, of good material, and well constructed.
The works were submitted to the tests required by sections 3, 4, and 12 of said ordinance on the 17th and 18th days of December, 1883, with the following result, viz: The pumping capacity of the works were tested by measuring the depth of the water in the reservoir and after two hours pumping, measured again, when there was found to be an increase of depth of five and one eighth inches, which indicates a pumping capacity of one million and twenty-five thousand gallons in 24 hours. Said reservoir being 103 feet higher than Main street and capable of storing two millions one hundred thousand gallons of water. The boiler is of sufficient size to make with easy firing ample steam to supply the pumping machinery.
By actual test and measurement by triangulation we found the works capable of throwing six streams through fifty feet of 2 ½ inch rubber hose and one inch ring nozzle sixty-five feet high from six of the highest hydrants on Main street.
We believe that the pipe system is of the required length and capacity, the pipes are of good quality and properly laid, and that the hydrants are such as are required by ordinance.
The meaning of section fifteen is somewhat ambiguous. If practicable, simply means passable, then no doubt the section has been complied with, but it would seem that the present condition of the streets and alleys might be considerably improved.
We believe that the works throughout are thoroughly constructed and if maintained in their present condition will furnish the city and citizens with an ample supply of water for all necessary purposes.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
T. R. BRYAN, S. C. SMITH, CHARLES SCHMIDT.
The committee, having failed to report on whether the water was “pure and wholesome,” “and the reservoir capable of storing” two million gallons of water, the report was referred back to them for a report on these points and the mayor instructed to appoint two additional members to the committee, one of whom should be a physician. The members of the original committee say they have reported all they can in the matter.
It seems to be the strong sentiment of the council not to accept the works until it is ascertained whether or not the reservoir will store two million gallons, and the city fully protected on all sides.
Editorial...involves M. L. Robinson and Millington.
Winfield Courier, January 10, 1884.
THE NARROW GAUGE.
Maj. Hanson and Col. Doniphan were in town Saturday on the narrow gauge business and flattered us by calling on us to argue us into abandoning our position on the conditions which should be included in the proposition to make it worthy of support. They are able men, but even abler men have called us the past week on the same errand and in every instance we thought we came nearer to convincing the missionary than he us.
Probably the best way to convince us is the course that Mart Robinson has taken for the last three weeks, that is to rent a few columns in the Telegram and fill them with not very flattering eulogisms on the editor of the COURIER, attributing to him many awful things. Feeling as Clark did that it was better to be abused than not to be noticed at all, we have found nothing which we cared to reply to, and we are much obliged to him for spending so much of his valuable time both in writing and talking to everybody he meets in advertising us and soliciting his supposed friends to sit down on us. When he really gets down to business and says something worth noticing, we may unbend and give him another racket, but not now, for we have more important matters in hand. We will merely remark in reply to his statement to the effect that we were waiting to be subsidized, to be bought up, before supporting the narrow gauge proposition that he is one of the men who knew from certain experience in that direction that it is, sometimes, at least impossible to buy us up. We do not apprehend that the great numbers of our friends who think about as we do of the present proposition will fear that we are going to sell out and abandon them. They will not be disappointed who expect us to adhere substantially to the position we have taken and stay with them.
THE MEETING.
Well, a narrow gauge railroad meeting was held at the Brettun House, Saturday morning, and quite a crowd of Winfield men attended. To spike our gun, we suppose, we were chosen chairman, and C. C. Black was made secretary. Maj. Hanson and Col. Doniphan made excellent speeches showing advantages of narrow gauges and this projected one in particular. M. G. Troup made a bright short speech, the only point of which was that we were captions, but M. L. Robinson was the orator of the day and occupied most of the time. The chairman’s views being asked for, he asked the reading of the petition to be circulated or in circulation and then pointed out a great many amendments that should be made to render it worthy of the support of the voters of this county. The parties objected to making any of the changes asked for, stated that they intended and expected to do many of the things asked for, but objected to putting their part of the contract in writing by the side of the part of the county.
The meeting passed the following resolution offered by M. L. Robinson and then adjourned.
Resolved, That, whereas the great needs of Cowley County and Southern Kansas are coal, lumber, wood, posts, lower rates for transportation, and new markets, and believing that the early building of a railroad connecting the systems of a narrow gauge railroad of the south and east with those of Colorado, Utah, and the west, would be of incalculable benefit to this whole country and to Cowley County in particular putting us at an early day on a through line across the continent. It is therefore the sense of this meeting that it would be for the best interest of Cowley County to aid such an enterprise by voting aid thereto in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars under the laws of the state: one half of said aid to be delivered to said enterprise when the railroad is completed and cars running thereon to Winfield, and balance of such aid to be delivered when the line is completed and the cars running across the county. And we hereby pledge ourselves to support such propositions with our best efforts and that this resolution be published in our city papers and such papers be invited to use their best influence to carry such proposition.
When we entered the meeting we did not know that there was a single man present who sympathized with our views on this question, but Hon. J. McDermott supported us by a short pointed speech and there were about seven or eight noes in the vote on the resolution. After the adjournment some of the most intelligent men in the meeting, men who had been supporting the proposition heartily as it is, came to us and told us our position was right, said they would be with us, and would oppose the bonds unless substantially the amendments we demanded were made. We are satisfied from what we have heard through the county that in its present cut-throat form, the proposition would be snowed under by an overwhelming majority; but that if placed in the form we recommended, it would be carried.
Mind we do not consider the COURIER the leader in this matter. It is the mouthpiece of the sentiments of the people generally as we believe and as expressed to us by many. We give them such facts as we have learned by rubbing against railroad builders. They draw the conclusions and any sensible man should know what they will be.
Winfield Courier, January 17, 1884.
DIED. Died on Tuesday evening, January 15th, Mrs. Robinson, mother of M. L., W. C., Geo. W., and Ivan Robinson.
Mrs. Robinson was past sixty-five years of age, and the mother of nine children, seven boys and two girls. Her health has been failing for the past year, but her death was hastened by an attack of pneumonia.
The funeral services will be held from the M. E. Church this (Thursday) afternoon at 2 o’clock.
Winfield Courier, January 24, 1884.
DIED. Mrs. Sarah A. Robinson was born in Xenia, Ohio, in 1819; where she resided until 1855, when she removed with her family to Pickway, Illinois, and in the year 1876 from thence she removed to Winfield, Kansas. She was the mother of nine children, seven of whom survive her and deeply mourn her decease. She was a good neighbor, a kind and indulgent mother, and faithful in the discharge of all life’s duties. In very early life she was converted and joined the M. E. Church, in which fellowship she lived until death, always adorning her profession with an upright walk and godly conversation. She was for many months a great sufferer, but in all most patient and hopeful, and when near the hour of midnight on the 16th, death came to release her from suffering, she seemed already in sight of Heaven, and, without a fear or doubt, she took leave of earthly friends to join the companionship of the skies. Her funeral was on last Thursday from the M. E. Church, the services being conducted by the pastor, Rev. Jones, assisted by Rev. Kirkwood, of the Presbyterian Church. Her remains were followed to the grave by a large concourse of friends, who deeply deplore her loss.
Winfield Courier, January 31, 1884.
BONANZA FOUND.
After a long and patient study of the narrow gauge proposition to find something in it to refute our statement that there is no forfeiture provided in the proposition, but that under it $100,000 of the county bonds must be delivered when the road is built through the county if that is not in a hundred years; M. L. Robinson has discovered the object of his search in the last paragraph but one, which obliges the county to deliver $50,000 of the bonds when the road is built to Winfield and the other $50,000 when it is built through the county, “provided, said railroad shall be built and completed and in operation (by lease or otherwise) as aforesaid.”
These last words, “as aforesaid,” are the bonanza wanted; and he says, make a forfeiture clause because they relate to time. We say they only answer the question “how?” and not the question “when?” and relate only to specifications and not to time. We do not consider them ambiguous even, but ambiguity in such a case is even worse than an explicit statement that there is to be no forfeit, for in a written contract language is construed to mean no more than it plainly says. There was no need of any ambiguity unless the writer intended to cover up something by the ambiguity. Had he meant it should state a time limit, he would have made the clause read, “by the time aforesaid.” And if he had honestly meant to express a forfeiture, he would have made the whole proviso read: “Provided that said railroad shall be completed and in operation from the county line to Winfield on or before January 1, 1885, and through the county on or before October 1, 1885; otherwise no bonds shall be issued by the said county and its subscription to the stock of said company shall be void.”
There would have been no doubt of the meaning of this language and it would have been stated in this way or in some other way equally explicit if it had been meant in that way. The writer of that petition knew well how to select language to express all he wished to express and to conceal as well as possible all he wished to conceal. He evidently was a disciple of Metternich, the great Austrian “diplomat,” who defined language as a means provided by which a man can conceal his thoughts and intentions.
Winfield Courier, January 31, 1884.
WATERWORKS ACCEPTED.
The city councilmen at their meeting Monday evening accepted the waterworks, Messrs. Kretsinger, McMullen, and McGuire voting aye; Mr. Wilson and Mayor Emerson opposing. This was hastily done while the reservoir had never been filled to test whether it was strong enough to hold two million gallons of water as required by the ordinance and while the question of whether the company had a right to the water from the “mill pond” was pending in the court. Since the acceptance the court has decided that the company have no right to use the water, thus leaving the city with a dry, waterless waterworks on its hands and $3,000 a year tax. We expected Kretsinger would vote for an acceptance whether there was any water in the reservoir or not, but we were surprised beyond measure when McMullen went over thus early and McGuire with him, while we honor Mr. Wilson and the mayor for their conservative and prudent course in the interests of the city. We do not mean to reflect on the motives of the gentlemen who voted for acceptance. We give them credit for doing what they considered just and proper in the case, and we hold them in higher respect, but we think they have made a mistake.
Winfield Courier, January 31, 1884.
STONE.
A Company Formed to Develop the Future Leading Industry of this Section.
A New Quarry Opened and Switches Being Put In.
The Facilities of the Company Unlimited to Supply Foreign or Local Orders.
It has always been the thought of good businessmen in Winfield, from the time the town started, that one of the most certain and enduring elements in the future wealth of the city, was the seams and layers of pure magnesian limestone that crops out at the surface at such convenient distances from the future great city of the Walnut Valley. Up to the time of the completion of the first railroad, the quarries were worked for local purposes. The stone worked easily and could be put into foundations and good buildings cheaper than any other material. About this time our magnificent system of sidewalks was commenced, which has made the city celebrated. Flagging twenty feet square, and the surface as smooth as if it were dressed, was taken out, and published the fame of the Winfield quarries.
When the railroads were completed, it was naturally anticipated that switches would be put in by the railroads and that capital and energy would at once combine to develop this important industry; but months lengthened into years, and while Wichita, Wellington, and other cities wanted the stone, the demand could not be supplied, and they were obliged to go to Strong City and other places for both cut and dimension stone. Without railroad facilities, it was simply impossible, with the best endeavors on the part of the quarrymen doing business here, to supply the ever-increasing demand.
About two months ago an advertisement was inserted in the Kansas City Journal, offering to sell the brick and tile works located here, and in answer to that Mr. J. E. Parkins, of Kansas City, came here with a view of buying the yard. From the very first, his attention was attracted to the character of our stone. He talked with businessmen and showed that he had upwards of thirty years’ experience in quarrying, and in the erection of government buildings and railroad work, and that our stone was as good as any in the world; and he stated that with the completion of his contract of the Kansas City post office, he would open up these quarries. A company was at once organized and the Land quarry was purchased. The tract embraces ten acres, and is east of the Southern Kansas railroad, and about a half mile north of the cemetery.
A large force of hands are now at work grading for a switch, and room will be provided for twenty cars. The foreign output for this reason will be about ten car loads a day, and the necessary force to supply that demand will be at work during the coming month.
The brick and the works near the Santa Fe depot now form a part of the Winfield Stone, Brick & Tile Company’s property, and the large engine now there will do the work of sawing, cutting, and turning the stone, in addition to its former duties. The stone that is to be dressed will be loaded in cars at the quarry and carried to the town yard, where skilled workmen put it into all the various shapes in which cut stone is used. It will be worked into many forms never before attempted here.
Additional machinery for making brick will be put in and a quality of brick, both pressed and common, will be furnished that is second to none in the market.
