The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-11-27
Why Not Have the City Own, Control,
Extend and Operate Ardmore's Street
Railway Lines for Benefit Of Citizens9

Some days ago Captain W. f. Wilmington and some
other parties, including Of the heaviest taxpayers
Of Ardmore discussing the local railway prob
em and 1t was the unanimous opinion of the men engaged
in the conversation that the street railway line in this city
should be owned by the people
Their reasons, as outlined were about these:
No private corporation operate street railway
line in Ardmore profit, and it be made to
the citizens Of this city while it is owned by such
corporation.
The line will pay its operating expenses, but when
paving taxes and ad yalorem taxes to be paid, the
company must meet these expenses from other
The city and operate the line without these
burdens being laid upon it. and the road be extended
it be made to the people Of this city and
be made to all of its legitimate operating expenses.
city amusement park can be built where swim
ming and boating can be INDUCED n and the open air can
be given to hundreds of families that denied these
prvileges-a muncipay-owned street railway system af
fOrding them transportation, at reasonable rate.
1t would inure property values in this city than
the cost of the line if abandoned in that the rails
would have to be torn up the streets repaved all
head wires taken down and poles removed else be left
as it is grizzly skeleton of blasted business hopes
The line be extended to other sections of the city
and it will increase the value Of property, by affordng the
citizens of these sections cheap of travel to and
from work.
The street railway line be mad to the
public and will pay its from the start and ulti
mately become of revenue to the city.
The Ardnoreite representative made this statement
to the gentlemen who discussing the purchase Of the
lme-that if special ordinance is drafted, placing the
street railway line under the management of board of
business men who will operate in business way, fixing
it so politics cannot lay its hands upon the receipts Of the
line and arrange it so it will never be burden upon the
taxpayers of Ardmore, that would be glad to make
thorough investigation of the matter and lay before the
people, they take their choice in the matter at the
polls.
The more thought give to the matter the
pleased with the suggestion. The street railway line
undoubtedly ought to be the property of the citizens of
ArdmOre With the line municipality owned the citizens
of the different wards will enter heartily into cooperation
with the managing board to extensions to diff
ferent parts of the city With these extensions the Ard
more street railway can be made to serve very useful
purpose in the ultimate growth Of the city.
We would like for every man to think it over for him
self If will take interest in municipal affairs
and work with the officials will than
ten times the cost of this street railway line and will
do big days work for this city when take the line
out of the hands Of private ownership and put it in the
cy hands where be used to enhance the value of
all property in the city, where be made to all
the public and where it will not be burden upon any
one individual
Members of the company which the street rail
way have done well by it, They have improved it, they
have operated line of that credit to the city,
they have built track that is comfortable to ride
These have spent much of their money to bring
this convenience to the people of Ardmore but they
not afford to build extensions and the First Ward will be
generous enough to realize that each of the other wards
deserve car line, and that it be built without laying
burden upon any one man.
We do not realize how much do for ourselves
until get right down to business and cooperate with
another and put city and county different
business basis and do some things
The spirit of work and win will build CITY,
If we will use good common sense, can harmonic
and all work together and will follow efforts