Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-22

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with masonry. In fact his estimate is
more than that, while the estimate OF
his predecessor, Mr.. Ash, was less than
that figure. However, we are going to
spend that much on our bridges during
the next ten years at our present rats
OF taxation and last year we sunk
$4,000 in repairs 70 temporary bridges
A concrete bridge when built will last
from 100 years to 500 years. Stone
bridges in New England are more than
100 years old and some in Europe are
1000 years old, so it follows that 1t
would be real economy in Marshall
county never to rebuild temporary
bridge but always to replace it with
masonry when it needs replacement.
If the bridge fund 81 the day is in
sufficient the law now permits issuing
bonds for any deficit whereby the cost
Of a bridge can be distributed evenly
over twenty years and there is the ut
most OF equity in distributing the cost
of a longtime improvement over the
period Of years in which it is to serve
the public. This repair bill of $4,000
per annum would meet the average
annual interest charge upon the serial
bond plan for the entire cost of re-
placement.
The city council has decided in
formally to call conference of a COM
mittee of interested property owners
with the paving contractor in the hope
of perfecting a settlement as to the
paving laid last summer without need
less litigation. The evidence is quite
convincing that in some of the work
the specifications have not been fully
met and yet no one doubts. not even
the city engineers nor the inspectors,
that the paving is of lasting and dur
able quality. The specifications called
for more cement than was needed for
good concrete. The top coat called for
parts cement, l part sand and 2 parts
crushed granite This mixture con-
tanned almost twice as much cement
as was needed for good concrete and
il everything the engineers now claim
is true tbout the contractor he is short
only IS per cent on cement. He has
undoubtedly given a durable concrete
and if he has Skinned" the specifica-
tons the damages to be assessed upop
him must be more for his own pun
ishment than to compensate the prop
erty owner for any loss Hereafter
concrete specifications should not call
for an excess of material and there
would be less temptation to the con-
tractor to hold it out of the work as
he would hazard his pay for the entire
job.
The disarmament of the Ladies'
Cemetery Aid Society after forty years
or more Of organization, marks the
passing of local institution that has
done much for community betterment.
When beautiful Riverside cemetery
was an institution that needed help, a
band of noble and self sacrificing
women was organized to lend assist
ance. What the society has done IL
the way of permanent Improvement
still stands as monuments of endeavor
The large fountain near the main en-
trance gate. the cement walk from
First street to the Third street gate.
and the iron fence along the south side
hours of hard work Of Marshalltown
women IN holding suppers, bazaars.
and other money making ventures to
collect the money for cemetery i'm
provements. Now that the cemetery
association no longer needs help, and
the incentive for work is gone. the
n omen have decided that there is no
need for further organization Well
done, thou good and faithful servant.
Rhodes News.
Mrs. l.. E. Perry, who mas been quite
sick for week is slowly improving.
There was quite an exciting time