Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-12
LOCAL COMMENT

The Motor Club backed by numbers
is finally accomplishing some real
progress in road Improvement which u
few individuals could never have
brought about. There seems to be a
feeling with many men in public office
that everything should be turned down
ganization that has numbers back of
it will be listened to-
&
The equipment of play ground at
the fair grounds is merely the begin
ming of a movement that will lead to
better things. The play ground at the
start will only approximate what
play ground is to be. Marshalltown
is slow to launch new movements but
Marshalltown is thorough when it's
people undertake anything. The coun-
ty seat town Of Glenwood, Mimi, with
1000 inhabitants maintains two play
grounds adjacent to it's public school
grounds and municipal tennis courts in
its city park. Time should see play
ground adjacent to every school build
ing in this city.
And still more new houses are to
be built and few of the older ones
are standing empty. Where do all the
people come from? Why are they
coming this way to live? 1t can't be
that they like to come to a big town
to get their beer.
Few people who drive automobiles
can realize the treat it is to those who
seldom ride in an auto to have ride
occasionally. The Salvation Army is
going to entertain the public at a PIC
mic at the city park Wednesday and
asks that owners of autos add to their
pleasures Of the day with the use OF
their cars Many hard working
woman and her children will have the
time of their lives that day if they can
have 4 ride in an auto. The I:meS-
Republican will make this suggestion,
have an hour set for the start, meet
ing place for the autos and d definite
trip outlined. Suppose the regular trip
be to Albion and back via different
roads. 1t is a real sensation to child
to be whisked away suddenly to an
other town. The fact that another
town has been reached seems to mag
Nifty the distance and makes the trip
resemble a sure enough tour. The pco-
pie who have autos have long ago lost
the thrill of their first ride. but to
those who have none the pleasure is
all there.
The thriving city of Owatonna,
Mimi, beautiful and cnterpriSlnG as II
is. has adopted Marshalltown's custom
OF parking autos in the center OF the
street and has added Il feature which
could be used here. instead of the
post or marker at street intersections
to keep traffic on its rightful side Of
the street concrete urns mounted upon
ornamental pedeStals of concrete and
filed with blooming flowers and plants
are maintained. In several other Min
nesota towns where the plain marker
is used the post is mounted with an
electric lamp and globe which is light
ed at night The cleanliness and tidy
ness of the average Minnesota county
seat town is very noticeable and eX-
ceedingly attractive to one who is
touring and would be SO to the one
looking for home.
There are 2,54S autos licensed from
Marshall county. That is more than
50 0OO, 900 invested in autos in this
county 1t will be repeated every five
years as the present autos wear out.
In the next twenty years we will have
invested $S,000,OO0 in autos in this
county alone besides all it's costs us to
keep them running. Half a million in
vested in roads would grade and gravel
the entire county road system which
connects every town in the county
!, h1S. ~
fear that we could not afford to pay
for that half Il million in roads grad
ually during the next twenty years so
as to have the roads to use under our
S. 900 900 worth of autos? We seem
to be small potatoes in everything ex-
cept autos.