Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-24
LOCAL COMMENT

The county is doing remarkably well
to sell its per cent bonds at a prem
ium when railroads can't sell bonds
at any price and the national govern
ment is eating up all the loanable funds
of the country for war purposes. \
premium Of 500 on SS&,0 worth Of
bonds cuts the interest rate a fraction
below per cent, whereas bonds sold
year ago for a fraction above per
cent net interest. The money is needed
to pay for permanent bridge work
which was ordered before the United
States entered the war the increased
cost of the money, however, suggests
that no more work than can be paid
for out of current funds should be pro-
tjected now until the national govern
nent gets the money it needs for the
war.
Ten miles Of street paving laid in
MarshalltOwn during the last two years
is an Improvement record Of which the
city can be proud. 1t should be enough
to hold us until the war ends, for 1t
gives us over thirty miles Of paving in
the city and we will have a reasonably
busy time now keeping thirty miles Of
it IN repair.
The man who boards -four now is
foolish as we'll as cowardly for the gov
ernment is going to keep the price
down and next year is going TO see
wheat raised. There are now immense
..,,N.r e 1rI IN, n
America and Australia which will come
into the worlds markets when new
ships are bliIt to carry it. War prices
are going to stimulate production Of
wheat and every nation in the civilized
world is working its ship yards over
time.
The Y W. c. A. war fund has gone
way over the top in this city and should
do the same in the county outside OF
the city. The money Is used 10 fur
nish some relief and rest for the over
worked Red Cross nurses near the
battle fields and TO build hostess houses
near the camps where mothers. sisters
and sweethearts may meet their loved
ones among the soldiers without being
held under suspicion and without COM
promising the men in the eyes Of the
public. With such places provided un-
der Y. ". G. A. auspices those women
who have no right to meet the soldiers
near the camps will be left conspicu-
ously outside the hostess houses which
have been provided for the legitimate
and respectable meetings Of the men
with their women friends and relatives.
II is all worthy work.
It is more than possible that the
average nigh school boy has taken on
more Of contract than ne anticipated
in MS pledge TO earn $40 for the pris-
onors' food fund. The suggestion has
been made that the lads organize. ap-
point n place or a secretary whera
people may be directed TO the boys who
want work done. Many a person
would be willing and glad 20 call upon
these boys fD- odd jobs 70 he done Sa.-
urdays X they knew whore TO 20. Let
the boys organize and announce what
kind Of work they can do. Repairing
electric bells, washing autoS, rak.ng
leaves. putting UP storm sash carry
ing out ashes. washing windows. beat
ing rugs, collecting. clerking. deliver
ing and even husklng corn are all with
in the capacity OF a husky high school
lad and somebody is always looking for
somebody else &c do come Of these
things.
The action Of the Western Union
Telegraph Company, in aba ndoning
long string Of alley poles and placing
their cables underground, not only will
improve the company'g service in this
age Of electrified air which interferes
with telegraph and telephone circuits,
but will improve the looks % the city
Already in larger cities public utility
companies are compelled 70 place their
wires underground. both for looks and
to avo!d danger. While the first ex-
pense to the companies IL heavy. once
the work is done It Is out Of the way
for half century. and there Is no up
keep expense from storing or fires