The Oskaloosa herald., 1911-11-09

asphalt filler.
The brick paving that you have
built in the past, while 1t is laid,
some of it, fairly well, was great
mistake, in my opinion, and want to
frankly say that tho brick paving has
not had fair test in Oskaloosa; that
you undertook to construct your paw
ing too cheaply and that you did not
take precaution in laying your brick
that you should have done.
Again, after the paving was laid,
you allowed any fellow with a mat
took, chisel or spade to tear up the
paving to put in gas pipes, water
pipes or light pipes, and you allowed
him to replace it in any manner he
saw fit. But before you do any more
paving, l am going to urge that you
pass an ordinance and enforce it, re-
curing all sewer mains to be laid, all
water mains to be laid, and all gas
pipes to be laid, and that you use a
lead service pipe connection in order
that your paving may not have to be
torn up in the future.
Again, | say, investigate thorough
~, the best material to be used for
paving before you take single step,
and adopt the best material without
regard to whom it may concern, or
| the opinion of the mayor.
Fifth.
| The next thing wish to call your
| attention to is the subject of rail-
| roads.
Railroads are common carriers of
both passengers and freight, and a
modern convenience and something
that we cannot get along without, but
| do think that they should be regu-
lated in your city. This council
should compel each and every rail
road to put in either automatic gates
or a fiagman at each and every dan
gerous crossing, in the City of Oska'
loosa.
| am not seriously impressed with
the automatic bell for many reasons;
because it is so likely to get out of
order, and then again the noise may
smother the bell, until it will be OF
little service, but the automatic gate
will not allow persons or teams to
cross, OF attempt to cross, when the
train is near; but for myself / favor
the automatic gate; however, | would
not oppose the flagman, if the council
should so desire.
This council took this subject up
Immediately following a terrible &C
cident this summer; but something
else detracted our attention and we
are all prone to forget, until another
terrible accident arouses our indigna
ton; human lives should be put
above property rights and ! must in
sist that tho council take some act
i've steps for the security of the lives
of our people al the railroad cross
} ings.
Many of these accidents have hap
pened in recent years and before an
other one happens, let us do all il
: our power to prevent it. Some time
ago | passed through a number o.
cities with a population varying from
$500 to 1000 and | discovered tina
/
dered why the City Of Oskaloosa will
its 10000 people should not have the
same safety guards as smaller places
Sixth.
Another thing that / wish to cal
your attention to is the condition
south of High avenue west, and ives
of the right-of-way of the Iowa Cen
trail Railway Company's tracks
There is only one crossing or avenue
open to the people, between Higf
avenue west and Sixth avenue
: west, and that is First avenue west
, and it is blocked Il great portion o
the time by the trains, and the people
living in the southwest portion o.
the city are handicapped in getting
to the business part of your city, ant
their children are compelled to go {
long distance to school, and many o
them, | learn, are compelled to go u
: First ward school on account Of the
conditions existing. 1t may be tina
it was necessary to give away thu
rights of the people to the railroads
for a distance of almost one mile, bu
do not believe it. | think the PEG
pie living in this portion of the city
should have some means of getting
to your city and their children getting
to school, without travelling half {
mile out of their way; and this does
not arise from any antipathy on my
part towards the railroad, because
have no feeling against them, but 6
very kindly feeling toward them. The
officials of the railroads, the Iowa
Central, c., B. & Q. and the r. l..
have been kind and courteous toward
me and | feel very kindly toward
them, and | know that tho officials
living in the City of Oskaloosa are
doing all they can to alleviate the in
convenience of the people; but they
are helpless to relieve the situation.
or course can order my policemen
to arrest the conductors of these
trains for blockading the crossings on
First avenue west; but | do not like
to do this, because have given some
time and observation TO the condi
tions at the crossings and know that
1t is impossible for these men to keep
the crossings clear and j do not ap'
preciate imposing fine on train