Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-09-18

LOCAL COMMENT

! LOCAL COMMENT !
L. D. Runner. living In Vienna town
ship, Marshall county, but within the
Beaman consolidated school district.
objects to the Times Republican run-
ing his Green Mountain neighbors way
down into the south part Of the county
to see how consolidated school works
when they can go few miles north
and find perfect system at Beaman.
Mr.. Runner says that there was some
opposition at first but with five
coaches and remodeled school build
ing many af those who objected are
enthusiastic row because they find a
better school and this exceedingly
rainy and muddy season has en-
pathized the comfort of having COW
cred coach call for the children instead
of having them wading to school thru
mud and rain. Mr.. Runner says that
many a farmer learned for the first
time that his children were actually
being held back and retarded in their
schooling because Of the inefficiency of
the crossroads school and found their
children behind Others of their age
when graded in the consolidated
school. There is an immense amount
of prejudice against the consolidated
school by those who have not had frs.
hand experience with it but those who
once know the benefits of rural school
consolidation never go back.
9
With the quarter stretch almost
flied with autos at the fair this year
there will be about one more price
reduction on autos when the fair as
ISOLATION viii have to provide more
grounds on which to park the cars of
it's patrons. This year cars were left
standing in the streets all the way to
the Linn creek bridge and part way to
the packing house on side streets be-
sides filling every available space on
the streets in the bushes district. We
could double deck the race track but
it would be expensive. More ground
is needed. 1t reminds us of the story
some wag started to the effect that
certain popular car would be made two
feet shorter next year so they could
get more Of them on the roads.
Marshalltown certainly deserves
mention for the quality of it's citizenry,
ward at one time to attend college and
equip themselves with a higher educa-
ton. Quantity in population seems to
be coming cur way, IF we believe
the Oskaloosa woman who could not
find house to rent here but it is quail
ity in 4 people that counts most for
a town and this we are going to secure
by means of education We begin with
M inc
and then We send to college in one
year almost one-fourth as many as
are enrolled in all of the high school
grades.
The problem of correcting unhealth-
ful conditions in the Rogers school by
providing fresh air heating is not yet
solved for there is fear on the part of
the authorities that the school will
be disturbed too much by the work
of installation. The doctors who are
protesting insist that the schools win
be disturbed all winter by chronic
colds, sickness and run Of childrens
diseases if a change is not made. so it
is up to the parent to make known
whether he desires some steam pipe
disturbance now with a healthful
winter. The board desires to do the
hest it can under the circumstances
but is in doubt as to the wisest plan
to follow. The Rogers is one of the
Oldest buildings in the city and one of
the worst in its lack of ventilation. 1t
is altogether probable that several 9TH
err buildings will have to be remodeled
next summer
Everybody is rejoicing IN the sue
cess of the fair this year which broke
all records for attendance and gate re-
ceipts as we'll as for the number and
quality of exhibits but an analysis
of the attendance raises the question
as to what Is to become of the horse
race as an attraction. Some county
fairs in Iowa have this year attempted
to eliminate the horse race and our
own increased attendance was prac-
tically all gained by the night crowds.
1t is we'll known that the great ex-
positions which draw people from
across the continent never attempt a
horse race and the race horse indus
try is VIGOROUSLY on the decline. A
change has come over the world that
has removed the harness horse from
tlo puDliC ulSu"dSS aAu ~ "ouiu HOe
seem strange were he to be dispensed
with at the county fair. The change
may not come at once but the fact re-
mains that the day attractions are not
increasing attendance as the night at
fractions are and there is yet the NOV
ing picture show to be introduced.
Marshalltcwn is very often asked to
boost for the NJ. &, ST. l.. railway inter-
ests and its disposition is to do so but
there will have to be a reformation in
the passenger service for this town If
this loyalty is to be sustained. Pack
ing women and others into baggage
cars and standing them in the aisles
while collecting full fares Is not going
to beget loyalty on the part Of the
| business public. 1t is true that 1t is
difficult to anticipate the size Of a
crowd during county fair week but the
safe plan would be to carry the coaches
! for big crowd and take what comes.
| If people could be assured Of ade-
quate service at all times more might
decide to travel. The same is true of
evening train service during ordinary
days when people are packed into
coaches Of inadequate capacity and
often an empty coach will be attached
to the rear with its doors locked and
| the trainmen reply that they do not
know whether they are going to haul 1t
with them or not In these days 1t is
service which counts in getting bust
1 NO