The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-03-18
EVERYBODY Is AT SEA
NO DECISION ARRIVED AT IN THE
GATHERING OF CITIZENS.
RESULT OF BIG MASS MEETING
Considerable Talk INDUCED in But There
was No Keynote and the Talk Rambled
Few Favored the Road without
Reciprocal BENEFITS


There has been a mass meeting of
citizens. They came together at Sim
mons hall Wednesday night, and SO far
as any practical results are concerned
the report of it might as well be
dropped right here. There were no
results and the practically of it even
may be seriously questioned. The
trend of most of the remarks made
were that il is questionable if the load
would benefit the city any, but there
was one thing settled beyond the. slight
est peradVenture of doubt. That is,
if the road does come through it must
give the city benefits equivalent to
those given to the company. There
must be reciprocity or no franchise.
1t is possible that one might hold that
that was the keynote of the meeting
and that the general and universal eX-
preston Of it really furnished what
might be termed a result. There was
no mistaking that point whether the
speakers argued for or against the
road.
The meeting was called to order by
John O'Donnell at about $50 o'clock.
At that hour there were fully 250 men
in the hall. All the benches were oc-
cupied at an early hour and before the
meeting was called to order there was
a large contingent standing about the
floor who were unable to find seats.
When Mr.. O'Donnell called the meet
ing to order he moved that James
Cavanagh be made president The
motion carried. Then G. W. Johnston
was made secretary.
Mr.. Cavanagh explained that the
object of the meeting, if be understood
it, was for the purpose of discussing
first whether Kenosha wanted the road
and second, if it is wanted, upon what
terms shall it be admitted Then he
threw the meeting open for discussion.
No rapid advantage was taken Of the
opportunity and the president found it
necessary to call for expressions of
opinion three or four times. AS the
moments Jagged Mr.. Slush was called
on, but all he would say was that he
was there by accident and not to talk.
He simply waLted to hear the ex-
pressions of the citizens.
Justice John G.. Slater stated that he
thought that some Of those gentlemen
who thought the city would be bene-
fitted by the road should speak first.
Joseph Letting thought the road
should buy and pay for it's way through
the city.
E. r. Head said he believed the ma
jority of the people wanted the road,
but that he was not there to make
speech. He did his talking through
his newspapers.
In order to get the matter before the
house in good form DR.. Meers moved
that the coming into the city of this
line be considered a good thing.
Mat Werwe at once jumped on that.
He thought that no place to vote on
such a question 1t should be submit
ted to the people at the spring election
The motion was then withdrawn.
Mayor Farr was then called out He
said he thought the road would be
valuable under certain conditions |
The aldermen will amend the ordinance |
so that the city will secure some sort OF
adequate returns for its gift, he stated.
He said it might come in either OF
three ways. First, the company might |
paw cash for the franchise; second, 1t |
could run line out to Truesdell so as
to give us the berefits of competition
with the St. Paul road; third, it might
give an adequate local service. He |
thought it would be a benefit to the |
CITY to have a local service, but the |
franchise woul not be granted for fifty |
years. That term will be cut to twenty |
five and the company must furnish |
on its cars and bond itself I
to indemnify the city for all damages
to its water pipes which may come
from electrolysis.
d. B. Benedict thought the road
would benefit the city He believed |
the citizens we're in favor OF progress
and that we surely would not care to
go back to the days of the stage
coaches. An electric road is needed
here to show tie world we are abreast
of the times. He did not believe that
the franchise should be granted with
out the consideration being valuable
one, but if he had foot of property in
the city he would be glad to have such
a road pass it, though he thought the
rights of the city should be carefully
protected.
John O'Donnell said he could not see
what good passenger line would do
What Kenosha needs is freight line.
The proposed road could not carry
passengers in competition with the
other railroad. while freight road
would do a good business. He agreed
with others that the day for giving