The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1913-11-13
M AVENUE IS CLOSED
Footway or Viaduct to be Built
Over M. and St. L. Tracks.


avenue between the east line of the
line of "Henderson's Addition" to the
city of Oskaloosa has been vacated
by the city to the uses of the railway
company and Oskaloosa will have at
Its disposal the sum of $4,000 for the
construction of footway or viaduct
along the south side of the avenue
over the eighteen or more tracks, and
the curbing and graveling of streets
leading to a connection with paved
street.
An adjourned meeting of the city
council that convened a little before
nine o'clock this morning took up the
third reading of the vacation ordin-
ance and the measure after consider
able debate was passed upon its third
and final reading.
! Payment of the money into the city
treasury was made conditional upon
vacation of the avenue. To obtain
the funds for the building of the via
duct and the street Improvement to
follow the city had to vacate the ave-
nue. at the crossing of the M. & st.
! l.. tracks. The ordinance will not be
published and placed in force and
operation, however, until after the
money rendered by the railway COM
pany has been paid to the proper Of
ficials.
All members of the council were
present at the meeting. Mr.. Roberts
moved to place the ordinance on third
and final reading. Nor was the read
ing by title only" as is customary
| in the passage of measures, but each
section was read. Neither was de-
bate omitted on the third reading as
is the rule, but ample opportunity
was given to all parties to express
opinions and present final argument
| for and aaginst.
Following the reading of the meas
ure motion was made for the passage
! of the ordinance upon third and fin
al reading. Robert Williams, of the
Fifth. addressed the council and
pleaded for more time before the
passage of the measure and was sec
ended in his arguments by William
Lafollette of the First ward, Mrs.
George Smith, representing the resi-
dents along NJ avenue, west of the Nj.
& st. L. Ry., asked for the crossing to
be kept open until after the erection
of the footway.
DIR. J. G. Roberts talked on the side
favorable to the passage of the ordin-
ance and made clear his reasons for
so doing He was followed by Mr..
Brewer, who resented the insinuation
heard in remarks that the members
of the council supporting the ordin-
ance were not in good faith. He made
his position plain.
George True, president of the Os-
kaloosa Commercial club, voiced the
sentiment of the business interest OF
the town. Acknowledgement to the
damage to residents along NJ avenue
was made but the benefit to the city
as whole and to its interests were
Iheld to be of greater weight than an
injury or damage to the few. Mr..
True was answered by Mr.. Williams,
Mrs. Smith, J. NJ. Burkes and George
Smith.
AL Mendenhall closed the argu-
ment on the part of the council and
stated that whatever any member or
the council was doing in the matter
he believed sincerely to be in the line
of their best Judgment.
| Mayor Sewers then called for the
roll Brewer, Mendenhall, Roberts
and Wells voted for the passage of
the ordinance and Lafollette, Penders
and Williams voted against the Ordi-
nance and it was therefore declared
passed.
Argument concering the giving as
surance of the erection of the viaduct
was discussed for some minutes.
William Wray appeared at the
meeting with patent ventilator So
Letting an order from the council for
the city hall and fire department. The
matter was given into the hands of
the fire committee and the health
physician. Adjournment.