The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-01-19

cltide the remainder Of tho appropriation OF
1874 for 1883, and 300, 900 for 1884. aggregat.
Ing e625, 900, the building can DO partially cum
pleteti. and tho fnished portion furnished, In
time for tic converting 81 the Twentieth General
Assembly The cost Of supervision, the large
sum already expended, the danger TO the
arclive. OF the State and her library, in the
present building, and the crowded and uncorn-
Portable condition OF tho latter, demand the
prompt appropriation Of sufficient funds to
complete tie work. In nv judgment the heal ny
condition 81 the States finances will warrant
tho appropriation without risk OF embara's-
ment.
surronr or STATE INSTITUTIONS.
II Ii clearly evident that the recent heavy ad.
vance III provisions, clothing, fuel and other
necessarics Of life will render the suppoet Of
tire state institutions impossible on tho present
statutory allowances should tho high prices
continue during the current biennial period.
Ar o reduction III prices may occur during tie
period, would not consider II advisable 10 in
crease tho present monthly or quarterly allow
ance.
I would, however, suggest that whenever the
Trustees Of any Ut the state institutions, or
the Wardcns Of the respective penitt ntiarics,
are satisfied fhat the institutions Under their
charge respectively cannot be supported within
the limit allowed by law, the Executive Council
be authorized, in its discretlop, and
upon proper showing, 10 increase
the allowance to such institutions for such iinc
As may DO necessary, ut rate OF not exceeding
o. per month for each of the inmates thereof.
II this policy were adopted the increased allow
ance could be discontinued whenever the Coun-
cll should become a. q up Mon thu. the me-
ccssity therefor had ceased. Section Of chap
ter 81. acts Of the Seventeenth General Assem-.
lily. makes II unlawful for any State institution
10 incur n dc',t for support purposes without
first obtaining the written consent VI the Exec
utye Council. II will be difficult IN case the
necessity arises for the creation Of . debt OF
considerable amount in such emergencies as are
pro,ii 4 for IN this section, to find persons who
arr willing and financially able to carry debt
agains' the institution for any length Of time.
,l,er,t fore suggest that this law be repealed,
and til. pow 10 increase the allowance he lett
to the Council. as have suggested.
TRE,srREus or STATE INSTITUTIONS.
II THE office of Treasurer Of the several cele
mosynarv institutions were abolished, and the
Superintendent made the custodian Of al tho
funds. the keeping OF the books would he much
simplied. As II Ii now, there are two sets OF
accom- kept for each institution. when one IL
sufficient. Az the bills are all audited by the
l.aards Of Trustees. the public funds would be
fully as secure, and their disbursement as care
fully guarded as nnier tho present system.
AGRICULTURE.
During the past year there has been much
anxiety manifested BY growers OF stock in this
state for fear that "pleuro-pnenmonia or
"ao,inc lung plague" and Texas fever"
Should become epidemic among our cattle:
AMI, also. for fear Of the spread Of CHAMBERS
among horses.
Statutes should he enacted to prevent the in
PRODUCTION Of plenro.pneumonia into the State,
AMI laws now on our statute-books regarding
the importation of cattle infested with Texas
fever. aud horses infested with CHAMBERS, be
am nded 40 rs To make them more effective for
thu prevention and stamping out OF these dis
il II snna fI,ar - Urav sa dNfl
gcr that the livestock Of the State will be seri-
onslv affected By them, AMI All immense pecu-
mary loss cntailed on our people,
In the month Of September last, issued
circular letter to the people Of the State. calling
Their attention to the reported prevalence OF
penro-pneumonia in many OF the Eastern
States. and urged them to dcsist from the i'm
portstion or cattle, and especially young calves,
from other States. While il IL . most crafty
Ing fact that there Is not at this time any infcc
fisns disease prevalent among our cattle. vet
the interests involved are 80 vast that it would
reem wise to inaugurate preventive measures to
avoid their introduction or spread in the State.
The interests Of Iowa being 80 largely agri-
cultural, It seems to mo that the creation OF
Bureau Of Agriculture having SPECIAL charge Of
matters pertaining to this industry would BE- OF
great value. Tue chief OF this bureau should
be State officer. Il should have connected
with il . department OF entomology and vet
crinsrv science, and should be charged with
the duty 81 examining into the causes aud the
best methods OF prevention and treatment Of
the diseases incident 10 live stock Of all kinds
II should alsp gather and disseminate lnforma-
ton regarding the soils Of the State, their
aaaptabilIty to the production OF grasses and
grains. and whatever else 10 Of importance to
this. the dominant interest OF the State. This
bureau. IL properly maintained, would be OF
great value to our people, and 4 fountain OF
knowledge to those seeking information As to
the resources Of the state. The agricultural
products alone Of Iowa. during the past biennial
period. aggregate the vast sum Of ESQ.,. O00, 900.
Surely the cost Of maintaining Bureau Of Ag-
ricnltnre would be but a tribe compared with
the benefits to accrue TO the State through in
terests Of su,h magnitude.
RAILwAya
Your attention is called to the report Of the
Railroad Commissioners "a being of much in-
terest and value, especially as there is at this
time SO much discussion Of the transportation
question. The construction a railways is rap
idly increasing In Iowa and throughout the
country. At present, there Il a mileage in the
State " nearly 5.5oo, and there Is in process Of
construction and partially completed fully 1000
miles more. All of tho counties in the State
save two have railway facilities. and these will
be reached by lines now in process of consruc-
ton earlv IN the sInng OF 1852. The business
Of the railways has increased enormously. which
increase II gratifying evidence OF the growth
OF the State. The tables regarding the rates
charged for transportation Of II. light and pass
cngers on the great lines OF the country
show that for several years past there has
been . steady aud gradual decrease there
in, and that in this general rciuc-
ton il il found some OF our Iowa
roads most largely participated. The tables Of
transportation charges on our Iowa roads. on
both local and interstate traffic. are elaborate.
covering as they do many years of traffic, and
these also show q gradual reduction in the
charges year by year. Especially Is this the
case on traffic from interior points in Iowa 10
the Chicago market. II IL a fact though not
shown ia the report that at this time tie rates
on dairy products from competing ana non
competing points in this State to the scaboard
markets are ~ low ~ they are on the same
products from Central New York to the same
markets. THIS IL. Of course, = direct benefit
TO the Iowa producer. ~ Il renders his land.
though over \ thousand miles from market, as
nearer.
Tho opinion 10 freely expressed by prominent
railway men that with reductions of grade and
curvature ON the through lines already built
aud in course Of construction, with tho more
economical methods Of operation which are
being elaborated and applied. and with the
usual results Of free competition. tho day il
not far distant when still lower rates will be
the rule.
In view OF the current discussion bv the
prcss and on the forum regarding the legal
status OF railway corporations, aud their pri-
vate and public rights. the views OF tho Com
mlssioners will be- fonad OF great value to the
people Of Iowa, who have 80 large IN interest
IN the proper determination OF these questions.
During the year just closed the Gon..nis sio,l-
era havs decided upon ffty-six complaints
which have been made To them In every case
the decision Of tho Commissioners has been &C
ceptcd by both the corporations aud the people
a an absolute settlement Of tho question
Ut issue. In addition, many in
formal complaints, embracing MINOR
grievances, have been satisfactorily adjusted
by the toari simply through their calling the
attention Of the companies TO the facts. These
things show clearly that the commssionership
system. although it Is not YET four years since
its adoption, is growing In the confidence Of the
ton against the encroachments VI the railway