Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-23
COUNTY OBSERVATIONS.
Ter. Man Over the County Sees
Many Thtngs of interest.

= -
Many Things of Interest.
To me farmers mutual telephone
was new Wrinkle when L came
across the country N my journeying |
through LeGrand township After I
had seen it working and realized the
convenience utility and .sociability of
the venture 1 was astonished that any
farming community should do without
it. Last April few of the most pro-
gressive farmers living south of Lee
Grand conceived the idea of a tele
phone line for their convenience and
began an agitation which resulted in
the excellent system which exists there
at present. For the benefit of others to
whom the idea and information may be
of service l give the following facts re-
garding the line and its cost:
The Farmers Central Telephone line
was begun in April of the present year.
1t extends from LeGrand village to c.
W. Kellogg's residence. The phones on
this line number fifteen. The subscribe
ling farmers bought their phones out
right, procured hardwood poles from
adjacent groves and turned out en-
masse to set the same and string the
wires. The line has been in operation
gratifying results The west line con-
lstructed shortly afterward has nine
teen phones and is connected with the
Central line by "a switch at Frank Rich
ards house. This line taps Montour.
Another line connects the Montour
branch with the Carey settlement.
distance of five miles, and it is to be ex-
| tended five miles further.
4 ~. pC
bar and Montour with the surrounding
farms and Is of untold convenience to,
its patrons or rather it's owners. The
farmer who is ready to thresh his grain
4 sits at ease in his own home and ar
ranges for his help. If neighbours cat
tie stray or break through the fences
he notifies him at once by phone The
lone woman and the tramp problem
reaches its solution from the fact that
1 the neighbors are within easy call.
The little strand of wire stretching
1 from hearthstone to hearthstone binds
/ the community closer with its tiny
thread and brings into near acauain-
tance and companionship families
(. which otherwise were strangers. The
Telephone is not luxuary or q conve-
Inience in LeGrand any more; it IS a
necessity.
The cost per mile is as follows:
4 Poles (native wood) ..........-....s4.nv
lsWire ....t......5.3.......i. isso
Brackets and insulators .-........ 50
4 AS stated above. those benefited made
la bee of the erection of the line ard
4 each bought his phone outright at a
Icost Of sl4. making the entire individ-
ual OUTLAY much less than s25 for per
petual service.
1t is not to be wondered at that these
y Farmers are strongly agitating rural
mail delivery and a township central
school system. or that the Daily T.-R.
Ecirculates several miles from the pos
office.
Some of the farmers of TAYLOR town
! ship have followed the cue of thsir L.
Grand friends and VIII 80 them one
Il better in regard to telephones. y line
: is being built from this city north COW
Ierins most of the territory between thia
ieity and Albion. The work has beer
done by the farmers and thsi, sons tfis
: poles are cut from the native iores s
and the Instruments will be puichases
!, outright Already five or six nave ar
a ranged to connect With tie service ant
= Fit is probable that twelve or fifteen Wi
lido 50. Arrangements have been mad
for connections with the system of tbs
/. Marshall Telephone Company in thu
city, and the farmers will thus haNf
! the advantage of direct communication
IS with town a portion Of the line vii
be in operation this week.
! Corn in Greencastie jefferson an(
IeGrand is an excellent crop Of spten.
did quality
John Laena. Bohemian farnei
e near Dillon. is finishing one of th'
4 finest farm houses in the county. 1t has
g twelve rooms. the Workmanship ans
: material is of the best and Will be fin
e Iished regardless of expense. Mr. La
: Gina it may be noted, is not doing an.
: calamity shouting