The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-12-19
.OSKbL00sA JOINS
FLUsHER BRIGADE
STREETS HEREAFrea WILL BE
CLEANED vlA"WATER WAGON"
CAMPfIElD GETS IN MOTION

CAMPflELD GETS IN MOTION
Counciiman From the Second intro,
duces Resolution, Affecting Gas
Co, Water Co., Electric Co.
and Railway Co.
Oskaloosa city has Joined the
'rusher Brigade" Contract has
been made for the purchase of a
Studebaker flush tank" for street
| cleaning purposes, to be delivered to
the city about March first. Mr. w.
H. Halpenny, who by the way intends
removing his headquarters to Oska-
loosa next season, presented the mat
ter to the council and showed where
the cost of street cleaning may be
reduced by the use of the tiusher tank.
Oskaloosa has been paying an average
of about S3oU.U per month for street
sweeping and cleaning. The flushing
apparatus costs $4,000. Arrange
ments for time payment were made
under contract The tank is no eX-
pertinent. 1t has been tried and dem
onstrated in other places and is re-
garded as a valuable piece of equip
ment Water is introduced into a
steel tank under pressure from the
fire hydrant! 1T is forced against
air until the tank pressure is raised
to a required amount. When the
water is released upon the street it
fiushes all accumulations to the gut
ter. The water has sufficient force
to clean pavement OF six inch
snow. Motion to contract for the
fiusher was made by Seibert of the
Third ward.
Building Accepted.
p. W. Sparks, contractor and build
er of the Oskaloosa city building, ap-
peared before the council to turn
over the completed building to the
representatives of the city, and the
building was legally and formally ac-
cepted by the administration. Mr..
Blattner, chairman of the building
committee, made the motion accept
ing the building and MI. Seibert, a
member OF the building committee,
seconded. The vote of the council on
the resolution of acceptance was
unanimous and the municipal building
the property of the city. r. r. Pen
ders, who was absent from the cOun-
Gil session, was recorded as not vot-
inE.
John M. Heron was before the
council to present some tax matters
and other things along the same line
were handled during the evening.
Campfield's Resolution.
Councilman Campfield introduced
in the council the following, and the
resolution was seconded by Minnick,
conncilman-at-large: O.
Oskaloosa, Iowa, Dec 16, 1912.
Mr.. Mayor and Gentlemen of the
Council:-l wish at this time to call
your attention TO subjects which have
at various times received the atten-
ton of this council, but on which
there has never been any definite ac-
ton taken ant to my mind these sub
jects are OF the most vital importance
to our citizens and should receive
yOnr most careful consideration.
FirSt-SOme months ago intro
duced in this council an ordinance to
regulate the price and quality Of gas
for this city, but for the lack of CO.
operation and interest in this subject
it has been allowed to practically die
OSkaloOsa stands practically alone
among cities of her class in this state
as to the high price of gas.
Prices in other cities ranging from
81 40 to 80 cts. per NJ cubic feet. !
do not believe there has been a re-
of a gas schedule in this
state in the last five years that has
not been on a basis of $1.00 per M
cubic feet or less, and in only two
cases did the gas company protest at
the adjustments and take their griev-
ances to the courts for final settle
ment, and in both cases decisions
were rendered in favor of the munich
pality.
Gas Is becoming more and more
household necessity and we should
exercise our right under the law and
reduce it to a fair price.
Second-Electric current. The
price of electricity as furnished to
private consumers is about 80 per
cent higher than what is charged by
even much smaller towns in our i'm
mediate neighborhOOd While cOndi-
tons in orr local plant are somewhat
different than those existing in other
places, the fact still remains that we
are paying an exceedingly high rate
for current as compared with other
towns of the state of similar size and
conditions. think this matter should
also receive your consideration and
immediate attention.
Third-Water. This subject has
been the bone OF contention for nearly
two years and while there probably
has been, some improvements as to
the qualityl there has been nothing
accomplished as 20 proper fire protec-
ton pressure or the establishing OF a
reasonable and fair, rate both for the
city. and the private consumer. We
are operating here under the old and
obsolete 5systenf ofa fiat rate which
Is NOT Only unfair but long since has
been Discarded by the better class OF
cities and the meter system installed
which can only be fair to company
and consumers for in that case you
pay for onlygwfai You get i would
suggest that our water rates be re-
yised,t same revision to be on meter
basis and the price 40 conform favor:
ably with that paid by other cities