Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-11
+ LOOKER.ON in IOWA
sys.,...s.,s-s.s

Gilman Feb 1.-THE use of the ce-
ment block for building purposes is
fast on the increase in Iowa. Numer-
Gus plants are being established, and
many store buildings have been made
Of this material. We are promised in
the near future an ornamental block
that will be used for residences. which
would seem to be coming material to
be used by those putting up the more
expensive as we'll as the less preten-
tious dwelling house. AT Estherville
whether this cement block is entitled
to the credit or not, store building
made of this material did check big
fire in that town a few weeks ago.
This building was next to some large
veneered brick buildings which easily
added to the conflagration, and of
course was exposed to tremendous
heat as we'll as to the large quantity Of
water used by the f1remen, and while
limestone and brick used in adjoining
buildings crumbled and disintegrated
from the action of the heat and water,
this cement block building showed no
traces of damage. The writer saw 1t
stated in some paper, that we have in
Iowa, no concern engaged in making
cement, and yet there is plenty of ma
terial for such manufacture in many
places in Iowa. 1t would seem that If
the cement block is to be permanently
added to our list of building material,
there is good opening for the manu-
facture of cement in Iowa.
The hotel in Iowa that has made
any money for the proprietor since
November 1904 is a rare case. Many
causes have produced this result. In
the northern half of the state, we have
had three years, not exactly of a failure
in the corn crop, but close to it. Con-
sequently trade was dull in such
localities, the travelling men made
their visits, like angels, few and far
between, and the hotel man found 1T
difficult to furnish the $3.50 per week
table boarder with the 50 a day bill of
fare During the big blizzard in jan
uary, the writer arrived at one of the
largest hotels in Iowa. He was the
only guest for twenty-four hours. Dur
ing that time he had a cook whose
wages are SIS month, assisted by a
pastry cook, four girls in the kitchen.
six girl walters on the table, the pro-
prietor, a day clerk, a night clerk, two
porters and fireman to run the
house, for his accommodation. 1t took
during the day half a car load of coal
to warm the writer-and the hotel, and
for all this, this scribe only paid 50.
The numerous fires in Iowa this
winter, only adds to, it would SEEM
continuous performance. Furnaces
continue to be put into our homes, no.
tells, school houses. stores and public
buildings, in such a manner that they
are sure, sooner or later. to set
such buildings on fire. Now this
is not slam on all furnace maxi
ers, but it states the exact truth con-
corning some of them. To illustrate.
A friend of the writer's before pur
chasing a home had an expert exam
inc the new furnace and paid the fee
out of his own pocket for the service.
Everything was o. X. This was in
the summer. He bought the property.
On the first really cold day of the
following winter this new furnace set
fire to the new house and virtually
destroyed the property. The record
school houses and churches from de-
fective furnaces is big one. Ask any
insurance agent what keeps his COM
panv poor and his reply is defective
furnaces and careless management of
same. This is all Unnecessary for there
are furnaces made and put In buildings
that are safe as steam pipes or the old
fashioned stove. Here's a case in
point In one of our Iowa towns where
they had a big fire this winter, it is
matter of common report that twice
before in the block where the fire start
ed have fires started that only timely
discovery prevented the destruction
that came this winter. And think of
this, in that building in the center of
a business block, the chimney was
made of one layer Of brick. OF course
the writer cannot swear to this fact.
for he was not present when the build
ing was erected, but many citizens Of
the town gave this story to the writer.
Again, the wiring" of one building for
electric light is in many cases, as GER
tain to set such buildings on fire, a s
though such mechanics engaged In this