A storehouse for the sale of lime, cement, and kindred products, will be at once erected. The quarry and the yard will be connected by telephone.
The officers of the company are as follows: M. L. Read, President; J. E. Conklin, Secretary; M. L. Robinson, Treasurer; and J. E. Parkins, General Superintendent. About fifty men will be employed, and everything will be done that knowledge united with skill, energy with well-directed impulse, and capital without limit can do to make the stone interest the leading manufacturing industry of Cowley County. In this work we are all interested, and the COURIER wishes the Winfield Stone, Brick & Tile Company an unlimited amount of success.
Winfield Courier, January 31, 1884.
[Portion of City Council Meeting Minutes.]
The following resolution, accepting the Water-works system, was presented by J. Wade McDonald, attorney of the Water-works Company, and passed by the Council after considerable discussion.
Be it resolved, by the Mayor and Councilmen of the City of Winfield, That the system of Water-works constructed in and adjacent to the city, by the Winfield Water Company, in pursuance with provisions of Ordinance No. 167, be, and the same are, hereby accepted; and the contract embodied in said Ordinance is hereby ratified and confirmed unto the said Winfield Water Company as the successor in interest and assignees of the rights of Frank Barclay, J. L. Horning, W. P. Hackney, J. B. Lynn, W. C. Robinson, J. Wade McDonald, and M. L. Robinson, the grantees named in and by said Ordinance No. 167 of the said city; and that the hydrant rentals mentioned and provided for in and by said Ordinance shall accrue from said city to said Water Company from and after the 17th day of December, A. D., 1883. This acceptance is subject to all the requirements on the part of said Water Company, in said Ordinance contained.
The city attorney was instructed to submit a written opinion as to the liability of the city under such acceptance, and the city clerk was instructed to spread the same upon the minutes of the meeting.
Winfield Courier, January 31, 1884. [Court Notes.]
Bliss & Wood brought action against the Water Company to have it retrained from taking water from their Mill pond. The demurrer was argued at last before the court last week, by McDermott & Johnson for plaintiff and Wade McDonald for defendant. On Monday the Court rendered judgment in favor of the plaintiffs. The Case will go to the Supreme Court.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
THE WATER WORKS DECISION.
Following is the full text of the decision of Judge Torrance in the water works case, in which Bliss & Wood are plaintiffs, and the Winfield Water Company is defendant.
STATEMENT OF CASE.
The decision of this case arises upon a general demurrer interposed by the plaintiffs to the defendant’s answer. The petition in the case, in substance, alleges that the plaintiffs are owners of a mill pond on the Walnut River, in this county, and of lands adjacent thereto, upon which they have constructed a valuable flouring and grist mill, which they are operating by means of the water power furnished by said mill pond; that the defendant is a private corporation created under the laws of this State, and that it has constructed and is operating a system of water works in the city of Winfield, for the purpose of supplying said city with water, and for that purpose is diverting large quantities of water from the plaintiffs’ said mill pond. The petition prays for a perpetual injunction. By way of defense to the cause of action stated in plaintiffs’ petition, the defendant in its answer, alleges that it is a private corporation, duly incorporated under the laws of this State, for the purpose of constructing and maintaining, adjacent to and within the city of Winfield, a system of water works for the purpose of supplying said city with water; that said city of Winfield is a city of the second class, duly incorporated as such under the laws of this State; that the Mayor and Councilmen of said city duly passed an ordinance granting to Frank Barclay, J. L. Horning, J. Wade McDonald, W. C. Robinson, J. B. Lynn, W. P. Hackney, and M. L. Robinson, and their assigns, the privilege of constructing, operating, and maintaining, for the period of ninety-nine years, a system of water works within the corporate limits of said city, for the purpose of supplying its inhabitants with water, and for the better protection of said city against disaster from fires. This ordinance invests the grantees named therein with full power, for the period of ninety-nine years, to lay pipes in the streets, alleys, and other public places within said city, and to extend such pipes, and to erect hydrants, fountains, conduits, or such other useful and ornamental structures as may be necessary for the successful operation of such works. The ordinance further provides that at the expiration of certain specified periods, after the completion of the works, the city shall have the right to purchase the works from the grantees named in the ordinance, or their assigns, upon terms and conditions expressed in the ordinance. The ordinance in terms provides that it shall constitute a contract between the city and the grantees named therein, and their assigns, and shall be binding on all parties upon the acceptance of its provisions by the grantees named therein, or their assigns. In section 14 of the ordinance, the city expressly agrees as a part of the franchise and contract embraced in the ordinance, that it will, upon the request in writing of the grantees named therein, or their assigns, proceed without delay to exercise its right of eminent domain in the condemnation of any lots, parcels, or pieces of ground, or of water or any water privilege, that may be necessary to the proper and convenient construction and maintenance of the system of water works provided for in the ordinance, provided the said grantees, or their assigns, shall pay all costs and expenses incident to such condemnation proceedings, including the cost of all property so condemned. This section also provides that the right to the free and exclusive use and enjoyment of all property so condemned shall vest and remain in said grantees, and their assigns, so long as the franchise and contract provided for in the ordinance shall remain in force and effect. The answer of the defendant further alleges that, after the passage, and due publication of said ordinance, the grantees therein named duly assigned to the defendant corporation all the right, title, and interest granted to and vested in them, under the provisions of said ordinance; that afterwards the defendant notified said city of the fact of such assignment, and that as such assignee it accepted the franchise and contract granted by and embodied in said ordinance, and that the city of Winfield thereupon assented to such assignment, and accepted the defendant in the place and stead of the original grantees named in the ordinance; that afterwards, and in pursuance of section 14 of said ordinance, the City Council of said city proceeded to condemn, and did condemn in its own name, the right to forever divert from the said mill pond of the plaintiffs, sufficient quantities of water to operate and maintain a system of water works, and to supply the inhabitants of the city of Winfield with water therefrom. These condemnation proceedings were had under the provisions of an act of the Legislature of the State entitled, “An act authorizing cities to construct water works,” approved February 27th, 1872, and a subsequent act of the Legislature, amendatory thereof, approved March 8, 1883, and the proceedings seem upon their face to be regular and valid. The answer further alleges that the defendant corporation afterwards constructed the system of water works provided for in said ordinance, and that it is now operating the same, and is diverting from the plaintiffs’ mill pond, by virtue of such condemnation proceedings, only such quantities of water as are necessary for the operation of its works in the supplying of the city of Winfield with water.
OPINION OF THE COURT.
The power of eminent domain, or the right of the public to appropriate private property to public uses, is one of the attributes of political sovereignty. This power remains dormant, and is unavailable even to the State itself, until legislative action is had, pointing out the occasions, the modes, and conditions under which it may be exercised. The Legislature may at once by direct legislative enactment, appropriate property; or it may delegate such authority to some public or private agency to be exercised by it upon the occasions, and in the mode and under the conditions specified in the act conferring the right. But no person nor corporation, either public or private, however pressing may be the public necessity therefor, is competent to employ the power of eminent domain unless such power has been expressly vested in said person or corporation by an act of the Legislature; and then only in the mode and under the conditions and for the uses expressed in the act. This legislative delegation of the right of eminent domain partakes of the nature of a personal appointment or trust, and the authority thus conferred cannot be delegated to another, or in any manner transferred or assigned, by the person or corporation clothed with the power by the act of the legislature. It seems to me that the principles of law thus far stated are clearly supported by the text writers upon the subject, and by the adjudged cases. The question now arises whether a city of the second class, empowered to exercise this right by the act of the legislature above referred to, for the purpose of supplying its inhabitants with water, has the power to contract with a private corporation, organized under the laws of this state for the purpose of supplying such city with water, to condemn the necessary lands and water privileges to enable such private corporation to construct and operate its waterworks, and in pursuance of such contract lawfully condemn the lands or water privileges of third persons for the benefit of such private corporation. It seems to me that this is a correct statement of the question of law raised by the demurrer to the defendant’s answer. It is true the city of Winfield may in one sense be benefitted by the use of the water proposed to be furnished by the defendant corporation. It is also true that when a private corporation is duly empowered by the legislature to take private property for the construction of works of public utility, the fact that it has a pecuniary interest in the construction of such works does not preclude it from being regarded as a proper agency in respect to the public good which is sought to be promoted. Under our statutes, however, a private water corporation has no authority delegated to it by the legislature to exercise the right of eminent domain. So it seems to me that the contract of the city of Winfield to secure the necessary condemnation proceedings was primarily, and in the just sense of the term, for the benefit of the defendant corporation. The ordinance itself provides that the exclusive use and enjoyment of the property condemned by the city shall vest and remain in the grantees therein named, and their assigns. The act of our legislature under which the condemnation proceedings were had in this case is entitled, “An act authorizing cities to construct waterworks.” This act grants to cities of the second class full power and authority, on behalf of such cities, to contract for and procure the construction of waterworks for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants of such cities with water for domestic use, the extinguishment of fires, and for manufacturing and other purposes. It provides that the city council shall have power and authority to condemn and appropriate, in the name and for the use of the city, any such lands or water privileges, located in or out of the corporate limits thereof, as may be necessary for the construction and operation of such waterworks. It further provides that when the council shall determine to condemn any land or water privilege for the purpose aforesaid, it shall cause a petition to be presented in the name of the city to the judge of the district court of the county in which said city is situated, setting forth the necessity of the appropriation of lands or water privileges for the erection and operation of waterworks, and requesting the appointment of three commissioners to lay off and condemn such lands or water privileges as may be necessary for such purpose, and to make an appraisement and assessment of damages. The act provides that the subsequent proceedings shall be governed by the provisions of the statute relative to the condemnation of lands by railroad corporations (with but one exception), so far as the same are applicable. It also provides that upon the completion of the condemnation proceedings the city shall be vested with the right to perpetually use the property condemned for the purpose of such water works. The act also empowers the council to issue the bonds of the city to defray the cost of such water works, after the question of their issue has been determined in the affirmative by a majority of the electors of such city. The act further empowers and makes it the duty of the council to fix the rate of water rents to be paid by consumers, and to ordain such rules and regulations, with appropriate penalties for the violation of the same, as the council may deem proper for the regulation and protection of such water works, and, lastly, the act authorizes the council to appoint such engineers and other officers to superintend and operate such water works, both during and after the construction of the same, as may be necessary, and to do all acts and things for the erection, operation, alteration, and repair of such water works as may from time to time, in the judgment of the council, be necessary. It is evident, both from the title and body of this act, that it was the intention of the legislature to empower cities of the second class to construct water works for their own benefit and at their own expense, and to have the exclusive control and management of the same. And to this end the act authorizes the city council to exercise the right of eminent domain in the condemnation and appropriation of such lands and water privileges as may be necessary for that purpose, in the name and for the perpetual use of the city in the maintenance and operation of such water works. The only warrant which the city has is to be found in this act; and the only authority conferred by the act is the appropriation of property for the benefit of the city alone. When the property of an individual is sought to be divested against his will by authority of law, courts should not permit the authority conferred to be extended by intendment beyond the fair import of the language used, and should require a strict compliance with the provisions of the law by which the authority is delegated. If the legislature had intended that the power of eminent domain should be invoked in aid of water works to be constructed by private water corporations, it would have delegated the right to exercise such power to such corporations themselves, or to some other agency empowered to act on their behalf. The fact that the legislature has omitted to do so is satisfactory evidence to my mind that it did not intend to delegate the power in such cases. I have had but little time to examine the law bearing upon the point involved in this demurrer, and I would be very loth to thus hastily decide this case if I thought there was any probability that my decision would finally determine the rights of the parties. I thought it proper however, as the matter to be determined was of some general interest to the citizens of this city, to reduce the reasons for my decision to writing. In my present view of the law I am of the opinion the demurrer should be sustained, and it is so ordered.
E. S. TORRANCE, Judge.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Coal.
A coal company has been formed for the purpose of prospecting for coal here. Quite a large sum has already been subscribed to prosecute the work and it is the intention of the company to begin work as soon as the necessary boring machinery can be secured. This enterprise is a most important one for our City. There is no doubt but that our town is underlaid by coal deposits and all it needs is enterprise to develop them. The following gentlemen are the incorporators: W. P. Hackney, M. L. Robinson, B. F. Cox, J. L. Horning, C. C. Black, J. M. Keck, O. M. Reynolds, C. L. Harter, S. C. Smith, and Geo. Emerson.
