The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-02-12
MAYOR HEAD PLEADS CAUSE
North Side Aldermen Voted Solidly
Against Passage Of Ordinance Which
Meant so Much for City and City
Slams Door in Face of Opportunity.

4
on plans for the elevation OF the
North Western tracks through the city
at the meeting on Monday night and
| by vote of nine to seven the ordi-
nance providing for the new switch
4 tracks which was to pave the way to
elevation was killed. The vote on the
proposition was as follows:
Ayes Aldermen Marlatt, Shearer,
Hegeman, Filbin, Anderson, Mueller,
Kisten and Mayor Head.
Nays-Aldermen Sullivan, Roberts,
Thomey, Rauen, Loef, Willems, Bruins,
Joachim and Barth.
Alderman Marlatt, with a view of
moving the reconsideration, asked to
be permitted to change his vote for
this purpose, but there was no consid-
Grafton. So very strong an opposition
had been shown to the ordinance that
it was evident that it was useless to
seek reconsideration.
The vote was reached only after a
spectacular fight. Mayor Head had
pleaded in vain for the support of
enough Of the members Of the council
to make possible the passage of the
ordinance, but his words were In vain.
From the first some Of the members of
the council had opposed the plan. 1t
was one of the most popular plans ever
proposed to the council. It carried
with it not only the elevation of the
railway tracks, but as well the
Strengthening of Main street, elimina-
ton of fourteen grade crossings, the
/ building of new depot and the de-
pressing of the tracks at the crossing
near the Main street bridge. The
working out of the plan had taken up
the time of the mayor for more than
thirteen months and he had banked
much on favorable action from the
council
When the meeting of the council was
called to order the lobby was filed.
Many Of the property owners interest
ed in the laying of the switch were
/ present. Some Of them had arranged
for the sale of their property to the
railway company as right Of way and
they were urging the passage of the
ordinance. Others and they were less
in number came to protest on the
claim that they had not been COM
pensated for damages which the build
ling of the switch might do to their
property. Mrs. Matt Meyer was the
only speaker from the protesting prop
erty owners. No others sought to be
heard
Aldermen Hegeman, Kisten and
Shearer spoke strongly in favor of the
ordinance and all of them declared
that their investigation Of the law in
regard to the proposed ordinance had
assured them that the property rights
| of every one concerned would be fully
protected and that the property own
ers who might claim damages would
be entirely and adequately protected
under the law and under the agreement
which had been offered by the presi.
dent of the railway company.
The order for the elevation Of the
tracks arrived on Monday afternoon.
1t was formal order for the sigma
ture of the railroad commission of the
state. It had been drawn in the offices
Of the North Western company and was
submitted by Vice President Ashton.
City Attorney Slater declared that in
his opinion the order was sufficient to
show tho good faith of the railway
company, but Alderman Sullivan pro-
tested and with Alderman Joachim in
sisted that the order for the elevation
should be made part of the ordinance
before it was placed on its passage.
Mayor Head argued all these objec-
tions at length with the aldermen and
finally he was worn out from his exer-
tions and declared that he would order
a roll call. This ended in the killing
of the ordinance
1t is certain that the railway COM
pany will not make any effort to re-
open the fight for elevation and it is
doubtful if the mayor or any of the
members of the council who acted with
him in the big battle to secure the i'm
iprovement will again take it up.
The company has insisted from the
first that the expenditure of $4,000 900
IN Kenosha was a greater expenditure
than the business of the company in
the city warranted, but such strong in
tiuenee had been brought to bear that
-
with the elevation and other improve
ments Agents of the company had
declined to make any further promises
even when they found that the atti-
tude Of the aldermen was opposed to
the ordinance at this time
Mayor Head said today: 81 don t
know Of any movement to revive the
track elevation. The options taken
by the company will expire in few