The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-04-03
FRANCHISE ORDINANCE
First Step Taken Toward Transfer
of the o. T. & l.. Co.

"oskaloosa has been born again"
The old town is on the map In bigger
print than ever before. Steps have
been taken that lead toward the
growth and the development of the
city In way that will make dreams
come true Ii is now .up to the peo-
Pile" to ratify the action of the city
council. The vote on this will be
practically unanimous.
Franchises We're offered In the city
council at special session Friday
evening granting TO the Oskaloosa
Traction and Light Company right TO
operate street railway, electric light,
district heat and power plant in the
city of Oskaloosa, for term OF
twenty-five years
This was the first step toward the
transfer of the property of the Oska
loosa Traction and Light Company to
Representatives of the Illinois Trac-
/ ton Company, option being taken on
the plant by Mr.. William Mckinley
and associates. One of the conditions
| of the sale was an extension of the
franchise of the Traction Company by
| the city council for a period of eleven
years or a re-grant for term OF
twenty-five years. Eleven years of
the franchises granted the Traction
Light Company have expired. This
is what was done by Oskaloosa coun-
ell Friday evening without dissent
| ing vote.
Mayor Reynolds called a special
meeting for the purpose of consider.
| ing the matter. Officers and members
n, iah
were present at the meeting to pres
| ent the company's side of the matter.
w. r. Lacey told of the history OF
the plant and the relations with the
mckinley Company. He was followed
by c. +. Lofland, A. Rosenblatt and
| II. w. Garner representing the COM
pany interests. They told Of the plans
of the new company and what was
necessary for a transfer or sale of
the Oskalooss property to the new
Ownership Mr.. Mckinley has stated
to members OF the party that while
making no promises and divulging no
plans we may say to you that the
property will be developed in a sub
Istantial way. The property as it Is
would be unattractive to us but taken
in connection with others ii becomes
interesting"
Abba property and interurban are
now being examined by the same i'm
terests taking option on the Oska-
lOosa plants. Mr.. Mckinley has ex-
ltensive interests in Des Moines and
well founded rumors are already in
circulation that Oskaloosa is to be
the center of system of electric lines
operating to surrounding towns and
that connection will be had with
Abba. Des Moines, Ottumwa and 9th.
er places. Statements have also been
made that indicate the improvement
and the extension of the local car
lines with service into the First ward.
Brief statements were made by
Mayor Reynolds, Councilman William
Laffollette, who pleaded for the inter.
ests of the people OF his ward and by
Messrs. Seibert Blattner, Penders and
others.
Councilman Laffollette took charge
Iof the course OF the ordinances
Through passage and fathered the mo-
tions necessary 10 progress. There
were two of the ordinances for pass
age and the work was somewhat ex.
tended.
The new franchises are almost
identical with the ordinances or fran
chiSeS under which the Traction az
Light Company have been operating.
These franchises were written by
Judge Byron w. Preston and are mod
els in their way. forming what has
been termed an "interlocking system
of franchises" That is, failure to
comply with one of the franchises in
Ivalidates and forfeits all. Or that the
street car and interurban properties
must he orperated along with the
light and the heat plants. Few
changes have been made in the word
ing of the old ordinances. Sections
that became obsolete with the build
ing and the operating of the property
and the establishment of service have
been eliminated for example sections
naming the date at which the cars
were TO be started. etc. Whatever
other changes have been made were
in favor OF the city. The revision
was made by w. r. Lacey. The new
mea sureS had the unanimous support
of the city council and the somewhat
labOrious process of passage was &C
cOmplished without friction or dissent
Publication of the new ordinances
or franchises will follow Immediately
and then the matter will be up to the
people OF the city for ratification by
ballot.
r. The sale of the property by the d.
rectors Of the company had the unan.
imous approval of eighty percent OF
the stockholders at a special and en-.
thusiastic meeting held Friday morn.
| ing and no doubt exists that the re-
quirements of the Mckinley interests
will be met III every detail.
Officers OF the Traction Company
have expressed belief that the trans
fer will prove the greatest thing that
has ever happened to the city of Os-
kaloosa. Ii brings new interests to
Oskaloosa and new source of capital.
| The coming of the new company is
the one thing needful for the future
growth OF Oskaloosa And everybody
is pleased accordingly. Watch us
grow oskaloosa $4,000 in 1920.
Following the work on the fran
chises the council session was turn
ed over to Mayor pro TEN Fred Blat-
tner for the passage OF an ordinance
for additional appropriations to meet
the requirements of the city clerk in
making up the funds upon which