Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-28
Lookey-On In Iona

Lake City, Feb. 2S.-Strangers get
impressions of towns from little things.
Towns are much like large families, as
a rule they are polite or otherwise, this
referring to the members of such fami-
lies, with occasional exceptions. All
this from q little personal experience
here. Over the phone an appointment
was made to meet a man at the cigar
store. Entering and asking If Mr.. X
had been in, the reply was not, but
tack a seat and here's the morning
paper while you are waiting. Another
appointment was at the bank. No
sir MIR. z has not been in, take chair
IN the back room, probably he be in
before long" These are little things,
but the courtesy of Lake City men is
proverbial with travelling men.
At Webster City not long ago one
could not but notice the regularity OF
the street signs and numbers of the
houses Strangers appreciate this. An
up-todate directory politely loaned,
and very few questions were necessary
to find out where Jones, Smith and
Brown lived. And right here is point
er for the city of Ames. For PHYS
sake tear down those old obsolete
street names. Stopping at one house
to ask where Thompson lived. the lady
of the house said: Il don't know, for
they have remembered the streets and
have the old names on the numbered
streets, so l can not tell you where
iii -steenth street is. think it used to
be Shady Lane avenue"
1t has been mentioned in some Of
hut
Alexander Graves, of Webster City. has
presented to the school board to be
placed in the nearly finished $4,000
school house a bronze statue, experts
say to cost $4,000. Mr.. Graves does
this as memorial for his son. Men
toned here in hopes other we'll to do
citizens of Iowa will do this kind of
work, and do it during their life time
Anybody can make will and give
away money they have no further use
for. but a man that spends money for
the benefit of the public. especially
our young folks, lives to enjoy it with
the benefited public.
On the Illinois Central trains some.
yes only a few. years ago Kerosene
lamps were in use. And now on the
local passenger trains electric shaded
lamps are 50 numerous one can actual
ly read a newspaper. An ordinary
leather or rubber belt running over the
axle of the car wheels. runs a small
dynamo that furnishes electricity for
the storage batteries under the bag
gage car floor. This storage battery
has a capacity of eighteen hours and
will light the cars for that time wheth-
er the cars arc in the yard or making
their regular trips to Sioux City and
Fort Dodge and return. Things have
changed some on the Illinois Central
since the days when we had those
square box stoves to burn wood, one
at each end of the car, the passengers
frequently filling one in the front end
of the car, the rear one requiring ali
of the brak eman's time and energy.
Rockwell City has the building i'm
provement fever. The county has lately
voted for a sl25,000 new court house.
The supervisors wisely have con-
tracted for a building to cost s102, 900.
bearing in time the other $4,000 will
be needed before the building is occu-
pied. A new Masonic building. stores
on first floor is being finished at a
cost of $4,000. And the new Presby-
terrain church attracts much attention.
And the Odd Fellows have bought the
lots and they propose to build in the
near future.
Talking with business man Of the
economy of the postoffice depart
ment in changing the runs on the
Illinois Central so that six men were
required to do the work often, and the
consequent piling up of 125 sacks OF
mail at Fort Dodge. he said. that's
nothing In our town the postmaster
needed help so badly and after being
turned down in his request by the de-
partment. he hired a man and paid him
cut of his own salary. A post office
inspector dropped in, saw the extra
man at work. He demanded he shouts
be fired at once. or he would report
the case So the helper was fired and
the dignity of Uncle Sam was pre-
served" Right here a sarcastic SEN
tence was nearly written. "Oh, whats
the uSe?"
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