Winfield Courier, February 14, 1884.
WANTS A NEW ORGAN.
We understand that M. L. Robinson intends to start another newspaper as a personal organ. We do not understand why he wants to kill off the Telegram in that way. It is a very good organ. So is the Cambridge News.
Winfield Courier, February 14, 1884.
COMPLIMENTARY.
Some History on Railroads and Water-Works.
The “literary bureau” is exceedingly complimentary to us in devoting nearly all its energies to attacks on us through its organs, and not very complimentary to the narrow gauge proposition in not saying much in its defense. If it had any defense of this cut-throat proposition, it would doubtless devote more space to that subject and less to us.
We do not suppose that its statement concerning our support in 1878 of the Schofield proposition and our opposition to the Santa Fe proposition will do us any hurt. If the Telegram should tell the truth about it, it would probably hurt us more. But as we do not wish to enjoy a credit that we do not deserve, we will state that we treated Schofield’s proposition just as we have treated every other railroad proposition that has been presented for our acceptance. We demanded such concessions and changes as we thought would best secure the interests of the county and got some of them conceded. We were anxious to get that road built as it has always been a favorite direction with us; we were anxious to get any road—too anxious as it now appears. But the Schofield proposition was not submitted to the county because of bad treatment and opposition from persons in the Santa Fe interest.
Then came the Santa Fe proposition to build the C. S. & F. S. railroad. We met that proposition as courteously as we had the Schofield proposition, but labored hard to get a limit of a hundred thousand dollars for the bonds to be issued by the county, a limit of six percent interest on them, a limit of $10,000 a mile on the stock to be issued, a limit of $10,000 a mile in the issue of mortgage bonds, etc. Some of these were conceded, but not enough to make the stock worth something as we then thought it would; and then fearing that we should lose the road, if we did not accept it in the way it was finally submitted, we went to work with a will to carry the bonds and we do not think that those who read the COURIER during that canvass will accuse us of being very conceited if we say that we did more than all the supporters of this narrow gauge proposition put together, to carry the bonds, or if we should say that the bonds could not have been carried without the help of the COURIER.
Now these facts will not commend us to perhaps a majority of the citizens of this county who think we then made a serious mistake and that if the people of this county had held out for a limit of seventy-five thousand or even less, we should have got the road all the same. As it is, it was a dead gift of $128,000 to that company and a liability to give them another $16,000 whenever they take a notion to build four miles of road from Arkansas City to the state line.
Neither do we expect that its statement concerning our course with regard to the water-works will hurt us much, but we would choose that it should tell the truth about it and leave out the falsehoods.
Before we had spoken or printed a word against the original water-works proposition, and while we were beginning to look into and investigate the proposition; the originator of that scheme offered us an equal chance with himself in the company if we would support it. We answered that we would consider and look into the scheme and give him our answer in a day or two. Two days thereafter he came into our office for his answer and we told him the scheme was “too big a job and we could not support it, that on the contrary we would oppose it unless it was modified so as to make it very much better for the city.” It was after this that we commenced our opposition, a record of which appeared in the columns of the COURIER.
Our investigations had convinced us that the passage of that ordinance would amount to giving the water company outright $100,000 at the expense of the city and that we could just as surely get the water-works with a gift franchise not worth one-fourth of that sum. We did not interfere with Ed. Greer’s proposition in any way. He spent his own money in traveling and visiting other water-works and water-works builders, and secured such aid and backing as would have enabled him to get the water-works put in on the terms of the ordinance he presented to the Council. We examined his ordinance and concluded that it would be a good thing for him and perhaps save the city $75,000 or more in taxes and otherwise if it should be adopted instead of the original Barclay-Robinson ordinance, which we concluded would be adopted unless something better for the city was presented. So we let him take his own course and shoulder the whole fight. The result was that Robinson had to come down very nearly to the terms of Ed’s ordinance in order to get his proposition through, and Ed’s work saved the city a considerable sum in yearly rents and made it possible for the city to buy out the plant in ten years at a cost of perhaps $75,000 less for the gift franchise than it would otherwise have been. We doubt not that Ed. will get the credit of this as he is entitled to it. The story about Ed. offering a councilman ten thousand dollars in stock for his vote for his ordinance was fabricated to tone down the appearance that a Councilman sold out. That Councilman was all along so stubbornly opposed to the original scheme and so warmly in favor of Ed.’s ordinance when it was presented that Ed. considered his vote certain for him and of course did not offer to buy what he already had or felt sure of.
What we concluded then and what we still think is; that if the city was bound to have, and could afford to have water-works, the best and only sensible way was to take a vote of the people on the issue of bonds for that purpose to the extent of $50,000, six percents, if needed, thus giving the people a chance to decide the question. If carried, let a contract for building the works for the City payable in the City’s bonds. For that sum we should have got at least as good a system as those now put in and the bonds not issued or draw interest until fully completed and tested. The interest on those bonds would be limited to $3,000 a year, equal to the rent now running but not subject to increase to $6,000 or more a year as the rents are; then the City, owning the works, franchise and all, could lease the works to M. L. Robinson’s company or some other, with a limited schedule of rates to consumers as in the ordinance, and get, after a year or two, more rents from the company than sufficient to pay the interest on the city’s bonds; sufficient to pay for repairs and extensions and to create a sinking fund sufficient to sink the bonds in ten years, or twenty at the outside, when the city would own the works and be out of debt without it ever having cost her a cent not returned or having levied a cent of tax on her citizens on account of it. This was our plan, but it was not adopted. Instead, the city is bound to pay $3,000 in rents the first year, to be increased year after year to $6,000 or more, and when we get tired of this heavy tax besides paying our individual water rents, say after ten years, the city must buy the works at cost and pay probably as much more for the franchise, possibly twice as much more, and issue its bonds for at least $100,000 to pay for them, paying $6,000 a year interest. But that will be the best thing to be done at the end of ten years, for then the city can probably lease the works for near enough money to pay the interest and save from a half to the whole of the taxes that must be raised until then.
This is what we get by granting subsidies to bloated bondholders and conscienceless monopolists.
Winfield Courier, February 28, 1884.
Mr. D. L. Kretsinger has been appointed superintendent of the water company with entire charge of its business and property. He will take hold of the matter actively at once. Mr. Kretsinger is one of our most energetic citizens and will handle the liquid supply of the city in first class shape. The position entails a good deal of responsibility and work on his shoulders, but he is fully equal to the emergency.
Winfield Courier, February 28, 1884.
Winfield Water Company.
February 27, 1884.
D. L. Kretsinger is this day appointed Superintendent of the Winfield Water Company, and will have supervising control of the company’s works. All patrons of the company will apply to him for water rates, permits, contracts, etc., and to whom all rentals will be paid.
M. L. ROBINSON, President.
CHAS. F. BAHNTGE, Secretary.
Winfield Courier, March 6, 1884.
THE NARROW GAUGE
Its Present Status and Prospects and Some of its History.
Facts and Conclusions.
The object of this article, the last we shall lay before our readers before the election of March 11th, is not to influence votes either against or for the pending railroad proposition, but to give our readers a fair, honest, manly, and impartial statement of all facts and acts bearing upon the question before us which we have not heretofore stated, an account of what has been done the past week, what is now being done in relation to the matter, and what are our conclusions on points of controversy, leaving the effect to be what it will on the vote of March 11th. The voters are the jury who are to decide this case and we choose to come before them at this time, not as a partisan attorney on either side, but to talk as a judge might talk to a jury about to decide an important case.
We do not expect to please either side by this course and it will be easy to accuse us of mulishness and fogyism by the one side, of “flopping” and selling out by the other, and of straddling by both; but we shall satisfy our own sense of justice and right, and merit the approval of all fair minded citizens, whether we get it or not.
Rustlers of younger, warmer blood like the junior editor, are not content to take such a position as we indicate. They have an impulse to be foremost in every controversy on one side or the other; they scent the battle from afar and promptly take an active and vigorous part. We have several youngerly men in this city of vigor, energy, and snap, who when they work together in a good cause can perform wonders. We admire and appreciate them and always want them on our side, but we are older and the great many conflicts of opinion we have encountered and passed through tend to make us slower to engage in a heated controversy and to content us with smaller results. Yet we have courage and fearlessness sufficient to make a pretty strong fight when there is an important interest or principle to fight for and to continue the struggle as long as we are confident that we are serving the best interest of our community by doing so.
SOME HISTORY NOT HERETOFORE MADE PUBLIC.
But before we assure the judicial ermine, we cannot forbear to state some of the facts that have placed this proposition in the bad predicament in which we now find it. We must be indulged in one last kick at the bad management which has placed us in this ambiguous position. We have earnestly desired to give this company a fair chance to build this road if it can be built on a basis which will do no damage to any Cowley County taxpayer, property owner, or citizen, and to make it of value to all. The first time we were approached on the subject by the representatives of the railroad company, we told them that if they would put a proposition before the people to vote a reasonable amount in which proposition the interests of the people were amply secured in clear and unmistakable language, we would support it heartily. The company ought to have given us such a proposition in the outset, ought to have consulted with leading citizens of the county representing all the various interests, and made such concessions as to the details of the proposition as they could, to accommodate these interests, before their petition was printed and circulated, ought to have made all the concessions then, that they have since made by stipulations, and more too. They ought to have given us a clear cut honest proposition that would be final and not need any coddling up with stipulations of doubtful validity. Instead of that, we have before us a proposition conceived in duplicity, blotted all over with badges of fraud, and then patched up with stipulations to cure most of the defects, yet leaving many in doubt whether they are cured or only covered up.
This is the first railroad proposition that was ever put before the people of this county for their votes in this way. Former propositions have been read before meetings of citizens and been discussed and amended in various ways to meet the views of the people, before the petitions were circulated.
The excuse that they did not know that these concessions would be demanded is too frivolous and not true. It is only a presumption that the people would consider all railroad propositions alike and would take down anything bearing that name without scrutiny or question as coming from superior beings of unselfish attributes, instead of coming from men not unlike other men who want to drive a sharp bargain.
An attorney of this city was consulted on legal points about the drawing up of that petition. He stated that it would be necessary to include in the proposition each of the points since conceded by the stipulations and some others; his advice was unheeded in all points except as to the form of ballots.
The first we were permitted to know of this matter was an invitation to meet representatives of the road and citizens at the Brettun House for consultation and discussion, and we went. The time of the meeting was taken up with speeches to explain the great advantages such a road would give to this county, but no proposition was read or produced and no indication of details were given except that the company wanted this county to vote them $100,000, which we objected to as too much. They also stated that they would make the stipulation that the road should be completed to and through the county in a year from the voting of the bonds if we recollect right. We told them that the time was too short in the present condition of the money markets, and we advised them to take plenty of time so as to obviate the necessity of forfeiture, but to make the time certain. No draft of a petition was presented, no further opportunity was given to make suggestions as to what it should contain. When we asked to see their petition, we were answered that it was not ready, but that we would have a chance to see it and make suggestions before it was finally decided upon. The meeting adjourned and the very next morning a printed petition was in circulation for signatures and it was evident that it was printed and ready before the meeting was called at the Brettun House. The object of this duplicity was evidently to get as many committed in advance to the support of an unseen proposition, and to get so many signatures before attention was called to its defects that it would be accepted to save doing the work over again.
We then began the fight, not against the road, but against the proposition, and another meeting was called at the Brettun House, to which we were invited, and Maj. Hanson, Col. Doniphan, and other representatives of the company were present. This meeting was also largely occupied with speeches about the great advantages of such a road to us; but we got a chance to state many of our objections to the proposition and to urge amendments, but all the satisfaction we could get was that of course the company intended to do most of these things we demanded, would be a fool if it did not, but they did not want the proposition lumbered up with all this frivolous stuff presented in a carping and fault finding spirit, and besides, it was too late to alter the petition for it had already been signed by near eight hundred taxpayers.
Now we do not wish to treat Maj. Hanson, Col. Doniphan, and the other gentlemen of the company with discourtesy, for we think that if they had managed this business, we should have got a fair proposition in the first place, but they apparently did not manage it.
