Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-13
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
LOCAL COMMENT.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Several merchants of this city have
called upon the T.-R. editor today with
the questions what is the matter with
Bradford? Why is he opposed to an
interurban railway for Marshalltown?'
We don't know An employee of the Re-
Hector is authority for the statement
that Mr.. Bradford himself was the
Taxpayer" who first attacked the in
terurban plans In his paper. We are not
surprised, ourselves, for such policy
coming from that source is not inconsis-
tent with the Refiectors treatment of
the Commercial Clubs efforts in the
past. We have noted however, phrase
in the Taxpayers" article. in which Mr..
Bradford in suggesting that the inter-
urban company ought to guarantee to
build the road under forfeiture of $780,
600. says another company might be
ready to take the franchise and build If
we are not bound hand and foot to this
company and again the Reflector's
editorial discussion of Taxpayers ar
ticle objects to the time limit of three
years given this company in which to
build on the ground that we should not
lose road by being tied up to this
is the secret of the opposition, since
Mr.. Chamberlain, representing the
Polk people of Des Moines has made
repeated visits to Marshalltown, while
our citizens have been agitating this
interurban scheme. to see If there were
not some chance for his road. 1t will
be remembered that about the time OF
the Commercial Club banquet the T.
rot,..
lain's first visit here. He met a COM
mittee of local capitalists in Rhoades-
Carinean Buggy Company's office, then,
the Office of Trustee Greene and
presented his plan. Mr. G. F. Kirby,
who was present, refused to encourage
the scheme and went before the citi-
zens at the banquet with strong plea
for quick movement on the part of local
citizens to incorporate an interurban
company, secure the franchise and build
to the Milwaukee railroad, If possible,
before any Des Moines company could
get into our city with a line that would
make this city way station on a
Des Moines interurban railway. Folks
man went home unsuccessful but he
has been persisting.
Mr.. Kirby is not in any way connect
ed with the Marshalltown interurban
company. but his advice at that BAN
quet, was listened to with intense in
terest by the younger business men of
the city and Immediately steps were
taken to do as he suggested. We do not
know all of the incorporators, altho we
could soon find out ntlie Recorders
office, but among them are III. r. Sloan,
representing the Western Grocer Com
pany's wholesale interests; A. G. Click,
of the packing company: G. Fl. Ruth of
the Marshall Oil Company; c. H. Hull
Of the hide and wool company; c. r.
Speers and Chas Click of the two
large foundres and manufacturing
machine shops; G.. r. Estabrook, of the
Fisher Governor Company; E. c. VIII,
of the large wholesale and retail drug
firm of Mcbride & Will and II. p. Den
sci of the Densel & Wilbur furniture
firm. These men are the managers oil
nine of the largest business concerns in
this city and it is their intention tol
build the nucleus of an interurban sys-
TEN that shall be wholly within the
control of Marshalltown citizens and
that shall center in this city so that the
freight rates, passenger rates and train
service can never be so adjusted as
to kill this town for the benefit of some
larger city.
They have not in their own pockets
money enough to build an interurban
road, but they are among the city's
ablest and most pushing business men
for instance, witness the enterprises
of which they are at the head -
and they purpose to raise enough |
money by stock subscription to put
them in a position to bond their assets
and build far enough to at least bring
one new railroad such as the Milwau
kee system into Matshalltown. If they
can't do this within three years. the
franchise by terms of the ordinance
can be cancelled by the city council.
1t is perfectly proper that this ,ordi-
nanca be carefully and fully considered
by every citizen. The T.-R. editor has
suggested that the Commercial Club
call a mass meeting or hold another
before the election, where the
whole plan can be threshed out in open
public parliament. This may yet be
DONE 1t is no more than natural that
should be cautious. 1t is rea-