Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-14

Few Figures Showing What Tax Viii
Be to Those Who Pay lt-PolIs Opei
7 to Z.
The future Of Marshalltown restl
with the result of the special election
to be held tomorrow, when the voters
Of Marshalltown will be asked to either
vote or reject proposition to aid tht
Marshalltown Electric, Street and In
terurban Railway Company by voting
a per cent tax upon the assessed val,
uation of the property in the city. II
is now up to the voters to say whether
there shall be newer and greater
Marshalltown, or whether Marshall!
town shall sit by, with her hands fold
ed, and watch other cities, not nearly
SO well situated by natural endow-
ments, capture every interurban road
that comes their way, and grow and
prosper as a result
Interurban railways are no longer
experiments. They have been tried In
almost every thrifty section Of the
east, and have built up every town
and city which was fortunate enough
to touch them. On the Pacific coast
any one who has ever been to Los
Angeles and seen the effects Of the
great system OF interurbans out Of
that city, will not have to be shown
the results Of interurbans. But few
years ago Los Angeles was no bigger
than Marshalltown, now it is a city Of
between 100000 and 100000, and inter-
urban railroads are responsible for
much Of the city's growth.
Monrovia, CAL, sixteen miles north
east Of Los Angeles, and one Of the
many towns on the lines Of the Pa
ciffc Electric Company's tnterurban, Is
one Of the very good examples Of the
benefits to the small town tapped by
the interurban from the city Of Los
Angeles. Before the interurban was
built into Monrovla 1t was a village of
about 500 inhabitants. In five years
since the interuroan was built it has
grown to small city of $500, due. so
nine out Of every ten Inhabitants Of
the place will tell you, to the interurban.
The conditions that have made and
hold good in Monrovia exist IN each
and every one OF the IL or 20 SUI
burban towns OF Los Angeles, that are
fed by the interlrban that centers in
that city.
Is Marshalltown going to remain at
about the same size as 1t Is at pres
ent. and has been for several years, or
is 1t going to expand and become a
greater Marshalltown? The interurban
will decide.
Headquarters Of Road Here.
There seems to have been misun-
derstanding among some Of the read
ing public regarding the pledge Of the
company to maintain It's headquarters
In this city. A statement to the effect
that Marshalltown is not to be the
headquarters Of the road is being used
by those opposing the tax aid. and to
show the real facts Of the case, the
T.-R. is again going to explain.
Those opposing the road say: "Why
did not Mayor Ingledue and the retail
merchants association have included in
the contracts with Hamilton Browne
the clause that the headquarters of the
Marshalltown?' The answer may be
found by reading chapter 2, section 1.
page 327, Of the revised ordinances Of
which is still in force
and law binding in its every phase.
The extract from the ordinances is as
follows:
THAT the Marshalltown Electric,
Street and .Interurban Railway Com
pany, Of Marshalltown, Iowa, is hereby
given and granted, for the term Of
twenty-five years, from and after the
18th day of July, 1908, the right, priv
ilege and power Of locating. construct
ing, maintaining and operating it's linz
Of street and interurban railways in.
upon, over and across the streets, al
leys. and other public places of said
city, for the carriage Of persons and
as in this ordinance stated
and set forth, provided that the head
quarters, principal or main power
house, car barns and machine shops Of
tho said Marshaiitown electric street
and interurban railway be always
in MarshalItown."
This franchise was passed and be-
came law by a, vote of the people in
July, 1903. and Is still the law.
Tho tax-aid voted on tomorrow
aids no person or persons but the Mar
shalltown Electric, Street and Inter-
urban Railway Company, and the Mar
shalltown Electric, Street and Interur-
ban Railway Company must maintain
It's headquarters, offices, main power
house, car barns, machine shops, ETC.,
in Marshalltown, as provided for by
law.
Mr.. Hamilton Browne is the sole
owner Of the Marshalltown Electric,
Street and Interurban Railway Com
pany. and has contract with the Mar
shalltown Retail Merchants Associa-
ion that, in case of the voting Of the
, per cent tax aid to his company, he
will, by July 1, 1908, build an interur-
ban line to Melbourne and line to
Riverview park. connecting at Third
avenue.
Not one cent Of this tax can be col
ected until tho road is built and in
operation.
Extensions Built This Year.
Mr.. Hamilton Browne has contracted
With the Marshalltown Retail Mer-
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