The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-09-19

local line, which in town of 10000 is
not worth rap.
1--WE hesitated for a time, and then
accepted the conditions. They forced
lis to give bonds Of $4,000 and $4,000,
to deposit SIS 900 in cash, and 81, 500
more to guarantee that we would pay
for the paving that had been done.
All these bonds were furnished, the
greater part being signed by z. G..
Simmons, the wealthiest man in Ke-
no>f1a.
I'VE have put in the bridge, have
done most of the paving, and have al
ready expended 100000. We have
now four miles of track in the heart Of
town, and expect to have the line
through to Waukegan in a short time.
We have the right of way to the State
line. All this has caused great oppo4
sition on the part of the Milwaukee
lines. The road coming from the
north has been compelled to bring it's
passengers into town in buses, has
tried repeatedly to get franchises, and
has reused up Mrs. Susan Allen to file
suit to enjoin us from building past
her property.
"The idea of bribery is all nonsense.
We had a favorable vote of 10 to 3
when we asked for the franchise, and,
as we have fulfilled all the conditions,
there can be no complaint.''
Mr.. Clausen has been civil engin-
eer in Chicago for over sixteen years.
When Hyde Park was a city he was
city engineer there, and between 1895
and 1897, under the administra ton of
George B. Swift, he was superintend-
ent of sewers. Since then he has been
in private business.
Shortly after the arrest of Alderman
Pirsch Alderman Smith appeared at
the Office of the Court Commissioner
and surrendered himself to the authori-
ties. Both of the men were at once
arraigned and City Attorney John C,
Slater appeared for them. In stating
his position Mr.. Slater said that he
did not know as he would appear for
the accused men when the case was
brought up for trial, but that he would
represent them at this preliminary
hearing.
The men were not ready for hear
ing and the matter was continued for
ten days. The men were later released
on bail, the bonds being placed at
three hundred dollars.
The arrest of Pirsch and Smith has
caused a great deal of discussion as to
the effect the action of the officials
will have on the validity of the ordi-
nance under which the Kenosha Street
Railway company have built their
tracks. In the Supreme Court at the
present time case is pending and in
this case one of the a11eg atoms is that
the franchise was obtained through
fraud. If this charge is proved it is
thought possible that the franchise
will be declared null and void. One
thing is certain and that is that all
work on the road will be delayed until
some disposition is made of the cases
in question.
Neither Alderman Pirsch or Alder
man Smith appeared at the meeting of
the Council Monday evening, but the
matter of their arrest was generally |
discussed among the Aldermen who
were present at the meeting.
Several of the Aldermen have ex-
pressed themselves on the subject to-
day and all have expressed a desire
that the courts reveal the whole truth
in regard to the alleged fraud. This |
opinion is shared by Mayor German,
and in an interview Monday evening
he stated that he hoped that the mat
ter would be sifted to the bottom and |