Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-03
Many Substantial Improve
ments Made During Past
Year at Radcliffe
\ REVIEW OF ITS PROGRESS
Figures Show the Business Done in
1902 Was Enormous in Proportion
to tho Population of the Town-Pub-
lie improvements in Way of Water
Works, Buildings, Etc.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times
Radcliffe, Jan. 3.-With the passing
of the year 1902 it is hoped that Rad
cliffe has not reached its zenith of
progress. The year past has been a
busy one and many improvements have
been made and the prosperity anu
growth of our city is equalled by none
OF its size and population. In fact cities
twice the size of Radcliffe have done
less than one-half OF the business OF
our town. This is rot a bare state
ment. but can be verified by records.
The hooks of the C. & N w. Railway
Company at it's Chicago office show
that in 1902 more freight was received.
tickets sold and the receipts were larger
than in any other town of our size on
its line between Tama and Eagle Grove.
With the increase of business come
substantial building and modern i'm
provements. There is now In the course
OF completion two large bank buildings.
The First National Bank is structure
its four polished New Hampshire gram
lite pillars extending from the founda-
ton to the cornice make 1T indeed
model building. 1t has capital of
$4,000 and will open Its doors for busi-
ness about March 1. 1903. The Farm
ers' Bank, operated by A. P. Himmei q
Son, not to be outdone by its competi-
tor, has built fine bank building on
the site recently occupied by their old
building. The Farmers Bank is Il
structure that we are well proud OF. 1t
is built of pressed brick, with Clipped
front and large arch for window. Il
is modern thruout and is expected to be
ready for occupancy about the middle
of February. Besides the two banks
above named we have the State Bank,
one of the strongest banking institu-
tons in the county, with a capital of
$4,000, and the Drake Investment
Company, with a peid up capital OF
S25,O0O With these four financial In
stitutions 1T would seem that we can
take care of all business entrusted
to us.
With the advance of time and civili-
zation comes the advance of municipal
improvements and We completed this
year our water works system. We now
have installed modern plant in every
respect, with water mains extending
thruout the city. The water works are
owned by the city, which evidently be-
lieves in municipal ownership. In con-
nection with the water works we have a
well-organized fire department. Late
last fall franchise was granted for an
acetylene gas plant. The gas company
have some of their material here now
and as soon as spring opens up will
commence active work in putting in the
plant.
Along with the Improvement OF the
age comes the telephone, and with that
the citizens of Radcliffe are in no ways
backward. A year ago telephone eX-
change was started and mutual COM
pany was organized. Our exchange now
has about 100 subscribers, besides con-
meeting lines with all Of the surround
ing towns. The enterprsing citizens
have extended their telephone lines out
into the country for the benefit of the
farmers, and as soon as the weather
permits it is proposed to connect all Of
the farmers lines with the city ex-
change.
Not only has our city grown COM
mercially in the past year, but large
number of fine residences have been
built, and the prospects for the future