Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-19
Looker-Cn In Iona

! Union Sept. 19.-This town is trying
ont good roads" experiment, which
other small towns Will do We'll to II
Nestigate Its a dirt road trial. The
mai nbus mess streets and some leading
TO them, were rounded up just enough
to carry off the water. Then a coating
of oil was plentfully spread over it.
Immediately OF the oil was thrown
thin deposit of gravel This was
! brushed. teams kept off it day or
so, and Union had 9 good .cad. So far
il is a success. After a recent heavy
rain there was no mud and the road
not cut up. altho adjoining streets not
so treated suffered in both respects
once year the system has to be re-
peated. This oil comes from Kansas,
costs cents a gallon, and man from
the oil wells comes free of charge to
show how to make this good road.
Sixteen blocks were oiled and finished
at a cost of $500. The money was raised
by subscriptions and is a result OF
Henry Chapi observations in Indiana
where many such oiled roads are con-
sidered the best dirt road possible.
Figuring both sides, It would take more
money TO sprinkle with water such
10 run the road drag over such roads
every time after a rain with the conse-
quent cutting up by the heavy traffic.
1t has cost the business men here about
5000 each year Just to sprinkle the main
business streets Automobiles and
heavily loaded farm teams fail to make
ruts in Unions new oiled streets.
u some farmers were passing the time
of day One man who owns 1000 acres
of farm land in Iowa and the Dakotas
made the statement ne would not have
half a corn crop this year and would
like to sell 1t now on that basis. And
young farmer in the crowd spoke up
and said he would take his crop You
averaged eighty bushels to the acre
last year. III give You 20 cents bushel
for forty bushels to the acre. all over
forty bushels is mine. Draw up con-
tract aad I'll give vow a check for $500,
now" And the old 1.o00acre rich
farmer backed down and out Of the
crowd Didn't mean il that way, etc"
The facts are as one merchant here
said: "We're awful close TO bumper
crop around Union The writer has
been in Mahaska Poweshiek, Marshall
and Hardin counties and has essen
these corn fields. The Newton branch
and tho state Center branch of the VI.
& st. L. railroad virtually runs thru
corn fields all the way. Tire corr is
there and it's safe from frost. The
ears are well filed. In the bank at
Steamboat Rock are as fine samples
Of ripe corn as ever shown in Tama.
This Is not claiming every field is good.
Some fields do show the effect of dry
weather. But put Il DOWN as fact in
the four counties mentioned. today
there are more dollars worth of sound
understandable corn than last year, and
that Is claiming considerable.
One sees something new every day.
Last night II was the farmers boy on
a bicycle, driving the cows home. And
that pasture wasn't an oiled road eth
er. And the herd hurried up when he
got close TO their heels just the same
as tho he was on horseback. The day
before an automobile went thru town
at eight 10 ten miles an hour. with
halter led horse behind, every little
"breaking" to keep UP with the ma
chine. w. II. vcsburg of Gilann. had
a fine yearling calf he wanted to show
at the Marshall county fair. Getting
up for an early breakfast he put the
calf in big crate in a light business
wagon, hitched the outfit behind his
automobile and made tn efourteen
miles inside of an hour. AS Mr.. Fos-
burg said that old wagon maze 50
quick a trip TO town, and the calf had
the ride of his life. It's too bad TO
spoil the story. but the sad truth is. 1t
rained heavily just as the fast auto
ason outfit arrived in town, and Mr..
yosbung had to leave his automobile
AZ a garoee. and go back to Gilman in
the painted cars.