Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-07
Looker-On In Iona

- the Cedar Rapids Gazette said ed
itorially under the head OF Motor Car
Profits that Iowa newspa pers are
| drawing the proper conclusions from
the report of gasolene motor operation
on the Rock Island railroad between
Nmton and Iowa Falls. The suggestion
IS made that more railroads ought to
install a similar service and that more
lhterurbans ought TO be built and can
De operated al satisfactory profit
Inc motor car on the Vinton Iowa
Fails line carried during the month of
september 4.01I passengers The ay-
erage receipts per mile We're s59.4s:
ana the total cos. per mile was s15.33
During August 1886 passengers were
carried, and the average receipts per
mile being Sass. These are the fig
ures furnished by the railroad, and
are therefore to be taken as entirely
TAR TO the railroad company. Iowa
papers are quite naturally suggesting
That II the Rock Island can do so we'll.
otner railroads can do as well by
compromising their regular train SER
vice. and that there ought 10 be little
hesltancy on the part of interurban
promoters. These facts and figures
should be given wide circulation. for
II other railroad companies can be In
duced to try the motor car system it
means much to the travelling public.
From weeks travel in these towns
favored by this referred 10 motor car
means of transportation. the writer
has a positive knowledge that many of
motor car during September, would
not have paid the c. r. I. g. P. railroad
two cents a mile or any other amount,
if it had not put on this car For in
stance a carpenter living at Morrison
now goes to Reinbeck every morning
on the motor car, works all day and re-
turns home in the evening He could
not afford 10 drive over every day and
can not depend on going on freight
trains. And here is another factor in
making this motor car pay profit. At
Grundy Center is a we'll to do owner
of farm near Traer. Since this car
went on service as a regular thing, he
has gone down to the farm a half
dozen more times than he did last
year when 1t was an all night trip or
hotel bill TO pay. Now he goes down
in the morning and returns home in
the evening in time for supper. 1t is
safe 10 assume that at least half of
the income from this motor car, are
additional receipts to the c. R. I. & P.
railroad, over which came to them
from this strip of railroad, before the
motor system was installed.
There's another thing which the COM
mercial clubs of all Of the larger towns,
Marshalltown not excepted should sit
up and take notice. The additional
trade going to Cedar Rapids makes 1t
possible for that city to almost pay the
railroad the expense of running that
car Vinton. Reinbeck. and Grundy
Center and Thraer could also afford to
pay the railroad something OF the ex-
pense Of running the motor. This is
no hot air story, the writer has been
on the car. heard the passengers talk,
knows where they bought their goods
and did know what that new dress
cost. He has seen the bundles being
taken home, and seen the passengers
getting off the car after a days shop
ping. Every town is getting some ben
eft If someone at Grundy Center goes
to the Rapids to trade, many come to
Grundy Center from Holland, Wells
burg and Cleeves.
There is a chance for fhe-to-be-
commercial club of Marshalltown TO
do some practical work at once. The
Iowa Central Railway Company for
reasons that seem good to the manage
ment, continue to give the people of the
Story City branch a very inadequate
and unsatisfactory passenger service.
That's generally admitted. Ut will also
not be disputed that the Iowa Central
is able to buy a motor car. Another
fart The territory between Story City
and Marshalltown Is as denseiy pop
ulated as between Vinton and Iowa
Falls. Still another fact. The Rock Is
land has found out a motor car is a
paying proposition. Therefore the
Iowa Central runs no risk in putting
on a motor car service between Mar
Ishalltown and Story City. Once more.
the people Ialong this line have tried
in every way, thru our powerful rail-
road commissioners and by petition to
the Iowa Central officials for a better
passenger service. Finally. The bus
mess men of Marshalltown want the
trade Of the farmers and others along
this line. Moral. Let the commercial
club of MarshalNown bring the right
kind of pressure to bear on the Iowa
Central officials and something will be
done.