Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-16
TRAIN SERVICE CONTROVERSY
DEVELOPS INTO CONTEST
OF MUNICIPALITIES.
(oEs MONIES WANTS ALL TRAINS
RUN FOR CAPITAL MERCHANTS
Railroads Take Issue With Complain
ants and Say Train Service Should
Benefit County Seat. and Other
Large Towns-Another Opportunity
For so-called Economists.
'pecial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
n Des Moines. Oct. 16.-The issue of adj
ditional train service on branch lines in
Iowa may turn on the question as to
what are the natural trade center Of
the state.
" In the argument on the Algona
branch line case. Attorney Davis, for
the Northwestern, took issue, as he
\ said, with Mr.. Botsford, of the Des
Moines chamber of commerce, and de-
MED the Botsford theory that there is
n really but one trade center for all Iowa
n and that is Des Moines. The purpose
of the complaint as to the Algona
i branch was to secure an additional or
/ third train so as to accommodate per-
sons coming to Des Monies. The rail-
road position as developed is that there
: are many trade centers and it may be
quite as important to run trains to and
. from a county seat as to accommodate
business for large city. In short, it
( developed apparently into controversy
d rs to whether a railroad should arrange
III
o. for the smaller trade centers.
The two cases-the Calmar and
Algona complaints-have now been
submitted to the board. There are
pending some others including one on
the Rock Island.
The arguments developed that there
Is very important main issue involved
and it goes to the whole question of
che duty of a common carrier to its
patrons on all different parts of the
system. 1t was admitted, for instance.
that railroad may be compelled to
give service even at a loss. in return for
other rights. But can additional service
be compelled at a loss? Then it was
also developed that the local business
on many main lines is comparatively
small and yet there are many trains,
and this fact reduces the net profits
from all local business. Now Iowa has
more branch lines in proportion to
main lines than almost any other state
of the union. The big question before
the commission is how to have an even
distribution OF adequate passenger
train service over the entire systems.
This is question which, in its larger
aspects. has never been passed on by
the commission. 1t enters an entire
new field: and therefore it may be ex-
pected the commission will give great
deal of attention to the branch line
complaints at this time.
The state architect is at work on an,
other great extravaganza which the
.-,,overty -st1ickee state Of Iowa ID going
indulge an unless stopped by pinch
beck injunctions. He is preparing plans
to have installed at the industrial
school for girls at Mitchellville an cleo
trio device for throwing open the doors
IF the dormitories. IL will be recalled
that in the old scandal days at the
schools, when it was ordered that GER
!. tain of the girls be placed in cells in
!, the attic, there was an cutlery for fear
that some time the buildings would
burn and human life would be sacri-
feed Now that a new era is well
!. established at the school and there has
, been no outbreak for two or three years
an additional improvement is to be
. made so that in case Of fire or for other
. reason a Waterman can unlock and
open every door in the dormitories with
one touch of an electric key. 1t is going
to cost something but will be quite
modern improvement at the old school.
When the Iowa State Teachers As
ISOLATION meets here next month there
is likely to be a reopening of the old
fight for control as between the men
and the women. The presidency this
year goes to the section of county SUI
perintendents. Three candidates are
ing considered in this connection.
namely: George Ferrall. Clinton; NJ.
L. Howell. Clarion; T. b. Morris, Sioux
CITY. But these are all men. The wo-
men are yet to be heard from.
1t is recalled that some years ago a
fight was started to give the women a
larger share in the management of the
association. It eliminated year agoi
In placing a woman on the executive
Z committee. There were reasons why
woman was not then elected presi-
dent Miss Dilley was president three
Years ago, then ]. H. Beveridge and
now ]. e. Stout is president. 1t is
about time to have another woman for
president
There are two women county super
;ntendents recognized as quite capa-
bile, Miss Cowgirl of Wapelio, and Miss
Forgrave Of Dallas. And there are
others.
Inasmuch as e5 per cent of the coun-
ty superintendents are women it is re-
garded as proper that when the super
intendents have the naming Of pres
ident q woman should be honored At
any rate the situation presents itself II