The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-01-29
.HURRAH FOR HOSPITAL
Street Car Day Gives the Fund a
Big Lift.

kaloosa. The opening of the Oska-
loosa Street Railway, a high grade
electric rapid transit line, to the SER
vice of the public made such day as
the city has never before experienced.
Everybody from youngestto Oldest, and
from the school boy and girl with their
pennies to the citizen with his bank
roll, was interested in the new cars.
Everybody participated in the celebra-
tion of the big event.
The Oskaloosa Traction and Light
company very generously and in COM
mendable public spirit gave the entire
receipts of the first day to the Hospi-
tai fund. The cars from the start,
about IL o'clock in the morning, to al
most IL o'clock at night, were crowd
ed to their capacity. Many people did
not ride on the opening day on account
of the crowded condition of the cars
at all times. A lve cent fare was
charged by the ladies, but there was
no objection made to any proffered
amount and quite number of hanu-
some donations were thus received
from business men of the city and in
terested parties.
The total amount of the receipts on
the cars for the day was little under
seven hundred dollars. The mounts
of the wagers made on the amount Of
the receipts will bring the earnings Of
the fund for the day to over eight hun
dred dollars. All wagers made are, by
agreement, to be paid into the hospi-
tai fund.
From the hour that the cars started
they were well patronized by all
classes of people and had there been
more cars a greater number of people
would have been accommodated. The
school children captured the system
after three o'clock and had things all
their own way until quite late in the
evening, when the business people,
clerks, college students and lodge or
ganizations had their turn and they
kept the cars moving until close to the
midnight hour. The receipts of the
day may stand for some time as the
high water mark of the earnings of the
system, but it will be possible for the
property to easily handle as many peo-
pie in a day which will be done quite
frequently.
The ladies of the hospital board
have every reason to be elated over
the results of the days work. More
cash was netted than from anything
else that the board has ever attempt
ed. Everyone Is pleased with the out
come of the efforts put forth. Mr..
O'Neil, president of the company, is
greatly pleased at the reception the
opening of the system has met with.
That the cars will be popular with the
people of Oskaloosa is not to be doubt
ed. The service is to be made COM
plete in every detail and the company
will do everything possible to main
tain the excellence and usefulness OF
the property. The first use of the cars
will be in measure on account of the
novelty, but as the great usefulness
becomes apparent to the general pub
lie they will come to be appreciated.
and more largely patronized. The
company will do its part toward inn
proving it's property and meeting the
demands of the public as the business
grows.
The first days business under the
management of the ladies of the hos
pital board was cared for in syste-
matte and careful manner. The head
quarters were at the Office of the
Traction company on Hin avenue, cor
ner of A street. The conductors of
the cars reported to this place with
the passage of each car and the funds
were counted as they increased in
amount hour after hour. The first trip
of the cars netted about seventy-five
dollars and then the increase was not
so rapid but was sure. At six o'clock
the receipts had passed three hundred
dollars and the evening hours witness.
ed the greatest increase.
The best record for any car during
the day was that officered by Miss
Pigeon Boyer and the amount was
$10S.00. The passengers were a mum.
ber of cigar dealers, brewers agents,
saloon .proprietors and number OF
others who joined in with them to
make up the purse and to take the ride
over the lines.
The first money paid was that OF
president Harry O'Neil, who gave Miss
Josephine Boyer, the conductor of the
first car out, twenty dollar gold piece
for his fare. Other large fares paid
were as follows
w. II. Kalbach, $500.
w. G. Sheppard, $500.
c. E. Lofiand, $500.
Herman Pfeifer, $1,000.
Harry Sewers, $500.
William Cricket, $500.
Will Hawkins, $500.
John Kalbach, $500.
Fred Green, $500.
John Mahin, Ottumwa, $500.
Quite a number of parties took up a
collection, boarded a car, took ride
and gave the collection to the conduc-
tor. No record of these amounts were
preserved.
The ladies of the hospital board feel
4bof co,na Hryord ~ ~.