Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-10-23
Local Comment
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Judge Battin knows and so do all
men who can remember the pioneer
age Of this country. that practically all
the steam railroads which we have to-
day were originally streaks of rust laid
by the local capital of the communi-
ties interested. Later syndicates con-
solidated the pioneer roads and rebuilt
/ them. So 1T follows that Mr. Fishers
advice to Marshalltown people is not
original nor impractical. 1t Is far less
of an effort for town as large as
Marshalltown to build railroad to
Grundy Center today than it was for
many small village fifty years ago
to build the roads that were built. The
difference Is all in the men. Our ven-
, turesome, daring spirits who might
have had the nerve of the pioneer cti-
zen have all gone west to build in the
new country. What we have left are
largely sure thing experts.
| Councilman McCarten Is talking good
| business sense when he proposes to
raise more money with which to build
the sewers needed A city can not
spend too much money on sewers and
water so long as each dollar is made
| to buy full dollars worth Sewers and
| city water are largely what make the
comforts Of a town house and they
should be provided everywhere needed.
Inasmuch as they last a lifetime when
laid their first cost should not be as
sessed in full to the present day tax
payers, but rather should small tax
levy be made to extend over as long
a period as possible and a bond issue
authorized so as to borrow the whole
amount for in7hikdiate use and thereby
anticipate the levy. In this way we can
have the cash in hand with which to
pay for the sewers and yet distribute
the tax burden turnout the years in
(which the benefits of the sewers are to
laccrue.
When quarrels begin we often learn
the news. So it appears from the ar
guments Of attorneys for the owner Of
the. Main street saloon building that
i the monthly fental involved is 5000.
] Heretofore in all figuring which has
been done to show that the wage
earners of this town and vicinity are
taxed 100000 annually for the busi-
ness which goes over twenty-five bars,
rents have been estimated at 500 per
month. If all other estimates were
as much too low no one but God and
the breweries can tell just how much
it is that the saloons take out of u.s.
1t may be half million.
Not content with the new churches
which are building We must now have
a Young Woman's Christian Assocla-
ton. The city seems to be growing in
spite Of the county attorney.
The banks this week report heavier
volume Of business in the stores and
factories of this city than in any pre-
vious year known to the history of the
town. Business expansion seems to
prevail with everybody.
II &
The usual thing is happening in sa-
loon litigation: the laws interninable
delay is resorted to. We now have the
property owners attorneys fighting the
saloon mans case because the saloon
rent Of 5000 per is worth more than the
shoe mans rent in the same block Tho
powerful interests of property owners
will probably be defended by intense
political activity outside the court room
as 1T always is, but, of course, with
varying results. Even tho the state s
attorneys were willing to let the prop
erty owner out Of any liability for costs
under this particular decree 1t was not
acceptable to said property owners at
torneys on the ground that If the saloon
man is adjudged as guilty Of contempt
OF court his financial security as guar
antor of a lease might be injured, hence
he must be saved in order to save the
lease. If this plea wins. those who wish
to commit Jail offenses hereafter and
escape punishment need but to guar
antee 5000 lease and trust the land.
lord to keep them free.
NJ. w. Hovey who is superintendent
of the Marshalltown Light. Power and
Railway Company. and in charge Of the
local business of the company, is very
much exercised over the amendment to
the new public utilities franchise for
street railways which calls for an
eight-minute schedule between Third
street and the depots. Mr.. Hovey com
plains that the Gregory amendment
which was adopted, is ridiculous. and