Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-24
Looker-On In Iona

Gilman. March 24.--For a variety OF
in gin many Iowa towns the coming
than usual. This statement has par
ticular reference to live" towns.
Towns that have been growing. and
towns that have forged ahead in pub
lie improvements, such as paving. sew
erage and taxes voted for public build
ings Talking with one contractor.
that usually at this time Of year has
much work laid out and many men en-
gagged, he said: Not for sixteen years
have I had SO few jobs in sight" In
another town a carpenter said "he
could not understand why so little work
was in sight. Lumber and wages are
no higher than last year. Tin, cement
and some other things are little high
er, but not much. Another man, not q
contractor nor laboring man. said the
reason is too much union business"
He stated that now contractors were
obliged to figure higher OF all jobs. be-
cause OF uniform wages to good and
bad mechanics alike Still another
man gave as his reason for this "let
up in building operations was that an
impression was general. that we are
to have reciprocity with Canada, and
lumber will be cheaper. so men con-
templating building are waiting till
next year. And lumber dealer says
such men will wait long time. and
that lumber Of all kinds will never be
cheaper in Iowa than now. That each
year our supplies of lumber come from
4 longer distance. consequently the
freight charges are more. and the
builder always pays the freight. He
told of paying $3.50 freight charges on
a carload of shingles. This dealer is
of the opinion that the price Of cement
now so generally used to take the place
of lumber in many ways. will gradually
advance as the price of lumber goes
higher, which he thinks is irritable.
The high cost Of living. and cost OF
high living. is now changing for the
better. t. e., the consumer is getting
more for his money in many Iowa
towns. this in comparison with prices
this year and the year before. Espec-
tally true is this in the matter Of beef.
and towns that last year the market
men asked IS to 90 cents per pound for
the best cuts. now sell at 12h to Is
cents. and other parts to 10 cents per
pound. Eggs and butter are much
lower. Vegetables, especially potatoes.
are down to before the war" prices.
Groceries. especially package stun,
there is no particular change, excepting
in towns where there is strong compe-
tition. such as exists in Marshalltown
today. and by watching the advertised
bargains many shrewd housekeepers
save considerable in a year. And here
is chance to print what a travelling
man said the other day. Said he: "Out-
side OF rents. Marshall.own was the
~, t. 7. -
anywhere" This question Of house
rent is becoming a serious one to all
men with different incomes. The
towns where rents are low are just the
towns where the average man does not
want to live. And in the Tive towns"
the rent cuts deep into his yearly In
come.
Talking with an Iowa farmer not
long ago, he remarked there's a big |
kick everywhere because some Of US
deal with the mail order houses in Chi |
cago, but the merchants in many places |
can only blame them selves. Now I
naturally would like to buy all Of my !
supplies in Lastown. It's my trading |
point. but there's not n bit OF compe-
tition in the town. They all pay the
same price for what ] have to sell and
all charged exactly the same for what
they have to sell. HOW they manage
it don't understand for there are sew
eral big stores in the same lines Of
goods. Now I can buy any and all well
known articles OF family supplies in
Chicago and save money even after
paying freight charges. understand
every business man must have a profit
if he continues in business, but why is
it every dealer in Lastown wants ex-
actly the same profit? Do they all
pay exactly the same price to the
wholesalers? II want a sack Of sugar
how Is it they all ask the same price.
I know they don't get rich on sugar.
but I can save something even on
sugar. It's true more and more OF US
in our neighborhood are buying in Chi
cago. anybody can see the goods at
the freight depot, and the reason Is
that in Lastown we think they've got
their heads together and agree on
prices. I know one thing we farmers
can not get exactly the same prices for
what we have to sell. Not being post
ed on conditions in Lastown the writer
could neither deny or affirm.