The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-01-18

The Wisconsin Gas and Electric Co
pany is ready for the "show down
regard to the operation of the ears &
the street railway in Kenosha and q /
other differences which may exist be-
tween the officials of the company and
the officials of the city of Kenosha. In
very courteous letter addressed to
this paper S. B. Way, vice president and
general manager of the company and
of the greater company in Milwaukee
announces his willingness to meet the
officials of the city and talk over any
differences which may exist and at the
same time he announces that he will
come prepared to "act" upon any prac
teal proposals for the Improvement of
the service in Kencsha. The letter
puts the question right up to the Of
ficials of the city and it offers to Mayor
Charles Fl. Pfennig and City Attorney
John G. Slater, to whom the council has
turned over the question of the railway
troubles, chance to get right at the
bottom of the troubles. In his letter
Vice President Way says:
"Your editorial on January 9Th
entitled 'FLet IS Play Showdown, "
has been given the serious consid-
Grafton it merits by the operators
of the Kenosha street railway
system. Your suggestion in that
editorial that some betterment of
the service might result from a
conference between the operators
and the city officials and other
citizens Of Kenosha is one upon
which the operators will be pleased
to act. The management of the
Wisconsin Gas and Electric Com
pany will be glad to meet with the
officials Of the city and a represen-
tative Of your paper at con-
veniently early date for a full and
complete discussion of this subject,
and I assure you that we shall
come prepared to act upon any
pratical proposal for the improve
ment of the service.
Very truly yours,
S. B. Way, Vice President.
Mayor Pfennig, acting for the city,
has declared that he will be most in
terested in meeting with the officials of
the company for the discussion of the
railway problem and he is hopeful
that much can be done to bring
better conditions.
Members Of the council some time
delegated the matter of dealing with
the company to the mayor and city at
torney. Many suggestions have been
made for the betterment of the service
in Kenosha. These suggestions have
included the return of conductors TO
the cars, the extension of lines into
new territory, and the provision Of
some plan by which better interurban
traffic can be secured.
'FThe proposition of Mr.. Way should
at least offer a basis for consideration
of all these matters" said the mayor
this morning FThere should be some
common ground on which the company
and the city could meet which would
bring about restoration Of good rail
way service to Kenosha. The matter
is one Of greatest concern for Keno
sha's future. I have no panaeea my
self sto offer, but I am inclined to be-
lieve that with a proper considera-
ton of the matter that some way
should be found to make conditions
vastly better"
Vice President Way has always been
friendly to Kenosha. It was through
his suggestions that former troubles be-
tween the city and the company were
settled and they were settled without
any serious friction. 1t is an open
secret that the company is anxious to
make the Kenosha railway property a
paying property. It is just as much Of
an open secret that it has not been
paying property for some time. Mr.
Way has full authority for his company
to make any propositions he may see
fit and in dealing with him the city
officials are dealing with the court !.
of last resort in the management Of :
the company.
It is thought that the conference
will be arranged within the neyt ten
days if date convenient to the
officials and the railway management
can be selected.