The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-04-03
OSKALOOSA & TAMA
Excellent Reasons Why Election
Should Garry.

HE HERALD has so long and so
often urged upon our people the won
derful advantages the construction of
the Osksloosa & Tama line wo I'D give
Oskaloosa, that, lest our philosophy
grow monotonous, and for variety
we take pleasure to-day in quoting
the words of two of our local contem-
poraries.
The Times this morning says:
To the readers of the TINES we de-
sire TO state that in no period of the
papers history has there been a
proposition of greater or more vital
interest set forth in it's columos than
the proposed construction of the Os-
kaloosa aud Tama railroad and il
appears to be the honest opinion of
all who'have sgivep the subject auy
consideration that the great benefits
this line will confer on the public
has at no time been overstated.
Ia fact there is so ETuch to be said
in faVorsof the line and nothing of
import against it, that it wouldseem
unnecessary to make a loLg ;argu-
ment in its favor. Nevertheless it
is conceded that there is in all
communities a member of men who
can never see aag thing good in any
naeasure, though how that could be
the case in this proposition is be-
yond our understanding, and we
trust theres'may be none such in
this case. And why should there
be, for it is a conceded fast that any
enterprise consummated that will
confer so great benefits as the con-
struction'of this line WILTON the en-
tirecommuniSy should meets cordial
welcome ands0substaatial support.
Right now rs the time to lend their
aid TO push a good thing along, and
the demonstration made on the 2Jth
inst in favor of the city line and light
franchise should be more than en-
phesized in favor Of the Tama pro-
position. The citizens of Oskaloosa
owe it to themselves to be alert in
this most important issue. There
is no other''one thing yet offered
that we could imagine that would
repay us-sos-well as TO assist the
country in obtaining this line for it
is beyond a Doubt the interests are
mutual. In conferring this boon on
or country residents together
with ouresuburban towns, Buxton,
for example, 1t simplifies and in
'creases' our opportunity for doing
legitimate business OF every kind
and ia every direction not now
afforded. The projectors and pro.
posed builders Of this line have be-
fore you a plain, honest and proper
Proposition. They have been open
and free to explain their project
and Their lintensions. They have
and are now living up to every
promise they have made and there
rs Eot the slightest doubt but what
this same honorable course will be
continued to the finish, so it would
appear to be suicidal to reject either
of the requests they make of the
voters. In granting this franchise
we iEcur no risks, and in granting
the small tax we are simply AIDING
aud benetitIng ourselves. Asyou no
doubt understand this tax is to be
levied on precisely the same basis
as our other taxes and assessments,
being on one quarter value aud that
no part of the tax is payable until
the road is completed and then you
have two years to make the pay
ments. You will also remember
that when these two payments are
made, the deal is closed, and moth
log further is required or de-
manded. Gould anything be plain
er or on fairer basis.
We think not. We also believe
ours is thinking and intelligent
constituency therefore believe they
will view the subject along the same
lines we do. 1t is interesting as
well as truthful to state that in all
the communities where they have
introduced and put in operation the
inter urban electric railways they
have proved a success and conferr-
ed on said communities untold and
heretofore unknown benefits. That
this will prove true in this instance
we have not the slightest doubt.
Now, if there be any doubling citi-
zens who think we will get all these
good things, whether we do our
part or not or whether we assist by
the small tax, we desire to state we
don't want that impression to pre-
vail. 1t is essential we do and per-
form our part of the contract by
affording the aid asked for. In
doing that we make no mistake and
should we fail and thereby lose
the proposition we are wholly to
blame. But we are sanguine no