Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-05-16
rom the Daily Of May 18th.
the RAILROAD ELECTION.

From the Daily Of May 18th.
THE RAILROAD ELECTION.
At the election held in this city
yesterday, on the proposition to vote
two per cent. tax to aid the Central
Railroad Company from Muchacinock
to Ottumwa, Liz votes were cast, of
which III votes were for the propo-
sition, and 395 against it, lacking
twenty-six votes only, of the requi-
site two-thirds.
Owing to an imperfect registration
and to the fact that but one voting
place was opened in this township,
where heretofore it has been custo-
mary to have three voting places,
several hundred persons did not have
the time or patience to await their
turn, and were otherwise prevented
from voting. Even had the PROPOSE
ton carried, which it failed of doing
by the mercst scratch, the vote would
have been contested, and doubtless
declared invalid, because SO many
people were unable to vote.
Late in the evening Yesterday, when
it seemed to be probable that the nee
essary two-thirds vote had been Sc
cured, the enemies of the scheme
substantially abandoned the fight,
and boldly announced that the cleo
ton would be null and void, and that
they would contest and enjoin the
levying and collection of the tax for
the reasons, among others, above set
forth.
1t was exceedingly unfortunate for
the friends Of the tax that voting
places were not opened at all three
of the usual voting precincts, for in
that event it is generally conceded
the proposition would have received
much more than the vote required.
It may be said for the Company, in
explanation of this matter, that at the
time the proposition was first SUBJ
mitted, it was not thought possible
that any serious contest would be had
over the question, and that no very
large number of our people could be
found at the polls resisting the offer
to make Ottumwa the junction and
most important point between the
st. Louis and st. Paul roads, when it
could be done so cheaply, and there
fore there would be no serious con-
test at the polls.
The result proved otherwise, and
although great majority of our res
ident taxpayers, and nearly two
thirds of the voters, cast their votes
for the road, and on the side of OF
tumwa, present and prospectively,
yet 3S5 men were developed of an
opposite opinion.
The result is in favor Of
the tax by an overwhelming ma
jority ofpublic sentiment and of the
votes of the people, and will enable
the company to correct some errors
made, which might have proven fa-
tai. 1t has developed the strength of
its friends and manifested the weak
ness Of its enemies, so that there is
nothing now left, but to go forward
and give the road four to one, instead
of two to one, at the next election.
To this end the people of pluck ;
the men of energy; the citizens of
public spirit, who are determined to
keep Ottnmwa ahead of all her ri
walls, will meet at the City Hall this
evening at Z 80 for consultation, and
to signanother petition requesting the
Trustees to call another election.
We hope that every man who reads
this notice viii regard this as spe-
cial invitation to him to come out
promptly to the meeting.
Let us show the obstrnctionists that
it is not in their power to stringhalt
Ottumwa, and that instead of being
defeated, the result is in fact glori-
GUS moral victory, and that the fight
ing has just commenced on our side.
CENTENNIAL CORN.