The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-12-19
"The 1niuns.

EDIroRs HERALD: 1t will no doubt
be interesting to your many readers
to learn that the little speck of war
that seemed to be gathering between
the Tama and Omaha tribes, is likely
to be called off and the pipe of peace
more tnan probably will be smoked
and no scalps taken, at least the Great
Chief of the 0mahas has informed the
city council he will keep Oft the Tama
trail indefinitely provided that they
desire to continue to hunt between
Buxton and Tama via 0skaloosa,
though in the event that they fail to
fully cover said trail in due time, the
Omahas desire to take UP their imple-
ments and proceed with their hunt
for good thing, so you will observe
that from the proceedings of the city
council that the Omahas agree to con-
struct line in the city of 0skaloosa
and take in some of the other surbur-
ban cIries-Harvey, Pella, Bussey, or
others-none as yet designated, and 1t
lis further agreed, or at least so stat
ed, that they. the Omahas, would con-
struct a light and heating plant and
furnish the city of Oskaloosa with all
the arc lights needed for sixteen dol
lars per arc less than the present
rates per arc; also reduction of two
dollars per light for incandescent and
they also further agree to put up a
twenty-five thousand dollar bond in
way of forfeiture should they fail to
perform any or all of the stipulations
set forth in an ordinance to be agreed
on and approved by vote of the peo-
pie. You will also observe that after
the long wait and expectations that we
have just passed through this, as far
as it has proceeded, is somewhat of an
improvement as to conditions, and it
may be possible that we have lost
nothing by waiting, for it will GER
tainly make us more particular in
drawing up specifications so we will
not get the hot end of the poker again.
So much for the Omahas. Now what
of the Tamas? From present outlook
they are moving along at a rate that
is quite satisfactory, and their pro-
position to construct their troIly line
from Tama to Buxton via OskalOOsa
is to all appearances a favorite with
the people, but it also occurs to many
that they should extend their PROPOSE
tion by also including the operations
in this city together with light and
heat plant inasmuch as they will ne
cessarily build power house here they
could compete for the lighting, thus
adding largely to their revenues and
also relieving the situation from a
possible contingency of being a party
to a continuance of the. present too
high rates charged for light. How
ever, If in their wisdom they do not
desire to engage in this later line of
business in connection with their
tramway, it would seem advisable to
get both of the propositions under
way, for it can be truthfully stated we
can't have too much of a good thing,
for il we can make Oskaloosa the hub
and have electric tramways rad ating
in every direction. let's 'radiate."
Then again it is not best to bite off
more than we can chew. So let it be
understood that if any part or parts
of the two propositions are likely to
come in violent cantrast, cut out the
one that causes the friction and choose
the most desirable. At any rate the
OskalOosans can sit in arbitration be-
| tween the Tamas and the Omanas and
at least save their own scalps.