Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-05-26
LOOKER-ON in IOWA :
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Wesley. May 25.-4The other day in
history of their gas plant, now settled
apparently satisfactory to all but a
few. For over four years the citizens
here have wrestled' with the lighting
OF the city question. They have had
municipal ownership voted; have had
a council that contracted for city
plant, and then found out there We're
no city funds to pay for II. and some
think today this council individually
are liable for the contract they made
AT last deal has been made with a
eight miles OF pipe this year, Is to fur
nish gas at s1.50 per thousand, and to
pay the city percent of their gross
earnings.
Our Iowa cities should learn to go
slow in tho matter of granting fran
chises to companies for heating, light
ing and water plant privileges. It's
true Of the smaller cities have had sad
experience in attempting successfully
TO own and operate some of these pub
lie necessities, and In some cases have
sold out their city heating, lighting or
water works plant to an Incorporated
of thees towns will regret
in the near future On the
other hand. one city OF 5000 in
habitants has been offered 100000
bonus and first cost for their water
works plant. And another and larger
city can sell out their water works
plant for 100000. and are offered very
favorable proposed contracts for water
for city use. So that Webster City
may have made a poor trade after all,
the per cent gross receipts coming
to the city, however, the redeeming
feature OF the deal.
There's no use talking" the rail-
roads of the state, notably the big
corporations. are setting an example
that the city corporations should fol-
low, this in the way of laying out
public grounds, flower beds and little
parks near the depots. The Chicago
& Northwestern railroad at Algona has
just made beauty spot west of their
depot there. They have laid out walks.
flower beds and sodlied the grounds
between the depot and the wagon road
with the result as one drives up to the
and depots along the railroads in New
York state. This corporation has done
much in this direction along the main
line. and now is extending it's to the
branch lines.
Speaking of the work in public ar
rangement of city parks. the town of
Baskerville makes a good showing in
this way. The court house grounds
are joined on the south by small
city park, and some one is entitled to
credit for flowers and shrubbery. very
seldom seen in an Iowa city of this
size.
Marengo did, probably does yet the
writer does not visit there very often.
some very nice work In the waN of
flower beds, walks, seats, band stands
etc, in the public park The writer
has been told the good women of Mar
ango are entitled to all the credit for
The flowers and care of them, In fact
it is volunteer work. and expense on
their part
And here's another thing the writer
has seen once, and only once, in Iowa
And that was pOSto1lce room Hliea
with plants, ported of course. and
flowers. Running vines were also in
evidence, and the whole business, post
office and all, was run by woman.
And this was in little town of 600
inhabitants in northwestern Iowa. Thus
we're gaining. One of these days it
will occur to somebody to beautify our
school building grounds. Wouldn't such
a thing attract attention in Iowa. In
Iowa. where the grounda around the
school buildings generally are the
worst looking lots in the town. This,
too. when a ten, fifteen or twenty
thousand dollar building stands in the
center of the grounds.
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