The Oskaloosa herald., 1897-01-14
STREET CARS.
Discussion of the All Absorbing
Topic in Town.
Opinions of oouncilmen and 9th.
ers.
sEIBERI


says Co g HERALD reporter: In refer
ence to the street railway franchise l
honestly and earnestly am OF the opin-
ion that such & franchise s. is now
under consideration, binding the rights
OF the city for twenty-five years. would
be unfair 10 It's Inhabitants and not to
the parties presenting snd asking for
this franchise. AS . citizen, taxpayer
aud business man, Ian IN favor Of an
electric street railway, but not in favor
OF giving up the rights Of the city TO
such az unfair proposition. While
elected to protect the rights OF the city
as much as possible. l did oppose &c
Also do [ believe that IL the spoken of
franchise be one of such great value to
the city there would 0 have Deen the
slightest difficulty OF its being granted
and also on the other hand it would
have been unjust to tie city were it 8
good thing and not granted notwith,
standing who presented this franchise.
The city cannot expect to have things
all it's own way; but so long as l remsin
on the council 1 shall protect the rights
OF the city to the best Of my ability"
COUNCILMAN FITCH
says: "It is 9 complicated question.
But 1 look ct it this way. The company
operating the street railway here now
have q franchise for fifteen years yet.
They have property valued at from
$4,000 to $4,000 There are those who
claim thslNMr. Winter is simply trying
to unload his interests here and sell out
Supposing he is, that Is none OF our
business Ii the equipment issput In
the city will be SO much better off
They will have aud run their cars, Or
give up their franchise.
"The ordinance doesn't suit me e K
sctly, I prefer more definite terms con.
corning 8 time schedule, but L under
stand that will be satisfactorily sErang,
ed. As everything stands nov, with
the exception I mentioned, I am 10 favor
Of the ordinance. I think it is the best
thing the city can do"
COUNCILMAN WOODRUFF
says: II am, every time, for the ad-
Vancement of the interests OF the city.
With q slight change I am unqualified
ly In favor OF granting thu franchise.
We over looked some small mstters,r re
gsraing q time card on branch lines
that ought to be arranged brand these
1 understand, Nj. Winter has agreed TO.
I would vote for q substitute ordinance
containingsthese points"
COUNCILMAN sIPEs
says: ~ wasn't very much in favor OF
the ordinance as itstoOd. I voted for it
with the understanding that arrange
ments satisfactory to the council would
be made by the street railway company
ard incorporated into an amendment
or contract which the company would
sign. understand that MI. Winter lie
entirely fsgoEabie to this. The city
needs an electric lire, and ss the pres
emit company has Q franchise for fifteen
years yet [ think we would be most apt
to get an electric line from these PEG
pie. 1 understand the present franchise
was put In with q forfeit clause, that
they run their road, and I think this
company would give as an electric road
l woui 1Vote the same way again IL 1t
come up again"
COUNCILMAN sLADE,
interviewed by q HERALD reporter,
made this statement: Twenty Eve
years lie a long time for which to grant
3 franchise In q growing town like Os
kslOoss without any more restrictions
than Ia the recent n claimed to have
passed the council. a franchise OF that
kind ought TO be worth something to
the party who gets it, although [ don't
think an electric car line will pay in
at present. The franchise
referred to looks to me as though 1t was
all for the Electric Car Co and the city
was not considered In the deal. The
idea of an Electric Car Co. getting Q
franchise for % years and not being
compelled to run their cars only on one
line on schedule time and that line
about three fourths Of 9 mile long and
all other streets once q year just enough
to hold the franchisei I would like to
see an electric Car line here, bat If it
will not pay the party Who puts 1t in
and operates 1t l would rather not see
Ii here.
"The city council IL. elected to repre-
sent the city's interests, and when I
voted against this franchise I consider
ed 1t 10 that light. Would do the same
thing again. l am sorry to learn 10 the
coming election the street railway will
be the paramount issue for I think there
are other Issue of vastly more import
ance to the CITY,"
MAYOR SEWERS
that THE HERALD was In error
when It stated that he, when the vote
was taken by the council to pass the
street car franchise over nis vote, insist
ed on having his votes recorded "No."
The facts are that he simply stated that
In reckoning the two thirds necessary
be must be considered 3 member OF the
ss the Law provides, and hts
position is simply In harmony with
every action CT the council for the last
three years, ever since the question was
raised in connection with the south Ist
street paving.
AT that time eight members OF the
council voted Tor the paving. A three