Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-21
REFUSES TENDER OF FARMERS
SERVICES ALTO COST
WOULD as NOMINAL.
ROADS DRAGGED THREE
TIMES WITHOUT COST
H. {. Wheater, Who Has Kept North
Center Street Road in Shape, Agrees
to Drag Highway and Now Wceds
and Wal. Ser men-y-s.reet Crew
Too Busy TO Do Work.

After having dragCed 2 stretch Of
the iiked North Center street road for
the city three times without pay, H.
+. Mheater residing north of the city
proposed TO the city council thar
he drag the roads again this week
while ne had the time and his horses
we're idle, but his proposal was re-
jected because the city did not have
the funds TO pay for the work. Kcaliz-
ing the need of the dragging and feel
ing he was serving the public by DO
ing the work. Whcatcr said ne woulc
give the city the service and he could
be paid when the city did have the
funds available.
But the council did not care 10 m
curr the Indebtedness. So when the
autoist drives over the North Center
street toad cgt~with ruts and OBJ
structed on either side by high weeds
to the city limits. he should blame the
city.
Would Help Avoid Accidents.
Farmers who drag the roads arc
paid for the service. But in the case
in question Wheater dragged the road
three times without pay and agreed to
drag the road again and NOW the
weeds AID wait on his pay, so that
there might not he a recurrance OF the
accident of two weeks ~ when an
Albion family came near suffering Sc
rIous injuries or loss of lives.
1t would seem the farmer might have
been paid for the fourth dragging. or
if tine city could not pay his price II
should send its street crew out on the
highway and put it into condition that
lives no longer will be imperiled. The
disgraceful condition of some Of the
roads approaching the city and the I'M
safe condition OF the city bridges de-
mand immediate attention.
City Employees Too Busy.
When asked about Wheater's offe:
today, Councilman Good, superintend-
eat OF streets Improvement, said ne
had declined the offer because 1t was
needless for the city to pay Wheater
to do the work which could be done
by the members of the city street and
alley gang. The city crew, however,
now is too busy to turn its attention
TO the work on the Center street road.
Mr.. Good did not say now soon the
city would have the men available to
do the work.
He said, however, that as soon as
the streets and alley crew had the time
ii might be transferred to the work on
the roads leading into the city.
Dangerous Bridges Still Stand.
The city council has done little to-
ward carrying out 4 program of bridge
building in the city. altho the South
Third avenue bridge over Linn creek
has been repaired TO hold It together
temporarily. But even with the work
and money expended on this temporary
improvement the bridge is not con-
sidered safe. The North Third avenue
bridge. over the Iowa river, which Is in
little better condition, has been repair
ed with portions of the iron bridge
which formally spanned one OF the
gaps on the North Center street roac
being used.
The South Center street bridge, over
Linn creek, Of ancient origin, has re-
ceived even less attention, altho 1t IL
almost in need Of REPAIR or replace
merit
Mayor Wilson has said that he has
endeavored to have a new bridge erect
ed on South Third avenue, over Linz
creek, but he does not favor an orna-
mental rainbow arched structure.
which will cost at the least estimate
s35. 900. He favors the erection of a
substantial railroad bridge which can
be built for the money now on hand
in the bridge fund.