Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1896-03-27

more especially the working people
and the school children and their par
ents. And we are to be congratulated
on the fact that we are all working
people, but do you ask why the classes
mentioned are especially interested?
The answer is, because our neighbors,
Messrs. Gracey, Kaiser & Moore, are
liberal enough to carry the working
people to and from work, and the
school children to and from school on
half fares. This generosity is appre-
ciated, and is being freely discussed.
Should the acceptance of this PROPOSE
tion be delayed, great disappointment
will certainly follow
What excuse can possibly be given
for any delay whatever? Certainly it
cannot be found in the suggestion that
the line adopted should cover Front
street The Business parts of Front
and Greene streets are now covered by
a streetcar line. The company owning
it have had the right since September,
1890, to put on electric cars. One of
our bidders Mr.. Davis, says he "has
contracted to purchase" that line.
Shall Mr. Davis, or the present owners.
be allowed to play the dog in the man
ger, and neither put on electricity, nor
allow others to do so, simply because
we do not wish to give up our magnifi-
cent electric light plant? Did not this
same gentleman say to us last year
that if we would sell our light plant,
and employ him to furnish us light at
his price for both, that he would retire
the mule and give us electric cars?
Shall any sentiment in favor of the
"old company so called, because it
was first in the field and would lose
heavily if the bid of our liberal neigh
bors should be accepted, be allowed to
delay this Improvement? 1t is absurd
to entertain such an idea for moment.
The new company, or the gentlemen
named, do not make their bid on con-
dition that the old line shall be abol-
ished. Do they not take greater
chances of losing than the old line
people? 1t is well known that the
able to give us a modern street rail
way if they wished; but they said, No,
keep your light plant and the mule, or
give us the light plant, and we will
emancipate the mule.
We venture the suggestion that
Front street will take care of itself,
that if the best and most liberal bid is
promptly received and acted upon, the
buzz of the trolley line oyer Route No.
9 will soon frighten the street-car
horses and mules out of town, where
they may be preserved as relics of an
other and less prosperous age; and the
old line people will then either adopt
modern methods, or leave the field to
someone who will
Give us Route No. ., and leave the
other to take care of itself. j. II.
THE foregoing was written for the
Register, with the idea that it was
oioaSt ChOuS II W SitC tii Siuco VI poo-
lie questions a hearing. One of the
editors took it, and after reading it,
said, I'VE will insert and comment on
it." 70 this there was no objection.
The Register did not use it as was ex-
pected. Others, regardless of personal
or local interests, are broad and gener-
GUS enough to indulge us.
If any newspaper or Individual sup
poses that the city of Marietta was fin
ished when the available space on
Front street was occupied, it is hoped
that the error may ere long be made
apparent
The lines written on this subject
were inspired by the interest that my
neighbors who walk long distances
seem to be taking in the matter, and
without any consultation or interest in
common with any bidder or proposed
stcckholder. JOHN III. RILEY.