Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-16
Local Comment


II the rain 10 to get the fair It
must stay all week. No one days
downpour can stop Marshall county
fair.
1t was freely predicted upon the
street corners by certain irreconcilable
liberals that II the fair attendance fell
short OF last year the T.-R. would try
to suppress the fact by emitting TO
publish the figures. One days rain
coming on what is usually the biggest
day OF the fair and yet finishing the
week with record breaking attend
ance in spite Of it would seem to give
these irreconcilables still more irrita-
ton.
And then someone must have mailed
postcard tc the Gentry Bros. show
showing picture of a dry town in
summertime where the grass was sure
to grow in the streets and be pastured
upon by Charlie LaPlant's calves for
the fact that three big circuses. two
aviation exhibitions and a county fair
have already played here could not
prevent the Gentrys from coming here
to see what dead town looks like.
When the shOwmen arrive they are
respectfully referred to a popular dem
fist who has been surprised at doing
more business this summer than ever
before in like season and TO lead
ing store dealing in ladies' wear and
notions which has exceeded last years
total volume of sales for the summer
months greatly correcting the misap-
prehension Of its proprietors in spite
Of the fact that a general depression
in retail business exists turnout the
country. Travelling men visiting Mar
shalltown from the outside and Mar
shalltown travellers returning from
trips to other places all report marked
depression ali over the country. The
showmen. with their scouts out head
for the one big drv town Of the state.
Nothing has occurred in this city in
many years. which has given such uni
versal satisfaction as the flights OF
Mr.. Robinson in his airship. Begin
ming with the disappointment OF many
who failed to remain long enough to
see st. Henry and excited by larger in
formation as TO aviation by reading Of
the Chicago meet and others our peo-
pie had been educated to realize the
hazard in this new-fangled sport and
when they witnessed perfect perform
ances by a man who understood his
work thoroughly their pleasure knew
no bounds. Just pay the Marshalltown
Club, please.
The roads this week in town have
been dragged twice. once when they
I,,$ 80 kA
fair crowds making immediate i'm
them in good condition. While this
has at times voiced the
Of those using the roads
daily it is due city officials to have 1t
that more has been done for
the Improvement Of our unpaved
streets than ever before The cinders5
on East Main street. for instance. adj
jacent to the fair grounds stood up
under wet weather and heavy traffic
like a pavement. The clay hauled and
mixed with the sand on North Center
and Riverside streets adjacent to the
cemetery has greatly improved these
roads. North Third avenue 10 In better
condition than It ever was. There IL
decided improvement noticeable but
road work requires eternal vigilance.
Quoth the parrot, Never say die!
Never say die!"
When a fair is such success that
it really has no equal in its class either
in this state or in the rich state OF
Illinois criticism is presumptuous I'M
less it can be made in the form Of sug-
gestion The person who conceived
the idea Of segregating the school ex
hibit in a separate building is entitled
to blue ribbon. This improvement is
a decided success. The poultry exhibit,
too. was vastly improved by the tent
but this method is still too1;dark for
results. A permanent
poultry shed should be built without
sides and with double roofs on posts
pagoda style; that is the center section
Of the roof or Texas should be raised
far enough above the lower roof 10
admit OF food Of light into the center
Of the building. The horse barn should
some day have the center section Of its
roof raised in the same way so as to let
light into the center OF the barn where
the animals can be seen and all fu-
ture barns should be built on this
plan. The new fence around the track
to the west of the amphitheater Is
decided improvement. too. but there is
great need for a fill of cinders at least
five feet deep all around this fence 80
people can stand on an elevation and
see over the fence without hanging
onto the fence pickets This should be
done And then there is the need OF
a public comfort station. It Is impera-
tive. The first $500 or $1,000 should be
spent for this purpose. Real water
closets and sanitary lavatory equip
ment should be installed Merchants
seem to be willing to spend s25 to $50
per year for makeshift booths when
ten of them could invest $4,000 In an
exhibit hall which would furnish per-
manent booths weather proof and leave
space for a rest room besides. These
are mentioned here as suggestions
The fair was decided success, better
than ever before.