Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-06-02
LOCAL COMMENT

1t does look odd to sec street car
running in the Third ward but 1t is
there to stay. The last Of tho prom
Uses made by the utility company has
been fulfilled. The people Of this city
have finally obtained each and every
consideration promised to them at the
time they voted franchise and in fact
much more in added equipment be-
sides. Five years ago a non PRESIDENT
ownership Of a decrepit public utility
property crouched in the Manager
guarding It's exorhitant rates. 1t would
neither reduce rates nor improve its
service to meet the city'e demands.
Citizens We're discussing municipal
ownership. That meant bond issue
of half million dollars which would
have been enjoined in the courts by
some obliging taxpayer and we might
have had the case adjudicated by this
time. Instead we voted new fran
chise to new ownership. We exacted
81 gas which few cities enjoy even yet.
We obtained electric rates which were
claimed to average IA cents per X. W.
h. when 10 cents was being charged
by some municipal plants. We secured
q promise and we now have the de-
livery Of six and a half miles OF street
car service I'm place OF three with
four minute service in the business
district instead of an eighteen minute
service. And then we have clause in
the contract which gives the city coun-
Gil the right to put an expert account
ant upon the books of the company to
ascertain the cost of service at any
time the rates are considered to be too
high.
Five years OF experience has demon
strated that the company has had all
the grief of rebuilding and financing
while the public has enjoyed improved
service. In the meantime the costs Of
labor and coal and iron pipe, copper
wire and steel rails have all gone up
in some cases more than 100 per cent.
Whatever profits the company has de-
rived have been fairly earned judged
from superficial knowledge of the facts.
The town has grown in population and
has increased it's patronage. otherwise
the company would have rued it's bar
gain. Altogether the franchise has
proved to be a good contract for the
public. The next five-year period must
speak for itself.
If Marshall county would know what
it ought to do for the Y NJ c. A. war
fund for work in the army camps all
eyes should be turned toward Story
county on our western border. There
a one day campaign raised $500 when
$4,000 We're all that were asked. Ne
vada gave $1,000 when it would require
almost seven Navadas to make Mar
shalltown in population. The canvass
is on here and will end Monday or
later. At least $1,000 must be raised
in this city. That is the minimum.
Much more should be raised if men
would only realize that millions of boys
are going into army camps for the de-
tense Of this country. If they see battle
many will contribute their lives while
we are giving only money and If they
do not see battle they will need the
Y. NJ. c. A. influence during their idle
ness in camp far more than they win
need guns or ammunition. The thing
for every man to do Is to give little
TO this fund, a little to the Red Cross
and then make q loan to Uncle Sam at
BIZ per cent interest non-taxable by
buying bond at the bank.
IS
Rev. Carl Rest has resigned from his
work with the Deaconess hospital but
Rest is the man who built the hospital
and the hospital a association knows not
where to turn forthis successor. What
ever happens some competent man
should be put on the hospital job to
devote his entire time and attention to
it. A hundred thousand dollar hospital
plant is too large a business to be
managed as a side line to a church.
1t is larger job than the church. So
long as this hospital belonged to the
church society alone 1t was not for the
public to advise but the public has re-
Gently been taken into partnership and
it is the voice of that public which it
is sought to be raised in this comment
The new state law requiring all
county roads to be cared for by patrols
regularly employed for that purpose
goes into effect July 1. 1t is hoped
that somebody will send copy to the
board Of supervisors, In fact 1t ought
to be read aloud to at least two Of the
three members
II the council of national defense
would see to 1t that every man Is reg
istered for the draft who should be
registered they might check the poll
books of last falls general election.
Tho oo~ - o1yorx, yof or ,.,o,,1d ha <or.j