Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-01-20
GARW|N BOOM|NG
LITTLE TAMA COUNTY TOWN
paosPERs As NEVER BEFORE.
Finest Store In Iowa In Town Of Like
Population--sanitary Sewer sy:tsm
Nearing Completion - Local Trade
Has Increased 100 Per Cent In Last
Two Years-Wilson's Observations.
Special to Times : Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Garwin. Jan. 2o.--An enthusiastic
citizen outlined the improvements that
have been made In this town within
the past year. His claim that not
many of its size in this state have done
as we'll evidently is reasonable ono
as the list will show. The first item
he mentioned was a group OF ne"
business men who have proved them
selves valuable additions to the town.
A $4,000 sanitary Sewer system not
vet finished but on which work will be
resumed with the coming of spring. a
farmers shipping organization thru
the activities Of which some 800 car
loads of stock have been consigned
from here in the last twelve months.
A mammoth s95,000 store building IN
process Of erection by "the farmers,
perhaps the largest and finest in iowa
in q town Of less than 100 population,
and in which will be placed $4o,0Vo
stock OF goods. A number of fine resi-
dences differing in no way from the
first class homes that are being built
in the larger towns and cities In these
days. Within this period the local
high school has been placed in the ac-
edited class. A band was organized
and some Of its concerts were attend
ed by outside residents who came to
town in 500 or more automobiles. the
capacity of the town to take care OF
a crowd was demonstrated last fall one
day when. at Homecoming, it was es-
timated that from 5000 to 10000 peo-
Pile were here. It is claimed for Gar
win that it's trade has Increased 100
per cent in the last two years.
A railroad station agent In a small
town told, the other day. what dispo-
sition he would like to have made OF
the wage question SO far as it con-
cerned him. He would be glad to go
back to his old 81 cents an hour with
a temporary bonus regulated by a
competent board, this to be enough to
take care Of his extra necessary living
expenses and to be adjusted from time
to time to meet changing conditions.
While this was being repeated to an
other agent the latter, after using his
pencil a moment said, at hardly seems
possible now but that 81 cents is 4
cents an hour more than I used to get
here and I lived on my pay all right
too, even saved q little. Now get
5000 per month and don't save much
of it either perhaps not so much as
when I worked for II cents an hour"
When 1t was suggested that he is Hv-
ing differently now he readily admit
car. closes the office at 4:s0 p. m,
rides around the country some. and
wouldn't and couldn't go back to the
eleven hour day when he used to leave
his desk wishing he never again would
have to listen to a telegraph instru-
ment.
In practically every case the station
agent declares himself IN favor of pri-
vate ownership and management Of
railways. generally saying that he pre-
fers working for corporations rather
t! an for something he can get no
nearer to than government"
Written, like a good many other
small towns, has no hotel. 1t does pos
sess two churches, however. and at
least one day in the week the want of
hotel accommodations Is forgotten. for
Thursday is church dinner day in
Written. At both these institutions
and every Thursday In the year. The
vice, the price is reasonable and quail
ity must be Of a high order, as will
appear later. Everybody in town pat
ronizes one or the other Of the places
and it is becoming the custom Of
everybody out of town who knows the
particulars to visit Written on Thurs
days If at all. At one of these places
last week there Xkere business men and
other residents the town, farmers,
several travelling men and one man at
work out in the country a mile or two
walked in and back to his work again
in order not to lose out" The rail-
road mans tribute is the proof Of
general excellence Of the entire affair.
The local freight pulled In about the
middle Of the afternoon. several hours
late. Somebody mentioned the dinner
in the presence Of one OF the train
crew and the latter inquired in all Sc
rtousness, Was It a good dinner to-
day." Assured that It was this man
proceeded to exhaust his vocabulary
berating the conditions that made the
train late. and he did it In way that
would discourage any ordinary man
hearing him from trying to express his
disgust at the running Of trains behind
schedule. The pastor of. the church
this train crew ,patronizes when pos
sible, perhaps would have been shock
ed somewhat by the language used,
but the. Written cooks surely would
have overlooked the profanity employ
ed for he lauded their skill to tho limit
of his ability.
" G. e. Wilson. :