Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-22
Looker-On In Iona

GrlnneL, sept. 2l.-lt is matter OF
general remark that the making OF
wide sidewalks in the business portion
of the town has greatly added to the
appeafan of the streets. Few towns
furnish a twenty-foot cement sidewalk
and even if Grinnell ever had an in
toxicated citizen. he could take up
the whole sidewalk and still leave
room for the sober ones.
Gradually but surely the public park
is improved A few more seats have
been added and few more electric
lights are to be seen. One of these
days there will be seats enough to ac-
commodate tired strangers on a hot
summers day. There is something in
the argument. ..the town needs the
money" just now. The paving fever
was epidemic last year. and twenty
foot sidewalks cost lots OF money.
Perhaps the most astonishing con-
dition OF political affairs exists here.
1t is a general report that some staid
college professors here. conservative
staunch republicans favor La Toilette
as against Taft. One would expect en-
thusiastic college students to take
up the reform measures and talk Of the
Wisconsin statesman. but think of Pro-
fessor x and Professor I, 10 say moth
ing OF Professor z. choosing La Fol-
lette. And here again is another sur
prise. Mr.. Taft is accused by his po-
litical enemies of favoring the manu-
facturers rather than the farmers In
his reciprocity work. One would think
the manufacturers OF Grinnell would
prefer Taft. Not so. One Of this class
of men here openly talks in favor OF
La Toilette. To mix up things all the
more, the farmers around here are
very little worried about Canadian -e-
ciprocity.
You have heard about that
clause in the deeds of Grinnell. which
prevents any intoxicating liquors ever
Uncle Sam. the old gentleman that has
been sending out invitations to attend
our international brewers congress. the
one where Secretary Wilson is honor
airy chairman or president or some
thing. and says he is not going to pre-
side anyway. Well Uncle Sam bought
a lot here to put up his postoffice on.
and when the deed was made out that
little clause was there. Immediately
Uncle Sam kicked. He did not pro-
pose to be tied down. To avoid calling
the trade off, the little joker was
scrached OF.
The town of Gilman, just north Of
here. has finished it's annual pack Of
sweet corn. About 1000 acres were
planted by the farmers near by. It
required 100000 cans to enclose the
corn raised on these 1000 acres Two
hundred people, many women and
children find paying five weeks work
every year at the canning factory And
every can of this Gilman sweet corn
was sold as soon as 1t was ready to be
shipped.
Brooklyn, the prosperous town
east of her. has been doing a great
stunt in the way Of public improve
ments. Within the last year it has
completed a Catholic church costing
$4,000. extended it's water mains four
blocks, built $4,000 creamery, and
finished an $4,000 city hall. 1t has
ladies' rest room in the opera house,
that is a model for ell towns to use.
The cause or effect of all this is a
commercial club that does things
something besides passing resolutions.
It is fact that one leading member
Of this club not only keeps his lawn in
front of his house in hne shape, but
cuts the weeds and grass in his back
lot and back alley. This is not men,
toned to pat him on the back, but to
stir up some other nice towns in Iowa
that are putin down miles Of cement
walks and paving, and allowing the
back end of residence lots to be used
for hog pens and COW sheds, generally
surrounded by growth of high weeds,
nature trying to grow them high
enough to cover mans neglect and
lack Of civic pride. Some Of these
nicely paved streets and sidewalks-in
front-remind one of a rich farmer
coming to town to church in $500
automobile wearing black broadcloth
suit ana also pair c: cc@@h!de boots
with barn yard attachments.
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