Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-03-30
pEs MONIES PROBABLY WILL
VOTE 70 PURCHASE CITY
WATER SYSTEM.
POOR BARGAIN At PRICE
FIXED ~ APPRAISERS
Plant Alleged 20 Bs in Poor Condition,
With Only Chance For esttsrnsnts
in Public OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES For
Second Telephone Company Divides
Interest, in Red. Hot Contest.
Special to Times-Republtcan.


Des Moines, March S0.-It is quite
probable that today the voters of Des
Moines will approve Of the proposed
purchase Of the city water works, and
the capital>city Of the state will under
take the task OF handling the most
expensive water system in the state.
The price to be paid. il the purchase is
approved. is $2.soO.0O0. According to
the general view of the matter this
price is too high, but it was determined
py the Judgment Of three judges Of
; Iowa courts-Judges Gaynor, Ransier
ana wright. 1t Is very much more
than the city would have had to pay
Few years ago. II the purchase is
made 1t means that within a few years
the city will undertake very large ex-
penditures for additions to the mains
and perhaps for betterments at the
! plant; and ultimately 1t means the city
must build a new water plant at some
point far removed from the present
station.
But the theory on which the better
class Of citizens will vote for the pur-
chase now Is that in the end the peo-
pie will have to pay for practically
new plant, and they might as we'll own
1t as to have it owned by somebody in
Maine.
The cause Of water works purchase
has been materially strengthened by
tfa, outcome Of the primary, which
made it plain that very good council
Is going to be selected today. The peo-
pie would have hesitated about putting
big water plant into the control Of
some Of the councils Des Moines has
had.
But the feeling is that no matter
what happens Des Moines is sure to
have council the next two years at
least as good as any in It's history,
probably better than any in recent
years.
Phone franchise Up.
The voters Of the city are today vot-
ing on a proposal to grant franchise
! for an automatic telephone service.
This will probably be defeated While
Des Moines has the usual grist of COM
plants on hand concerning poor phone
service. ETC., It is generally admitted
! that the city has about as good SER
vice as any city Of its size. And Des
Moines had a not pleasant experience
| with two phone companies. 1t Is also
| regarded as possible that the seekers
| after a franchise may be merely look
ing for something they can sell out.
! Perhaps never before in city cam
paign has there been lessidisposition to
look into tho partisan affiliations Of the
candidates It may be worthy Of note
that two Of these pretty certain Of
election were somewhat taken by the
i'll fated bull moose movement of two
years ago. Mayor Hanna Is one OF
them, though he refused to get out in
the open. Fred German is the other.
His position illustrated little known
fact about the local bullmoose cam
paign. German had long been fighting
the progressive movement and was
confirmed standpatter. Then he lost
out in the nomination for a country
toffice and went right into the bull
moose movement as the foremost pro-
gressive of ALL But Just the same he
is man of progressive principles.
There is not democrat on the ticket.
This Is mere accident. The nearest
approach is John Hamery. who has al
ways accounted himself Independent,
but who has voted the democratic
ticket with much frequency. The rest
are supposed all to be republicans.
though some Of them have never
worked very hard at it.
Good judges say 1t will be stroke
Of luck II the today's ballot skirmish
Is ended without some broken noses
and a few hasty lock-ups. The feel
ing is intense as to personal matters
between the friends Of candidates. The
matter Of fraudulent voting will be
watched with great care.