Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-27
Local Comment

Upon presentation Of the petition
to the railroad commissioners, and
an Investigation into conditions a
the Northwestern passenger station
relief should be Forthcoming to the
travelling public at this central point
OF transfer. The petition asks that
the railroad company DO compelled 70
open Its west-bound trains on the
north side. to avoid the unloading OF
passengers on the south side when
the weather In bad and there Is but
little protection from 1t.
&
point. The traffic is heavy thruout
the entire year. People who alight
from west-bound Northwestern
trains must get along the best they
can, In any sort of weather condi-
tons. until the train pulls out, or
else climb the steep viaduct stairs. a
dangerous procedure in wet and icy
weather. Women with luggage, a
babe In arms, and perhaps several
small children to look after. can not
climb these stairs. They must wait
five minutes or more until the train
pulls out. The condition should be
remedied. 1t would be far better to
hold whatever passing trains there
might be long enough to unload the
traffic from the east on the station
side.
If the railroad commissioners are
alive to the situation they could rec
commend other Improvements at the
Northwestern station, improvements
that have been needed a long time,
Shed protection should be afforded
passengers alighting from Minneap-
oils G. St Louis trains, the platform
should be built even with the tracks
with no stepof to endanger people
falling, the platform should be bet
ter lighted, and better and more san
itary toilet facilities afforded. The
railroad company should take into
serious consideration that its station
here Is more than twenty-five years
old. and no longer is adequate OF
suited to the times.
&
It Is to be hoped that the strike OF
packing house employees can be set
tied amicably, with all reasonable re-
| lief due the men in their working
conditions, and yet not TO the extent
that the owners of the business will
be unable to operate at profit
The men can not afford to re-
main idle in this period Of high
! living costs. neither can the owners
Of the business afford to operate the
plant without obtaining full produc-
ton. There are many old-time en-
ployes of the packing house who
have proved themselves good cin-
zens, and men Of standing IN the
community. They should make a con-
certed effort to avoid radicalism IL
labor disputes, and be willing to ar
| bitrate grievances with the owners OF
| the business. Good Judgment is need
ed during labor disturbances, and the
careful heads should see that thelr
interests in the future are not jeop-
ardized by few hot-heads who may
| be here today and gone tomorrow.
| 4
Farmers who must use the Nichol
son ford road and Marion street in
side the city limits are UP in arms
over the condition Of the street. The!
say it is impossible in places anc
dangerous at the street car crossing
al that fhf
road inside the city limits is TIT
worst they have to negotiate. Char
| ley" Hicks relates that when he un
| loads his milk in order to drag thru
q mudhole, he sometimes wishes
aloud in language unfit for Sabbath
school that all Marshalltown might
have to 20 without milk until thu
road received some attention. Hick!
also criticises severely the manneI
| In which the road was dragged. H.
says 1t was done from the middle GU
and left a dam on each side of thu
| roadway to hold water instead O.
draining Of. We'll take care Of thu
road beyond tho limits" declares
Hicks. I've dragged it four times
this spring and am going to drag
again right away. Why doesn't you
town meet u at the city limits will
equal effort 10 make q decent road ?
It is common assertion by farmer
that the road outside the ekty limits
Is better and better cared for thai
inside. The sight Of car stuck II
the mud to its a1les on a city stree
10 not calculated to bring praise ant
connsndation to those whose dut,
| It II to maintain streets in 4 passabl
condition.
The city also has duty left IN
performed in tho lack Of Inaintenanc
OF sidewalks used by school children
Tho Franklin school practically ha
been isolated during the sprin
months, Just because the city has no
provided q walk from the Thirteenth
corner west The old cement wall
was covered for q distance Of q hal
boick with earth At the time the nev
grade was established last summer
Planks were laid above the earth, an,
now that the frost has left the groun,
and tho rains have como, the plank
afford the teachers and children
practically no protection from tn
mud. In places the planks sink dow,
beneath tho weight Of pedestrians
The planks are slippery and II tn
chilren fall It must be either in tn
c.1 - :L1 scc..s., c. Sc--': s.ess;
embankment to the north. The con
dition IL dangerous and the cit!
should remedy 1t II for no other rea
son than for It's own protection. 4
few more planks could be placed Z
little or no cost. All that II nesdst
10 some ono to take enough intsrss
in The public welfare to relieve TIL
situation.
1 . %~a !. U y. /. j. -~~~ u 80