Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-25
Local Comment

The question of paving is simply one
of the city councils determinations TO
buy it right. If the council persists a
contract will be let at a fair price
without frame among contrac-
tors and without graft at home. The
actual difference in cost of materials
between Marshalltown and Fond du
Lac is 61a cents per yard on concrete
paving. Since Fond du Lac got hers
for 1926 this summer Marshalltown
should get hers for s1.S2, but any price
under s14O would be fair. AS to the
brick, If Marshalltown pays S1.s5 to a
Cedar Rapids contractor for one course
Of brick on a concrete base it is fair
question to ask the Cedar Rapids man
what he is going to do with the IN
necessary 1913 per city block more
pays for one course Of brick on con-
crete base when her price is $1.57.
Work over the specifications. boys.
The game is to land burlington brick
in Marshalltown and if it would be OF
any value the name of the man who Is
engineering the brick deal can be CIV
en-. IL Will soon transpire that the
base under brick paving will be cheap
ened in order TO bring down the price
of brick. There are members Of the
city council who are not parties to the
deal and they should wake up.
It was published In the T.-R. that
the Fl. Dodge bid was equivalent to
$3.50 on Marshalltown specifications
because there the curling was all in
cluded as paving without separate
price and because the top was two
inches thick instead Of one and a half
inches. A man of experience with
concrete corrects the newspapers Off
hand guess by stating that an extra
half inch added to the top adds one
third to the cost OF the top and that
the Ft. Dodge bid is really the equtva-
lent of s1.41 on the Marshalltown
specifications. But even at F't Dodge
they had only two bids.
The fact that all OF the concrete men
were scared out is evidence enough
that something was wrong in Mar
shalltown.
The Iowa CentraTs return OF its an
nual maintenance to the 7. NJ. G. A
will be greatly appreciated and will re-
pair an injustice as well. When 1t was
withdrawn 1t was made very clear that
the management Of the road consider
ed that 1t had a Just grievance against
the Marshalltown public but 1t was
finally explained that the Y. NJ. c. A.
and its supporters were in no way re-
sponsible for what the management
considered as unfair treatment. 1t Is
hoped that the roads renewed contri-
button to this public institution will re-
turn TO the company many fold.
The people Of Marshalltown can get
ready for the commission plan Of city
government the same as now prevails
for county government except that we
pay salaries to our three city COM
miss!oners whereas members of a
board Of supervisors do not receive SAL
aries. There will be an election soon.
Do we want It? Study up on the
question and vote with some intelli-
gence
Councilman-a Large McCar.en is to
be encouraged in his determination to
have much needed sewers constructed.
The plan has been proposed several
| tlfilGS Dul never pushed u. NOW IL
it to be pushed.
Meter service for everybody is the
only businesslike method Of conserving
our water supply. We are now con-
Stunning three and one-half times the
water per capita that is consumed in
cities in which every water service is
metered. To install meters is cheap
lev bor 10 Ito, He
three and half times the water really
needed. However buy the meters
right. There should have been some
competition.
A viaduct that does not include all Of
| the railroads is just two-t thirds of a
viaduct and will cost full price. If
the Great Western can be brought into
| first. 1t is long chance to take to
build the viaduct and then bring the
| railroads to 1t.
| Speaking of women's rights one of
the common rights accorded to WON en-
is courtesy and this axiom should be
applied by the street car company to
relieve its women patrons Of serious
!
common thing on the west line is to
see the rear platform crowded with
pipe, cigar and cigaret smokers with an
occasional plain drunk interspersed and
see a Disguised and outraged woman
crowd thru under pressure Of bodies
| and limbs from all sides in order to
| get inside the car. Worst of all this
often occurs when there iare sufficient
seats and plenty Of room inside. The
manager of the car line should take
this UP. The conductors are appar-
emily anxious to clear the platform and
accord ordinary courtesy to the women.
They need orders and backing. II nee
essary a husky man or two might be
sent along to enforce the commands
OF the boys or an arrest or two made
| OF those who Insist on blocking the
platform and making the only public
means Of transportation a terror to
womanktnd.
Correction in Courts Finding.
I nv the omission of a line In setting