Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-08
]. D. Vail Talks ,nterurban.

Mr.. J. D. Vail looks for more bust
ness and much new building of medi-
UNI sized, modern dwellings but no
business blocks. Regarding real estate
investment he speaks from experience
as follows:
my experience extends to all parts
of the state of Iowa, our company hav-
Ing both dwellin houses and store
buildings in a great many towns and
during the last few years we have COW
cred all parts of the state, and so far
as I can judge, Marshalltown property
sells and rents as we'll, if not better,
than in many towns, that claim to be
betfer business places than Marshall
town, but good dwellings and business
property well located sells and rents
as we'll in Marshalltown, and pays
as much interest on the investment as
any in the state. We have hardly any
course, dilapidated buildings are idle
anywhere.
Fourth you ask what is needed to
make Marshalltown more prosperous
than it is would first reduce the
taxes if possible Encourage the build
ing of one or more suburban railways
and induce small manufacturing plants
to locate here. Small ones will become
large if they are managed by the prop
er man and any kind of a plant will be
made more or less successful if the
right man is in charge. No business
can be built up in a year or two, and
If it is so built it is of a mushroom
growth and unsafe as an investment.
Notice the years it has taken to build
up our successful manufacturing
plants, newspapers, and banks. Where
would we find better proof than in
Marshalltown? The Times-R Republican,
Shorthills, The Lennox Machine Co.,
Williams Bros, Lennox Furnace Co.,
Britain Packing Co., Let's, Fletcher
Grocery Co., and our banks all have
taken years of hard and continuous la
Dor to build to their present paying
basis. All started small and have
grown to where they are today, solid
institutions. Let us work to keep those
we have and also work for all new
worthy ones, small or large.
We are now assured of a central
heating plant, which will commence
operation very soon and employ a
large number of men; we also have a
ing plant These ought to be encour-
aged in. every way possible, and not
let any personal animosities stand in
the way of a hearty support.
Voting Tax Aids.
In regard to the city taxing the
public for amy Of these manufactures
institutions, interurban railways or
public utilities, 1 am in favor of reas-
enable taxes for either Or any of them
For the railroad, 1 think three mills
would be plenty and all the city ought
to raise, and that to be collected, one
half mill per year or six years, and
tn company that is benefited by il
should issue preferred bonds, bearing
small rate of interest payable in a
stated time as agreed upon ten, fifteen
or twenty years. / am not in favor
of a five-mill tax under any circum
stances payable in three years.
would rather see other improvements
encouraged by the city by voting tax
for them. and taking their bonds as
well as for the interurban railway. II
the city can vote away the peoples
money to build railroads, why not to
build manufactures and other public
institutions that benefit the public
The money would not be donated. 1t
would only be a loan, and the city
would draw interest on the bonds or
stock. and by adopting this plan would
leave the business men to use their
capital in enlarging their business,
and no individual would be called up
on to use the capital needed for his own
business in order to build up some
body's else business.
"The city can much better afford to
take the chance of making these loans
to corporations than Individual bust
ness men, and / am in favor of that
mode of building UP the city rather