Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-09
sIEe REPLIES TO WEBSTER.
Sixth Ward Councilman Presents His
Views on City Matters.

Editor Times Republican,: Seeing
that Mr.. Webster has not confined
himself to facts in his recent article
in these columns would have thought
he would have got up a better article of
fiction ] will try to throw some light
and warmth on the cold facts" pre-
scented by him in regard to the Sixth
ward matter, which has stirred up
such a feeling. not only among the
residents of the ward, but with the
people of the city generally.
He makes the statement that the
ward was created by one man for his
own sef-seeking purposes. l do not
wish to take any of the credit away
from Mr.. Green, to whom he refers, for
his generous assistance in creating the
new ward, but many Of the citizens of
that portion of the city got together
early after it was taken into the cor
poration, and the plan was discussed
of forming a new ward so that the in
terests of that portion of the city
would receive proper attention. | my
self went to Mr. Greene after our
plans were formulated, and asked his
assistance. The ward, therefore, was
not created for the special benefit of
any individual What motive the
council had in voting for the measure
we do not know.
Mr. Webster said he strenuously op-
posed the creation of the Sixth ward.
This is another one of his 'cold facts
gone wrong. The records of the coun-
Gil show he voted for the measure.
How can a councilman strenuously OPP
pose a measure and yet vote for it.?
Then Mr.. Webster tells how l have
made myself obnoxious to other mem
bers of the council; that / am in favor
of public improvements which the
council opposed. | do not deny this,
have always been in favor of i'm
provements whenever the finances Of
the city would Justify them. I was
in favor of the sidewalk from Main
street to the Soldiers Home. The peo-
lie living on Thirteenth street and those
west on Summit street, as we'll as all
the old soldiers at the Home are entit-
led to the sidewalk and should have
had it ten years ago. The old soldiers
especially who gave invaluable service
to our country in time of need, should
have a decent sidewalk to use in their
daily trips to and from the city. He
says the grading of North Thirteenth
street, for sidewalk, would cost
$500. The grading is about completed,
which he doesn't appear to know. and
should not now cost more than 5000.
The question of paving Thirteenth
street was preached last spring and
Mr.. Webster approached me on the
matter and said if 1 would vote for
the paving of First avenue he, later
in the fall, would vote to pave Thir
teenth street from Main to Summit.
was not then informed of the strained
condition of the city's finances. Since
l have learned this / have opposed
any large public expenditures. Now
Mr.. Webster says the "eXtravagant
members sat down on the Thirteenth
street paving, but how can be explain
his promise to vote for the same? j!
is not on account of my measures be-
ing extravagant, but as stated by
Mr.. Webster, to a resident of the
Sixth ward, because of the obnoxious
ness of the councimen from that ward
He told this person that s'the Sixth
ward would not get any improvements
at all as long as it had such council
men to represent it,"
He says | urged q sidewalk from
Thirteenth street west on Main street
to some proposed schoolhouse not yet
built, the grading for which would cost
5000 The schoolhouse is already there
and the children are attending school
in large numbers. The schoolhouse is
about two blocks west from Thirteenth
street. and the sidewalk should have
been built some time ago His esti-
Il
-s900-is just like all his other facts
1t would not cost half that amount.
The matter of opening Fifteenth