The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-07-12

IOWA STATE NEWS.

IOWA STATE NEWS.
The United States Court recently rendered
decision In the case Of the Chicago, Bur-
lington & Quincy Railroad against the At
torney-General Of Iowa, being an appeal
frem the United States District Court for
Iowa, and involving the power of the State
to hx fares and freight charges on railroads.
The Court holds that railroad companies are
carriers for hire, possessing extraordinary
privileges that they may better serve the
/ public; and, as they are engaged in public
employment affecting the public interest,
they are subject to Legislative control as to
rates OF fare and freight, unless protected
by their charters. Whatever is granted in
their charters is secured to them, but within
these they may be regulated by the Legisla-
ture in the public interest. They can make
reasonable charges, but not unreasonable
ones. In the Absence of Legislative regula-
tions on the subject, the Courts must decide
what are reasonable rates, as they
| do in the case of disputes be-
tween private persons; but when the
Legislature steps in and prescribes a
maximum Of charges it operates upon these
corporations as it would upon individuals
engaged in similar business. 1t is not
matter Of any Importance that the power of
regulation was not exercised for more than
twenty years after the company was organ
lied; power OF government which actually
exists is not lost by non-use. A good gov
ernment never puts forth its extraordinary
powers except under circumstances that de.
mand it. This power of regulation existed
from the beginning, but it was not exercised
until in the judgment of the body polite the
condition Of things was such as to render It
necessary for the common good. 1t was
held further that it does not affect the ques-
tion that before the power of the Legislature
was exercised the road had been leased and
Its earnings pledged to the payment of ito
debts; and further still, that the statute is
not in conflict with the Constitution of The
State concerning the privileges of citizens.
The celebration of the 4th at Fairfield
passed off pleasantly until evening As the
display of fireworks was being made, by
some unaccountable means, the whole be-
came ignited, blowing the rockets, candles,
and framework erected for the display
through the crowd. doing considerable dam.
age to property, causing the instant death of
Geo W Robinson, a young farmer, and seri-
ously injuring man by the name of Strong.
Mrs. John r. Shaffcr was struck in the back
with long splinter. John Shirk, a farmer,
was seriously hurt. G. D. McGaw, Charles
Spar, and number OF others were slightly
hurt.
SERVICES are held regularly each Sunday
at the Jail in Iowa City. The meetings are
made up of prayers, Bible re-, dings and re-
ligious conversations, and are conducted al
ternately by the different churches of that
place.
BOONE COUNTY boasts dwarf (2eter
Swedelund) who is fifteen years old and thir-
ty-four inches in height.
The grasshoppers are increasing in mum.
bers, size, appetite and damage in portions
of Cherokee County.
HowARD's brick livery stable and four
structures adjoining, in Decorah, were
burned on the 4th. The loss was in the
neighborhood of $4,000. A man named
W.lch was fatally injured by falling walls.
Two SONS Of William Kent. of Marietta,
were drowned on the evening Of the 1st while
in bathing.
DIX. DAVID WILLIAMS fell dead, In church,
while attending divine service, at Taylor, on
the 1st.
A FEW days ago the attention of the DAY.
export City Marshal was attracted by the
suspicious actions of couple of persons,
whom he took iuto custody, and was not
long in concluding that one of them was
woman apparcled, but not very much dis
guised, as boy. Upon being taken to head
quarters she "owned up' and Joined in
Jokes at the expense of "her tailor'' and
was furnished with proper habiiments.
Their story was somewhat romantic-they
were pair of runaway lovers from DeKalb
County, ILL.,, and the girl had to assume
the garb Of boy in order 10 escape from
virago mother, and seemed as earnest in her
love as Portia and Olivia of Shakespearean
history. They were Joined together in due
season, and went their way rejoicing.
SHAW, the Fish Commissioner, has let
loose in Iowa streams, the last fifteen
months. 3,693, 900 fishes.
Miss ELLA HOYLE, young girl sixteen
years of age, was drowned in tho Coon River,
in Kendrick Township. Greene County, the
other day, while bathing with party of
young ladies.
A LITTLE boy, eleven years old, arrived at
Sioux City-alone all the way from Sweden.
AN accident of sickening character oc-
CURED at Dubuque, on the 5th. Two men
named Thomas Haran aud Thomas Kelly
were draining privy vault on the premises
or~s, ,,,f,
They had sunk shaft beside it, and Haran
descended the ladder to tap the vault He
was overcome by the poisonous vapor and
fell head-forcmost into the horrible mass as
1t ran from the vault and was Immediately
covered. Kelly, who was above, then de-
scendcd the ladder to assist his companion
and was also oycrc me, and fell headlo, e to
the bottom. A carpenter named Davis work
ing near, went down with a rope and nearly
lost his life trying to rescue the bodies. 1t
was several hours before the bodies could be
got out.
Anew mornings ago, DR.. Williams, of Da-
venport, was knocked down by rnfiians in the
streets of that city. and robbed of $50. He
was beaten about the head SO badly that he
remained delirious for twenty four hours.
THE damage by lightning this year has
been much gr atcr and the instances more
frequent than any year previous in this State.
THE latest reports from St. Louis give the
following as the current prices for leading
staples: Flour xxx, Fall, s7.75@975;
Wheat-No. 2 Red, Fall, $LS5@1 IS; No. 8.
$l.70@l.72; Corn--No. 2 Mixed, 44@45Hc;
Ryc-No. 2, 57@6Oc; Oats-so1 { E@s51lc; Pork