Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-11
A REMARKABLE D[bL
Proposition for Des Moines to
Give $4,000 to Private
Corporation.
Scheme to Guarantee Debt So
the Water Company Will
Build Extension.
Water is Wanted at the Site
Of the Proposed Army
Post.

Va
Post.
Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Dec. 11.-One Of the most
remarkable propositions ever enter
tained by the voters of any city of Iowa
IS before Des Moines people at this time.
The proposition is, briefly stated, that
the city shall lend its credit to a water
company for the purpose of securing
money with which the company may
extend its mains several miles out into
the country beyond the city limits. The
water company has refused to build wa
post on the Warren county line. Pri-
vate citizens have refused to go into
scheme to build separate plant to sup
ply water for the soldiers who>are ex-
lpected there. The government insists
| that there must be water at the post.
An agreement has been entered into by
which the city is to borrow $4,000 and
Igiye it to the water company with
which to lay the mains and the city Is
to get the money back some time III
some way under circumstances which
| are supposed to be likely. But the con-
tract Is regarded by many as suspicious
land fears are entertained that the city
will never get the money back. Aside
from this fact there is in the minds of
many persons some doubt as to the le-
gality5 of the city of Des Moines borrow
| ing money to give to a corporation to do
that which can only be profitable to the
company. AS matter OF fact the COM
pany has long been known as one of the
Meanest and most heartless corpora
tions of its kind in the country. They
do not feel like taxing themselves for
the company. Only the fact that 1t is
represented that unless the city does this
very thing there will be no army post, Is
the proposition tolerable at all; and
there would be a great deal OF opposi-
tion, open and above board, but for the
cry that would be raised against any
one engaged in criticising that he is dis
loyal to his city. The ordinance has not
| yet been passed any there Is being
hrspght on the mayor some pressure to
induce him to veto. the ordinance II It
does pass. Even il it passes litigation
| Is certain, as some taxpayers will not
allow the matter to go by default. AT
best 1t is queer proposition for the
capital city Of Iowa to entertain.
$50
The horticultural Society today gave
an endorsement to the scheme suggested
some time ago by Secretary Wesley
Greene and embodied in his annual re-
port on the recommendation Of the
board Of directors for the creation OF q
state department of horticulture to be
something like the state department of
agriculture, only confined to horticul-
ture, forestry, Horticulture and market
gardening. Before Mr.. Greene embodied
this in his report it was submitted to the
directors and approved. A committee
will present it to the legislature and
urge law to that effect. The horticul-
turists feel that mistake was made in
trying to make the department of agri-
culture cover horticulture and forestry.
The horticultural Society is old and has
done an honored work. Many OF the
leading horticu!turists have done a
great deal for the cause in other years.
They do not want any change in their
society except such change as would
give it legal standing and make the
state responsible for payment of sala-
r.es. Their plan is to have the horticul-
tural board issue certificates to nur-
series on examination by the state en-
tomologfst, and to issue licenses to fruit
tree agents and peddlers on payment of
proper fees. The secretary would be ex-
pected to go about the state making per-
sonal Investigations of the fruit busi-
ness and to inspect orchards for insects
and diseases and to plan for upbuilding
the fruit industry in the state. He would
also be able to devote a great deal of
time to organizing local societies. The
members of the society believe they
stand an excellent show of having bill
to this effect passed this winter.
The annual meeting of the Des Moines
Commercial Exchange was held last
evening for the election of directors and
officers. This is body which does busf-
ress all the year round in the interest of
pes Moines and has had great deal to
DO with the upbuilding of the city. 1t
was started in small way a few years
ago and has been a power for good In
the city. The secretary of the exchange
at the present time is Milo Ward, known
,apar,IJx, II o,,ar Inu,o acranja1.