The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-03-31
T. EASLEY
BUYSSTREET
R. R. PROPERTY
FORMER RECEIVER BIDS THE
PROPERTY IN, WITH HOPES OF
TURNING IT OVER TO CITY FOR
MUNICIPAL SYSTEM.

F, The street railway was sold at
Z public auction and was purchased by
John f. Easley today.
Mr.. Egsley was formerly receiver
for the traction company and pur.
/ chased it yesterday with a view of
I turning it over to the city to operate
as municipal line. The price paid
was ridiculously cheap. Two Junk
dealers We're in the city bidding on
/ the property, intending to scrap what
/ they could, remove the rails and
I copper wire and eliminate the line
entirely, The salvage of this road
in its present condition is worth
twice the purchase price and unless
the city votes bonds and takes over
the property, Mr.. Easley will sell it
as such and remove the last vestige
of the Ardmore Traction company.
There has never been any ques-
tion about the property paying, had
it been run in the proper directions.
1t is well enough to run to Iorena
park and the Country Club. as well
as adjacent to the city and Rod and
Gun Club lakes, but this line in itself
would be losing proposition at least
half Of the year. There have been
several movements started to extend
the line to the fourth ward by way
or Wilmington park and to the ceme-
terry. This line would be paying
proposition, and if the line is taken |
over eventually by the city, will no
doubt be laid.
"Ardmore needs a street railway !
system" said one business man this
morning, I'VE all do not own auto
mobiles or are able to, and it is
mighty inconvenient to get to certain
places, with a system operating to
the park and to the cemetery as sug-
gested poor man and his family
can ride instead of walk to the parks,
as at present"
Mayor Mullen is out of the city,
but when he returns the proposition
will be submitted to him. and if the
people of the city desire to vote
bonds, take over the property and
operate it, it can do so, otherwise
he rails and overhead construction
Will be sold and the balance of the {
property scrapped and sold as junk. {
The present owner has several plans
whereby the street railway can be I
'perated, but he states he is not in I
he operating business, and unless I
uch a proposition as above suggest
d can be put through, the street rail.
'ay in Ardmore will be but men, t
oy within the next few months. "
In speaking of the purchase Mr.. o
.asley said: S
"Ordinarily, ! do not believe in J.,
ownership, but the mu- u
icipality is the only one who can d
ford to own the street railway sys- y
I'm in Ardmore. | am going to get ~ y
p an amendment to the charter pro- -,
ding that the street railway COM u
any shall be owned by the city. that o.
he presidents of the four banks "
nall be the governing board. to L
rive without pay, that the system ~
iall not in any way have to suffer ~
ON changes of administrations in .
e city. Municipal ownership will ~
inmate taxes. The plan of opera "
on will be cheaper than any COM
my on earth can operate it, be-
use the executive head will serve .,
thout compensation. The line at ~ ;.
lnicipal expense can be extended Tn
d can be made TO pay expenses. bo
e city will get a vast benefit be- do
use the railway line will build the Iel ~,
Y larger and better. The people
Il get the service, and the money
~ pay for fares will pay for that
vice. The plans of building to IN,
littington park and other places tn,
uld be entirely in the hands of the tn,
ard of governors. If the people far
1reciate my proposition, all well col