We learned that it was a Winfield man who was getting up the proposition and engineering it along. We observed that it was a Winfield man who swept aside our objections as frivolous; a Winfield man who said the several things we have mentioned in answer to our suggestion and who gave the cue for what should be said by others and otherwise managing the machine. We noticed that the gentlemen from St. Jo. and other parts seemed to be only figureheads to make a show of eastern capital and railroad builders. We think that if they had managed the business, we should not be now in this predicament.
REPORTING FALSEHOODS.
We must also give one kick at the manner we were treated last Friday and since by friends of the proposition. While every means in their power was being tried by committees and delegations to convince us that we ought to support the proposition now, and we were standing squarely against such a course in our replies, a report was being busily circulated all over the city and county that we had agreed to support the proposition. From Friday noon up to Monday night we had occasion to dispute this falsehood, perhaps a hundred times, by asserting that we had not agreed to any such thing and should not. We had not given any indication that we might even lean a little in that direction. If we say anything in this article that leans in that direction, it will be wholly incidental and not in pursuance of any promise or understanding with anyone. Some folks seem to think the only way to carry their ends is by lying.
Having thus ventilated this scrap of history, we now state
WHY WE WITHDRAW FROM THE FIGHT.
After carefully considering all that we have said in the past issues of the COURIER, we find nothing that we desire to take back and little which we will modify. We think our position has been the right position and that it has brought forth fruits which are of advantage to the county. We stand upon our record. The result has been the filing of a stipulation with the county clerk by the president and secretary of the railway company which concedes to the people of the county several of the most important points which we have demanded. It concedes that the road shall have all the attributes of a first class narrow gauge road, several of which are specified, or no bonds shall be delivered. It concedes that the first $50,000 of the bonds shall not be delivered on the mere building of the road from the west line of the county to Winfield. It concedes that no bonds shall be delivered until a first class narrow gauge road is built from Joplin to Winfield and trains of cars running thereon. It concedes that no bonds shall be delivered, but that all shall be forfeited, unless the road is built and completed in first class order and cars running thereon from Joplin, Missouri, to Winfield within eighteen months from the filing of the stipulations. It concedes the construction of such stations and side tracks as seems to be the wants of the people along the line as a condition precedent to the delivery of the bonds.
THE ATTITUDE OF WINFIELD.
Another reason we have to give is the attitude of the citizens of Winfield. We live in Winfield, have lived here since 1870 when it was a raw prairie. We think we have contributed something to its prosperity. The citizens of Winfield are our friends and neighbors and heaviest patrons. They are as a body energetic, honorable, and intelligent businessmen whom we highly respect, whose interests are the same as ours, and whose opinions are entitled to great weight. They have since our last issue held meetings and resolved almost unanimously to accept the stipulation as good and binding and to support the proposition with the stipulation with their time and money. They are so sanguine that it is best to support it and carry it if possible that they have gone down in their pockets and brought out the liberal sum of a thousand dollars to expend in canvassing the county to advocate the proposition. They will turn out every day and among them make several speeches every night until the day of the election when they will work at the polls everywhere. If they are at work for their own interests as they fully believe they are at work for the whole county and perhaps a lesser degree, how can we stand up and fight against them under such circumstances?
They have treated us handsomely in this matter and have used on us able arguments and the powers of eloquence to convince us that it was our duty to turn in with them and use the influence of the COURIER to support this proposition and we candidly confess that the pressure on us is so great that we can hardly resist it.
But we owe a duty to our readers and friends in other parts of the county, to those who depend upon us for the facts in cases of movement in our county affairs, who depend upon us for impartial conclusions in such cases, and these duties we must not ignore. We shall try impartially to give them all this, all the facts about what is going on affecting this question and not trying to influence their votes further than facts, and what we conscientiously believe are just conclusions, will do it. They are the jurymen and must do their own voting. We cannot do their voting for them if we would. They must each decide for themselves whether they will vote at all, how they will vote, and how much they can afford to do to get their neighbors to vote.
LEGAL VALUE OF THE STIPULATION.
Up to the filing of the stipulation, a week ago, there seemed to be no reasonable doubt that the proposition would be defeated by an overwhelming majority. Much now depends upon the opinions held by the voters of the binding force of that stipulation. We stated last week that we did not believe it is of any binding effect. We have investigated the matter as much as possible since and have got the opinion of several attorneys on that matter. Messrs. Jennings, McDermott, and we suppose, McDonald, state as their legal opinion that the stipulation is valid and binding, while the others we talked with expressed some doubt. No decisions were found exactly in point, but general principal is laid down that a proposition to be voted upon must be advertised as a whole according to law, thirty days in this instance. We form the conclusion from what we get from the authorities, that only that part of a proposition which has been advertised thirty days could be considered as a part of it, but we conclude that a party can wave a part of the benefits accruing to himself under it and that such waiver for a consideration such as to induce acceptance of the main proposition would be enforced. At worst we do not think it probable that any court would compel the issue of the bonds on technical grounds unless the conditions of the waiver had been fully complied with. This is the opinion of all our attorneys. This is a modification of the opinion we expressed last week and the result of further inquiring and investigation. We think there is little danger of any bonds being issued unless the stipulation is fully performed and within the time named.
The clean and sure way to amend was to withdraw the proposition and suspend the election; then draw a new proposition expressing everything on both sides—everything the company will now concede in clear and unmistakable language—then circulate it and get the signatures of two fifths of the taxpayers and have the commissioners call an election giving thirty days notice. But some of the attorneys say that this cannot be done and that the election once called cannot be stopped, and they support their positions by arguments a little paradoxical and conflicting, but they may be right. Anyway, the election will be held and if the bonds are voted down, another election cannot be called unless on a petition of the majority of the voters of the county.
The representatives of the company say that this will never be done and that they will, if voted down now, either go around us or submit township bonds along the same line. We do not know what they would do in that event if they themselves do, which is doubtful. They would doubtless do what appeared to them to be the best thing for them to do when the time should come.
THE VALUE OF THE ROAD.
We print in another column an article sent us by Mr. Thos. McDougall, which was published in the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette of the 28th ult. Mr. McDougall is the owner of the tower brick building, corner of 10th and Main Streets, in this city, and is otherwise interested in this city and county and it seems fair to give the article a place. We do not expect a narrow gauge road would be near as valuable to us as a standard gauge over the same route would be, but it should be considered that no company proposes to build a standard gauge over this route and there is no present probability that such a project will ever be worked up. The route is one on which a road is very much needed. It brings a market and railroad facilities close to the homes of the people of a large section of one county in the central and southeastern part of the county, who are now far from such facilities and who have contributed their quota to paying for and procuring such facilities for other and more favored sections of the county.
Again it is fair to state that the narrow gauge roads complained of in the article referred to were so near failures simply because they were so shabbily built, built to make all the money possible out of the construction, and were not compelled to make good roads in order to get their bond subsidies. This is different. The stipulations compel this company to make a first class road in every particular in order to get the bonds voted by this county, and if they don’t do it, they won’t get the bonds.
Then these Ohio narrow gauges were only short snatches of roads without any narrow gauge connections. This must be built at least 150 miles long, from Joplin to Winfield, in a specified time, to get our bonds. If they can do that they can readily add 150 more miles to Larned in about the same time or a little longer and 300 miles of road in a string is not one of those short snatches of road. Again this road aspires of magnificent narrow gauge connections not less than the great Denver & Rio Grande system, a system of assured permanence and success, to say nothing of the Paramore system from St. Louis to Texas and other projected systems east of here. But the company is not compelled to build to a connection with either of these systems in order to get our bonds, and it depends wholly upon the ability of the company to make these connections and whether it can make money by doing so, to settle the question whether it will be done or not.
But it must be conceded that 200 miles of road already constructed and in operation would give the company a wonderful impetus and power as well as standing in financial circles and it could reasonably be expected that they would be able to succeed; and if they have the ability, we doubt not the promise of profit on the construction would be amply sufficient to induce them to make every effort in that direction.
ABILITY TO BUILD THE FIRST TWO HUNDRED MILES.
We have heretofore expressed a strong doubt of the ability of the company to build the first two hundred miles in the time named in the proposition before us on account of the present depressed condition of the money market when even no new standard gauge bonds can possibly be placed, for standard gauge bonds have always been looked upon with more favor than narrow gauge bonds. We must concede however that the depression of the market is “letting up” of late, that there is an abundance of idle money in the east seeking safe investment, and that there is every reason to expect that the markets will return to their normal condition within the next ninety days. Then from the accounts from other counties and townships along the line of this road, it looks like, that if these bonds are voted in this county, it will give such an impulse in the other counties and townships that bonds will be voted in addition to what are already voted, sufficient to secure $600,000 of municipal bonds along the first 600 miles of the road, an average of at least $2,000 per mile from Joplin to Larned.
Now we still hold that a first-class narrow gauge road can be built over this whole route at not far from $6,000 a mile, and we have no doubt that the company can put money enough into it to build the first twenty miles, say, $120,000. They have then that much of a basis of mortgage bonds. They can negotiate with a money syndicate and hypothecate the $600,000 of municipal bonds to it, prior to delivery, which will serve as security to the mortgage bonds. Then the syndicate through its financial agent can dole out the money on these bonds to pay the bills for construction as fast as the work is done; and as fast as the municipal bonds are delivered, they can be sold or taken by the syndicate and the proceeds applied on the debt or on the construction. The small amount of money that must be raised on the mortgage bonds, not over $4,000 per mile, will be amply secured by these hypothecates, the first twenty miles of the road wholly paid for and the first mortgage on the whole road.
So we conclude that if these bonds are voted, the road will be built and on time. But we must further concede that as the expense of this election must now be borne anyway, there would be no damage to the county if these bonds are carried and the road should not be built.
WOULD IT BE WORTH TO THE COUNTY WHAT IT WOULD COST?
While we have contended that $100,000 is too much to vote to a narrow gauge by at least $20,000, and that much more than the county need to have given had the matter been properly handled in the start by those who ought to have done so, the question is reduced to whether we can afford to take the risk of holding out for better terms, and whether the road would be worth $100,000 to the county. The COURIER had the courage to shoulder the risk of holding out, up to now, but having accomplished something by it, we now shift the further risk on the shoulders of the voters.
If the road is built, there can be no question that it would be worth much more than $100,000 to the county. It would make produce sell higher all over the county and reduce the prices of coal, lumber, and other things brought in, to an extent largely beyond that sum. It would itself be taxable property which would be assessed not less than $150,000 in the county and in consequence of it probably enough other property would be brought into the county or be enhanced in value sufficiently to increase the assessment another $150,000, making $300,000 the sum it adds to the assessment rolls, and so long as the tax levy for all county purposes is 20 mills or more to say nothing of school district and township taxes, the county tax on this property will be sufficient to pay the $6,000 yearly interest on the bonds. So at the worst, no man in any part of the county would be any worse off for the building of the road and the issue of $100,000 six percent county bonds, even in the matter of taxes.
THOSE ALONG THE LINE MOST BENEFITTED.
It is natural to expect that the most unanimous support of the proposition will be found along the line of the proposed road and the most general opposition will be found in places most distant from the road, because along the line of the road people are benefitted most by it. In addition to the benefit of nearness to the accommodations and the greater enhanced value to property, the railroad is taxed for the townships and school districts it runs through while townships and school districts in the county which the road does not touch get no benefit from township and district taxation of railroads. This is neither fair, just, nor right, and should be remedied by a constitutional amendment if, as is concluded, it cannot be remedied without. But this injustice is not in itself a reason that persons not benefitted by these taxes should vote against the bonds, for they are benefitted in other ways to such an extent that they are better off with the bonds than without them because of taxation for county purposes alone. It cannot help them to vote against what will do them good because the same thing will do the others more good.
BONDING RATE.
