Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-01
LOCAL COMMENT

MA 49, ~ ASAAsAS-se> -
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Next week IL cleanup week. The
school children are to become inter-
csted and they should be given an OPP
portunity to have their own way. What
is more committee of eagle eyed
women will parade the alleys in the
police patrol and will report to the
city officials any and all premises that
are nuisance to the neighborhood.
In this day and age neighbors have
rights which must be respected. NO
man has right to keep disreputable
back yard to the detriment Of others in
his block. Clean up or the women
will get you if you don't watch out.
&
The Marshalltown Club has APP
pointed a special committee to file
complaint with the state executive
council and protest The Marshalltown
census II it is not properly taken. The
law provides that it is the duty OF
the county auditor 20 see that the as
SCISSORS take full and complete CEN
sus, but that in the event that a CEN
sus is not complete the executive coun-
Gil will then order complete new CEN
sus taken at the expense of the coun-
ty. This committee mas reason to be-
lieve that upon proper presentation OF
the law and the facts rs to the Fifth
ward count the board of supervisors
and county auditor will be willing to
cooperate in having correct census
taken, as the expense of taking an en-
-tirely new census would be unneces-
sary. The committee has communi-
Gated with the secretary of the states
executive council and has been as
sured that the necessary authority will
be forthcoming to have the law COM
piled with fully but it is the commit
tees desire to work thru the county
officers If possible.
=
The present city council, the Mar
shalltown Club and the Marshall Motor
Club should go into ONT session to
discuss the opportunities afforded US
now under two new laws enacted by
the last legislature which make it en-
tirely possible and practicable for this
city to pave every main travelled street
leading out Of town and to pave 1t to
the city limits without excessive cost
to any one. One statute appropriates
10 per cent Of the auto licenses to be
expended on the main thoroughfares
within the city and connecting main
roads into town. Another provides for
the creation Of special paving districts
whereby part Of the cost of paving
those main thoroughfares into the city
can be assessed to all property espe-
cially benefited even tho it lie more
than 800 feet back from the road and
it also provides for a special levy of
mill for ten years to pay the city's
share of the Improvement. Beginning
at the present paving on each of nine
main roads and extending to the city
limits on each with standard double
track concrete pavement fifteen feet
wide without curbs would cost about
$3.50 a block and the III blocks could
be paved easily half this year and half
next year. The city would have
enough money in its auto licenses, its
share Of the 1-mill county road tax
and special 1-mill levy as provided
in the new Farr law TO pay for nearly
half of this paving in the next ten
years. The other half would fall upon
land especially benefited. In case OF
plated lots an assessment OF $23.75
per annum would be split up among
lots in square block, and in case OF
land lying within the city
ST. per annum for each quarter OF
mile of frontage would fall on land as
far back as the council would care to
assess benefits. Marshaitown could
have every main travelled road leading
into its city paved to the city limits
1T city blocks in all, and all 1t would
cost would be 1-mill or half the pres
ent park levy, plus the taxes we are
already paying for these roads and
plus assessments against nearby prop
erty which could easily stand its share.
This would take care OF the Lincoln
highway without public subscriptions
and would add ten niles more of street
paving within our city. It's worth the
price.
II what the doctors say among them
selves is true there is great need for
the moral code to be enforced among
the children Of Marshalltown. Par
ents should awaken TO the dangers that
Turk all around and school teachers
should subscribe to the detectives
manual and run to earth some OF the
worst offenders. Incidentally it would
be we'll for every parent TO talk pri-
vately with his family physician, learn
of what is going on and then proceed
to stand guard over every child IN his
neighborhood including his own: We
need the curfew law enforced not by
the police but by the parent and guar
dian and we need it much more than
most of US realize.
=
1t may be all right for the county to
use the steam shovel in which 1t has
invested, but accurate data should be
kept upon its cost Of operation and In
case it fails to meet contractors costs
it had better be sold to some con-
tractor at a sacrifice. The time Is soon
coming under the present highway law
when experienced and fully equipped
will be as available for
highway grading as they are for rail-
road work or county bridge work. The
steam shovel should be required to
meet competition Or quit.