Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-26
A NARROW ESCAPE FOR LINCOLl


The Omaha and Council Bluffs street
railway merger has been a startling eye
opener to the good people of Lincoln.
The clause in the articles of incorpora-
tion OF the reorganized street railway
octopus that authorizes it to extend its
tentacles inca southwesterly direction
through Douglas and Sarpy counties to
Saunders county, thence through Wahoo
and Ashland and through Lancaster
county into the city of Lincoln, affords
convincing proof that the large, progress
sive capital city has had a narrow es-
cape.
Looking through the big end of tele-
scope, the observer on the top of the
dome has discovered a Trojan horse on
motor wheels, built and designed for the
sole purpose of accomplishing the com
mercial conquest of Lincoln and pipe
lining all its sap and vitality into the
back yard of Council Bluffs. Had 1t
not been for the vigilance sagacity and
sublime patriotism of the mayor of Lin
coin the dire calamity of being swal
lowed horse, foot and dragons by
Greater Omaha could not have been
averted.
The form borne by the Trojan horse of
Omaha construction was that OF a camel
that had been reared, stabbed and
groomed in the South Omaha stock
yards. The strategic move was to be-
gin by the insertion Of the camel's head
followed by his hump and body.
into the gates OF Lincoln. The full
particulars of the exploded con-
spiracy against the peace and well
being OF Lincoln appear in the lat
est number of the Lincoln Journal and
recall the closing chapters OF one Of
Conan Doyle's ingenious detective
stories. We are told In language that ia
plain that the name of the man who
offered a Trojan trolley line as a present
to the Lincolnites was Manager Kenvon
OF the South Omaha stock yards. Saws
the narrator:
Mr.. Kenyon comes down here and buvs
the stock yards property. There is much
ee'A Va I0ouHihB packing. Then he be-
gins tearing down the packing houses that
Lincoln men built hfteen years ago at a
cost OF 100000 While the work OF tear
ing down house No. is stIll In progress
he comes into town and his friends whis
per 1t around that the Armours are going
to do great things at West Lincoln and
want him to buy the Home street railroad
franchise to allow these great develop
ments to get started. Exeitable public
opinion is famed by mysterious whispers.
and only the hard business sense Of Mayor
Winnett keeps the franchise out OF Mr.. Ken
yon's hands. II developed two weeks ago
that he wanted 1t for an interurban line,
and now II looks very much as II his work
Was done for the Omaha Street Railroad
company itself It would be a brilliant
scheme to give that corporation
chance to come in here with an in
terurban line owned in Omaha and
run in the interests OF Omaha. But
Mr.. Kenyon didn't get the franchise.
and the city can keep the road out until Il
comes In on terms favorable to Lincoln.
The city Is now free TO encourage some
concern like the Akron syndicate to come
In and build up a corporation that will
have its headquarters and power houses
and shops in Lincoln. and win be managed
In the interests Of this city. All other con-
Germs can he kept out. for the South Lin
coin franchise is still owned here and the
people will be pretty unanimous in wanting
them barred from participation In the use
Of the streets OF the city.
And thus it is that Lincoln Is able TO