The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-08-07
It's Up to You.

lem LhaL mas cOnlTOHbed TIC PcpPlc IL
the history Of Kcnosha and it is to be
hoped that between now and the second
day Of September when the people will
vote on this question that it will be Civ
Ell consideration. Buying or LEAKING
a street railway, taking over the utili-
ties of city or in any way deciding
to guarantee profits to the company
now operating such utilities is ques-
tion which should demand the most
careful consideration Of every voter
of the city. The vote at this election
should be the largest ever recorded at
an election in Kenosha.
The council is submitting to the peo-
pie three propositions. One provides
for the purchase and operation of the
street railway by the city; another pro-
vides for the purchase and operation of
not only the street railway but also
the light and power plants of the COM
pany and the gas plant; still another
provides for the retention of the rail-
way by the company and operation un-
der a guarantee. 1t is expected that
any Of the three plans if adopted by
the city would provide the extensions
so necessary for the future growth of
the city.
The Evening News has frankly adj
vocated the guarantee system because
it believes that the people Of Kenosha
seek TO purchase street railway service
rather than to buy street railway
and with it all Of the troubles which
come with the operation of railway.
News make no claim of infailibility and
we are just as liable to be wrong as
anyone else. The important thing is
to have the people Of Kenosha decide
what they want to do and make this
decision after an intelligent considera-
tion of all the facts and circumstances
surrounding the question. To do this
means that the people must make some
personal study Of the various angles
of the problems In order that they may
do this it is to be hoped that the COM
mittee of the council at the earliest
possible minute will ascertain Just what
it is going to cost to buy the railway
and the other utilities and at the same
time get from the company under its
proper officials statement of Just what
it is going to mean to guarantee profits
of the company.
The people are going TO look at the
question from the right angle-th de-
mand of the people for service. They
are going to look at the three PROPOSE
tions with a view of adopting the one
which will guarantee to the city SER
vice at the lowest possible cost and
with the minimum investment on the
part Of the city. We believe that the
system which las been proposed by
President Mortimer is going to bring
this result. We believe it for lot of
reasons. One of these is the fact that
it is going to be difficult to isolate
the operation of the Kenosha street rail
way from the operation oil other prop
critics Of the company This railway
has been part Of big system and
other parts of that system have repeat
eddy contributed to the success of the
operation. The company has drawn
power from other cities. i has taken
emergency cars from Milwaukee and
put them in operation on the lines in
Kenosha and it will continue to have
the privilege Of this switch of equip
ment even though the business of the
company should in the future be OPP
Grated under city guarantee.
These things are worth careful con-
sideration. The privilege Of the com
pany drawing power and equipment
from other properties operated by it
will undoubtedly greatly reduce the
cost of operation in the future. It NAV
be that this plan is not the best posi-
BILE to furnish service for Kenosha but
it is certain that il IS an infinitely
large consideration in making the line
a paying proposition.
1t is worth while to consider the 9th.
er side Of the question. If the city
buys this railway the people will have
no troublesome partners. 1t will be
responsibility placed alone upon the
people. Possibly the people woull grin
and bear lot Of things under their own
operation that they would not bear un-
der the management Of private cor.
poration. This is one of the big items
to be considered in comparison Of the
plans for the purchase or guarantee
We do not believe that there will be
many people in Kenosha who would IA
vor the purchase of all of the utili
ties controlled by this company but
when facts and figures are available OF
the price to be demanded for these
utilities it will be possible to discuss
this side Of the question in a more
intelligent manner.
The important thing now is for the