Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-08

Iowa, says that our local men attempt
ed an impossible venture. He says that
single line to Grundy Center will
not pay, and that interurban specialists
will not recommend it, hence money
can not be borrowed on it. He says,
tho, that such line win pay when
trains can run thru from Des Moines to
Waterloo and possibly on to north
eastern Iowa.
For this reason he prefers to make
his start in the direction of Melbourne.
on the way to Des Mones. He has so
much faith in being able to cooperate
with Waterloo and meet them with
line at Melbourne that he is willing TO
build now as far as the city park IN
the direction of Grundy Center. Sup
pose he should complete his line to
Melbourne and collect his tax, as Mr..
Pierce fears, then suppose he should
decide to go on to Grundy Center and
ask another tax, as Mr. Pierce sug-
gests, the law would limit him to 2
per cent levy, and even If MarshalltoWn
should have another election. and vote
him another tax, her people would
have secured a line from Melbourne to
Grundy Center for the same price they
once agreed to pay for a line from
Marshalltown to Grundy alone. The
Times Republican only wishes MT.
Browne We're able to promise the whole
thing now in return for the full per
cent tax. 1t would be cheap at the
price.
What ptnrpn ahOllt the gas
and light rates has some merit. The
reduction in electric lights agreed up
on is merely nominal and gas now is
too high. Mr.. Browne should be made
to expect further reduction in both m
the future and this rests entirely with
in the power Of the present or future
city councils. But it should be remem-
bered that one might as well talk TO a
cadaver as to suggest Improvement or
extension to the present owners OF the
local plant. They are astride our back
like the Old Man of the Sea for eleven
years anyway. and perhaps forever. as
several lawyers seem to think the es-
sential rights of their franchise are per-
petual. They are milking the plant for
every cent they can take out OF 1t.
putting as little back as they can. The
only time any life appears In their
morgue is when lawyers are hired to
beat down assessments or assist IN
framing a new light ordinance. MI.
Browne, when he buys, must Improve
to the extent of $4,000 before the nee
essary expert will O. x his bonds. The
committee might have secured more
reductions in their contract The Tx.
thinks they could have done so. but
they did what they thought best and 1t is
too late to change 1t now. We must
vote it up or down. If we vote 1t up
we exchange the cadaver for live
man, get more street cars, a fourteen
mile start at interurbans, improved
light service and in five years can ask
our city council to go after cheaper
rates. II we vote it down we mus.
drag the corpse about with us always.
and the interurbans will run in ami
around Oskaloosa, Ft. Dodge. Water
loo, Mason City, Clinton. Davenport.
Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and every
where else but at Marshalltown.
e
But, as before mentioned, 1t Is very
large question whether or not Mr..
Pierce receives his motive power from
impulses Of public spirit. No notice
has been officially published that ns
has been born again.