If the bonds are carried next Tuesday and if the road is built in full compliance with the stipulation, $100,000 of the bonds of the county will be issued, and the interest on these bonds will be $6,000 a year with 40 miles of road to tax. The rate of bonding is $2,500 a mile. This will not be so bad as the $4,000 a mile we gave the C. S. & S. F. on 32 miles of road on which we issued $128,000 of bonds on which we are paying $7,680 a year interest. Notwithstanding we gave this road so much, it is a fact that this road has been a benefit to the taxpayers of this county as it is paying into the county treasury about $9,000 a year, which is $1,320 more than enough to pay the yearly interest on the bonds issued to it. This of course is not all county tax but much the larger portion of it benefits the whole county in reducing taxation. Then there is unquestionably in this county property, including this railroad, that would not be in the county but for the building of this road, sufficient to make the assessment rolls at least $600,000 higher than they would otherwise have been. The taxation of this property raises double the amount for county purposes alone that it takes to pay on the bonds issued to that railroad and relieves the taxpayers all over the county to that extent. But this is but a small portion of the advantages that this road has given the whole county over and above what it has cost us.
The K. C. L. & S. K. though, is the clean road for benefits to this county notwithstanding these benefits are reduced by being taken out of competition with the Santa Fe. The stock we got for the bonds sold for enough to cancel all the county bonds issued to it except $22.500, on which the yearly interest is only $1,575, while the road pays over $9,000 per annum into the county treasury. If we could have got this narrow gauge into such a shape as this, we could have howled for the bonds with all the vim in our power.
OUR BOND TAXES.
A large number of the citizens of the county have applied to us for information regarding the financial relation of the present roads to the county. We have compiled from the records of the County Clerk the following figures.
AMOUNT OF TAXES PAID INTO THE COUNTY TREASURY BY A. T. & S. F.
For 1880: $6,593.61.
For 1881: $6,422.22.
For 1882: $7,849.81.
For 1883: $9,596.35.
TOTAL: $30,461.99
AMOUNT OF TAXES PAID INTO THE COUNTY TREASURY BY K. C. L. & S.
For 1880: $6,853.55.
For 1881: $7,240.74.
For 1882: $8,443.36.
For 1883: $9,659.22.
TOTAL: $32,196.87.
AMOUNT OF INTEREST PAID BY COWLEY COUNTY ON BONDS ISSUED IN AID OF CONSTRUCTION OF A. T. & S. F.
For 1880: $7,680.00.
For 1881: $7,680.00.
For 1882: $7,680.00.
For 1883: $7,470.00.
TOTAL: $30,510.00.
AMOUNT OF INTEREST PAID BY COWLEY COUNTY ON BONDS ISSUED IN AID OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE K. C. L. & S.
For 1880: $4,760.00.
For 1881: $3,132.00.
For 1882: $2,065.00.
For 1883: $2,085.00.
TOTAL: $12,042.00. [PAPER HAD $12,202.00...WRONG!]
Total amount of taxes paid into the County Treasury by both railroads up to date:
$62,661.35.
Total amount of Interest paid by Cowley County to date on all bonds issued in aid of construction of railroads: $43,532.85.
Excess of taxes over interest paid: $20,139.00.
THE EVILS OF VOTING THESE BONDS.
We need not say anything more about the benefits and the evils that would accrue to the county if this road is built or if these bonds are voted. Both sides of the question will be well ventilated all over the county.
Arkansas City is organized, up and doing in fighting the bonds. Her people, too, are putting their hands down in their pockets and contributing money largely to make a fighting fund. They have printed papers and circulars by the tens of thousands and are circulating them all over the county filled with literature against bonds, against narrow gauges, and most particularly, against voting bonds or building the railroad over this particular route. They will canvass the county and stump and talk against the bonds everywhere and leave no stone unturned, no means untried. They will doubtless tell many truths and much that is untrue. Their fight against the proposition is for a very different object from what ours has been. We wanted the road built, and over this line, while we fought for security and better terms for the whole county. They looked upon our fight with apathy, caring nothing about the terms or the cost to the county, but fight it because the route is not by way of Arkansas City. They hope that defeating this proposition will in some way compel somebody to build some road to them. They do not want any road built in the county or any adjoining county unless it is built to them. They are fighting the proposition made to Chautauqua County as well as that to their own county. Our fight was to benefit the whole county, but not to keep a railroad from any part of it. Their fight is to keep a railroad from every part of this route in the county and is utterly selfish, and this selfishness makes us want to take off our coat and wade in for the bonds.
MORE ABOUT BENEFITS.
The Telegram will tell a great deal of truth, this week, perhaps a little colored, about the organization of the C. M. & A. Railway company and the value the road will be to this county if it is built. The Winfield committee will send out circulars all over the county containing similar facts and perhaps similar coloring. The speakers from the stump will dress up the facts relative to the great advantages this road will be to the whole county if built. After stripping these speeches and literary productions of all this ornamental work, it must be conceded that there will remain the strong and very important ground work of facts, which are too weighty to be brushed aside, showing it of immense importance that we secure this road if possible.
The only questions to determine are: can we get this road if we carry this proposition at the election of March 11th? And can we get the road if we vote this proposition down? We do not now hesitate to answer the first question in the affirmative. We have reliable information just arrived that money is already secured conditioned only on the amount of bonds voted along the first 200 miles. The last question we cannot answer so promptly. If we knew that it would be submitted again and on better terms with a clear proposition, we would not be on the fence today but would readily say: vote it down. But even then we should not feel sure of our position. We have held out in the hope that we should see the principal officers of the company before this time and convince them that it was necessary in order to carry the bonds to withdraw this proposition, make a new proposition with more concessions than are embraced in the stipulation, especially that of $2,000 per mile and $80,000, and call a new election. It is now too late for that to be done and we fear the consequences of voting down the bonds. Had not the stipulations been filed, we would never have flinched let the consequences be what they would, but with so much conceded, we may well hesitate. The more we think of it, the more we fear the effect of voting down these bonds now would be to so influence the election called in Chautauqua County and townships further east, that they too would vote down the proposition before them, which would certainly block the building of the road. We cannot help but think that if Cowley votes up these bonds, it will so stimulate Chautauqua and the townships with hope of a railroad that they would carry the bonds over the opposition said to come from the stockmen, and ensure the road.
The threat about the company changing the route and going around us with township bonds does not scare us “worth a cent.” We have heard of too many such scares and we can assure the Arkansas City men who are fighting the route selected through the county so vehemently and offering to raise for the company $150,000 in township bonds if they will change the route around by Arkansas City, that the thing will never be done, and that if the road is ever built through this county, it will be built on the route now proposed.
THE SOUTH EAST TOWNSHIPS.
There is another thing that scares us some and that is the idea of submitting township bond propositions along this route, which would be very unjust to the people in the southeast quarter of the county, for that is the only portion of the county which is very distant from railroads, the portion of the county which has received the very least benefit from the railroads we have, while they have cheerfully paid their full proportion of the interest of the bonds which produce them. Now when they have a chance to get a road, one that satisfies them and one they are enthusiastically for, on terms that will not cost the county near as much per mile as the other roads have averaged; it would be mean indeed in the balance of the county, to compel them to resort to the very onerous method of resorting to township bonds; and we believe there are few men in this county who would be willing to treat them in that shabby way; few who would not be willing to help them out by the same means which have given roads to other parts of the county, particularly when they can do it and at the same time, as we have above shown, benefit themselves, all of them to some extent and most to a very large extent, by the same vote which gives our southeast friends a road which will do them so much good.
FINALLY,
We have been several days writing this article. We have been flattered much by many persons who have attributed much importance to what we should say this week. We have felt that we did not want the responsibility arising from having influence thrust upon us. Therefore, we set out last Saturday to write this article in a spirit of impartiality, from the fence as it were, so as to be sure and make no mistakes with our influence if we had any. This has caused us to study and investigate and think a great deal, and this has been making it more and more difficult to keep our position on the fence. We now know that we are far from indifferent and on looking back over our work on this, we see that from day to day we have been forming and been growing in the conviction that it was best and the only safe way to vote for the bonds, and this growth of conviction may be apparent as we have written and re-written parts of this article from day to day and passing it over to the compositor. With the most of this article on the press ready to run, it is now too late to change the style of the beginning to suit the conclusion of the ending and we may as well say that we have made a good fight for a proposition better and safer for the county in several different points, we have compelled the company to meet us more than half-way, and to yield and secure to us the most important points. We have got from them all that we can get in the way of concession. It is of very great importance to the county, and the balance of benefit largely in its favor if the road is built for us as specified, 150 miles within a year and a half at the cost of not over $100,000 and no value to the stock, which is the very worst that can possibly take place, except that it should not be built and the bonds be forfeited, and that the danger of missing these important benefits of having this road built at all, is so very great, that the only safe way is to now vote for the bonds and carry them if possible. So we get down off the fence and announce that we shall vote for the proposition.
Winfield Courier, March 20, 1884.
M. L. Read has put in pipes, transferred his windmill to the Brick & Tile Works, and is now getting his water supply from the waterworks. M. L. Read and J. L. Horning have also taken down their windmills and are getting water from the same source.
Winfield Courier, March 27, 1884.
ANOTHER RAILROAD FOR WINFIELD.
Cowley County will have Competing Lines.
A meeting of citizens of Winfield was held at the Brettun House last Monday evening to hear concerning movements which have recently been taken toward the construction of a railroad direct to Winfield from the direction of Kansas City.
W. H. Smith was chosen chairman and Ed. P. Greer, Secretary.
Henry E. Asp, being called upon for a recital of what has been done, stated that since any report has been made to the citizens, James Hill, the manager of the Missouri, Winfield & South Western railroad company, has visited St. Louis, Chicago, and other cities east conferring with capitalists and railroad builders to induce them to take hold of the organization he represented and build us a road. He finally got Messrs. Geo. W. Hoffman, James N. Young, and L. D. Latham, of Chicago, and M. M. Towle and C. N. Towle of Hammond, Indiana, so far interested in the project that they sent Mr. L. D. Latham to look over the route, examine the situation, and report. Mr. Latham came about March 1st, at the time that our narrow gauge excitement was strongest, which was an element of discouragement to him, but such other facts and reasons were placed before him that he was prepared to make a favorable report. Mr. Hill returned with him and secured a meeting of the above named gentlemen at St. Louis, where they could confer with the authorities of the railroads running west from that city. Mr. Hill and Mr. Asp met them in St. Louis about the 11th of this month and the result of the arrangements made there was that Messrs. L. D. Latham, M. M. Towle, and J. N. Young were authorized to visit the route again, get further information, and make such arrangements as in their judgment was best for themselves and their friends.
These gentlemen arrived at Newton last Friday, where they met with Mr. Hill, who took them down to Arkansas City. That evening Mr. Asp went down and consulted with them. They came to Winfield Saturday, but after consulting with but a very few of our citizens, they returned to Arkansas City that evening, saying that they would be back Monday and then be ready to announce their decision. On Monday they returned and stated their decision that they could not use the old M. W. & S. W. charter because it did not cover the ground from Coffey County to Kansas City direct and was insufficient for their purposes in other respects, beside, if they built the road, they must have the full control.
They therefore decided to make a new organization and file a charter to suit themselves at once and proceed to build the road immediately if they can get such aid from the counties and townships along the line as will warrant them in proceeding. They locate by their charter the general office of the company at Winfield and Kansas City, Kansas. They will first try for aid between Winfield and Eureka over the route surveyed by the M. W. & S. W., if permitted by that company, and will pay for any part of the work done that they can make available. If they fail of getting sufficient aid by that line, they will next submit propositions up the Little Walnut to Rosalia. As soon as they are assured of the aid, they will put that portion of the road from their connection with the Ft. Scott & Wichita road to Winfield under contract and will complete it this season. They expect to bring their iron and ties on the Frisco road, which is now under the control of the Gould interest. They will build from that road to Winfield first. If they fail on both of these routes to get the aid, they will try another.
Messrs. Towle are the men who originated the scheme of carrying dressed beef in refrigerator cars, have overcome all obstacles, have their slaughter houses at Hammond, Indiana, twenty miles out of Chicago, where they have built quite a city and are slaughtering about a thousand beeves a day and shipping the dressed beef to New York. They have the idea that a slaughter house on the south line of Sumner County, with direct and cheap rates to Kansas City and New York, would have greater advantages over Chicago as a packing point than Chicago has over New York. They are worth half a million. Mr. Hoffman is the heavy capitalist of the concern and is worth several million. Mr. Latham is a railroad builder in which he has had much experience and success. He can command plenty of money. The same may be said of Mr. Young, who is an experienced broker and dealer in railroad stocks and bonds. There is no doubt of their ability to build the road. They expect to offer propositions for voting aid by our people in a very few days and to push the matter as rapidly as possible.
