Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-04
BANQUET WAS
ENTHUSIASTIC
Enthusiasm of the Banquet
Ushers In the Dawn of
a New Era
IMPROVEMENT COMPANY PLAN
IMPROVEMENT COMPANY PLAN

$4,000 improvement Company-Mr.
Kirby Outlines a Practicable Rural
Trolley Line and Is Greeted With
Appiause-Citizens Mean Business.
The social gathering of Marshalltown
business men at banquet Tuesday
evening, full 235 strong, developed an
enthusiasm which suggests the dawn of
a new era in the city's industrial well
fare. AT Z o'clock the guests were seat
ed, and within an hour the ladies of the
Congregational church had served an
elegant three-course dinner, without a
single delay of any kind. The tables
shone with linen and silver from the
homes of the city, while carnations
were provided for all, and as Father
Lehman delivered an eloquent invoca-
ton the Autographs of Americas three
martyred presidents looked down upon
the bowed heads of the assemblage,
the spirit that made America"
After the cigars the evenings pro-
gram was in charge of Mr.. G. r. Esta
brook, president of the Commercial
Club, who introduced the speakers,
with instructions that they contine their
remarks to the subjects to be discussed.
viz: the formation of an Improvement
nd ha hy,il1 nf q
electric line to connect with the Mil
waukee railroad and to tap the rich
farming district lying between Mar
shalltown. Conrad and Grundy Center.
Mr. r. E. Sears. secretary of the club.
read farewell address, preached to the
text, What Is the Matter With Mar
shalltown?" He told what was once
done in the early days of this city. and
described the success Of improvement
companies in building up the cities Of
Flint, Mich, Mason City and Waterloo.
He spoke of the old days when citizens
pulled together and not apart, when
they subordinated private interests to
public ones, of the days of good feeling
and general friendship. when men asked
themselves l"What is my fair share of
the burden?" and not What is my per
capita share?" and he spoke encourag-
iugly for the banquet as q means of
getting everybody together for long.
strong Pull together. He then
outlined a plan which had been
suggested for Marshalltown improve
ment company, which in substance was
as follows:
That n company be incorporated with
an authorized capital OF $4,000, $4,000
Of which shall be paid up, and no fur
Their assessment to be made until that
sum is expended in securing some in
dustry and no assessment OF more than
500 to be made upon each share in any
one wear. II 100 citizens would go into
the enterprise 1T would amount to their
agreeing to pay 500 per year each Tor
Ave wears for the upbuilding of Mar
shalltown. yet the announcement Would
go out to the world that Marshalltown
had raised $4,000 for public Improve
! ment.
The plan has not been fully drawn up
in detail, but 1T is proposed to place the
manage snent of this fund in the hands
of a board OF directors elected by the
stockholders and provide that no ofi1-
GER shall receive q salary of any, kind.
and that no money shall be expended
without the sanction of majority vote
OF the stock. To make the plan a sue
cess. some men will have to take more
stock than others, but 1t is Intended
| that henceforth there shall be no more
public begging. The man who signs for
| 500, 5000 or $500 per year Is done with
his public contributions, yet the COM
| many would have cash in the bank with
| which to accomplish wonders for the
CITY. 1t is the plan Of the originators
| To refuse all bonuses hereafter. and TO
| recaiye stock. bonds or real estate for
their money, which will be held by the
comnany for the benefit of the stock
| holders. There is hardly a business
house in this town and few professional
men who could not we'll AFFORD 70 SUD-
scribe 800 per year to such plan TOT
| the upbuilding of the city. and 1t IS nj
| tle wonder that the plan was we'll re-
ceived.
with vigorous endorsement OF tne
scheme. He replied to Mr.. Sears text
nv declaring that Marshalltown was
| all right. He believed that there was
NO usa talking about the past but that
tho future must be faced. Once Mar
shalltown was the only trading point IN
many miles around. Now many
email town has arisen to divide the
trade. railroads are everywhere ana
old fashioned methods will no Longer
avail. He was tired of asking cap
litalists at home to put their money In
! to the hands of an irresponsible COM
,nercial club elected by popular vote or
to ask outside capitalists to negotiate
with such body. The hold-up COM
mittee was altogether too common
and of too little use to be continued.
He had no patience with policy that
expected a man or club to go into busi-
ness first and raise the capital after
wards, therefore he endorsed the