Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-11
Looker-On In Iona

Malcolm, Sept. 11-Once upon a time
good Iowa citizen announced him
self as candidate for the legislature,
promising the voters If he was elected
he would do his utmost to have a law
made abolishing all grade crossings in
Iowa Some of the voters got out a
pencil and figured out the cost. and
the candidate failed of securing the
number of votes necessary 10 elect.
But just the same this man was corr
rect in theory but not practical. In
View of the many recent accidents at
grade crossings there IS a widely ex-
pressed sentiment. that something
must be done. At least the we'll known
dangerous grade crossings must be
a abolished, no matter a Wha. expense,
and no matter who pays the bill
And one hears in many places a de-
mand for a Law 10 prevent the sale in
Iowa q any automobile or other ma :
chine capable Of travelling over twenty
miles an hour. The idea is no; only
10 protect other people using the pub
lie highways, but TO protect the reck-
less and fool hardy automobiles
against himself AS may be supposed
these suggestions come from nom
owners of autos. but wei!-knowu
owner of big touring car is authority
for the statement, that the number OF
accidents would be greatly lessened If
autos were universally not driven over
! ttteen 20 twenty miles an hour. Con-
vIctions and fines are ninety per cent
from violation Of incorporated town
, lawS, whereas the fast driving and ac-
cidents are about the same per cent
on the country roads The next legis-
lature Will surely take up both the
question OF grade crossings and fast
driving.
Gr;nnell has he distinction of hav-
ing two new bank buildings. proba bly,
not duplicated in Iowa. Unique is the
word. They are different. so strangers
say. from anything seen elsewhere in
Iowa. They ought to be for money
seemed TO be no object in building
them. The fronts reach as high as
two and three story buildings adjoin-
ing. yet each is "als ba:k" No offices
above or barber shops below. And
with the inside furnishing outsiders
figure the two handsome buildings
represent an outlay around s125,000
Twenty five years ago, when We
wanted to forcibly express an opinion
that man or firm was very successful.
we mentioned ne or they was or were
doing "a land office business" And
the comparison was a good one those
days. And then came a time when the
expression had no meaning. The land
office business was thin picking
Every busted up business man be-
came land agent for il took no capt.
tai or experience. And in those mel
ancholy days" the credit and business
, standing Of the average land agent was
not Al. And then "a change came
Ger the spirit of our dreams Some
thing got into land. It began TO jump
| The land agent aegan to get busy. He
! began to make money. ne kept on max
ing money. all this selling other peo-
pies land Soon he had nerve and got
money enough to get options and paid
the cash for the option. till today
many a land agent buys and sells
farms as a grocer does tea and coffee.
II is a very common deal these days
for firm in the land business to buy
big tract Of Land CT long time, and
retail il out in 1S0-acre farms. fire.
quently retailing" the whole tract be-
fore they have 10 make their last pay
ment. Scores of Iowa land agents have
made small fortunes in this way dur
! ing the past ten years.
! The NJ e. ST. l.. passenger train was
| coming into Northwood one day last
week One can see the train quarter
: of a mile away The whistle rs loud
and strong. Probably for these rea-
I sons. two automobiles four blocks from
/ the depot took Il hike" for the cross
| ing One of the autos contained man
wife and three small children ant
5! when the auto hit the crossing the
children. rose a foot from the seats
! And a motorcyclist was close third
He was not ten feet from the pas
genger train when he made it." or
yes. they all got over, nobody was hurt
What was the hurry? The Lord onl!
knows, for they all slowed down" a!
soon as they crossed the tracks.
| 1D HAA<aAt