Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-06-24
Local Comment

Those who enjoy a good horse race
have had q lot Of fun this week and it
is a cause for congratulatiOn that the
promoters got their money back at the
gate for their enterprise. Like celebra-
tons, county fairs and bargain days a
horse race brings people to town. 1t
helps business as we'll as affording a
good time. Call the next race.
OF course this year the fellow who
is 100 careless to have three or four
cherry trees on his back lot can pick
from the trees of his more provident
neighoOr but cherry crops like this one
come only once in a decade. Why do
not more people enjoy the luxuries that
are possible on a back lot? There is
room there is for q strawberry bed, for
currants, gooseberry. raspberry and
blackberry bushes, grapes, green peas
and garden truck besides a few cherry
and apple trees with a lawn under
meath. There is room on one back lot
for enough ot-all of these luxuries 10
supply n family and in these times Of
eight hour working days there is no
excuse for failure to enjoy them. Not
one.
As one drives about town the con-
trast Of a back lot beautiful with its
lawn under the shade of fruit trees
where the family spreads its dining
table these hot days as compared to the
weed patch strewn with tin cans, ash
heaps, old boards and carts is so mark
ed that one wonders why people will
endure an exposed junk pile in the
back yard when we'll kept lawns. trees.
bushes and gardens are SO beautiful.
Never since the settlement of this
county have we seen such road work
in country and in town as We are en-
jOying now. but there is yet much 10
be done. For one thing the city should
put North Third avenue in shape with
a grader. The farmers north of town
and automobile drivers are all kicking
about the road Then proceedings
should be begun against the Barber
company Immediately TO recover on its
bonds for its failure to repair the
pavement on South Third avenue.
Practically every brick pavement in
the city is worn badly but this asphalt
street is almost impossible. This city
is fast drifting 10 a period Of the most
extensive repaving expense town ever
knew. For this reason the experiment
Of laying a concrete wearing surface
on the present concrete base and in
place of the brick on East Main stree,
should be tried out. 1t is the cheapest
improvement known and should be the
most durable. Likewise Thirteenth
street from Main street 70 the soldiers
home should be paved this year That
street is extremely bad all Of the time.
Property owners who want paving
on their streets should start petitions
for concrete. The council is talking
about ma king up a district of concrete
pavement to be laid this year.
Whether the saloons are joking or
not i'll their announcement that they
are going 20 close on June 80 it seems
to be pretty well understo by people
generally that there viii be no saloons
in MarshalltOwn after July l. We will
probably have an epidemic of boot
Logging" is the remark that nearly
every man makes to another and he
invariably receives the reply. "Well, we
must get right after them" For 4 few
months at least there will be very close
TO half the population on spy duty
against the boOtlcsgers. 1t is well and
Should lead to law enforcement.
Mr. c. D. Jones. president Of the
Marshalltown Light, Power and Rail