Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-06
Local Comment


red before to the dire nsoessity which
confronts this city IL it, citizens,
and wouid-be citizens. arc TO Do
housed. A plan for financing these
new homes was presented In these
columns Friday. II would be well Tor
the public TO read this article care
fully. and digest the plan. 90 that II
action comes they will be familiar
with the scope Of idea Of building
homes for people who would prefer
to put their rent into place TO live
and eventually own their property.
q
Other cities already have incor-
porated housing companies which
are aiding people to buy their own
homes. The project can not be q
money making venture. but one TOT
community betterment. II this city
is to go ahead 1t must have dwell
lings in which to house the people.
Every available house In the city
that Is habitable Is occupied. Others
which are not desirable are snapped
up to be used until something better
turns up. The obituary columns are
scanned daily to afford opportuni-
ties for houses to rent. In one case
this week three inquiries were made
for house. the Tenant OF which
had just died. Ten inquiries came
for another house advertised as FUR
nished and rentable until July j.
These concrete illustrations show
the demand for houses, and can not
fail to impress upon the business In
terests the necessity OF doing some
thing, and at once, to relieve the sit
uation.
n you have not already read the
plan as advanced for the sound fin
ancing of homebuilders, read 1t. If
you have, read 1t again and become
more familiar with It. Then get
busy and Join in a movement which
will make for bigger Marshalltown.
When the Times Republican made
public facts concerning the operation
of the city detention hospital nous
ing smallpox patients, and quoted
patients as to their mistreatment and
lack of proper treatment. 1t was felt
that the ball would be started rolling
that would result in some action be-
ing taken looking toward rnuch-need-
ed Improvement. The Rotary Club
has taken the initiative as an or
ganlzation in urging the board Of sup
ervisoTs TO establish u new hospital.
The Jail annex built during the war
for the care and treatment Of social
diseases, has been suggested as
building that could be enlarged and
made fit for the needs demanded Of 1t.
4
1t is quite likely that protests will
he Forthcoming II the board should
consider seriously the placing Of
detention hospital in the heart Of
the business district. The building
proposed is not situated for the best
results for patients. There Is no place
where Iconvalescents could be out
and improve more rapidly. as they
would were the hospital built with
this in in view. A patient Ill Of small
pox Is entitled to the same treatment
as tho he were suffering from any
other ailment. and has tho same
rights as any other hospital patient.
What this county should build Is
a modern detention hospital. COM
plete with conveniences for the care
of patients not only II Of smallpox.
but suffering with other Contagious
diseases. There could be a ward for
60, rlo< <a,,or AZ \or JJ11,%barso opd
one where influenza cases could be
cared for. The cost of building, equip
ping. and maintenance would be
great but lives could be saved during
Influenza epidemics thru proper care
in a county hospital, the money
would be we'll spent. Persons who
could afford hospital treatment If
contagious wards were availaale in
general hospital, would not object to
going to the county hospital provid-
ing there was assurance that they
would be we'll cared for. To all such
patients charges for their care could
be made. the same as are made in
any private hospital. There Is no
need Of meeting this hospital situa-
ton along the line Of least resistance.
II we are to build q hospital let's
build one that will be q hospital in
service as well as in name.
Z
At the end Of the South Third
street car line on Tenth street the
street conditions are fairly danger
GUS for passengers. South Tenth 1t
that point is torn up and piled with
paving material which has lain there
all winter. The walks have been in
bad condition as well, and there 10
no light to guide the steps Of pas
sengers at night. A great many pas
sengers take the car or alight there
ard 1t is only by good fortune that
accidents have not occurred and
suits for damage resulted. Safety
first requires q street light at that
terminal and the city in its own pro-
lection should arrange to have one
placed. The street car company for
a time lighted the corner dimly, but
that light, for some reason, has not
been in use Of late months. No
doubt the city could make an ar
rangement with the street car COM
pany to mutual benefit and to tho
safety and comfort Of citizens where
by the corner coulud be lighted. And
this should be done.
&
The American Legion post Of this
city is taking much interest in ath-
!e!:cS. T. has ar excellent basket
bali team and a bunch of wrestlers
and boxers who seem to enjoy the
game, and who furnish diversion to