The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-07-07

. When people sweat
And groau TO get
glass Of cooling beer;
/, The circus and the organ man
= Drop in upon the scene
The small boys pants
Their holes enhance
Upon the base hall green.
WilliaDlSr"r' i",',e,,.. ~.
The S,reator Free Press, in the report q
city council proceedings, presents thi
item, which will be interesting to count.
tax payers: "Thc finance committee pre-
scented an ltcmlzed bill for about 81 ,4O
against the county for expenses IN tn
smallpox cases, which the city had pai(
and for which they asked repayment iron
the county. The clerk was instructed t
make oath that the bills were paid as ther'
shown, and hand the account to the super
visor to present to the county board. l
was stated, during the discussion, that thu
city had paid out $2,44s.S5 on account O
smallpox.
The American House, Boston, send u
a new map of Boston, IN stiff covers, 6
form very handy for the pocket We know
Of no city in America In which the strang
er needs map more than IN Boston; and
visitors will find this handsome map very
convenient as it is well executed and more
thorough in detail than most city maps.
The La Sale Democrat says: "POstmas-
ter Bowman, of Ottawa, anticipating toll
rates between the county seat and this city
has ordered out his three telephones.
Many others will follow SUIT The lux
ury is expensive enough now, but when a
charge OF 20 cents is added every time
you desire to speak with the county scat,
the people will not stand 1t, and out
through the window will 90 the phones"
We are inclined to think the Democrat is
right. The luxury is expensive. 1t is
equal TO the tax on $1,000 house. And
1t is certain that the majority of subscrlb.
ers who need the connection will make a
vigorous Kick If indeed they do not order
out their phones if charge is made for La
oalle connection. That was guaranteed to
be free when the phones were put In, while
free connection with other county towns
though not promised directly, was
expected by subscribers. The service,
too in Ottawa is poorer than should be at
night There is great deal of complaint,
which fact will not encourage subscribers
in retaining phones after the La Sale con-
nection steal Is enforced, if II shall be.
The subject of electric light is receiving
considerable attention throughout the
country, and wherever it has been intro.
duced as system Of lighting streets, it has
proved very acceptable. In no instance do
we hear of complaints against it, but rath-
er the most abundant satisfaction IS ex-
pressed. All around US some system of
electric lighting is being introduced. Au.
rora, Davenport, Rock Island, La Crosse.
and other cities we might name have been
illuminated by natures own and best light
-electriclty--and none OF them would
now 60 back TO the old gas light any more
than they would to the tallow.dlp of fifty
years ago. The beneficial results can
scarcely be enumerated; the only compar-
ison we can make IS: that full.moon light
is produced all the year round crime 10
lessened, making possible reduction of
the police force; light is had from dark to
day light, instead of three or four hours in
the evening; the light itself Is pleasanter
and more thoroughly dittused through the
entire city; the comparative cost Is much
below that OF gas for the same volume of
light and for the same length of time the
lamps are lighted; also, and by no means
least, the Introduction Of electric light into
any city gives that city reputation
abroad for enterprise and thrift that moth
ing else can equal. Take, for instance, the
electrict lights Of our own city:-how
many times We hear them commented on
in terms that bring feeling of satisfaction
never before experienced? To have the
streets of Ottawa lighted by electricity
would be an advertisement we'll worth the
cot.
The city Indebtedness is small and will
be almost entirely wiped ont by another
year. The council may by that time safe
ly consider some plan for the improve
ment of Ottawa--something that shall at
tract favorable attention from abroad, as
well as make us more comfortable at home,
and which will be q credit to city that
should be one OF the first in the state. All
want to see our beautiful town assume her
proper place among the thriving cities of
Illinois, and this can be best attained by a
concert of action on the part of our ciii-
zens, raising the standard Of her repuia-
ton and seeing that she is frequently i'd
vcrtised abroad. One OF the means we
have here referred to--let her streets be
lighted by electricity, and other good
things will follow. We believe the coun.