Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-05-24
Looker-On In Iona

Looker-On In Iona
Forest City, May 24.-This town was
once the scene of the fiercest hotel
wars ever written up 1t commenced
in the back rooms of the two rival
banks and finally grew into the build
ing of two hotel buildings. either one
large enough to take care of the trade
of any town of 10000 inhabitants. The
Summit Hotel cost s55.0o0 and was
furnished with the most modern furni-
ture and equipments turnout. The
Waldorf tied up $4,000 and the
interior furnishings We're even more
expensive than the summit" In all
over $4,000 was invested by the rival
capitalists OF Forest City. And both
hotels were opened and operated as
81 a day houses, tho the rent each
landlord paid would not net ! per cent
of the investment. The travelling men
rad a picnic for once. Bus and ia tbs
were free. Special rates were made if
guests "Sundayed" there. The bill of
fare dndluded everything offered IN
hotels with rates from 81 10 So day
Each hotel had an orchestra for Sun
day But after awhile this funny bust
ness hurt somebody's pocket book.
Whether one surrendered or whether
the banks agreed 20 agree the pubic
never has been told. At any rate the
Waldorf was sold to the Norwegian
Lutherans-soue say for $4,000. The
expensive fittings and furniture taken
out and sold and the war was over.
The Summit continued 10 run. but
of course no landlord could afford 20
pay any return on a $4,000 invest
ment Ownership at a figure. some say
less than one-fourth of its cost. and IS
now run probably on a paying basis.
When the Norwegian Lutherans
bought the Waldorf they turned it
into a college and most prosperous
institution il is today. The Summit
could be used for courthouse. for it
hourse in Iowa. All this in a town
of 1900 Inhabitants.
Discouraging reports are coming
from the farmers up this way concern
ing the stand of corn Altho extra care
was taken 10 get tested seed and in
one case at least s14 hushel was paid
for seed corn. its mot coming good
Many "hills" have only one or two
kernels that have sprouted and what IS
showing above the ground seems 10
lack vitality. the cold nights and slight
frosts of the past two weeks having a
bad effect on even the seed that sprout-
cd. Reports have been published that
the GA, crop is damaged in northern
Iowa. Not so along in this part OF the
state Oats look we'll all the way from
central Iowa over this stretch Of rail-
road-tie G. r. /. & P One has to see
it TO get any idea of the miles of ditch
ing and thing that is being done in this
part Of the state. There will be some
new streams in some of these counties.
New places TO go afishing and fine new
spawning places for game fish. There's
a ditch now being dug near Thompson.
large enough for a small steamboat to
navigate. In fact the dredging machine
is fOated along on big boat such as
one sees on the Mississippi. The scoop
used is the same size as In the ma
chine used in railroad building and is
operated exactly the same Two scoop
fuls make an ordinary wagon load
This ditch is so big that in crossing the
G. R l. & P. railroad tracks freigh;
trains were annulled and passenger
trains had to make a transfer" for
a day or two. While the dredging ma
chine was doing its work on the rail-
road company's right of way. While
the United States government is spend
ing many dollars 70 get water on to the
barren soil of the west Iowa farmers
are spending nearly as much TO get wa
ter off the richest oil on earth One
county alone has assessed over 100000
/ in taxes. and nearly 100000 was paid
into the county treasury in 1909.
1t has been mentioned in the papers
that the government census of 1910 Will
probably show a loss of population in
Iowa sufficiently large to reduce by one
| our number of congressman. The small
towns of Iowa show this to be probably
| true. Never in twenty years has there
| been SO many vacant store buildings in
these small towns. 1t is true its the
| poorer class of buildings that are va
cant, but this fact stands out. we have
/ a much smaller number of business
houses and firms than ten years ago.
! It is also true we have in these email
/ towns many more large stores and
larger tocks. but not only have we less
| number of business men, but less
| number of customers in these towns.
! This is also shown by the less number
of lumber yards and operated elevators.
| TO say nothing of large number of
| creameries not being operated. These
are facts that hurt our pride as well as
| our pocketbooks And stranger still is
! the continued advance of farm lands
| in price all over Iowa. And further
more all this is in good times when
/! every man has money. Our larger towns
are nearly all engaged in abe boom
! business. Making every kind of effort
| to get people to come to "our town
But not an organized effort is made 20
get people to come to "our state" Rail-
road companies and real estate men are
lnoing their best by all sorts of induce
| ment to get people to leave here. but
nothing to bring them in. Poor old
Iowa.
| a% M~7-~