Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-09-04
LOCAL COMMENT

1t is time every body was getting
ready for the Marshall county fair.
This fair has become district exposi-
ton, something more than local fair
and ii Is well worth attending by ev-
cry one within fifty miles of MARSHALL
town. This year the exhibits will not
only eclipse all former years but the
grounds have been made almost rain
proof by the crushed stone walks
which lead from one building to an
other. With the best of the exhibits
under roof and stone walks outside
people can see the fair in the rain al
most as we'll as on bright day
Weather permitting this yer should
break all records for attendance as
the state fair did not draw so many
people away from this territory.
Mr.. Shut is now county superinten-
dent and is il position to assist very
materially in bringing about schoo!
consolidation which will be acceptable
20 the majority Of those affected. Al
LeGrani and Green Mountain there
should be consultations which have
not materalized because of neiehhor-
hood differences as to boundaries. 1t
Is iol IElptI lDI Il county SuPVi i'itti-
dent to seek 10 force reforms upon any
community but he can assist material
~ in harmcnizing small differences
and steer the community forward 10
the hest ii can accomplish. That is
what we have a superintendent for.
Removal of unsightly poles from
Main street by the street railway COM
pany is going TO make a vast improve
ment in the appearance of that main
The plan of bracket
street lights hanging from ornamental
iron poles in the residence section OF
West Main street will also add greatly
TO the attrGctiVeness OF that street.
While il ma. cost more for lighting
this city must expect its light bill TO
increase as The city grows and it need
not buy current from the private COM
pany whenever i, IS ready to enlarge
its own plant, but for the present The
arcs are needed in other parts OF the
II is time Marshalltown We're doing
large things in a large way
Shortage OF material Cor paving is
not due 10 lack OF material deposits
bui 10 l[ls- -lldD-IEt. W Se~!ib PAaA1P
10 provide the amount OF gravel needed
and take care of the sand that comes
10 with the gravel To meet this sit
lation contracts for paving should be
.e, in early winter so as 70 permit
TO buy gravel far in ad-
vance OF the work or the city should
buy and store gravel in bins at the
pits. !. contractors are TO be COM
county the extra cost will be charged
10 the property owners in the next
bid.
An increased enrolment OF 1874 in
the o,sSe who were enrolled last year
is a gain of per cent If our popu-
Iation is TO gain per cen, per anr.um
for the next five years We must get
rea dy for 40 per cent Increase in the
count Reflect upon these figures and
20 10 IT.
The finding OF thousands OF dollars
worth OF properties not listed by the
city assessors is not surprising consid-
ering the state OF chaos into which
DClH lES CELSIUS d14N i4ir GSSCS-At-e.1h
arrived when the assessor in charge
was incapacitated from the beginning
Ii is human nature for old men to re-
fuse TO give up even when senile de-
cline is apparent to everybody else and
the mistake was made in appointing
as assessor anybody but man in the
prime Of life double job OF assessor
and census taker IL a mans sized job.
In this case sickness and decline which
finally resulted In death overlook the
assessor when his task was hardly be-
gun. 1t seemed cruel to a declining
man to remove him and he could not
realize his weakness himself. The ex-
perience has cost the public funds
dearly for an assessment which omits
properties in great numbers from the
lists certainly was not carefully con-
sidered as 20 values even on those
which were listed. Next year and
thereafter we should plan on an eff
ciert assessment being made The gain
in public revenues will be as surpris-
ing as the change in the census turned
out TO be.
Buys Haskell Property.