The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-06-05
City Fathers AT Monday
Meeting Show Readiness
To Put Railway PROPOSE
ton Before People.
WANT GAS And LIGHT TOO
Mayor and Councilmen Express Them
selves AS Favorable To Purchase of
All Utilities Appoint Committee
To Make Immediate Report.

/ The City Council Of Kenosha at its
Injecting Monday evening showed a
readiness to take whatever steps are
necessary for the purchase of the street
railway lines now owned by the Wis
consin Gas & Electric Company aud
more than that, almost to man, declar-
led they were ready to go farther aid
were willing to ask the people to pur-
chase as well the gas and light utilities
from the same corporation and make
a clean sweep of the entire transac-
ton. A motion to submit the matter
Immediately to the people for a refer
endum vote at a special election was
suggested but after considerable dis
cUssion was believed to be hasty aud
in its place resolution was passed
| instructing the Railroads and Trans.
! portation Committee and the Gas and
Light Committee with the Mayor add
ed to meet with committees from the
four organizations who petitioned the
lcouncil and investigate more thorough
lily the proposition and report as soon
as possible perhaps at next meeting
las to the first step to get the pro-
ject under way.
Business Men Launch Project.
The project for the purchase of the
street railway lines in order to clear
the way for the growth and expansion
of Kenosha was brought before the
council by members of the committees
of the Chamber of Commerce the Re
tailers Association, the Manufacturers
Association and the Kiwanis club as
result of meetings held recently by
these organizations Chairman James
Bailey of the Public Affairs Committee
of the Chamber Of Commerce started
the ball rolling when he .fbroke the
iceo by declaring that he and the com
mittee were present at the command
of the business men of the city to ask
the council to submit to the people the
question of buying the street railway
lines. He told the council of the meet
ing at the Elks Club on last Tuesday
when the business men had unanimous
ly expressed themselves as. in favor
of the plan. s5 s.Eentp VIII
Trenary Explains Appeal.
Following Chairman Bailey, Otis t..
Trenary, president of the Kiwanis club
land member of the Chamber of Com
merce committee explained more in
detail the petition being presented by
the business men Of the city.
1--WE are sent here, said Mr. Ire
nary, Ito assure yeu of the hearty
and earnest cooperation of the red
blood Of the city in the great project
just ahead of us. We have faith in
your ability to find ways and means
to cope with this problem and are here
merely to offer our cooperation and
lpromise our support in carrying out
the project In dealing directly with
the question of buying the railway
lines, he declared that the fgrowing
city was struggling against walls for
bidding its further progress because of
the hide bound system we call the street
railway lines and that the only solu-
tion was. to get rid Of it. He declar-
led that the railway company had been
an abortion and like dog in the
Imanger had stood squarely in the way
of progress.
It was explained to the council that
the city could operate more cheaply
than private corporation because it
could corrow money at five per cent
while the company could not get funds
even by offering seven per cent. It was
also shown that whether it pays or not,
tstreet railway expansion was neces-
4 sity for Kenosha and must be gained
at any cost. The committee suggested
that q legal way was provided for car
rying ont the plan and this was ex-
planned later by the city attorney.
In closing Mr. Trenary suggested
that the purchase of the entire holdings
of the Wisconsin Gas and Electric
Company, with the single exception
of the heating plant, might be advis-
liable Fl the city. Why take the dead
horse and allow them to keep the
things that are aliveav said the speak
Ter and the enthusiastic applause that
greeted his suggestion showed that it
had struck a responsive chord not only
among the visitors present but also
among the members Of the council.
Council Not Divided.
Following the appeal Of the commit
tees the council showed a readiness to
tackle the proposition Immediately.
The Mayor led off by declaring his
opinion that if we are going to buy
the railway, buy the whole thing or
none at ALL and Alderman Donahue
followed with enthusiastic support of
the plan. Alderman Palmgren urged
Icaution by suggesting other problems
| such as track elevation which must be