The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-03-06
Claiming the River.

Just like the crocus, which pokes it's
colored flower up through the snow as
the first harbinger Of spring, so1omes
the suggestion Of the cleaning of the
Kenosha river Old timers in Kenosha
recognize it as a harbinger of spring
They have recognized it for years but
it has never got much further than the
harbinger stage.
Now this year things are different.
The whole world is interested in the
cleaning up Of "nasty" things. The
world is going to put on new dress
that is going to fit it better and
brighten it up and make it look like
a different world and there is every
reason that this dressing np should be
reflected in Kenosha.
We are advised that the Kenosha riv-
err is not nearly as dirty as it used to
be- That there were times when the
water Of the river had to be taken out
in ladies and that it had the consist
ency OF New Orleans molasses and
about the same color. We are advised
that someforward movement has been
made in making it cleaner stream.
However, most people agree that it is
far from what the people living in the
neighborhood want and far from what
the people in the rest of the city should
demand
AS it is the only river we have it is
only fair that we lavish little care on
it and seek to make it fit sort of a
river The statewide movement for
cleaning up inland streams and lakes
were not necessarily aimed at the Ke-
nosha river. In fact "statewide
movements" rarely hit directly at
abuses in Kenosha The legislature at
Madison seems to think that Kenosha
is So close to the Illinois line that the
only value if as county in the
state is to pay big income taxes and act
as a gate way. However, it is just
possible that the Kenosha river is one
of the inland streams of the state and
that it will be hit by the proposed
legislation. Whether it is or not, there
to run to the lake in it's filthy condi-
ton. Kenosha as city might anti
cipate state legislation and show its in
dependence Of the state by going right
ahead and cleaning up the river now
Big manufacturing concerns dotting
the banks of the river have given every
promise Of cooperation. The men in
charge of these plants have simply ask
ed that when the job is done it be made
a real Job and permanent one. These
men are willing to match their dollars
with the dollars of the city to bring
relief that has been sought ever since
the oldest citizen was babe in swad-
ding clothes.
With - promise of a new bridge,
chang i. the location Of Main street,
depressed switch tracks and all those
things the problem of the river be-
comes an immediate problem. 1t would
be all out Of touch with the setting
that has ben proposed for this part of
the city to lave q filthy. foul smelling
stream ambling its way through such
surroundings. It may add little to
the proposed changes to clean the riv-
or az d make provisions to keep it clean
hut the money will be well spont.
Some time the Kenosha river may at
tain real place on the map Of the city.
When the water has been strained clear
of its sediments and its refuse, it may
open way for new and larger facili-
ties for lake transportation. Tt may
be real river with real function in
aiding the interests of the city. Co
operation between the city and the state
Board of Health should be complete.
The State IS ready to suggest the right
thing to be done and the city officials
should be ready to carry out the plans.
Tt may mean the expenditure of little
money but it is going to mean lot
of benefit for lot Of people.
With the world cleaning up its front
door yard and its back door yard the
time must be ripe for Kenosha to clean
up this old stencil which has so long
been a reproach to the people Of the
city,