Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-08
LOCAL COMMENT.

county and other portions OIL IOWA.
Since Feb. IS s51So0O worth, or more
than half a million, of Marshall county
lrealty has changed hands The sums
involved in the transactions on FEB.
Is, March l and amounted to $3S1,3
and for the three days following over
$4,000 That the majority of these
sales were for cash in hand is evidenced
by the bank deposits in the four imam
cial institutions of this city on March
1, when the cash deposited amounted to
$346, 600. Sure crops nine years out OF
ten, and never total failure, with the
accessibility of markets, will cause Iowa
lands to advance in price in the next
few years.
In connection with the installation of
paid fire department it may be
sary for Marshalltown to have a change
made in the state law. Mr.. j. G. Trot-
ter, former city clerk, recalls how the
council of this city secured the enact
ment of state law giving second-class
cities the power to levy a special 1-nill
tax for the support of a volunteer or
paid department.. This tax will not
support paid department, and it may
be found expedient to have the law
amended so that 2-mill tax may be
secured for this purpose.
Considerable discussion has been in
dulged in by citizens regarding the liza
bility of the owners Of the fremont
Hotel for damages for the injuries sus-
tanned by some of the employees thru
being compelled to jump from windows.
because the building was not provided
with fire escapes, in compliance with
the provisions of city ordinance
adopted three years ago. 1t is doubtful
il the employees could recover from the
owners. or from the city. because of
non enforcement of the laws, but If any
of the guests had been seriously injured
they would have legal claims to DAM
ages. Mr.. T. Brown, one of the fremont
owners and a lawyer who has had wide
experience in prosecuting and defend
ing liability cases, says that while he
wishes to avoid the trouble of litiga-
ton, he would have no fear of the out
come of a damage suit, for the reason
that it has been frequently held by the
courts that an employee who knows of
the absence of safeguards has no
standing In court. Mr.. Brown says,
however, that he feels moral obliga-
ton in the results of the present catas-
trophe, and for that reason has volun-
teered to donate $50 to the employees
relief fund, provided the other owners
will give like amounts. Some of them
have agreed to contribute literally.
49,
valuable lesson has been learned
from the fremont fire, and 1t should
have the effect of fmpressing the coun-
ell with the necessity of enforcing its
own ordinance in regard to fire escapes,
especially on buildings where large
numbers congregate, such as hotels.
lodge halls, etc. 1t is true the council
attempted to enforce it's ordinance and
set out with determination to do so,
but the committee was met with oppo-
sition on the part of property owners,
who thought exceptions ought to be
made in their cases. The Let's
Fletcher and Woodbury. buildings have
fire escapes in the rear, as has the Ire
mont annex, but aside from those on
the Pilgrim Hotel no other three or
four-story building in the city is pro-
vided with these necessary safeguards.
The present ordinance provides that
Every person, firm or corporation
owning or erecting any hotel, boarding
house, factory or office building exceed
ing two stories in height snail cause to
be constructed fire escapes of iron.
firmly attached to the outer walls of
said buildings, which said fire escapes
shall extend to the full height of said
buildings, provided, that not less than
che fire escape shall be constructed up
on each twenty five-foot frontage of all
said buildings; also upon the sides of
corner buildings, and upon all exposed
walls of hotels as the council or COM
mittee on police and fire department
may direct. Such escapes when con-
structed shall at all times be kept in
good repair and easy of access to any
person from the inside of all such
buildings" Section 5 of the same ordi-
nance provides that "all buildings OF
over two stories in height already
erected that would come under the pro-
visions of this ordinance shall be pro-
vded with safety apparatus as defined
in this ordinance within ninety DAYS
after this ordinance is in force, under
the same conditions as in the case of
new buildings" In the light of the re-
cent experience 1t would seem the
wisest course to enforce the ordinance
without favor. 1t is possible that if
there is at all liability for damages, it
lies against the city because of nom
enforcement of it's laws.
A fight is being made by a personal
enemy of DR.. Devines upon the re-
election of Messrs. Devine and Atkinson
as school directors. The silly plea is
advanced that people who do not want
their children to cut up cats should vote
for the two other candidates. This is
meant to appeal to the prejudices of
those who abhor vivisection but the
facts are that the present school board
and the present school management
have never allowed vivisection to be
practiced in school laboratories. The
two gentlemen seeking the places OF
Devine and Atkinson on the board un-
doubtedly have nothing to do with so
dishonest and ridiculous an attack but
it should serve as a warning to the
friends of the present members to get
out and vote at Mondays election.