The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-08-28
Facing the Crucial Test.


Milwaukee avenue residents and prop
erty owners, is facing the crucial test
right now. The company in charge
of the operation of the interurban cars
has announced that it will operate these
cars from the limits of the city to the
Market square station tomorrow. 1t
has taken this action at the request
Of the Chamber Of Commerce Of Keno
sha and not of its own initiative,
The Mayor Of the city has ordered
the company not to operate the ears
pending the ironing out Of existing
difficulties.
Doubtless the officials of the company
are pleased to act on this invitation. 1t
may some time mean dollars in the
pockets Of the company to have cars
operating all the way from the middles
of Milwaukee to the center Of Kenosha.
The action Of the Chamber Of Com
merce was not taken on account Of the
desire of the company to operate these
cars into the city, but on account OF
the need of growing city to have this
improved traffic situation. We do not
care TO enter into any discussion of the
legal right Of the company to operate
ears into the city. The legal right Of
the company is not nearly so important
to the people of Kenosha as the need
of the people of the whole city for
better traffic arrangements. Possibly
one property owner could stand in the
way Of the coming Of these cars and
successfully block the path from the
limits to Market Square.
We are not inclined to believe that
any property owner will take this step
without serious consideration. Such a
step would mean the diseommoding of a
city with population in excess of
$4,000 people. 1t would mean incon-
veniencing all these people without the
hope of any adequate return to the pro-
testing property owners. The company
undoubtedly will be willing to meet any
suggestions Of the property owners as
to frequent stops for the cars aud every
courtesy will be shown the people who
desire to use them.
1T would be wise to have these plans
understood now and reduced to writing.
The fight is no longer one between
the property owners and the railway
company; ii now becomes a fight be-
tween the property owners and the rest
Of the people of the city. There can
be no doubt but that the action Of the
Chamber Of Commerce in asking that
the cars be run into the city represent
ed the wishes of ninety five per cent
of the people of Kenosha.
Any one desiring to protest against
the action must remember that he is
protesting against the best Judgment
of large majority of the people of his
home city. There is no desire on the
part of any member of this majority
to in any way damage the property or
harm the owner Of any property on
Milwaukee avenue With the welding
of the rails of the street car line and
other improvements to the tracks on
Milwaukee avenue it IS believed that
the last vestige Of objection to the
operation of these ears has been re-
moved. Milwaukee avenue people who
may have il in their minds to again
throw spoke into the wheels Of pro-
gress are urged to at least give the
new plan trial Their rights will in
no way be endangered by few weeks
or a few months test of the operation
of these ears.
If time shall prove that the operation
Of the cars are in amy way a damage
to their property or that the company
has abused the favors that these people
have shown in forgetting legal obiec-
tions to the operation of the cars, then
there will be time enough to protest.
The men who have been most active
in seeking the entrance Of these cars
10 Kenosha will be most active in de-
manding for these property owners
the full protection Of their rights if
they be invaded
Kenosha Let's Grow means the Ke-
nosha of the North, the South and the
West side and the only regret is that
there is not q Kenosha of the East side.
The slogan calls fort the cooperation
Of all the people. An intelligent co.
operation which stands ready to sacri-
nee little for the great benefit of the
growing city. The coming of these
cars, if uninterrupted, will mean new
milestone of progress in Kenosha, for
il win mean that the people Of one
side Of the city have accepted the
sacrifice OF some of their personal
protests that the whole city may reap
benefit.
This cooperation must mean CO.
operation from other portions of the
city later. Milwaukee avenue has a
chance to stand first for this progress
by simply saying, ''Let these cars run.
We may have our objections, but our
belief in the future Of Kenosha and our
desire to see Kenosha grow and grow
right far outweighs our personal pro-
tests or our personal prejudices.'
Milwaukee, avenup .naonle arc exnact-