Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-18
Farmer Arrested for Obstruct-
ing Street, There Being No
Room in Market Place
MAYOR NOT IN SYMPATHY
Guy Coulter. Farmer of Vienna Town
ship, Finds Market Place Full, So
Leaves Load of Hay in Street,. E.
Downing Files Information Causing
Arrest-Fine Is RENTED.

4 streets or MarSnailtoWn Wednesday al
/ ternoon showed more clearly the crying
need of this city for an adequate public
market, where farm produce and prod
ucts may be placed on sale, than all the
petitions signed and farmers meetings
held could do in years. AS a result OF
the insufficient size of the public mar
ket on East State street, which was
filled so that he could not drive in with
his load of hay, Guy Coulter left his
team and load in the street in front OF
the L. q. Downing residence. Mr..
Downing took exception to the mans
performance and filed an information
causing his arrest for blockading pub
lie street. Mr.. Coulter was given his
hearing late Wednesday, afternoon in
Mayor Jones' court, and after pleading
not guilty changed his plea to that OF
guilty and was fined $40 and costs,
which were RENTED by the mayor.
At the time Mr.. Coulter came to the
market place during the afternoon 1t
was so entirely filed with loaded teams
that he was unable to End room to
drive in, so rather than drive to the
market side of the street where he
would blockade the driveways leading
to the public place, he drew the team to
the opposite side of the street, where he
unhitched the horses and tied them to
the wagon. While he was gone the
animals, in munching at the load, pull
ed a considerable portion of it to the
ground. Mr.. Downing, not liking the
idea of the team and load standing in
front of his residence. hunted up the
police officers to inquire what charge
he might prefer against the man. AS
soon as Coulter was aware that por-
ton of his load was on the street he at
once said he would go and clean 1t UP,
which he did. After investigation it
was found that he could be arraigned
on charge of blockading the public
highways. Mr.. Downing filed an infor-'
nation to this effect, and Mr.. Coulter
was arrested
Farmers Show Much Interest.
When Mr.. Coulter was arraigned the
mayors office was almost filled with
farmers who were interested in the
outcome. Coulter stated that he had
not supposed for moment he was COM
hitting a wrong, and he had placed his
team on that side of the street because
he had no place else to go, and still re-
main convenient to the market. He
said he was perfectly willing to clean
from the ground the hay his horses had
pulled off the load while eating. After
entering plea of not guilty. and the
time for hearing being set for Saturday,
Mr.. Coulter changed his mind and re-
turned with friend and entered plea
of guilty. He was fined $40 and costs.
and both were RENTED by the mayor,
who felt he was doing right.
Where Shall They Go?
If farmers who leave loads under
conditions similar to this one are liable
to arrest for blocking the streets. it is
high time something was done to re-
lieve the situation. 1t has been sug-
gested that there is room in the several
feed yards about the city for farmers to
go who have produce to sell. To this
they say that with some of the yards it
is an lmpossibility to drive into them,
owing to the low overhead gatewavs,
with which they are equipped. They
also say that as their loads can not be
drawn into the stalls the yardmen OBJ
ject to them standing where they will
be In the way of incoming and outgoing
teams. At the time the incident refer
red to occurred. not only was the public
market full, but large near by feed
yard was SO rushed with business that
a long string of vehicles lined the street
in front for which there was no room
inside. At this particular time of year
there are, of course, more farmers Wis
iting the city than at any other, but 1t
is ridiculous to presume that a lot COX
$50 feet, used as the city market. is
large enough for the needs of the coun-
try visitors who come to this city with
loads of produce for sale.
Gives Bad Impression.
While the incident of Wednesday
will not affect the country business it
gives a bad impression to farmers who
may, perhaps, not be conversant with
the details leading up to it. The sem
sible farmer, however. is not going to
be prejudiced because one man, In the
heat of passion, takes action against
a farmer, who is vindicated in the rul-
ing of the mayor. Marshalltown will
have by spring, it fs-thought, more
suitable place to use as a market, but
until that time, the farmers will have
to be content with what can be af-
forded under the present conditions.
The building Of the public library and
the central fire station did away with
the former market place, which was
very well adapted to the purpose for
which it was used for so many years.
GIVES AlTARS TO QRPhANAGE.