The meeting passed a resolution to the effect that we want them to build the road and will do anything reasonable in aid thereof.
A committee consisting of D. L. Kretsinger, J. C. Fuller, M. L. Robinson, H. E. Asp, and C. A. Bliss was appointed to confer with them, get their terms, and report at a meeting to be called by themselves, and directed the secretary of the meeting to inform the company of these proceedings. Adjourned.
Winfield Courier, March 27, 1884.
The litigation between Bliss & Wood and the Winfield Water Co. over the water privilege has ended in a compromise, the water company paying ten thousand dollars for a water franchise of ninety-nine years.
Winfield Courier, April 10, 1884.
Grand Summit Scraps.
We want a good blacksmith. E. C. Barnes will deed to the first blacksmith, one acre of land; and M. L. Robinson will give to the same, one business lot on Main street, and one resident lot, if the party will commence business and build on the same. Lots will be given to any party that will build and commence Business on the same. For full particulars write to Messrs. Darling & Rogers. Altogether Grand Summit is bound to make a first class country town.
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1884.
Hose Company No. 1 was out in splendid new uniforms Monday evening. Headed by the Juvenile Band, they paraded down Main Street, and to the residence of Mr. M. L. Robinson, where an informal reception was held, after which they visited Mayor Emerson’s home. The new uniforms are neat and showy and the effect is imposing. The boys composing our hose companies are as fine bodies of young men as any city can show and we are justly proud of them No. 1 has been christened the “Robinson Hose,” in honor of Mr. M. L. Robinson, who assisted them liberally in completing their organization.
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1884.
M. L. Robinson returned from his Eastern tour Friday. He says the narrow gauge is booming and the money raised to build the first three hundred miles. The surveyors will be through this county soon. Dirt will be flying on the road inside of sixty days.
Winfield Courier, May 15, 1884.
M. L. Read and M. L. Robinson have purchased from J. E. Conklin the lot and building now being occupied by Hendricks & Wilson’s hardware store. The consideration was eight thousand dollars.
Winfield Courier, May 15, 1884.
A Business Chance.
On Monday Mr. J. E. Conklin purchased Read & Robinson’s interest in the Winfield Brick, Stone, and Tile Works, and is now the controlling owner of that enterprise. The investments now reach upwards of twelve thousand dollars. Under the efficient management of Mr. Conklin, this institution will prove a most valuable one, not only for the proprietors but the community at large.
Winfield Courier, May 15, 1884.
NOTICE. Joseph E. Conklin has this day purchased all of the stock of The Winfield Stone, Brick and Tile Company owned by M. L. Read and M. L. Robinson, and all their interests in and to all the property both real and personal together with all the credits of the aforesaid company. The said Joseph E. Conklin and his co-owners of the stock of said company assume and agree to pay any and all liabilities of the said The Winfield Stone, Brick and Tile Company.
Winfield Courier, June 5, 1884.
The City Parliament.
The regular meeting of the City Council occurred Monday evening.
Ordinance No. 193, providing for the calling of special elections, was passed.
The two public hydrants were declared to be in non-compliance with provisions of Ordinance No. 167 and a resolution was passed to erect, with the consent of the Water Company, two drinking fountains and two watering fountains, and a committee was appointed to determine the style and cost of these fountains.
The street commissioner was instructed to have the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company make a suitable street crossing over their line on 12th Avenue leading to the Park.
Winfield Courier, June 12, 1884.
Our Cemetery.
The annual meeting of the lot owners of the cemetery was held at Dr. Graham’s office Friday evening. The secretary’s report shows a balance of about five hundred dollars in the treasury. This state of the finances is very gratifying to all. For years the balance has always been the other way, and the public spirited citizens who formed the directory were forced to carry it.
The following persons were elected as directors for the coming year: Messrs. R. E. Wallis, Dr. Perry, W. G. Graham, H. Brotherton, H. S. Silver, H. D. Gans, Mrs. J. E. Platter, Mrs. Robert Beeney, and Mrs. Ed. P. Greer.
The directory has gone actively to work formulating plans for the improvement and beautifying of the grounds. In this work they hope to receive the hearty cooperation of everyone interested. Our cemetery should be made an attractive place and no matter how hard the directory may work to this end, they cannot succeed unless each individual will take hold and assist by improving their lots.
The revenues of the cemetery arise from the sale of lots. These are twelve dollars each. There are 228 sold and 475 yet remaining. A regular sexton is employed and the charge for digging graves is fixed at two, three, and four dollars. The great need of the cemetery at present is water for irrigating purposes. They hope to get this in time.
Winfield Courier, June 12, 1884.
MARRIED. Mr. Roy Stidger and Miss Etta Robinson, on their marriage at the residence of M. L. Robinson, by Rev. B. Kelly, on last Thursday afternoon, were the recipients of the heartiest congratulations and a number of handsome presents. They left immediately after the ceremony for their future home, Cameron, West Virginia, stopping over Sunday in Illinois.
Winfield Courier, June 12, 1884.
The following MARRIAGE LICENSES have been granted since our last.
Leroy L. Stidger and Ettie B. Robinson.
Winfield Courier, June 19, 1884.
A citizen has entered his complaint to the COURIER, in which he avers that he saw with his own eyes and counted with his own counter the remains of seven defunct dogs floating in Timber Creek above the water works; that he has seen wagon loads of garbage thrown off of the Timber Creek Bridge into the stream night after night; that land-owners north of town have stopped allowing the use of their land as garbage ground and for this reason the stuff is dumped into the river from the bridge. This may be a very nice and hand thing for the persons who haul the garbage and carcasses away, but as dead dog soup, has not yet become a favorite or healthy beverage with our people, we desire to enter an emphatic protest against it. If it must be dumped in the river, let the dumping occur from the bridge below the town. The statute gives our city fathers police power in such cases for a mile outside of the city. We ask them to take immediate steps to stop it.
Winfield Courier, June 19, 1884.
Our Cemetery.
The directors of the Winfield Cemetery Association, desirous of taking active measures for the improvement of its grounds, find it a primal necessity that there should be a supply of water for irrigating and sprinkling purposes. To provide this, they wish to raise by subscription at least $300, with which they can procure an ample supply. In the absence of the Secretary, I would request you to give notice, that at a meeting of the directors, Mrs. Platter, Mrs. Beeney, and Dr. Perry were appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions payable on or before the first of August next. By the terms of our charter, the receipts of the association are to be expended in the care and improvement of the ground and none of its officers are to receive compensation for their services. We hope that there will be a hearty response to our call for aid to make our Cemetery an attractive place and a credit to our city.
A DIRECTOR.
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1884.
Misses Mary and Anna Martin, of Jacksonville, Illinois, are enjoying the balmy atmosphere of Southern Kansas in a visit to their aunt, Mrs. M. L. Robinson.
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1884.
OUR GAS WORKS.
Another Step in the Progress of Winfield Which Makes her a Modern City in Every Way.
THE WORKS COMPLETED.
From month to month and from year to year during the last twelve years, the COURIER has chronicled as faithfully as it could the growth and advancement of Winfield. Beginning with the erection of the first brick building in a column and a half article under a screaming eagle and a booming cannon, it has come down through the successive steps of the first railroad, the second railroad, then the water works, coupled with so many enterprises on every hand that it has grown to accept these steps in the city’s advancement as a matter of course, and things that, in its early history, would have resurrected every old wood cut in the office, now pass with a five line notice. As it is with the COURIER, so it is with our people. For the past three months the Winfield Gas Company has been piling up brick, mortar, and stone, laying mains and erecting machinery without creating any particular sensation, and at eleven o’clock Saturday evening, President Fuller and Superintendent Whiting threw into the furnaces the first shovels-full of coal that set the works going for all time to come.
The ordinances granting the rights and franchises to Col. Wm. Whiting were passed by the city council last September. Soon after the Winfield Gas Company was organized and chartered. In the organization Mr. J. C. Fuller was chosen President; J. B. Lynn, Treasurer; and Ed. P. Greer, Secretary. To this company was assigned the franchises given by the city to Mr. Whiting. In the month of March the task of erecting the works was begun. The completed works will cost about forty thousand dollars. They are first-class throughout and have a capacity sufficient to supply the city until it contains twenty thousand inhabitants.
From the time the first charge was put into the retorts Saturday evening until the present writing, not a leak has been found, nor mistake in arrangement or the placing of complicated machinery detected. This is a record heretofore unknown and due to the mechanical skill and high honor and ability of Mr. John Maxwell, under whose direction every section of pipe and every piece of machinery was placed. Of Mr. Maxwell’s ability as a workman and integrity as a contractor, we cannot speak too highly. Suffice it to say that both the Winfield Gas Company and the Winfield Water Company (whose works he also put in) will back him “to the uttermost ends of the earth.” He is one of the few men we have met thus far who fulfill the spirit as well as the letter of his contracts.
About forty connections to stores, offices, and residences have been made, in addition to the sixty street lamps, and most every business house and a large number of private residences will be connected as soon as the plumbers can get to them. The consumption guaranteed the Gas Company insures the financial success from the start.
The gas will probably be turned on next Friday.
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1884.
Visitors from Abroad.
Our city was visited last Thursday by a party embracing the entire city government of Independence, with some of her prominent citizens, composed of the following gentlemen:
B. F. Masterman, Jno. McCullagh, J. H. Concannon, J. W. Price, H. F. Grant, B. I. Armstrong, E. S. Foster, A. A. Stewart, D. S. Lockwood, E. P. Allen, G. A. Stevenson, J. F. Autt, and John Truby. The party were here for the purpose of getting facts and figures relative to the success and maintenance of our Water Works system. Independence, though older than Winfield, is as yet without the telephone, water works, gas works, street railway, etc., but is beginning to crowd for a position in the front ranks. The visitors were taken in hand by our waterworks officials and other citizens and shown everything pertaining to our waterworks and other enterprises of the city. Several hundred feet of hose were attached to a hydrant and an exhibition of the reservoir pressure given. The visitors were enthusiastic in their praises of Winfield’s waterworks system and Independence will likely adopt the same system and have water works in the near future. Most of these gentlemen were with us for the first time and expressed superior appreciation of the beauty of our city and the energy and public spirit of our citizens in securing so many of the modern improvements.
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1884.
WELLINGTON WELLINGTONIAN.
By virtue of correspondence between the officers of the M. E. Sunday School of this city and some of the authorities of Winfield, it was arranged for an excursion under the auspices of M. E. Sunday School to Winfield for the purpose of spending the day in the Riverside Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the State. Accordingly, through the courtesy of the Southern Kansas railroad, a merely nominal rate was secured for transportation and Division Superintendent Messinger placed at the disposal of the excursionists nine cars, which on last Thursday morning were crowded with between four hundred and five hundred citizens of Wellington. Supt. Messinger kindly conducted the train in person and paid every attention to the comfort of the passengers en route. The Excursionists were met at Winfield by a committee consisting of Rev. B. Kelly, Mr. M. L. Robinson, and D. L. Kretsinger, headed by the Winfield Juvenile Band, composed of twelve members, led by Ed. Farringer, the youngest member being Master Carl Farringer, six years of age. They were escorted to the opera house by the committee and a long concourse of the citizens of Winfield, where the Courier Band, led by Mr. George Crippen were awaiting them. Riverside Park, the Opera House, the Fair Grounds were placed at the disposal of the guests, and, in short, the freedom of the city was generously tended them. On account of the heavy rain the preceding night, the park was not in a condition to be occupied, and Mr. T. B. Myers, manager of the Opera House, was untiring in his efforts to render their occupancy of that commodious building pleasant. Mr. Ed. P. Greer, local editor of the COURIER, was active and unremitting in his attentions; and indeed the businessmen and citizens generally took especial pains to render every assistance to make their stay pleasant. Boats had been brought to the landing of the Walnut River, that the visitors might enjoy a boat ride. Ice water and refreshments in abundance were gratuitously furnished by the citizens of Winfield. To be short, we will say that everything was done that kindness, hospitality, and exquisite good taste could suggest to make the day one long to be remembered by the people of Wellington, and we can assure our good neighbors of Winfield that Wellington only waits an opportunity to reciprocate their generosity.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, July 30, 1884.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
The Cowley County Fair and Driving Park Association will hold its Second Annual Exhibition at Winfield, Kansas, September 23 to 27, 1884. This Association comes before the public with more attractions and better facilities than any like Association in the State. It is a well established fact that our grounds are the largest and best in the State, our buildings, stables, and stalls ample and commodious, thus affording the exhibitor more comfort, pleasure, and money than any Fair Association in the State.
