The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-01-18

offoreign insurance companies to transact BUSH
ness in this state. and yet deny TO our own cit
liens the right to organize like companies.
Some of the companies referred to as accident
associations, organized under the laws OF other
states and doing business in this state, are
said 70 be secret associations, having ordinary
rituals. signs and passwords, like other secret
societies / doubt whether such organizations,
OF societies. should be permitted to transact
business Of insurance in this state: but II they
are permitted to do so, they should be brought
under the jurisdiction and be made subject TO
the control Of the insurance department 1t
miEht be well for the Legislature to consider
the whole question Of fraternal insurance, so
called, as well as accidental insurance. and
make suitable provisions respecting the terms
and conditions upon which such associations
may transact their Legitimate business in this
state.
Irrigation.
The subject of irrigation is one OF vast i'm
pOrtance to the people of this state. In nearly
one-half Of the state the scant supply OF the
rainfall makes general farming uncertain and
precarious business. and renders compare
lively valueleSs. except for grazing purposes,
millions Of acres Of the choicest lands in the
state. With an ample supply Of water at the
proper season at least twenty millions Of acres
OF land now not worth on an average more than
two-and-a-haf dollars per acre, could be
given a value Of twenty-five dollars per acre,
adding at least four hundred millions Of dollars
to the wealth Of the state and making that sec
tion the garden spot Of the state. Numerous
theories for the prevention OF drought have been
advocated and tested, but they have proven
failures, and the people are now turning TO the
subject Of irrigation. There are some diff
culties that confront them. The amount Of the
water supply. and Its availability for irrigation
purposes, are the chief problems TO be settled.
The western settlers. in their struggles TO de-
velop that part Of our state, deserve the hearty
support OF every citizen. A more brave. honest
and intelligent class of men never cast their
fortunes in a new country An appropriation
Of the public money TO a limited degree to be
expended under the direction OF the state board
of agriculture or the agricultural college. may
be advisable But We should carefully avoid
any eytravagant expenditure OF public money
in visionary experiments. The energy, in
dustry and pluck OF the people are the
real basis Of the development Of any
country, al upon that we must de-
pend for the development OF every part of our
state. Wise and equitable laws controlling the
water supply Of the streams that we have may
be necessary, but the chief source Of supply, in
my judgment, must come from what Is known
as the '-under-hOw," and be utilized by pump
ing. And as every man who owns his farm
owns his water, and can own his plant, no leg
islaJion is necessary to aid him in the develop
ment of his farm. Experimental stations. how
ever, can be made valuable, and a thorough and
may develop some new means OF utilizing the
present water supply. Imost earnestly com
mend 20 your careful consideration the subject
OF retaining that beautiful section of our state.
Uniformity of Text Books.
The question Of state uniformity of text
books is an important one, and should receive
your serious attention. As IL now is there is
not even county uniformity Indeed, in many
Of our counties the textbooks change with the
School-diStrict lines. In some counties there
are from five to ten different kinds Of text
books used in the public schools. A family
moving from one district TO another is thereby
needlessly put TO great expense. The result is,
that in the aggregate the people Of the state
expend many thousands Of dollars for which
they never receive any adequate return. which
would be saved the people if we had uniform
ity Of textbooks. This is all the more i'm
portant because this burden falls usually
upon those who are least able to bear
1t. The farm tenant. who changes his
residence from year TO year, or the laborer,
who, seeking employment, must move from one
city 20 another, is almost invariably compelled
to buy new set of books for his children.
This is imposing upon him an unjust burden,
and compelling him to spend quite large
amount Of money useleSsly, because the books
which he is compelled 10 dispense with are Just
as valuable and as useful for the instruction
. of children, as the new ones which he Is COM
PEELED to buy. There is no valid argument
against the system of state uniformity and
there are many arguments for it, and where it
has been tried it has proven very advantageous.
Chickamauga.
Under the act Of congress of August 10. 1890 a
park has been established at the battlefield of
Chickamauga, and the government has pur-
chased. or proceedings are pending for the pur-
chase, of over 5000 acres of the battlefield. en-
bracing most of the heavy fighting ground. A
commission was appointed by the president to
al oh oF md " all of no
states whose troops were engaged in that bat
tie have already appointed commissions to act
in conjunction with the United States commits
sioners in locating the positions OF the differ
ent regiments and batteries; and most Of the
states have provided for the erection Of suit
able monuments TO mark the position occupied
by their respective troops on the field.
In that memorable battle Kansas was repre-
scented by Gen. Robert b. Mitchell. command
ing division Of cavalry; Col. John A. Martin,
commanding a brigade. and Lieut.-Col. J. L.
Alternately, commanding the Eighth regiment
of Kansas volunteers.
The battle was one Of the most important Of
the war and the Kansas troops fought with
much bravery. rejecting honor on their state.
The loss OF the brave Eighth has seldom been
excelled by any regiment on any battlefield.
They went into the engagement with four hun
dred and six men; they came out with one hun
dred and sixty-three; forty-four were killed
and one hundred and ninety-nine were wound
ed or missing. It is important that the posi-
ton occupied by that regiment in that contest
should be properly marked, and it is but a
fitting recognition Of their distinguished serv-
ices
Eighteen states have already appointed COM
missions to assist the national commission in
the work Of locating positions. The Eighth
Kansas regiment should have one monument
near the Einiard place. where it fought on sat
urday. the 18th, one at Orchard Knob, and one
on Missionary Ridge.
I would most earnestly recommend that the
sum of $500 be appropriated for the erection
Of these three monuments, and that the fur
Their sum OF 800 be appropriated to pay the eX-
penSes OF three commissioners, to be appointed
by the governor. from the survivors of that
battle, TO select the proper monuments and to
decide where they shall be placed.
Public Printing.
In the matter OF public printing there is, in
my judgment, an unwarranted expenditure Of
public money. The amount paid for this work
by this state every year Is exorbitant-much in
excess OF that paid by other states that are
larger in population and wealth. even for the
same quality and amount Of work Our law is
defective, and our constitution is in this re-
spect al fault In the state Of Ohio the public
printing is let by contract, every printer hav-
ing a right TO bid. There, an officer is
appointed by the governor. known as
the supervisor of printing. who re-
ceives a salary OF 5000 a year. He
examines all printed matter and sees that it Is
done according TO contract. and has power TO
accept or reject the work. The entire cost for
the printing and binding for that great state,
which has three times the population and
wealth Of our state, for the last year was only
81 $50, less amount than that paid by Kan
Sas- The state Of Illinois has a similar law.
The public printing in that state for the years
1888 and 1924 amounted to less than $4,000. not
quite $4,000 per annum. In Nebraska the PUB
lie printing is let in the same manner and for