Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1920-02-06

oCC0pIeO NJ Tue pEe06us PA1SS AoA INV
to exceed one year in advance.
An Efficient Commercial Club.
The annual meeting of the Cresco
Commercial Club on Wednesday ev-
ening developed the fact that in the
Cresco Commercial Club the city has .
live institution that has produced real
results during the past year, the main
items being increased train service for
the town, q series Of patriotic home
comings that gave Cresco fame all
over Iowa, q most successful 4th of
July celebration and chsutauqua, the
equipment of band, the gift of over
81 600 to one Of our disabled soldier
boys, street sprinkling and various
other activities promoted by the club
which is now at work on the project of
an athletic field to be given over to the
local Post of the Loyal Legion a. .
memorial to them and for their control
and profit.
During the past year the cash paid
in for various purposes has totaled
! $7334.2s from which $6O42.94 has been
expended.
The club at present has member
ship of It's. the greatest in its history.
and over 100 of it's members sat down
to the fine banquet efficiently served
by the ladies of, the parish of the
Church of the Assumption.
The delicious viands disposed of,
President McHugh called the gather
ing to order and announced the order
of business. The secretary read a
most gratifying report, and the chair
men of the various standing committees
made excellent reports of the various
activities of the club.
The election of directors resulted in
the selection of H. G. Addie, i. p.
Bsfth, a. B. Converse, E. L.. Daven.
port, j. W. Howard. F. A. Huber. F.
B. Lomas, Fred Lowry, O. J. McHugh,
Chas. Odell, A. L. Peterson, H. D.
Petersen, w. H. Tillson, Ray Burgess
and j. H. Howe.
At the invitation ::of the Club, Mr..
Orton. of McGregor, superintendent of
the Interstate Power Co., and the
company's attorney, e. r. o 'Brien. of
Oelwein, were in attendance. and the
latter was invited to give statement
Of the company's position in regard to
to the franchise they are asking from
our citizens. Mr.. O'Brien made IN
effective talk and doubtless benefited
his company's cause and standing in
the community to some extent One
point not clear to many Of his hesrers
10: Why does not the proposed fran.
chise contain some provision whereby
the city can take over the plant ct
various specified periods during the life
Of the franchise? Twenty-Five years
is q long time and circumstances might
demand municipal ownership before
the expiration of the franchise. The
old franchise contained such a provis-
ion.
Again. why should the Interstate
Company evidently be seeking to post
rome the making Of contract until af-
ter they secure the franchise? Do
they not anticipate. and rightly 20.
that with ., franchise voted them it
wil be easier for them to obtain Q
more advantageous contract. The
contract il, of far more importance than
either franchise Or rate making ordin-
ance because it determines to . great
extent the character Of the service
given. Would it not be we'll to know.
not Whist impreyements ere promised.
but exactly The contract the Company
will sign before the city grants them
. franchise? -.. 49,