Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-21
Cities Of the State Report on
Industrial and Trade
Conditions
ACTIVITY ON ALL SIDES
Manufacturing and Jobbi''s centers Of
the State Enjoying Gre atest Activity
in Their History-No Reason seen
for Change in state or National Nd
ministrations.
pecial to Times-R Republican.


lecture but is a concrete fact and Is
unprecedented may be seen from re-
ports which come in from the principal
cities in all parts Of the state. Willie
the good prices for farm products will
place the farmers in more prosperous
condition than they have been for
years, the manufacturing industries
have also profited by the renewed bus
mess activity. If there has been a
business depression during the past
years, its vigor was not felt In Iowa.
Contrasted with this, tie Distressing
conditions which existed during the
panic of 1898 and the four years sue
ceeding, afford an impressive political
argument for the coming campaign.
The prices Of farm products have
scarcely wavered during the past year
and are now soaring above the high
water mark Of many y,.ars. Fifteen
years ago, men were idle from January
to December, and those who We're
working received starvation wages.
Common ,laborers were resolving but
dollar a day, and miners received
about one-half the wages they do now.
But those who were employed We're
considered the lucky ones. This con-
!dition lasted four years.
During the past year, there has been
no reduction of wages. A few men
were out of work in the spring. but
now there Is employment for all al
wages never equaled In tile history of
the country.
If anyone doubts the present pros
perity of Iowa let him read the reports
from the following cities of the state:
oskaloosa and Mahaska county felt
little effect of the depression except
that 5000 miners were out of employ
ment for a longer term than usual
during the spring and SKINNER. All
are at work now and there is a press
ing demand for more men Factories
are operating full time, employing more
men than ever before. Seventy-five
new houses are being built. and FIVE
new business blocks. Public improve
rnents costing several hundred thou
sand dollars, including paving and
sewers, electric railway and telephone
and. public buildings, give employment
to all classes Of labor. Oskaloosa mas
100000 in her banks.
No one is thinking of hard times at
Eagle Grove. Everybody who wants
work is working at unprecedented
wages. The community has enjoyed
one of the best business years during
the decade. Miles Of gas and water
mains have been laid, many new pub
lie and private buildings have been
erected. Merchants are finding each
months business exceeding the record
of any previous year.
Iowa City was not visited with any
cessation OF business activity. Few ii
any men were laid off from work and
not one factory closed down. A total
Of 1876 new houses were completed
within the past year at an estimated
cost of 100000 About s25O,o00 has
been spent on new churches and hos
pitfalls and the state is about to spend
5000 900 for additions to the university.
A total of million and a quarter dol-
lars is being spent on improvements.
OtturnWa suffered nothing from the
depression. No factories were. closed,
there was no reduction of forces nor
any cutting down Of wages. In It's big
packing house 5000 men enjoyed
steady employment and every other
factory and the big railroad shops We're
running full time. There has been a
dearth of laboring men, q fact which
assisted in maintaining the rate OF
wages. Street paving was laid, costing
$4,000, and an immense trunk system
of sewers was completed.
Every man, for whom room can be
found to work is being employed in the
big implement furniture and engine
factories of Charles City Many men
from out of the city have come here
for work and have been employed
Charles City never knew there was a
panic. The banks did business uninter-
rupted and have now on deposit So
100000. Neighboring towns report the
same prosperous conditions. Nashua
has a good trade and business is brisk
The same is true of Usage and New
Hampton and Greene in Butler coun-
ty is In better shape than it has been
for years.
There was no suspension of business
in Clinton. More miles Of cement side
walk were laid so far this year than
during any three-year period previous
Nv. The Northwestern road is just COM
pleting a. s2,OOO,000 bridge across the
Mississippi and has plans for a new
depot freight house, freight terminals
and additional shops. A complete new
sewer system has been laid, nearly
every factory has enlarged it's plant
employing additional men and no one
is out Of work There are fewer houses
to rent, and more money in circulation
than at any time since the famous saw
mill days. Five new churches are be-
ing erected.
The button Industry of Muscatine
was somewhat effected by the depres-
sion but has once more struck an abb
normally prosperous stride. Fourteen
of these factories are running to full
capacity In every department Every
other factory In Muscatine is running
to the. full extent sof It's capacity. One
of the big banks Of the city has in
creased its capital stock three fold
and will build a handsome new office
building. A new court house and new
federal building are being built, maxi
ing nearly million dollars being ex-
pended for improvements No one is
idle
Carroll and Its neighboring towns re-
port no indication of hard times. La
borers and mechanics are employed at
good wages and farmers are busy fig
uring up their unprecedented profits.
The merchants are preparing for an
enormous fall trade
Anamosa reports no disturbance Of