Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-02

FEAR INJURY TO BUSINESS
Frederick, However, Says
That Sentiment Has Changed Since
the Meeting, and He Thinks Many
Now Favor lt-Farmers Near Con-
rad sore--Grundy Center Election.

Gle in the promotion of the line of
interurban railway by the MARSHALL
town Electric, Street & 1nterurban
Railway Company. has developed at
Conrad, which has always been consid
cred an enthusiastic interurban town.
AT the public meeting at Conrad. held
Tuesday night, the sentiment was SO
much against the project that nothing
committee to circulate the petition for
a special election. Postmaster Harry
u. Frederick, of Conrad. who is an
enthusiastic interurban man, informed
the T.-R. over the telephone today.
that the sentiment mad changed, in his
opinion. since the meeting was held,
and now he considers that the plans
may be realized
The principal objection at Conrad
from all that can be learned, comes
from the merchants who fear that the
interurban will drive away their bus
mess. While this has not been the
experience in other small towns, where
interurbans have been built, the Con-
rad business men, or at least part
of them. are not inclined to be opti-
mistic. On the other hand the farm
ers who have Conrad as market.
think that this movement on the part
of the Conrad merchants one to COM
pei them to trade at Conrad, regard
less OF whether they want to or not
There We're nearly 100 people in at
tendance at the Conrad meeting. Upon
suggestion of those in the audience +.
w. Alexander, editor of the Record,
acted as chairman. Mr.. Alexander in
troduced Mr.. r. A. Ferrin, general
manager of the road, who explained
the project, the necessity of securing
the necessary equity, and the plans
for raising the tax, which had been
considered the most equitable way. He
showed statistics in other towns, which
had made wonderful strides in growth
because of the interurban, comparing
the population of 1900 with that of
the present time.
Mr.. Ferrin suggested that the meet
ing take similar action as was done
at Grundy Center, and that the chair
appoint committee of three who, in
turn, would select a committee OF ten
who would have in charge the circu-
lation of the petition. On the vote the
motion WAS declared carried, but A. w.
Randall called for a rising vote. and
when counted six were found to be
against and five for. This lost the mo-
ton, which, however, was later re-
newed after considerable discussion
by Mr.. Barnes, member OF the town
council. 1t was put again and carried,
Grant Hurlbut being the only one to
vote against 1t. The chair then APP
pointed Charles Belz. NJ. II. Steelsmith
and Thomas McBurney. Mr.. McBur-
ney, who opposes the interurban, said
he did not wish to serve, for he could
not do SID consistently. Mr.. BelH fol-
lowed, expressing himself as being IN
the same position. While Mr.. Steel
smith said he was small taxpayer,
and favored the interurban, he would
rather not serve on the committee. A
dozen other appointments We're made,
but no one could be secured to serve.
The meeting was then adjourned, with
out anything being accomplished.
Grundy Center Tonight.
The council of Grundy Center will
meet this evening. and will undoubted-
ly call a special election to aid the
1nteruTpan. lneTG are zoo lfGeuol1clS
in Grundy Center, and ninetytiye adj
ditional In Palermo township, in which
Grundy Center is located. This total
of $50, makes 191 necessary TO
choice. There We're. up to Wednesday
night, total of 230 signatures to the
Grundy Center and Palermo town
ship petitions.
In Grundy Center the amount Of the
tax that will be realized is $9,042.S9,
and In Palermo township there is addt-
tional $11,173.62, a total of s20,216.01.
In Clay township, in which Conrad and
Beaman are located, there Is an avail
able tax of $14,215.S3, divided as fol-
lows: Conrad. s3.133.3s: Beaman,
ss62.59; and the remainder OF the
township, $l0219.S6. Beaman is very
anxious to secure the road, and a.
farmer living in the eastern
half of Clay township. says he will
guarantee the entire amount
of the townships tax. The Beaman
people want the company to cut out
Conrad altogether, and run thru Bea-
man.