Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-19
FOCAL COMMENT

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s. w. Rubee and his co-workers on
the decorating committee for the
Christmas festival are entitled to
| vote of thanks for the work done
to beautify the streets for the holiday
season. The effect is really artistic,
and it is doubtful whether any city
| in Iowa was ever more prettily deco
rated for the Christmas season than is
| Marshalltown at the present time. Inc
effect of the Christmas trees and
greens, arranged along the streets BE-
tween the electroliers, and the hun
dreds of colored electric lights that
shine forth thru the green ceoars. Is
most pleasing to the eye and course
! of much qualification to the merchants
who have made the decorating pc sioie.
| The churches. too. entered into the
spirit of the occasion with WILL ana
donated the beautiful star of Beth'e-
| hem that wrinkles from its position
! high over the beautiful scene.
F; Extreme cold weather put 'crimp
! in some of the Christmas trade. but let
the public spirited citizens who n
nanced the Christmas festival take
heart Their enterprise viii not die
with the flicker of the Christmas
candles. for it is organized enterprise
OF this kind thet adverSises to the
world that Marshaitown is awe.
f. Compare the reputation our town mas
now TO what was said about II Few
years age. and ii vii! be easy 10 under
stand why so many new people are
coming 10 town. Let our light shihe-
! and Christmas trees help 10 carry the
: lights.
! Kenosha, Wis. has blazed trail in
public finance which should become
highway for all municipalities 10
travel. Kenosha. like sill good mer-
chants. jobhers and manufacturers
has decided TO save her cash discounts
Hereafter the city council OF kenosha
will buy for cash and take the discount
lof per cent, or per cent, or what
ever is offered. and bidders for city
contracts are ali to be advised to
sharper. their pencils, for Kenosha is TO
he cash buyer Whenever there are
any bargains to be had in water pipe,
! sewer pipe, fire hose, tools. or supplies.
Kenosha will get the inside, confident
isl price. for Kenosha will buy for cash.
After other towns have bought at the
long price. and issued their warrants
therefore. or held up the bills bidding
for time. there will be odd lots OF ma
! teriai left to be closed out for cash at
very low prices to kenosha- the only
city in North America which buys for
; cash Considering that Il costs more
than 100000 per annunl 10 conduct
city ike Marshailtcwn. including both
its abor and material bills. the cash
discount would prove big saving II II
could be adopted. Why let Kenosha
get away with anything so worth while
as the discount for cash?
There is much well-founded fear
that the iron trolley poles 10 be erected
IN the center of Main street are going
to prove a serious menace 10 traffic
Main street is none too vide now, and
with the usual auto or popcorn wagon
standing at each curb the only zone
that is left for safe travel is the CEN
ter Of the street. Block that with
iron poles. and the fear is that buggies
and autos are going to be crushed be-
tween passing street cars and the
poles, or between the stree. cars and
the distractions al the SIDE. II the
poles are 10 be erected down the center
I of the street we should certainly pro-
/ hibi. vehicles to be left standing at any
curb on Main street IN the business
district and the popcorn s.anos should
get bach, Of the lot line. where all other
kinds OF merchants are compelled to
/ pay their rents.
! The INSTRUMENTATION Charities
Association is practically down and
out again, for il seems that our church
societies are unable to keep alive their
interest in charity work TO any such
degree of efficiency IS they pursue
| their missionary work. The thing to
DO is 10 reorganize and start over
again. II the Deaconess society is pre-
pared 10 manage charity work eff
4 cientiy, get back Of It. and If not go
back 10 the New York plan of char
:ty association which shall conduct va
rious forms OF welfare work. The Good
Fellows will do business during the
holidays. but it requires live charity
association 10 keep the wolves OF want
away during the rest Of the year.