Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-28
Looker-On In Iona

Eldora, Sept 2s.-Altho this is a
progressive" stronghold the writer
was hardly prepared for the almost
universal condemnation of President
rats utterances and position on the
tariff question. His Winona speech
settled the matter in so far that that
these Hardin county republicans now
believe that President Taft belongs
body and soul and breaches" to AL
drich-Cannon wing of the republican
party. Some Of the language heard
from the more intense and outspoken
would not look we'll in print, but the
more conservative say openly the
downward revision" that our presi-
dent advocated while candidate. is
not the downward revision they need
and expected. Others make light Of
Tafts statement that the present law
has downward tendencies and effect.
The Independent telephone Company
here occupying fine building near the
postoffice, will soone have underground
wires around four blocks OF the bust
ness portion Of the town. This COM
pany claims the largest patronage of
any in Iowa is according to population.
With population of 2.400 in Eldora
there are 400 telephone boxes inside
the city limits, OF telephone box for
nearly every five citizens. Besides this
they do the exchange business for over
500 farmers on different telephone
lines.
The town of Union just south of here
has recently installed an electric light
plant. Union has about 700 popula ton
and will support this 10000 investment
with seventy patrons. An unusual
feature of this plant is the gas pro-
ducing engine of sixtyive horsepow-
er. This engine is run by gas made
from hard pea coal. An upright boiler
say ten feet high and six in diameter
is filled with this hard coal Fire Is
built on a crate at the bottom and
regulated by draft as in any furnace.
At the top is an air pipe to admit air
as required. When ready to start the
engine, compressed air is used till mo-
ton is under way, when the gas from
the burning hard coal is sucked in,
which ignites and eXplodes as in any
gasoline engine. The cost of running
the plant is less than any power or
earth excepting water power, as the
cost of the coal used for seven hours
is only 90 cents. and this power gen.
crates electricity for seventy patrons
Citizens are loud in the praise of the
steadiness and whiteness of the cleo
tricity thus produced.
In Newberg the other day. the writer
saw in front of the blacksmith Shop
waiting for some repairs, threshns
machine outfit with sleeping car at
tached. After the engine. the water
tank the thresher, was a car a little
smaller and much like the ordinary
travelling photograph gallery car Thus
the boss Of the QUIT had a place sure
to sleep in. Meals, of course, he could
get anywhere. 1t suggested the inno-
walton for Iowa, some Of our farmers
wives would like to sea boarding
house car with every threshing ma
chine outfit. Why not dining cars and
sleeping cars on all such travelling
threshing machines? The engine car
easily haul them. And think Of the
saving in time The threshers could
work till dark. then eat supper on tht
train. then go to bed and wake up the
next morning 10 fad themselves Ave
miles away. breakfast all ready ant
the engine and men ready for worl
when the whistle blows. The write
thinks this an original suggestion am
claims credit accordingly.