The following is a list of the stockholders of the Cowley County Fair and Driving Park Association.
Stockholders: M. L. Robinson, G. W. Robinson, W. C. Robinson.
Winfield Courier, July 10, 1884.
Fourth of July Celebration: Fully Fifteen Thousand People Present.
The Robinson and Telegram Fire Companies made a splendid appearance in the procession. The paraphernalia was all beautifully decorated with red, white, and blue, and the Robinson Fire Company represented the Goddess of Liberty with one of the prettiest little misses of the city, Nina Nelson, gracefully seated on their hose cart amid the drapery.
[CHANGE IN READ’S BANK. BECOMES FIRST NATIONAL BANK]
Winfield Courier, July 17, 1884.
In another place appears the official statement of M. L. Read’s Bank prior to opening as the First National. It makes the wonderful showing of over two hundred and ninety thousand dollars in deposits. This is the greatest proof of the prosperous condition of our county.
Read’s Bank Statement.
Statement of the Condition of M. L. Read’s Bank, of Winfield, Kansas, as the Close of Business, June 24th, 1884, when “The First National Bank of Winfield, Kansas,” was Organized out of Read’s Bank. . . .
Real Estate (exclusive of homesteads and all other real estate owned by M. L. Read & M. L. Robinson individually): $77,575.00
We, M. L. Read and M. L. Robinson, owners of M. L. Read’s Bank, Winfield, Kansas, do solemnly swear that the above statement is true to the best of our knowledge and belief.
M. L. READ,
M. L. ROBINSON.
Correct—Attest: W. C. ROBINSON, GEO. W. ROBINSON, CHAS. F. BAHNTGE.
Winfield Courier, July 17, 1884.
M. L. Robinson and family left yesterday afternoon for several months sojourn among the mountains of Colorado.
Winfield Courier, July 17, 1884.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
What was Done at its last Quarterly Session, Beginning July 7th.
A careful examination of the assessors’ enumeration of inhabitants of the county was made and the Board found that the population of the county was 26,137.
Viewers’ reports in E. James, M. L. Robinson, Moffitt and David Tonkinson county roads, were approved.
Winfield Courier, July 17, 1884.
Opened for Business July 14th, 1884—The First National Bank of Winfield, Kansas.
The stockholders of our First National Bank are the owners and employees of M. L. Read’s Bank and it will succeed to the business of this old and reliable Banking House and will be officered and managed by the same parties who have for the past twelve years so successfully managed the affairs of that remarkably prosperous institution. The Directors of the First National Bank of Winfield at a meeting on the 15th day of June, 1884, elected the following officers: M. L. Read, President; M. L. Robinson, Vice-President; W. C. Robinson, Cashier; George W. Robinson, Assistant Cashier; and Chas. F. Bahntge, Teller. The thorough knowledge obtained by these gentlemen during their large and varied banking experience in our county and their well known conservative management of all their affairs added to their already immense property interests will go to establish and swell the influence of our First National Bank and place it amongst the first institutions of its kind in the state. With pride and satisfaction we welcome the First National Bank as a further earnest of the substantial character of our financial institutions, and we bespeak for it a prosperous and profitable future.
Winfield Courier, August 7, 1884.
M. L. READ, President. CHAS. F. BAHNTGE, Teller.
M. L. ROBINSON, Vice President. W. C. ROBINSON, Cashier.
GEO. W. ROBINSON, Assistant Cashier.
The First National Bank,
No. 3218,
OF WINFIELD, KANSAS.
ORGANIZED JUNE 25, 1884.
Succeeds M. L. Read’s Bank.
Stockholders: M. L. Read, M. L. Robinson, W. C. Robinson, George W. Robinson, and Charles F. Bahntge.
Paid Up Capital, $50,000.00.
AUTHORIZED CAPITAL, $250,000.00.
Winfield Courier, August 28, 1884.
Mr. M. L. Robinson returned Wednesday from his tour through the mountains of Colorado. He reports a most delightful trip, which his improved appearance fully justifies. He returned with a store of energy that will make the First National boom.
Winfield Courier, September 4, 1884.
The Last Share Subscribed.
Last Saturday evening the last share of the two hundred shares of the Cowley County Fair and Driving Park Association was subscribed. The capital as authorized by the charter of incorporation issued by the State, viz: “Ten Thousand Dollars divided into two hundred shares of fifty dollars each” is now all subscribed and by January 1, 1885, will be fully paid up. Its “statement,” therefore, at the present writing, is as follows:
RESOURCES.
Present value of grounds, 53 ½ acres at $150 per acre—a low estimate: $8,025.00.
Actual cost of improvements put on grounds to date as shown by the Secretary’s books:
$5.249.38.
Net profits of 1883 fair: $1,489.38.
TOTAL RESOURCES: $14,763.76.
LIABILITIES.
Capital Stock: $10,000.00.
BALANCE: $4,763.76.
TOTAL LIABILITIES: $14,763.76.
So it will be seen that each share of stock is actually worth today forty-eight percent premium. The first subscription to the capital stock was made by Hon. W. P. Hackney, on the 27th day of April, 1883. Messrs. Jas. F. Martin, H. Harbaugh, J. W. Millspaugh, D. L. Kretsinger, A. H. Doane, R. B. Pratt, M. L. Robinson, and Ed. P. Greer also subscribed at the same time. The next day, April 28th, a committee consisting of D. L. Kretsinger, A. T. Spotswood, and Ed. P. Greer waited on the citizens and secured subscriptions for about four thousand dollars of the stock. Half of the amount of each subscription was to be paid within sixty days and the other half on the December following. Upon these assurances M. L. Robinson and W. P. Hackney contracted for the grounds. When the 1883 fair opened the Directory had used all the money they had taken in on the sale of capital stock, and had borrowed upon their own personal security three thousand dollars more, in order to erect the necessary buildings. It was a big risk, but they were determined to see it through, and so cheerfully carried the burden. In addition to this they, with those who were also stockholders at the time, refused to accept the profits of last year’s work but returned it to the treasury, so that the gentleman who subscribed for the last share Saturday evening gets just as much as those who paid in their money over a year ago. There are one hundred and sixty-three shareholders who own the two hundred shares: an average of a little over one and a quarter shares to each person, so the association at the present time is anything but a “monopoly.” One hundred and twenty-six shares are held by persons living outside of Winfield, and one hundred and nineteen by persons now engaged in farming so that the farmers of Cowley County own and have the power to absolutely control their fair as they wish. We hope that every stockholder, especially the farmers, will hold on to their stock, no matter what flattering offers they may receive for it. If it is worth a hundred percent premium to someone else, it is worth it to you and much more, for upon the control and management of the farmers interested in it depends much of its future success and usefulness.
Winfield Courier, October 2, 1884.
CARD. THOS. H. ELDER, PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, Winfield, Kansas. Office at home, on Mansfield Street, fronting M. L. Robinson’s residence.
[DISTRICT COURT.]
Winfield Courier, November 6, 1884.
Read & Robinson vs. W. A. Wright. Commissioners report confirmed and cash dividend between plaintiffs and defendant, including Jas. McDermott’s Attorney fee, $25.00; McDonald & Webb’s Attorney fee, $25.00; $5.00 each for Commissioners and summons, $7.00.
[ROBINSON HOSE COMPANY.]
Winfield Courier, November 6, 1884.
The Robinson Hose Company will give a ball in the Opera House on the evening of the 14th inst. that is expected to be a grand affair. Elegant invitations and programs will be sent out this week to only those whose presence will be genial to the majority. No pains will be spared by the management in making it a success in every particular.
Winfield Courier, November 13, 1884.
The boys of Robinson’s Hose Company are making big preparations for their ball Friday evening. The Episcopal ladies will serve an oyster supper in connection with it.
Winfield Courier, November 13, 1884.
Invitations are out for a ball under the auspices of the Robinson Hose Company, on Friday evening of this week. It will be one of the pleasantest hops of the season. This organization is composed of the best young men of the city, and their entertainments are always the most agreeable. The “Gill Society” of the Episcopal Church will serve an oyster supper in the hall at 12 o’clock.
[BALL: ROBINSON FIRE COMPANY.]
Winfield Courier, November 20, 1884.
One of the pleasantest social gatherings ever enjoyed by Winfield society was the ball of the Robinson Fire Company at the Opera House last Friday night. A large number were present and true enjoyment reigned supreme. The company was select and the music splendid. The boys were highly successful in their efforts to give a party worthy the presence of our elite lovers of the Terpsichorean art, and have given an advertisement that will insure even greater success to their future entertainments. Financially, the boys were left, but they didn’t expect any recompense, the object being purely entertainment. The “Gill Society” of the Episcopal Church served the company with an excellent oyster supper. The members of Robinson Fire Company have arranged for another ball on December 2nd, which will receive the full attendance of our society people, and should more than clear the Company financially.
Winfield Courier, November 20, 1884.
Farms for Sale or Rent.
We have many good farms for sale or rent; also, many vacant lots, and improved city property in Winfield, for sale. Will sell on easy terms or will rent farms to good parties for a term of years. Call or address M. L. Read or M. L. Robinson at First National Bank, Winfield, Kansas.
Winfield Courier, December 4, 1884.
The ball under the auspices of the Robinson Hose Friday evening promises to be one of the best of the season. The boys are sparing neither time nor money in the arrangements.
Winfield Courier, December 18, 1884.
Society.
A very pleasant entertainment was given by Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Robinson, at their splendid residence in this city, on Thursday evening, December 10th. About sixty to seventy guests were present, among whom we remember by name the following.
Rev. and Mrs. W. R. Kirkwood, Prof. and Mrs. E. P. Hickok, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Schuler, Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Read, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Horning, Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Spotswood, Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Buckman, Dr. and Mrs. Geo. Emerson, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Baird, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Ordway, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Harter, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Mann, Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Williams, Dr. and Mrs. W. T. Wright, Mr. and Mrs. O. Branham, Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Pryor, Mr. and Mrs. Fred C. Hunt, Dr. and Mrs. C. S. Van Doren, Mr. and Mrs. H. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Millington, Mrs. Frank Williams of Wichita, Mrs. J. H. Bullen, Mrs. W. H. Albro, Mrs. Whitney, Mrs. Arthur Bangs, Miss Nettie McCoy, Miss Anna McCoy, Mr. W. H. Smith, Mr. Lew Brown, and Mr. W. C. Robinson.
Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, made up of rain, mud, snow, and cold, the guests enjoyed themselves to the utmost, and after partaking of a magnificent supper, music, and mirth, the guests separated with warm thanks to their host and hostess, who had afforded them so much pleasure, and with the aid of Arthur Bangs, most of them, we presume, found their own domiciles in due time.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 14, 1885.
Our Communication From the Poor Old Hub.
A public meeting was called at the courthouse in Winfield, Thursday evening, for the purpose of devising some means to try and give the Hub a boom the coming summer. T. H. Soward called the meeting to order and came very near making his old campaign speech. He wished the Hub had a Jim Hill to build them a canal from the Arkansas River to Winfield, or do something to add a little life to the capital of Cowley. Next speaker was Charlie Black; he said they were going to build the Narrow Gauge but that the company had decided to make it a Broad Gauge; they wanted the people of Winfield to give them $40,000, and the townships along the line of the road to pay as much as they could legally vote for railroad bonds. They would not ask for county bonds, as they were afraid the county would not vote them, they came so near defeating them before.
Next speaker was Bro. Kinney; he said he knew nothing about railroads or worldly matters, but would entertain the audience with the war song of the salvation army; he sang “A holy war is raging, tramp, tramp; the Irish are throwing dynamite into the British camp,” etc.
Pap Millington was called, but was not present; he was busy preparing to turn over the post office to George Rembaugh.
Next speaker was M. L. Robinson, who said they would build the Narrow Broad Gauge to Winfield, if they got sufficient bonds, but Winfield could not vote them $40,000 and also aid the north and south road, as the law would not allow them to vote sufficient bonds to build both roads; and he thought the people ought to aid the N. G. and let the other roads look somewhere else for aid.
