Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 March 1911 — WATER VS. OIL. [ARTICLE]

WATER VS. OIL.

Rensselaer seems to be the onl' r town yet heard from that once trying, oil for allaying the dust, is going back to water sprinklings and this seems to be more on account of anxiety to have something done at once rather than dissatisfaction with the oil process. Every business man interviewed by The Democrat expressed themselves as preferring the oil, but parties interested in water sprinkling came around with a paper asking them to sign up for water, and, because others had signed, they did likewise. Some, however, are still holding out for oil, as being much cheaper and better than the water sprinkling, but from present indications it wifi be water this year. The Democrat believes it is a mistake to go back to water again. To have oiled would not have cost nearly as much as last year, when the first application was made, as not nearly the quantity would have been necessary now. To give two applications during the season would be very inexpensive, and as a preservative of the streets the oil is worth every penny it costs, to say nothing of its effectually laying the dust, not only on the six business day each week but on Sundays—when we have no water sprinkling—as well. It seems to us that policy of going back to the almost obsolete method of water sprinkling is very short-sighted indeed, and we believe it will be regretted. But no one started the oiling proposition this spring and several of the busness men wanted something done and took up with the first proposition that came along, hence the result. Lem Huston will do the sprinkling stunt, we understand.