Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-17
PERMANENT INVESTMENT.

PERMANENT INVESTMENT.
real service has bene done Iowa by
Lieut.. Governor Garst in his presenta-
bearing on what Iowa has been doing
and Is doing and probably will do for
agriculture. 1t is a subject too much
neglected. The shafts of indiscritnin-
ate criticism have been directed at the
republican party of Iowa on the score
Of having made too free use of the
peoples money. The republican ad-
ministration OF state affairs Is con-
demned by thoughtless persons be-
cause, as they are led to say. larger
sums are being spent for the various
activities of the state than in other
times. This Is accepted by some as a
prima facia evidence that there has
been MISUSE of the money.
The fact is that Iowa, instead of
making a llashy show Of a big roll of
money safely deposited with Des
Mones banks drawing no interest, Is
engaged in making a more substantial
showing of money well invested in
those things which go to make a great
state. 1t is all very well to boast Of a
million dollars lying idle in the fav-
critic banks OF Des Moines in other
days. but it is infinitely better to be
able to boast Of two million dollars
of permanent investment in splendid
school and college buildings with mod
ern equipment and investment in fire
proof and indestructible buildings for
the keeping of Iowa's wards.
The expenses of the state of Iowa
have been increasing. 1t will be con-
fessed--no, it will be the proud boast
Of every patriotic Iowan. Iowa is
spending more for the things which are
worth while than ever before. Iowa Is
spending more for agriculture than
ever before. Compare just two Items,
namely, the less than $4,000 which Iowa
was giving out of the general funds of
the state for support of the college at
Ames about fifteen years ago with
over 100000 to be given this year.
There will be those to declare that the
money will be wasted That is some
thing about which there may be con-
troversy But it is in hands not very
much given to wasting the public
money. The work which is being done
by Curtiss, Holden, Mckay, Pammel,
Stanton, Kennedy, Stevenson, Barrett,
Macdonald and others whose names
are familiar to all Iowa farmers, may
all be waste from some viewpoints.
But if one is to measure results and
Judge by these alone, it will be found
that this is all worth while.
There is no one place in which Iowa
has made larger increase of expen-
diture as compared with few years
ago than in matters relating to agri-
culture. lIlS IcldIcS W dll lllC v GIL iCtA.o
phases of the subject-college work,
good roads, engineering, drainage, col
!ege extension farm institutes, county
and state fairs, dairying, pure seeds,
pure stock foods, veterinary work, and
registration of pure bred live stock.
Governor Garst went into the senate
about fifteen years ago and took
charge of appropriations. He is familiar
with the facts 1t was appropriate
that he should give the facts to the
public that all men might draw their
own conclusions.
1t is probably in the thought of some
persons that too much money is being
spent in buildings and equipment. They
survey the record Of the twenty years
prior to the present decade and find
that practically no money was spent
in permanent improvements. They feel
that it is perhaps laying too great
burden upon the present generation
But the plain fact is that for twenty
or thirty years the state of Iowa had
been pursuing a makeshift policy with
regard to all state institutions. The
state had been patching up old build-
ings and housing valuable equipment
and collections in firetraps. 1t was a
policy that was disgrace to the state.
Politicians were boasting that the
state had millions in it's vaults-they
meant in Des Moines banks-and yet
devoted men engaged in the noble
work Of uplifting Iowa industries by
educating Iowa boys and girls We're
knocking in vain at legislative doors
and begging without result for mere
pittance to help out in the work
All that has happily passed away.
We are in a new era. Iowa is but do