Next speaker was J. C. Long, who said he had about come to the conclusion that he had settled in a community of drones, without life or energy, but he thought they were waking up, and would talk liberally, certainly talk was cheap.
Joe O’Hare said he was in favor of digging the canal, then they would have plenty of water and sand enough to make it possible to get through the Winfield mud.
The chair then appointed a committee of seven to draw up a constitution and by-laws for the society, and it was voted to call it “The Winfield Enterprise Association.”
Bro. Kinney then announced that tomorrow the salvation army would hold public meetings on the streets, at the churches, and at the office of the Enterprise Association.
Meeting adjourned to meet next Thursday evening. MORE ANON.
Arkansas City Republican, October 3, 1885.
The following charter was filed Friday, with secretary of state: “Kansas & Colorado Midland railway,” capital stock $16,000,000, estimated length of road 800 miles; line or road from Kansas City, Missouri, to Denver, Colorado; course of road, through the state of Kansas to the western boundary line of said state; thence through the state of Colorado, to the city of Denver, with a branch diverging from the most favorable point in Butler or Greenwood County, and running in a southwesterly direction to the city of Winfield, Kansas; thence to the south line of said state; thence southwesterly across the Indian territory and the Panhandle of Texas to the Rio Grande river. Directors for the first year: J. L. Horning, J. C. Long, and M. L. Robinson, of Winfield, Kansas; H. W. Hall, of New York City; L. S. Olmstead and B. F. Beesley, of Jacksonville, Illinois.
Arkansas City Republican, October 24, 1885.
When we recall the events which have transpired in relation to Cowley County in getting the K. C. & S. W. And D. M. & A railroads, we wonder how a Winfield man dare show his face on our streets. We pledged Winfield to help to carry the D. M. & A. Bonds, and fulfilled it. We get not the slightest benefit from the D. M. & A. When the K. C. & S. W. wanted to run their line via Burden, we joined hands with the county seat and induced the road to be constructed through it. Now, the ingrate up the road rises up, stabs at our heart’s blood by promulgating a scheme to build a branch west to Geuda, the junction being formed only three miles north of us. But, thank God, a stop has been put to it. M. L. Robinson, J. C. Long, and the puppy pettifogger, Henry E. Asp, will be remembered. Remembered by 1,014 voters in Arkansas City.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, June 5, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.
The Winfield board of trade was incorporated yesterday. The directors are John A. Eaton, M. L. Robinson, J. C. McMullen, J. E. Conklin, J. P. Baden, T. H. Soward, W. P. Hackney, Ed. P. Greer, J. B. Lynn, and A. H. Doane.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, June 5, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.
A well known citizen of Winfield tells us about that Santa Fe land purchase. Kilmer, the right-of-way man, was attempting to make the purchase, when Banker Robinson thought he saw a chance for a good investment. He jumps in and buys 153 acres of the land, leaving Kilmer only four acres. And now Robinson has his 153 and Kilmer his four. How we boom!
EXCHANGES.]
Arkansas City Republican, June 12, 1886.
The Shops at Winfield.
Wellington Standard.
There is quite an amusing side to the late Winfield boom when one investigates the matter closely. Admiring the gall of the promoters of this very Kanapolis spurt and enjoying a limited acquaintance with the leading lights, I beg a portion of space to give what the speaker said when at white heat, amidst the uproar of the late jubilee. The Santa Fe or someone else purchased a tract of land near Winfield and the consideration in the deed was placed on record as $22,500. This was taken as the ground work for a big hurrah, but in all the demonstrations there is not one word uttered, one paper shown, or promise of the Santa Fe brought forward to justify the air castle building of the Walnut River inhabitant. Bill Hackney says: “I’ve got to go to Wellington tomorrow and there I’ll talk to the sickest lot of roosters you ever saw.” (Ten days before he said to a crowd in this city that every lot two blocks up and down Washington Avenue was worth $10,000 with building off.) Bill then got wild and talked as follows: “Winfield will soon be the centering point for half of the roads in kingdom;” “Thousands of train men;” “end of seven great Santa Fe divisions,” with a lot more of the stuff which made his speech silly and ridiculous. M. G. Troup, attorney, made a very sensible talk as did Tom Eaton, banker, with the exception of some excusable visionary leaps. Tom Soward, R. of D., caught the fever and went wild, but it yet remained for M. L. Robinson, banker, to cap the climax on this very laughable meeting in a speech which we quote a part of it, just as it appeared in the red ink Courier.
“The Santa Fe is now the greatest railroad corporation in the union and will have a perfect network of roads radiating from Winfield—the Southern Kansas from Kansas City to Albuquerque; the Fort Smith and Galveston routes to the Gulf; the line from Fort Smith to Denver; the Florence, El Dorado & Walnut Valley from Kansas City to Galveston; the Independence & Southwestern; and several projected lines, all crossing here at Winfield—
making this the end of seven divisions. J. L. Barnes, general superintendent, told a gentleman en route on the Santa Fe just the other day that in less than nine months he expected to be located at Winfield with his entire corps of assistants.”
Now read what he says closely, and then select any other village, Mulvane, for instance, and write as follows:
Mulvane is the center of the union and has railroads connecting New York and San Francisco and there connecting with steamship lines for the European and Asiatic markets.
The argument is just as good and just as reasonable as the bosh folly and senseless talk of Robinson about Winfield.
A little country town of 5,000 people (that don’t miss the figures 200 either way) getting up on its ear and acting the “luny” always reminds us of Proctor Knotts Duluth’s speech and we believe our Winfield friends have been rehearsing the governor’s talk.
“J. L. Barnes told a gentleman!” Why such evidence wouldn’t go in a justice’s court and any reasonable man knows it.
Read what Robinson says and that is sufficient for us.
Again, Bill Hackney says: “the Santa Fe never made a promise it didn’t keep.” Who said it did? But tell us, please, William, where is that promise? And where is the promise to the Wellington board of trade that the shops would not be located until Wellington had notice? Explain to us why it is Wellington has an extra train on this great Santa Fe system while Winfield runs along in the good old way with one train a day. This extra train runs a through chair car to Kansas City and was not put on for love of Wellington, but because the extra travel demanded it.
The spice, life, fun, and imagination of the Winfield papers is amusing and I like to see it; but I am afraid the castles will fall unless they have a better foundation than at present.
The future of Wellington is much better than our sister city while at present we have fifty percent more trade and thirty percent more population. The Ft. Smith is assured with President Cleveland’s signature and we are more certain of the Rock Island than is Winfield of any of her “soapy” schemes which will slip out and fade away into nothing but forgotten greatness and past expectations. TOM RICHARDSON.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 7, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.
Capt. Siverd was down today from Winfield. He informs us that parties up there are working up another railroad scheme. Bill Hackney, Ed. Greer, Mart Robinson, Bro. Kinney, and other Winfield capitalists have filed a charter to build a railroad to the moon. He came down to tell us, he said, so that we could get in our call for an election for a cross road first. We thanked the Captain for his information and wish to inform him that Arkansas City only deals in railroads possible to build. We never file any moonshine charters for railroads; but when there is a chance to secure a railroad, Arkansas City always gets there first. We do not meddle with railroads to the moon, Captain.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 21, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.
Mart and Ivan Robinson and J. L. M. Hill, were in the city last evening from Winfield. As a REPUBLICAN representative passed them, his ear caught the remark, “best town in the state outside of Wichita.” Of course, Jim was speaking of Arkansas City. The party were awe-struck with the grandeur of Summit street, and the many new business blocks in course of construction.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, September 18, 1886. From Thursday’s Daily.
A private letter to M. L. Robinson, from A. A. Robinson, Second Vice-President and Chief Engineer, A. T. & S. F. R. R., says track laying will be commenced on the Douglass branch next week and pushed to completion and we may look for more complete and convenient train connection and accommodation at a very early day. Winfield Courier.
[FIGHT: JARVIS & HUNT, FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WINFIELD.]
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, September 25, 1886. From Saturday’s Daily.
Semblance to Bunke-shop.
The Visitor relates a queer story regarding the First National Bank of Winfield. It appears from the columns of the journal mentioned above that Jarvis & Hunt have been having little “differences of opinions,” until they had gotten to be big ones. Jarvis wanted to buy or sell the other’s interest in the business. Hunt refused. One day when Jarvis was out, Hunt took all of the firm’s papers and went to the First National Bank and was in the act of signing them all over to it when the first mentioned gentleman happened in. Jarvis demanded to know what Hunt was doing with the firm’s papers without his knowledge and made a grab for them and obtained most of them. Hunt also grabbed, but he was not quick enough.
The story is best told now in the Visitor’s own words.
The story is best told now in the Visitor’s own words.
“Hunt then jumped at him, trying to take the papers away from him, Jarvis declaring that half of the papers were his and he would not give them up until he knew what disposition was being made of them and held on and refused to give them up. At this, Mart Robinson, the president of the bank, proceeded to take a hand and while he and Hunt were scuffling with Jarvis, trying to get the papers, Geo. Robinson, the cashier, ran in from behind the bank counters and grabbed Jarvis by the throat, choking him and demanding the papers. All three were at him at the same time; but in spite of the garroting and scuffling, Jarvis succeeded in keeping a fast hold on the papers.
“Between the scuffling and choking, the voice of Mart rose high, telling Jarvis that ‘he had no business to come into their place of business and gather up papers—that the papers were in Hunt’s possession and he had no right to them.’
“Jarvis also took occasion, as the pressure of George’s fingers from time to time let up to tell them ‘that he proposed to take his property whenever he found a set of d____d thieves and robbers like they were undertook to down him.’
“Finally Jarvis told them to let him loose, that he wanted to speak to Hunt. They released him and he asked Hunt ‘what he was going to do with the papers and why he had taken them out of the office unbeknownst to him and without his consent?’
“Hunt answered that ‘he was signing them over to the bank to keep him from robbing him.’
“Jarvis said that ‘no one wanted to rob him, that he believed it all a scheme of a set of thieves to rob him.’
“The Robinsons then made a show of apologizing, saying that ‘they didn’t know what papers they were when he picked them up.’
“Words followed words until Mart locked the door and informed Jarvis that he should never go out of the bank while he kept possession of the papers and finally he and George again attacked him: Mart going for the papers and George, taking his favorite hold, tried to shut off his wind. He still clung to them and they again detested and blankly apologized to Jarvis, assuring Jarvis that they were very sorry to have any trouble. Jarvis then told them that they would never get the papers out of his hands as long as he lived, and finally after a third unsuccessful tussle and choking, they agreed that he should send after an attorney. Frank Jennings was sent for and it was settled by a list of the papers being prepared for Jarvis and the bank retaining them.”
Arkansas City Traveler, September 15, 1886.
Our Winfield Neighbors Restirring Themselves.
The Winfield Visitor tells of an active effort being made by home capitalists to build up the city and infuse some life into business. The first move made in this direction was the purchase last week of the Mendenhall property, on the corner of Ninth Avenue and Millington Street, for $15,000. The gentlemen composing the syndicate who made the purchase are: W. P. Hackney, A. J. Thompson, John A. Eaton, H. D. Gans, J. B. Nipp, M. L. Robinson, J. L. Horning, James B. Mabury, W. L. Hands, P. H. Albright, M. L. Reed, T. H. Soward, Curns & Manser, and J. L. M. Hill. They buy the lots, we are assured, with the intention of erecting a large stone building thereon. There is also talk of another syndicate being formed to make another purchase of real estate on West Ninth Avenue, where another stone block is to be erected. Some more loose talk is thrown in of Messrs. Ferguson, Hackney, Albright, Fuller, and Smith making arrangements to build on their lots on Ninth Avenue, and Mr. James Fahey agrees, if the last named work is done, to carry up the post office building so as to make it correspond with the Farmers’ bank and the Short block. We are glad to learn that our Winfield neighbors are waking up to the necessity of the times, but they have aroused themselves so late in the season that we do not expect to see much stone and mortar laid before bad weather sets in. It is well to make a stir, however, and encourage the townspeople with great things to be accomplished, though the consummation is never arrived at. It will never do to give up best.
[Note: Kay told me that Robinson died circa 1888 or 1889. Once I work my way up to those years, will be able to complete his story. MAW]
