Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-27

tanned by all Of the utility companies
| Laws bill. This provision Of access
to the books will enable council to
make further reductions in the rates at
the end Of five years II the company's
earnings can stand 1t because the
council can get at the books to find
out the facts and an interminable law
suit can be avoided.
e
The power rate is a material reduc-
ton from the present rates and is more
favorable to small motors used at short
intervals about town. but is not as low
as was once offered on large factory
installations. 1t should have been made
lower altho factory is in position
to force a special rate irrespective OF
an ordinance because it can install
power plant of its own and hence. In
the long run, II the utility company is
progressive in it's management It's
power rates will adjust themselves in
the struggle to get the business.
There is, OF course, some question
as to the wisdom of compelling the
constr uction Of an Improbable street
railway line to the city park and fair
grounds to be kept UP at the expense
of people who use electric lights ana
gas. but there seems to be distinct
popular demand for the line The mile
and a half of additional lines will be
built in the west part Of the city. prob
ably west of the soldiers home and in
the Third ward. altho the exact location
is not defined and these should DE pay
ing lines
The new project has this merit that
it is genuine in its purposes and
powerfully financed. The new COM
pany owns utilities on both sides of us
and has rebuilt and extended every
property it has tackled. There need be
no suspicion that it is getting some
thing for Jones & Hovey. nor that 1t
will fail 10 float its bonds as so many
Of our interurban projects have failed.
The regrettable thing about ii is that
they will be compelled to pay the pres
ent management many thousands Of
dollars more than the actual money in
vested by them and our people will
have TO pay perpetual income on this
long price. However, we could not pre-
vent lulS lltUeE ON HtTSIllp,
for if we should start to build a new
plant TO compete with Jones 6 Horey
these gentlemen would have our bond
issue enjoined as the private water
company did at Council Bluffs. and we
would be tied up in the courts for
few more years. If We should try to
buy the Jones & Hovey property we
would have to pay fully as much il
No -
will have 10 pay. If it were possible
for the city to own these utilities and
operate them solely for the pu bic good
it would be the ideal system. but with
the publicity clause the city can, after
five years, do the next best thing by
taking in reduced rates all there is in
il except a reasonable profit to the
stockholders.
The council considered the matter Of
franchise but realized that this would
have to be paid out OF the rates and
would be passed on. to the people who
use electric lights and gas. so IL seemed
wise to be content with power and
electrolier lighting to the city at the
cost Of labor and coal for generating.
which means that that portion of the
plant used to furnish the city's current
will be loaned free of charge in re-
turn for the use of the streets and the
rates to consumers will not have to be
made high enough to cover an annual
rental. However. the thing TO do while
we are getting things in franchise
is to get enough and for this reason
public spirited citizens should examine
the ordinances and assist the council.
The T.-R. believes that the guarantee
as to new street cars and reha bilitation
Of the street railway service should be
made more specific. The extensions
seem to be guaranteed without any
jokers.
The activity Of the Milwa ukee road
in preparing for double tracking thru
Marshall county suggests that the time
is now ripe for our citizens to offer the
Milwaukee some lnducement to build
thru Marshaltown. They are going to
build a new track anyway, why not
vote them a tax to build from Tama to
MarshalltoWn and on to Melbourne
with a gasolene motor car service for
passengers and get them to operate all
their passenger trains thru this city :?
Don't be afraid to use your road
drags twice in one week. II is during
the spring months that most Of the
dragging is done. There comes a long
period in the summer when no drag
ging is needed.
The terrible accident which resulted
in the death Of child in front Of an
automobile should serve as a warning
to all drivers to be prepared for the
unexpected things children will do
along the road. Many driver has been
worried at the antics of dare-dev
boys IN threatening to run in front Of
an approaching car and few drivers
can pass a group Of children without
the fear that some one OF them might
dart under the wheels Unexpectedly.
The thing that happened to Mr.. Hodges
is rare, but it is The one thing which
all drivers have feared and the fact
that it did happen once should cause
every one 10 release the clutch and
reach for the brakes whenever passing
children in the roadway.
cnuOnl lcclsc DcAfcM