Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-13

first fIOorand did not expect TO close.
v hoped to resume business at once.
! Local Comment !
Now that the city council has de
termined that the m'llage levy in the
bond fund will not permit the retire
ment OF 100000 IN bonds, necessary
10 build the new city hall, but will
only pay the interest on the bonds,
the council had better forget about
the city hail project for the time. II
5000 the amount already voted,
will not build suitable city hall at
the present cost OF building and ma
terial. don't build. The city had bet
ter get along somehow, and put up
with Inconvenience for a year or
two rather than invest $4,000 in a
building that will not be-suttaole, ana
build to i at the increased cost OF
remodeling over what 1t would cost
under more nearly normal times TO
build as wanted from the ground up.
=
The Times Republican can SEP no
occasion to change its opinion OF the
situation that confronts tie council.
II the proposed city hall must cost
500 600 now because of excessively
high prices. the city had better ny
far renew it's lease with the county
for a year, with the privilege Of two,
and let its building contract Oh :
cheaper market. Ii t ispossible to
rent the present quarters Office room
could be found somewhere, and II
one-fourth CT line building cost could
be saved by waiting a year or two.
the city would be well repaid for the
Inconvenience Of rnakeshitt Offices
during the interim.
Business men OF sound judgment
believe that the peak of building cost
will be reached during the present
calendar year from the fact that IN
vestors can not pay the price. When
that time comes there Will be slump
in building and in prices. A factory
which can not wait because its bust
ness needs more room, or a home
owner who should be paying for
home of his own instead of rent. can
afford 10 go ahead on the present
market. Public work which can wait
should wait. and investment build
ings-buildings which are to be
rented-are impossible at present
prices.
The Country Clubs proposal to
the city council to sell at a very
reasonable figure the club house
and dance pavilion. for removal to
Riverview park, is one that is worth
considering seriously, with the flu
ture taken into consideration. The
Country Club has offered the club
house alone at $1,000, and with the
dance hall. $4,000. The two buildings
cost to build about $4,000, and could
not he duplicated at present prices
for much under $1,000. With the
club house are included the plumb
ing, lighting fixtures and wiring,
shower baths, fire place. and locker
rooms. The dance pavilion is
screened in and would make fine
dining room, where people who seek
an evening outing. and supper in
| the cool of the woods. might eat
their meal without the bother of
having to fight flies and mosquitoes.
! The club house has living quarters
| for the clubs caretaker. which could
| be used by the family in charge of
the park If so desired, and the pres
ent house could be disposed of or
used for other purposes.
4
The cost of moving the buildings
| from their present site to the park
would probably he $1,000, and with
that cost added the park board
would have a plant for the park that
| would answer the needs for a good
| many years. 1t would not be good
| business to make any big invest
ment for buildings for the park sit
uated where it is. subject, as it is,
| to overflow. What Marshalltown
wants in the future is a new park,
| built high and dry, but until that
time comes the present grounds
should be made as attractive as
possible without any great expendi-
ture of money. The offer of the
| Country Club is not prompted by
selfish motives, for all that the club
wants is the money represented by
| the Indebtedness on the present
plant. The dance pavilion. at any
rate, can be wrecked and the lum-
Der used to advantage in the new
/ Elm rvoI oiun iIouss.
4
Here is chance for the city to
pioneer in the rest camp feature for
tourists. suggested some time ago in,
these columns. The conveniences Of
a home could be provided tourists In
public park. and there are camp
| ing spots available in the park
grounds. While the camp would not
be situated ideally so far off the
Lincoln highway. 1t would be direct
ly on a north and south main high
way, and not so far from the Lin
coin way to be inaccessible to those
who wanted to rest in Marshalltown
a few days while on a cross-coun-
| try journey. The council should
weigh this proposal carefully before
rejecting 1t, taking into consideration
that some day this city must have a
new park, and that the public is en-
titled to all the conveniences that
can be afforded while the park re-
mains where il 10.