Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-16
DISCUSS THREE
BIG MATTERS
coUNcILMEN EXPECT TO MAKE
BIG EXTENSION OF CITY m
LIMITS THIS YEAR.
FRANCHISE TAKEN UP
Committee Of Whole Session Friday
Night, Aldermen Start Action to
Combine Two Special
Elections Necessary.
FRANCHISE TAKEN UP

Three matters OF public Importance
were given their first consideration by
the city councilmen in a committee OF
the whole session held Friday night IN
the city hall. A general discussion OF
the extension of the corporate limits
OF Ottumwa in all districts, the re-
districting of the seven voting pre-
cincts of the city and the proposed
eleven year extension to the street car
company's franchise, took place but
action of any kind was deferred until
the next session of the committee.
Nothing of definite nature was done
but expressions from a number Of the
aldermen gives evidence of the fact
that all three propositions are looked
upon with great favor at the present
time The session Friday night was for
the purpose Of getting the matters be-
fore the aldermanic body so that In
dividual consideration may be given
by the next meeting. The council In
tends to take early action.
Extending the City Limits.
Since action for the extension of the
city limits to include st. Joseph's
academy and surrounding territory
was commenced in the council few
weeks ago, the aldermen have begun
movement for the annexation of in
habited districts outside the corpor-
ate limits on all sides Of Ottumwa.
There are a number of additions re-
Gently opened up that are In a place
to become a part of OttumWa. River
view is one of the largest outlying
sections that the council Is consider
ing. The movement is now In Its IN
fancy and has not yet assumed
definite shape so that the extent OF the
annexations are not known. However,
the council intends to extend the Inn
It's in a way that will count. The
Sisters of Humility of Mary have ask
ed immediate action for the taking IN
of the St. Joseph's academy and con-
vent region, north of the city. 1t re-
unres a special election and thus en-.
tails much expense TO the city, and
the council hopes to cover all limit
extensions in this one election, which
the aldermen feel must come sooner
or later. The aldermen agreed to see
what additions would be necessary IN
their respective wards and report 10
the committee Of the whole, that the
districts to be added may be approved
by the entire body and arrangements
made for the election. The only speci-
fic knowledge of the regions to be
taken in is given by one Of the coun-
cilmen. He states that the extensions
will be CT the north, east, south and
west ~. w. ---- 49,,
Franchise, Discussion.
AS far as Investigation of the coun-
I'll now extends the granting Of an
extension of franchise to the Ottum-
wa Railway & Light Co., In order that
the Chester avenue and Court Hill
lines may be extended, looks favor.
able. The Point in the discussion last
night was whether or not the council
could not combine the city limit mat,
ter and the franchise proposition and
submit both to the people at one cleo
ton, and thus save the big expense OF
two elections. City Solicitor Tisdale
is taking this proposition up at pres
ent and will advise the council short
ly. The councilmen have been instru-
mental in securing the extension of the
two street car lines and they are de-
sirous of bringing the matter to a
head. The street railway : company
asks an eleven year extension of it's
present franchise.
RedIstrictlng Wards. 4 .
The movement for the redistricting
of the seven wards of the city by divid-
ing each into two voting precincts,
started by Alderman Frank T. Lynch
some time ago, was preached Friday
night. The aldermen were asked to
consider the cut in their wards and
decide upon the most advantageous
boundaries for the two precincts.
Alderman Lynch asserts that it Is his
desire to get this big job ready for
the presidential election this fall.
LIBERTYVILLE.