The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-05-13

iuTneO over TO industrial dSS0CId.
tIon, proposition Of reflnancins local
factory.
Heard J. Albert Kiedaisch and well
coined A. L. Higbee Of Marion, Ind.
Decided to have committee get SEN
noon each week.
The Keokuk Retailers league, at its
monthly meeting at the Hotel KeokuE
last night, voted to retain all of the
white way lights, and to negotiate
with the power company to see II It
| first one side Of Main street
and then on the other, after
twelve o'clock. Commissioner j.
A. M. Collins, who was the
| leagues guest, told the merchants that
expenses in the light fund were pilins
up He suggested cutting out one
| light on each side of the street in
every block, permanently. The mer-
chants unanimously declared that this
was not the time to be considering
cutting down the lights, that each
merchant ana the property holders
paid for the maintenance Of the lights,
and that such plan would be dis
! eliminating against some. The terms
! of the contracts were recalled, and
the merchants asked Mr.. Collins to
deal with the power company with
regard to the change proposed.
| Motor Trucks Taken Up.
| The commissioner told the mer-
chants that the limit Of income had
been reached, unless some additional
/ taxable property was found. He gave
| figures, taken from his annual report
to show wher, the deficits were, and
figured that the light fund deficit was
now about $3,400 He then proposed
his plan to cut out the lights.
Mr.. Collins also took up the ques-
ton of motorizing the fire department.
He said he regretted that three men
would have to go. He said to reduce
the department to ten men and the
chief and assistant chief would be to
put it on the basis that it was on
January 1, 1912. He spoke of the eff
cheney of the minute men, at fires.
They could be counted on to help at
any time. He then gave figures to
show that the purchase of motor
trucks such as are proposed would
cut out the cost of maintaining five
horses at s155 each and the salary
of three men, making total saving
of $2,915.
Cut Big Street Grade.
The commissioner then took up the
matter Of building a roadway which
will cut the 10 percent grade on the
Main street hill down to $40 percent.
The present plans for the new bridge
approach contemplate striking First
street, leaving about block OF 10
percent grade to climb. By building
block in which Blom- Collier company
is located. the grade could be cut to
3 percent. The commissioner said
that he thought such a saving would
be to the advantage of the merchants.
but the council was not trying to
force an issue. They wanted instead,
to get the merchants sentiment.
Jacob Schouten replied to the light
proposition. He said that he was one
of the committee which worked hard
for the installation Of the lights. He
said he did not think the lights should
be taken away. He thought it would
be a backward step, and that now
Keokuk should look forward, not
backward.
French Offers Suggestion.
e. A. French, also one of the COM
nittee, suggested that inasmuch as
the lights were on two circuits why
not cut out each side OF the street,
,fter midnight on alternate nights.
The right hand side could be darkened
,ne night. and the left hand side on
another side He thought the electric
light company ought to give such an
allowance. Cutting out any certain
tights would be discrimination, he
thought.
Henry Duncan asked IL Main street
tayss weren't sufficient to pay for
Main street lights. He recalled that
he council had promised the lights
or a certain period of time, also.
T. N. Cononr endorsed French's
,Ian. and d. 2. Linquist spoke Of the
m, limit and the guarantee of the
ouncil. He thought it was the worst
irne in the world to talk about econ
,niy in this line.
John Rovane said the trouble as he
,aw it was that Keokuk was paying
90 much for lights, as it was. He
fought the commissioners were in
csition or should he. to ask reduced
otas of the company.
The discussion was ended whom