Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-04

who would undoubtedly be assessed the
limit under the working of ms owl
plan, the suggestion was conceded 10
be sincere and it Won merlted applause.
1t is just such men as Mr. Greene VINO
possess the Willingness as We'll as the
where with all who are to put Mar
shalltown forward at the pace She
ought to travel.
c.. H. Van Law delivered a stirring
address N favor of the Improvement
company because he had no faith In
bonus hunters and little patience for
the seekers of tax exemptions. He be-
licved that the practical and wise thing
to do would be to form a responsible
corporation such as .his and subscribe
for capital in new enterprises. He
pointed to the factories we now have
running as distinguished examples of
the fact that it takes the investment
of local capital to make an industry
succeed.
Professor Dudley, of the business
college, then followed with a few hui
morous remarks and good story of
How Mulvaneys Goat Flagged the
Train" which brought down the hous
as the stereotyped phrase is used.
Hon. Henry Stone told of the repu-
tation Marshalltown had twenty-five
years ago when travelling man met
him on the train and told him that the
best town in all the west was Mar
shalltown and that he, Stone, as
young lawyer, had better lose no time
locating there. Mr. Stone thought that
our natural advantages We're such that
this reputation should be maintained
and he was heartily in favor of the
plan suggested for promoting the in.
dustrial growth Of the city.
Mr.. kirby's Proposition.
Mr.. George F. Kirby, who is one of
the few old-time business men who are
still actively interested in public af-
fairs, was announced to talk on inter-
urban railways. Mr.. Kirby said that 1t
was a subject near to his heart, and
he hoped to be able to say things that
would warm the hearts of his auditors
and stimulate their interests in Mar
shalltown. An interurban railway sys-.
tenn. inaugurated with Marshalltown as
its center. he considered the most adj
vantageous proposition to the CONNER
cial interests of the city possible.
Looking over the field OF Marshall
town. said Mr.. Kirby. "as one Of the
old guard OF Marshalltown, I would
make a few suggestions, and feel that
you will be ready to receive them.
/ want to talk from the practical side,
for i am rather inclined to be practi-
cal. In looking over the field we see
three trunk lines of railway crossing
each other near Marshalltown. To
open up commercial field to jobbers
and manufacturers the opportunities
afforded must be embraced to their
fullest capacity. Nine miles south of
us is the Milwaukee road. which is alb
solutely barred from our commerce.
Two local rates OF freights are neces-
sary for business out of Marshalltown
over the Milwaukee. Twenty or thirty
miles north we find the Illinois Cen
trail and the Rock Island. Now the
question arises, how are we to reach
these great arteries of commerce SO
that they will benefit Marshalltown?'
"There has been more or less talk for
many years looking toward having the
Milwaukee build a steam railway
branch into Marshalltown. Thru the
community of interests, however. the
Milwaukee is barred by the other
trunk lines. There is left no better
way than to go TO the Milwaukee with
an interurban electric railway II this
plan is formulated on a proper basis
the Milwaukee will see 1t is to Its In
trests to cooperate, and make traffic
arrangements so that its cars and pas
sengers can come to Marshalltown.
MY idea is to organize here cor
poration, obtaining franchises neces-
sary to Operating in this city, and such
other concessions that will prove of
advantage to attract capital to take
hold OF the enterprise. Capital, at the
present time, is seeking electric road
investments.
81 have onlyrecently been approached
and had the pleasure of being one of a
conference with Des Moines man
who represents a concern proposing to
build an electric railway from Des
Moines to Marshalltown. 1t is In doubt
whether to go to Newton or come here
Now IL any electric system comes to
Marshalltown, Marsshalltown doesn't
want to be the tail to any ones else
kite. 1t does not propose to be a way
station. Whatever system is inaugu-
rated Marshalltown wants to have a
voice in the management. Hold a fran
chise for it, as far south as the Mil
waukee road, and as far north as posi-
BILE.
II see in the future that an electric
railway system thru Marshalltown
might improve the street car facilities
of the city. We have power house
here already and straight streak thru
town to the Soldiers Home. We have
yainly endeavored to get the company
to extend its lines, but this it does not
seem inclined to do, or to even con-
slider it. When approached 1t wants to
see the ducats coming in before 1t at
tempts any improvements. 1t is a
most unfortunate thing. Marshalltown
wants to control an electric line in
Marshalltown. to extend 1T to rural
communities, and in time double It's
population and quadruple its business.
"If you go east Of Chicago you can
ride on electric lines to Boston, by max
ing a few changes. The thing is COM
ing west, and now is the time for Mar
shalltown to make a stand and await
capital to come and take advantage of
it, / see nothing in the future of so
much benefit as an interurban railway.
1t is a different proposition here than Ii
is in the east. There the system has
been to parallel the old steam roads.
That is all right there, for the towns
are larger. 1t wouldn't pay here to par
allel the Iowa Central to Eldora, or the
Northwestern to Tama. Whyo The
population is not sufficient to enterinto
the competition for business.