Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-13
TALKS ARE MADE BEFORE
CRY COUNCIL THIS
MORNING
DECREASES PROPERTY.
JOHN MONTGOMERY TALKS IN
FAVOR OF STANDARD OIL CO.
LOCATING hERE--TElLS OF
OGLESBY PLANT.

OHLESbV FIANI.
The question as to whether or not
the Standard Oil Co. will locate td
tanks in North Ottawa Is still ser-
Gus proposition to scores OF North
Ottawa residents. This morning, at
the city hall. more than twenty peo'
pic appeared to voice their com
plants against the council giving
them a right to locate in Ottawa.
John U. Weihman was one of the
principal objcctors, Mr.. Weihman
made strong plea on the grounds
that the supply tank would be great
menace to the city and a loss of life
would result In case of explosion, IN
dramatic style he pictured an eAplo'
zion and pointed to the damage that
would result. He declared the OIL
tanks were not benefit to Ottawa.
Joseph Pctier talked along the
same lines, stating that previous eX-
periences had caused him to fear such
tanks and he did not believe they
should be allowed to locate within the
city limits. When asked by Mayor
Bradford, IL he believed the danger
would be eliminated by placing the
tanks underground. he replied that he
did not know what the risk would be.
r. j. Costello, another North Ottawa
resident, was next heard from be
cited the occasion of an explosion OF
naptha tank in Mendoza, stating that
several houses were burned and great
damage done. He believed that the
Standard Oil Go. should not be al:
lowed to locate within the city limits,
or at the N. ottawa site, as 1t would
keen other factories from coming to
tho city,
George Stage was the next speaker
of tho morning. Mir. Stage objected to
the plant as at would be menace to
the city ana would aepreciate the val
uc Of property.
John Montgomery Speaks.
JOAN Montgomery, prominent labor
leader. who owns property within a
few blocks of the proposed site OF the
standard oil plant, was the next SPEAK
cr. Mi. Montgomery personally made
o visit to Elgin and Oak PARK TO IN
spect plants there similar to the one
tnat would be built here. lie stated
that before going with the members
of the city council at Elgin he vlslteu
property owners near the STANDARD
OH Co.'s plant He ascertained tha'
there was no Objectionable odor IRON
the plant and that no other objections
were found to it, When the Standarl
OH people proposed to build their sup
ply house in Elgin there was only one
obiector before the city council.
Commissioners at Elgin INFORMED
him that the plant was regarded as
value to the city Mr.. Montgomer.
then visited the manager OF the Elgil
Clock Works to ascertain whether o
not their fire insurance had beel
raised and was informed that it ha
not, He gave the matter thoro III
yestigation at Oak Tark and fouh
that tho plant was by no means feare
by tho residents Of that city.
After presenting his report he sta
ed that he was heartily in favor OF tn
Standard Oil plant locating in Mort
Ottawa and believed that the peopl
we're unduly alarmed. The propose
outlay for the plant here would COS
in the ncighborhood of $i5,tGV. \
action Was taken on the matter thl
mo;ning In the absence Of Comm
yiorcr Palmer.
Ask Transfer Of License.
A reouost was made this mornln
for the transfer Of the saloon licens
of ]. A. Dowdell TO Alfred larse
The application was received and +
fcrred to- Commissioner Palmer Il
investigator
A resolution from the Illinois NJ
nicipal League was read and the ma
ter referred to the council as Who'll
.ndcrtain amendments to the llhno
rouTongtitution are asked for by the NJ
disyiicipal League.
sin] The discussion Of the conduit orr
Jnanco occupied considerable time wi
anI tho councilmon Mavor Bradfo
yd asked the. commissioners whether
Al not they wanted to take action on
NJ conduits for the business distri
I Commissioner Meagher asked that
! tion be taken on the conduits for {
I two districts as a whole. The matt
did not come up for vote, but "
probably be one of the matters of bu
ness at the session Thursday mornil
Subscribe for the Free Trader-Journ