Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-10
Local Comment

Complaint has been registered at the
T.-R. office that the board OF super
visors has cut out the lights from the
court house clock in the interest OF
economy but to the great Inconvenience
Of the public. This light was costing
something like SIS per month but II
properly wired 1t should not cost more
than 81 to SO per month to light the
clocks, as many a ten-room house is
lighted for that sum. The expense
pro-rates three one hundredths Of one
per cent per month for each man.
woman and child in the county and the
public convenience OF town clock
which one can see is worth this cost.
The supervisors are hereby requested
to have the clock rewired and the lights
turned on.
The public rest room now being
ment of the court house will prove a
shopping season. Hundreds of women
and children visiting Marshalltown for
full day at the stores can relieve the
ordinary fatigue of such a trip by rest
ing in the county parlors. Merchants
ard clerks should suggest it to strang-
ers as anything that tends to make
shopping easier will help business.
And that makes one think that this
community Is to be congratulated upon
the success Of its recent public en-
terprises. A few years ago we did not
have rest room. nor visiting nurse.
nor an organized charities, nor Y. w.
c. A., nor a Y. NJ. c. A., nor hospital
nor a county fair, nor business mems
club, nor building and loan associa-
ton, and now we have all of them with
every one hourishing. The boy scouts
are soon to come and then the COM
mission plan will have arrived and
will be looking around
actually searching for some good thing
which she has not got
The board Of supervisors is about to
let a contract for three concrete bridges
and now would be good time to pro-
vide for competent inspection. The
success of concrete in any form OF con-
struction depends almost solely upon
the proportion Of materials used and
the manner Of mixing each box Of ma
terial and no public work should be
permitted without the most competent
and honest inspection that can be Sc
cured
The meeting Of the county fair stock
holders resulted in important action be-
Ing taken as to raising money for much
needed buildings. The county supervis-
ors are to be requested to build pub
lie comfort station with sanitary water
closets and it is an Improvement
which is seriously needed. Public
money could never be more wisely or
more popularity spent. A request is al
so to be made that the board build
new barn provided the fair association
builds one to match 1t and in view OF
the fact that the county holds posses
sion of every barn built upon the pres
emit grounds it would seem equitable
for the county itself to do some Of the
building.
The question Of raising omissions
caused wide difference of opinion.
Many urged increasing the admission
from % cents to 35 cents because the
tax would be distributed SO thinly that
each individual would havessto pay only
10 cents but this was oppOsed vfEor-
ously by exhibitors who want the
crowds kept coming and by the retail
merchants and was voted down. The
will of the majority when expressed as
this was. without manipulation, was
proba bly, the wisest counsel. 1t was also
proposed to assess the present stock
holders for money enough to build
new barn but this was opposed for the
reason that few boosters should not
be asked to finance the whole enter
prise so it was decided to sell more
stock and thereby ask more good boost
ars to get in with their voluntary con-
Lributions to help the fair. In order TO
build much needed extensions to the
anplitheater 1t was voted to increase
The charge from Is cents to rs cents.
This will raise approximately $500
more each year and If the management
viii now build uncovered bleachers on
each end Of the present building to
which a charge OF only Is cents is
made everybody can be accommoda ted.
In fair weather the bleacher seats will
be worth the price and in bad weather
the present building will hold all OF the
people under the protection OF its roof
anyway.
The main thing to do is TO push the
buildings that are badly needed and
have them available while the fair is
There are only twelve shopping days
left before Christmas and only eighteen
business days more until Ed Mack VIII
have to explain again why he does not
produce the maps demanded by the
council and required by ordinance. II
will then be in order to suggest to the
MAYOR New Years resolution to the