The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-02-29
SMALLER TOWNS PUSH PLAN
Company Asked 60 Operate Gasoline
Motor Cars Between Kenosha and
Genoa Junction With View Of Giving
frequent Train Service to Kenosha.

Petitions are being circulated both
in the city ard in some Of the smaller
villages along the line Of the North
western Railway in the western part
of the county asking that that com
pany put gasoline motor cars III opera
ton on the western line with a view
of giving frequent passenger service
between Kenosha and Genoa Juction.
1t is not known what action the com
pany will take on the petition, but it
IS known that the Northwestern has
for some time been experimenting with
tho gasoline motor cars and that the
officials are pretty well acquainted with
what can be done with them and the
cost Of operating them.
For the past four or five years the
people in the villages in the western
part of the county have been seeking
to secure more frequent railway serv-
ice between the county seat and Genoa
junction. At the present time if a
man comes to the city for half an
hours trading it is necessary for him
to give the entire day for the. trip.
He reaches Kenosha early in the morn
ing and it is impossible for him to
get back home until night fall With
"a gasoline motor car the trip could fbe
made in three or four hours at the
most and from the nearby stations the
farmers could come to Kenosha and do
their trading with as little loss of
time as a man living on the suburbs
Of the city. For years the farmers
have hoped that the trouble would be
solved by the building Of an electric
line which would touch all OF the
larger settlements Of the county, but
plan after plan for such a line has been
exploded and the farmers have decided
that the best plan is to seek the aid
Of the Northwestern.
It would be comparatively easy
matter for the Northwestern company
to test out the proposed plan. 1t is
thirty miles from Kenosha to Genoa
Junction and with two cars it would
be possible to establish an hour serv-
ice between the two points. IF the
hour service proved too frequent for the
traffic demands it would be possible to
make the change at anytime.
These gasoline motor cars are now
being Noperated on many of the steam
roads Of the United States and it is
declared that no change in tracks is
necessary to operate them. In some
Of the states the gasoline cars are
rapidly taking the place of the steam
cars for local business. It is claimed
that the cost of operation Of the cars
is decidedly small People i'll the
western part of the county would be
perfectly willing to pay the fare as
set by the state law provided they
could get the service. The opening of
the line as far west as Genoa june
ton would bring into closer touch
with the city many settlements. In
addition to this it would make posi-
bic a connection between Kenosha and
tho Wisconsin Central Railway which
might prove advantageous for the
Northwestern company in opening a
new territory for travel over its line.
The western division has not had a
great deal Of consideration from the
company in recent years and the COM
pany has repeatedly raised objections
to putting on trains. 1T is not improb-
able that the railway commission of
the state will be asked to look into the
proposed use of the gasoline motor
car and i6 is possible that should such
a suggestion be made to the company
by the commission that the company
would be more ready to listen to it.
Men connected with the company de-
clared today that they had heard moth
ing of the propose petitions and they
were unwilling to express any opinion
as TO the manner in which such a sug-
gestion would be accepted by the of
fcials of the company. 1t is probable
that the matter will be thoroughly
eanvassed with the officials Of the com,
pany before the opening Of the spring
and summer months.
POSTPONED.