Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-03-13
Town IS STIRRED UP
Not So Much Excitement in Years
AS Central Matter Has
Caused.
President Kimball Discourages Plan
Of a Committee Seeing
Him.

s~Ae - y. 70 >Ses
Of a Committee Seeing
Merchants Pledge Their Business to
the Central-Milwaukee
Talked.
The last twenty-four hours have been
fun of excitement among business cir
cles in Marshalltown. Last night tcle-
phones We're kept ringing and today
knots of business men We're gathered
here and there discussing the one topic
of interest-tfe threatened removal of
the general offices of the Iowa Central
to Peoria. Never in years has the town
been stirred up as 1t has been over this
matter. Many were the plans OF action
suggested. but all agreed that the only
thing to do was for committee OF
shippers TO Interview Mr.. kimbal.
president Of the road. This was the
sense OF the mass meeting OF mer-
chants held yesterday afternoon, and
|telegrams We're sent to arrange for such
an interview
Late this morning somewhat dis
couraging reply was received from Mr..
kimball. as follows:
Please do not consider me UNI
gracious, but do not sae any use OF
your coming. If anything is done it
viii not be because Of any local
situation, but because OF the ex-
peeted Importance in getting and
managing business for the Whole
line
notwithstanding this telegram it was
thought best to see Mr. Kliiball and a
strong committee of shippers viii
make thu attempt. The meeting yes
terdav was attended by shippers almost
altogether and while there was much
Central should move its offices, the
counsel of wiser heads prevailed, and
this morning the business men circu-
lated pledge up and down the
street promising support to the road on
condition that the Offices be located
permanently in this city. II is being
signed very generally and it is thought
Will have the effect OF demonstrating
that the business men are ready to CO.
operate with the Iowa Central railroad
The pledge reads as follows:
March IL, loot. +. Clarke. General
Manager Iowa Central Railroad: We,
the business men and shippers of Mar
lshalltown, realizing that the Iowa Gen.
trial headquarters are one Of The Leading
institutions of CHS city. expendine
lmunthly as We believe about $4,000
which finds its way sooner or later into
the business channels of Marshailtown
and realizing that the removal of said
HEADQUARTERS or any part Of them Nil
| be an irreparable loss to the business
Interests of the city, hereby signify GU,
Intention to support the road so far a.
/ possible. II we can be assured that sale
headquarters. general Offices shops
etc., will remain located in Marshall
town permanently we hereby pleig,
ourselves to route over the Iowa Cen.
trail railroad 50 per cent or more Of all
l.our incoming freight
/ Practically every shipper in Mar
AAos scsl4STti S3AS
result was surprise, as there wa
hardly man who refused, ana in ev
cry case it was due to some persona
grievance.
The above pledge. it is thought. vii
have strong influence on the RAILROAD
management, in spite of the statemen
contained in Mr.. Kimballis telegram
/ for the reason that the local manager
Land heads of departments here have re
Ipeatedly said that the Marshall
town merchants have not givel
4 the Iowa Central the supper
4 they Should have done in return 70
the benefits conferred by tn
Iroad in the 100000 expended III the Gil.
each month. This is now known t
have been a grievance with the roa
/ for some time Prominent official
i have SO stated to number Of tn
business men, and General Mana
i ger Clarke has minated as much
is true that the road was PRACTICAL
4 built by Marshalitown enterprise an
i is largely a Marshalltown institution
ard since it passed into the hands
the present owners hardly cent of ii
J vestmenu9 has been made in this cit,
1t is also true that the policy pursue
by former managers has been consic
cred so antagoni,tic to MarshaIltow
that its citizens have been turne
away from any desire that they ma
have had TO support the road, but +
'lthis pledge ard the sentiment pr,
q vailing on the street today
: is evident that all that
needed is an assurance that
| valued institution which we almo
| claim as our own will not be stole
from us the minute our back is turne
81 to find the business men. shippers
freight. lined up IN support Of the low
: Central. ii Is also very evident tn;
! should the offices 60 these same shi,
!: pers would be just as quick to plede
: their business 70 the c., NJ & St Pa,
!, railroad il it would build into this cit
lin fact many shrewd business me
are free in stating that MarshalltnW
: has been slow in not securing come,
tions with this great line long ago.
CLARKE SEEMS FRIENDLY.
The one most peculiar thing abol
!, the whole affair, and in fact, about u
only encouraging thing about ii. is IL
attitude of General Manager Clarke.
} response to a telegram much similar
the one sent Mr.. Kimball he wire
from Chicago this morning as follow
Message received. Will write
you from here. No cause for
alarm"