Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-06-06
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ouOd gntuustaDs-s

South Omaha Omaha was laid out as a townsite by
Omaha people who had not the slightest nodon OF
establishing separate city except for development
purposes and the absolute necessity Of annexation
clearly foreseen years ago. How the consolidation
movement took It's inspiration and secured Its momen-
tm is clearly recalled by letter have Just received
from Attorney K. +. Morearty, who has good menu
DRY. and who says:
Now that the people have voted for annexation
by overwhelming majority, and realizing the great
benefits that will by OF such de-
cision. II might be well to take Retrospective view
Of the past that may be able and willing TO give
credit TO the one, or ones most deserving Of SUCH
for having brought about final annexation. Not
wishing 20 detract from the Commercial club or Mr.
Detz any OF the credit TO both. yet feel that
can frankly and truthfully state that 20 higher
or greater source can be traced the original and
steaofast champion of annexation than to the late
Edward Rosewuter. founder and tee then editor Of
The Bee.
while my personal and political relationship with
this great man wore not at all times OF the most
friendly nature yet It at his urgent request
that. twenty-five years ago. member OF the
Omaha city council prepared and introduced n
resolution In that body which called for election
In the city OF Omaha for the purpose OF annexing
the two cites, that of Omaha and South Omaha
this resolution having the unanimous support OF the
council. was passed following this MIR. Rosewater
and myself proceeded 60 South Omaha, where
secured like action the part Of the South Omaha
city council the election held, and Omaha voted
almost unanimously for the proposition, a majority
Of the voters OF South Omaha voted for IT, but in
the count OF the ballots and by the free and easy
system OF handling the ballots obtained that
time, the ballot box had been manipulated by few
disreputable ward heelers and the returns were
made TO show that the proposition defeated by
less than 100 votes.
which he established necessarily season and out
Of season. ana at times without aid or assistance
from source persisted in the fight until victory
finally perched where Il Justly belongs, in the ed-
torial sanotum of The Bee"
As here intmated. II was plain all the time that
consolidation was eventually inevitable as step in
IL was deferred the more costly II would be 70 all
cernecr-whlch will soon be more fully realized by
many people. who will then wonder why they did not
wake up 70 the fact and help put 1t over long before
Members OF the Rotary clpb we're not long ago
asked for opinions TO what that organization
and should do 20 supplement its activities and make
itself more useful to the community II had already
Joined in promoting the garden contest and had held
out helping hand TO local charitable institutions.
gave President Weller suggestion for
centrated effort for beautifying the city We have
fine example Of individual initiative in what known
''The Prcttiest Mile out on the north boulevard
ana believe that with properly directed energy an
equally MAGNIFICENT showing could be made by taking
a stretch Of the Lincoln Highway going through the
residence districts OF Omaha and out through the
suburbs. and providing for its uniform treatment from
the standpoint OF landscape gardening This would
have TO bo brought about by assocating for the pur
the owners of the AUDITING property with
of assistance from the city authorities and
interested civic bodies The merchants Of the 300
business lines by contributing a common nund for
ornamental illumination and street cleaning and in
the same way much better results sould be secured
for ebellishing yards putting in flowers and shrub
berry. matching up shade trees in parkways and keep
Ing lawns in trim. by having the work done under
single supervisor directing Grew of gardeners than
by each person looking after his premises in mis-
own way and at his own time.
The chief obstacles always met with here in
Omaha In any plan of city beauhfying have come
from the vacant lots and from the occasional oss-
back who will not do anything himself help any
else do It, In such scheme, therefore Il must
be expected that who ought 10 do their shares
will either wantoniy refuse have perhaps some
legitimate excuse for holding back This is where
the public authorities and outside assistance would be
necessary 70 Garry the project through The city
could furnish the supeFintendence and the improve.
ment clubs or business leagues could pay the
for tho vacant lots the Rotary club could put
In flower bed wheel. the Eiks B. p o, z. clock
Ak-sarsBen replica OF its current years insignia.
etc. at the conspicuous points; and being the man
highway OF auto tourist travel everyone would see
the exhibit and the talk about II would spread
the country. The plan certainly IL feasible although
Il may be too late for practical execution this year
The time IL coming-in fact Is already here-whsu
must consider the lasting effect OF the first I'm
preston which our city makes on the stranger. and
must take advantage OF the wonderful opportunities
supplied to us by the natural beauty Of omaha'I
topography
The latest Sld.tiner to PASS away Il John Grant
although IN length OF time here he not In ths
same class with the pioneers, dating hts residence
back only to the early SOS. To expressv,
phrase John Grant "a good old scout"-a staunct
and loyal friend who could be depended upon TO d.
as he said he would. He had como TO Omaha orig
inay 70 superintend the first bit OF asphalt pave
ment ever laid here-it was on Douglas. think. be
tween Thirteenth ana Sixteenth strests-and nearly
every man woman and child in the town was con
slant Inspector on the lob II John Grant VIII
introduced the first "steam-roer' that ever put n
ts appearance in these parts, and when the surfao
was completed II was thrown open 70 The yonnsster
for bicycle riding and roller skating and for week
those two or three blocks or pavement formed tn
most popular pleasure resort IN the burg Until th
last few years John Grant used 10 ceebrate his birth
day annually by giving party at his house to hi
friends-stag OF course-incudins public officials
Grand Army OF the Republic comrades. persona
friends and Masonic brothers unique a. an eaborat
feast and for the Stimulating humor and goodfeliow
shIp John Grant was always boosting other psopi
into office Jfe never held any office himself ezcep
20 ffil vacancy IN the county commissionership. 70
accepting which he profuse In his apoiosies A
county Commissioners he rendered conscientious serv
Ice although even then he was beginning to sro'
feeble.
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