Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-17
Local Comment

Center street over the Q. &c N. w.
tracks. One instance Is reported
where the crossing was held for
twenty rainutes, and it lis q common
sight to see dozen or more cars
held beyond the legal limit by
blockade of this crossing. Five min
utes is the limit Of time permitted
by the city ordinances.
&
This condition should not be per-
mitted to continue. First Of all the
city officials should see that the
| ordinance Is observed by trainmen
and switch crews. Since the viaduct
has been closed to traffic this an
noyance has of course increased, be-
cause nc opportunity is offered the
traffic to dodge the blockade. It is
due to tc,wnspeople and country peo-
pie alike to stop these annoying de-
lays o.. course it is more csnvEn-
lent for the railroad crews to have
street crowded with waiting autos
than to cut the train, but that does
not appeal to the farmer Fastening
to town for repairs In harvest, or to
others who must await the con-
venience of the railroaders. It isn't
a great task to cut for @ crossing
with present-day appliances, and
anyhow the rights Of the public are
to be defended and enforced by their
representatives. Five minutes il the
law and five minutes should be the
limit wherein crossing may be held.
An example or two In court is all
| n ,y,1n xA
| formation.
The citizen who finds his time
taken illegally should put his COM
plant in where 1t will bring results.
An infor nation filed by him will do
that; but naturally the average busy
man or the farmer busily engaged in
securing his crops wishes to avoid
spending day carrying on a law
suit either as complainant or wit
ness. So the blockades and the
piockaders get by. The traffic
| doesn't.
| The railroad crossing at Center and
second avenue and the bridge on
south Center street have been re-
paired, Tor which the public should
presumably be grateful. Gratitude for
the performance Of q common duty
by those charged with 1t and paid for
IL seems to be essential nowadays,
But Is La q good Job and O fine be-
ginning. Now it might be carried on.
The crossing OF the railroad on soutn
Ninth street brings bad bump at
the rails and should be mmediately
repaired. It has been in this condi-
ton for months. Then at street in
tersections the trolley line needs re-
pair of pavement next to the rails.
which will make for public comfort
and save thousands Of dollars in
tires. All Of those repairs are Of slight
comparative cost to the companies,
and OF no cost to the city. There isn't
the slightest reason that sucn condi-
tions should continue except laxness
OF CITY supervision. The companies
viii naturally wait to be told. The
thing to DO Is to tell them.
&
II the city council would have the
motoring public rise up and call it
blessed, ut would pay more stten-
ton to the strewinx OF paved streets
with crushed rock. when paving con-
| tractors arc working on intersecting
thoroughfares. Drivers Of drays have
been arrested in Marshalltown for
permitting rubbish from their wagons
to be scattered along paved street1sS,'
yet haulefs Of crushed rock will al :
low sharp pieces OF rock to fall by
the hundreds along the pavement,
and sharp rock. especially over hard
pavement, Is not conductive to the
lupkeep OF tires OF thousands OF auto
mobiles that must pass over the lit
tered strb6ts. So long as the city is
deriving considerable money these
days from motorists who violate the
law, why not try to repay them par
TALLY by o saving on tires? 81
d
Canadian thistles, q noxtous weed,
and one Of the pests most dreaded by
farmers, have been allowed to grow
in abundance and now are blossom
Ing profnsely long tho pavement OF
South Center street and In adjoining
fields just south Of the M. g. st. L
crossing. The oity streets and alley
department evidently has made no
effort to cut these and other weeds
along this pavement this season, for
now they are waist high. Large
patches are near Linn creek. and
soon their seeds will be whirled by
the wind into the stream to be car
rled and deposited on land miles
away. The Canadian thistle is a posi-
tive menace to farming. and has right
fully been included In a state law
which. fiji effect, is, that the owner
who allows them to grow on his land
Is subject to a heavy fine. Most
township officers SEQ that this law IL
rigidly enforced and farmers will
have just cause for complaint If the
city does not at once abate this weed