Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-08-18
IRWIN.
MASON City Times

A few years ago Irwin was an ordi-
nary boy. Today he is in the govern
ment service and is drawing a salary
of about $4,000 annually. There Is
nothing remarkable about the rise of
Irwin, other than that he possessed
grit, go and gumption, and he sue
ceeded.
He was born and raised in central
Iowa. His father was railroad man.
Irwin attended the public schools and
took three years of his high school
course. He went to college and took
up engineering. His funds gave out
and he went to work. Later he re-
turned to college and continued his
course for time, but was compelled
again to go to work in order that he
might secure the necessary funds to
complete his college course. Again he
returned and finished his course.
He secured a position as city en-
gineer In an Iowa town Of about 5000.
and for about three years Irwin was on
the job. He never growled. groaned or
grunted. He never fought, fumed or
fused. His one motto was, what I
purpose. I perform"
Irwin has now been in the govern
ment service in Chicago for about ten
months. He made good
CALIFORNIA AND GOOD ROADS.
dubuque Telegraph Herald.1
California has boosted to the world
for years Of it's wonderful climate. The
tales she has told have brought hum
dreds of thousa nds of people out there
to live and millions as tourists. Grad
ually the truth of California's climate
has begun to dawn upon the American
people and they are realizing that the
California weather is really but little
better. if 1t is as good, as the climate
in most of the states of the central
west, and throngs of people who once
fiocked to the Golden State are now
turning elsewhere.
California. experienced for years in
forecasting tickle tastes. realizes this
perhaps as none other and has set
about solving the problem in its own
way. the problem of how to keep the
people from all over the United States
coming there as in other years, and
has hit on the one feasible way. 1t
is going to improve its roads!
On Oct. IS the people of California
are to vote on s15.OOo.00o bond is
sue for road construction. That the
bond issue will be authorized goes
without saving, for Californians are
farsighted enough to know that they
Will more than realize the initial in
vestment in increased land values and
in the money which tourists will spend
within the state. California has. in
fact, already spent more than s1s,ooo,-
600 in building two trunk line roads
running from the northern to the
southern end of the state. approxi-
mately $500 miles in all This new
bond issue is to be spent in construct
ing 1859 miles OF trunk lines and 1853
miles OF laterals.
California could DO as we are doing
IN Towa-build its roads as the funds
from road taxes become available
but California knows the truth OF the
proverb Of the bird in the hand. By
the Iowa plan the 1900 miles Of roads.
which California will have available
within a few years, would probably be
finished by o015. A. D.. and would have
been replaced so many times that
mankind would have ceased to use
them and have taken to flying instead.
BY issuing road bonds the money for
building hard surfaced roads Is I'M
mediately available. the roads can be
built right away. and in time to be of
some benefit to the present genera
ton. California Is going to make up
for it's defective climate by providing
some Of the finest auto roads in the
country on which tourists can iIave!!
and view CALIFORNIA; remarkable
scenery. regardless Of the fickleness
of rhe California weather.
Iowa. since It's admission into the
Dnton and yooduesS knows how long
before that, has been trying to build
roads by system that was abandoned
by the Romans.
Perhaps some day Iowa will awaken
to the fact that 1t has more to offer
the tourist in the matter OF climate
and scenery than any other state in
the union and that all 1t needs to-
make its name famous as pleasure
resort is some good roads Then may
be the people will follow Californias
example and issue road bonds to pay
for good roads now.