The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-12-13
Some More Street Car Talk.

1 am begging the case" he en-
deavors TO ridicule the idea of any
freight cars being hauled over their
lines. Will you kindly explain, my
dear Colonel, why Mr.. Peatman was
SO persistently anxious that they be
allowed the privilege of so doing if
they did not intend to use their lines
for that purpose?
/ think there was more time spent
over this clause than any other one
clause in the ordinance, unless per-
haps it was over the one concerning
the time table, and possibly over
their demand that boys be allowed to
act as motormen, both of which he
carried, as he practically did all of
the others.
Is it a stretch of the Imagination
to suppose that, when they lay their
lines, the first section laid will be to
connect with one of our steam roads,
and that every pound of material
used in the construction of their
road will be delivered by their own
motors?
Won't freight cars be used to de-
liver the material as the build to Penn
College, and having reached that
point, won't freight cars be used
when they continue a stub to the
Friendsl Meeting House? Won't
freight cars be used to haul the ma
terial for their fair ground stub2
Won't freight cars be used to handle
the material to build their line as
they construct the same along High
avenue and to Forest Cemetery and
to the end of the Boulevard? II not,
why-n
In your railroad experience isn't it
a matter of personal knowledge with
you that all railways are built by
using a construction train to carry
the material from their base of sup
plies to the front?
II so, why won't this. company,
after having prevailed on the coun-
Gil to grant them the right to haul
freight cars, do the same, and not
only for their own construction work,
but when more paving is ordered in
why won't they haul the paving ma
terial and the brick as well? They
would most certainly be very foolish
not to do 80 after having prevailed
on the council to give them the RE ht,
and, as matter of fact, Mr.. Peat
man so expressed himself.
You and 1, Colonel, may be getting
too far along in years to find any en-
joyment in driving after 10 o'clock,
but we both know that it is no I'M
common thing to see men with their
families, and young men with their
"best girls" driving over our paved
streets, even after ten O'Clock on
summer evenings, and it is perfectly
right and proper that they should be
privileged to do so. 1t has cost no
small amount of money to put the
streets in such condition that they
might do so with satisfaction to
themselves, and l don't think they
should be denied the right to do so
through the fear of meeting freight
trains, neither do l consider your
implied slur in CHASING them as
nocturnal pleasure seekers" as be-
ing either in order or good taste.
Yes, if the road is built it will cost
some money. Not the amount the
promoters are talking by any means,
but, say $4,000 to $4,000. This
amount would build and equip every
foot of road they are required to
build under the ordinance, and their
power house and lighting station as
well, and il does not follow by any
manner of means that Oskaloosa Ia
Dor would benefit to any great eX-
tent by the expenditure as by far the
largest part OF it would be expended
for machinery and supplies and the
chances are more than even that, so
far as the labor was concerned, a
contract would be let covering it to
parties in that line of business, who,
as rule, have their own gang OF la
borers to do the work.
But the most important feature, ac-
cording to j. t. r., is, don't forget
to remember to support the "Light
Ordinance" No light contract, no
railway. Here is application for
another % year franchise, coupled
with demand for contract to
light the city for the next Is years
at minimum price of Seven Thous-
and Two Hundred and Sixty Dollars
ga, 2s0) year, or an aggregate of
One Hundred and Eight Thousand
Nine Hundred Dollars (s10s, 9001, and
to be sure that they will get their
money, they bind the city up in
contract to levy special tax which
shall not be diverted from the light
fund. To realize how utterly nom
sensical such proposition is, just
ask yourself what reply you would
make to any one who would ask you
to contract to buy light for the next
fifteen years, even though the price
named was considered fair for light
at the present time. II you wouldn't
make such contract for yourself
how can you consider it good thing
to tie the city up for that length Of
time. And, by the way, don't forget
that they demand exemption from
49, !. 49,, To- nsto .toowa