Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-11-02
! LOOKER.ON IN IOWA !

Sheffield, NOV. I'LL CoHSeISaeloiA
with one Of the merchants here the
fact was brought out, that the retail
dealers Of Iowa dread the establish
ment Of the parcels post delivery sys-
tenn, more than any Of the numerous
small town killers that have been add
ed TO the already large list Of modern
improvements. From his point of view,
the establishment Of the rural free
delivery system was bad, very bad for
the small dealer and small town. He
says this r. f. d. system has left only
one good days trade, that Of Satur-
day. On other days the farmers send
in for little things or go without.
Again this merchant considers the
two-cent passenger law fully as bad in
effect and result as the r. T. d. system.
The latter makes it possible for the
farmer to stay home and still get fam
lily supplies, while the former enables
the town dweller for a few cents to go
on the cars to the larger town and BUY
quantities OF goods he formerly SOLO.
Now. IL to his business troubles is
added a parcels post system, why, the
big catalog houses will double their
trade and consequently lessen his just
so much.
In regard to the tWo-cent passenger
law, observation by the writer seems
to, bear out this merchants state
ment. The writer has been on some
passenger trains every day since Sep
tember l. and this thing is noticeable
eevry day. The ladies' car almost gets
empty on arrival at a county seat with
passengers having some business
there, but is Immediately filled again
with incoming passengers with bundles
galore These latest arrivals begin 10
get off at the first small town, but
before the car is empty, the small
towns nearer the next county seat send
a quota Of passengers that again fills
the car to overfiowing.
And right here is chance to Kick
on the present plan of our Iowa rail-
roads to only run two passenger
coaches on the ordinary local train.
Railroad Commissioner Eaton at Fort
Dodge found congested state of To-
cal travel and remedied it for one day
hy inducing the railroad company 70
put two more cars on local train.
Commissioner Eaton can find use for
his talents along this line, on any road
on any day in the state of Iowa. While
1t is true that there is generally plenty
of room in the thru trains, of it not q
car is put on at the first place possible,
on the local trains that stop every
where, the railroad management seem
to run these trains with the idea that
passengers can stand up for few
miles if all the seats are occupied
The writer does not altogether believe
in the commonly accepted theory that
the railroads are failing to provide
seating accommodation for their pat
rons, because they slre trying Ito spite
the people because of a 2-cent fare"
but such is the prevailing opinion, and
if the railroads are wise to their own
interests they will at once increase the
number Of cars on their local trains.
otherwise the people at the next leg
islature will do some spite work on
their own account. Already we have
heard of one determined lady passen-
ger on an Iowa railroad train that
would not give up her ticket till she
was given seat. There will be more
determined women and obstinate men
in the near future adopt the same
tactics. One thing is sure, very few
conductors would put off a passenger
that had a ticket even If he refused
to give it up till he had a seat. And
if the next legislature passed a mo
seat, no fare" law, it would make lots
of trouble for the railroads. Mean