Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-06-29
STREETCAR
SERVICE FOR
EAST SIDE
Business Hen Raise Large Fund to
Make Extension OF Tracks Across
Bridge Possible.
Subscriptions Range From S. to $500
total Over $4,000.

week TO raise money to help the street
car company defray the expenses of
extending the track across the new
bridge before the pavement is laid,
work on which is expected to begin
shortly after the Fourth. The response
was very liberal Up to Wednesday
afternoon $4,O15 had been subscribed
the amounts ranging from S. to $500
Mr.. Cummings reported.
The ready and liberal response
shows that there is a strong demand
for the street car service on this side
of the river. In view of this excellent
inducement, the railway company now
no doubt will see its way clear to grant
the wishes of the East siders, and pro-
ceed with the extension as rapidly as
possible.
You might ask, why should the pub
lie help pay for this extension. The
answer, as we were informed, is that
the street railway business, since the
advent of the auto and the interur-
ban busses, has been too discourag-
ing to warrant any more investments
by them in trackage. But it was ne
cessary to make the extension now, be-
fore the pavement is laid. After the
pavement is in, the expense will be
greater because of the added cost of
tearing it up and relayirg it. Further
more, if delayed, years might elapse
before the extension is made. 1t GER
tainly would not be attempted until
the conditions were such that the COM
pany could see their way clear for
such an undertaking. How to get this
improvement now, then, was the prob
lem. The business men solved 1T by
generously contributing to fund to
put it across" Practically every bus
inessman on the East side gave
something.
'The support is 100 per cent" said
Mr.. Cummings "Our goal was $4,000
We went over the top. Some of the
business men told me they will in
crease their subscriptions if neces-
sary."
Mr.. Cummings is to be commended
for the active interest he has taken
in this movement
When the new bridge agitation was
begun there was considerable senti-
ment in favor of letting the old bridge
remain in place and locating the new
one from the Consolidated company's
grounds across the river to the Wit
ter Hotel site. u er h S
plan the street car line was to invade
the East side on First street north
and eventually run to the Green Bay
depot Teh old bridge was consider
ed unsafe for street car traffic. But
this plan was opposed by some West
side interests; their main contention
was the expense of maintaining two
bridges would be too great. together
with the claim that the old route was
the natural and more logical avenue
of communication between the two
sides. They finally obtained their
way and the new bridge went in on
the site of the old one which was sold
for practically nothing.
Since then, it seems, the West side
interests in question have changed
their front, taking a stand with re-
ference to the street car line that ap-
pears directly opposed to the East side
interests. 1t may not be intended so
but looks so. Information at hand is
that a suggestion was made to the
street car company some time ago to
discontinue the Grand avenue line up
to the First National bank corner as
a part of a scheme of beautifying that
street, the plan being to create q
parkway in the middle of the street,
widen the thoroughfare and require
autoes to park about the parkway in
stead of at the sides of the street.
Are selfish motives at work? We
hope not. If street car traffic is bene-
fetal to trade, then share up with your
East side neighbors. Live and let
live. A divided town will never get
anywhere, SO let's pull together, every
body working for the whole town.
The ne wrbidge was decided on by
the people purposely so that the street
railway could cross on the new bridge
Now that the bridge is erected the
street cars must come across to the
East side as originally planned and
intended.
The subscribers and amounts up to
yesterday were as follows:
We, the undersigned property hold
ers or businessmen of the city of Wis
consin Rapids, hereby donate the a.
mounts set opposite our names to the
street railway company to help pay
the expense of laying their tracks a.
cross the new bridge with the under