Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-10-14
IOWA NEWSLETTER.
Gen. Stone Reports on the Condi.
ton Of State Roads.
Report of the Feeble Minded Insti-
tute-NOvak's COnfession-NatiOn
nj Guard COmplimented-Oth
Notes of Interest.
Especial correspondence.l


in Washington, has made a report to
Secretary Wilson of the condition of
roads in Iowa that will be of great in
terest to every farmer in the state. Gen.
Stone says:
While Iowa leads all other states in
tonnage of agricultural products, the cost
OF transporting her crop by wagon has
reached the maximum, owing to the bad
condition of the public roads, so that her
agricultural output of 24,000,000 tons Is
hauled at an average cost of Sl.3l ton.
The Iowa farmer pays on an average "a
cents ton a MILE but the cost of hauling
on good roads is from six to ten cents.
The present conditions are largely caused
by the neglect of the government to lay
out roads in advance of the settlement or
the country"
Gen. Stone estimates that with rail-
road cooperation narrow stone roads
or gravel roads surfaced with stone can
be built generally throughout the state
at cost of from $500 to $1,000 a mile
where no heavy grading is required, and
suggests that the cost can be largely re-
duced by the employment of convict
labor, as is done in other states. Con-
sentative estimates based upon the
hauling of crops and local travel place
the tax paid annually by the farmers of
Iowa because of bad roads at $14 100000.
Institute for Feeble-Minded.
The biennial report of the trustees of
the Iowa institution for feeble minded
children, located at Glenwood, has been
sent to Gov. Drake. The institution
now has in it's care COS children. 1t is
in good condition, Notwithstanding the
fire in August, 1896, which destroyed
the administrative building, and the
SIP, 900 granted for relief has been used
in erecting a fine new fre-proof build
ing, which will be completed and ready
for occupancy by January next.
The industrial school department has
accomplished a great deal of work and
the work of the children has yielded 4
revenue of $12,956.63. This includes the
sewing done by the girls, the sale of
over 100000 bricks made on the
grounds, the sale of farm products, etc.
The institution owns 300 acres of
land, valued, with the buildings, at
$35O,OO0 An appropriation of $49,655 is
asked for.
Calls 1t an Accident.
The Walford merchant and banker,
Frank "A. Novak, who. is now in Jail at
Vinton, charged with the murder of
Edward Murray, together with arson
and conspiracy, made a confession to
C c. Perrin, the detective, while en-
route from the Klondike country, where
he was captured. But Perrin has re-
fused hitherto to tell what was said.
Now PERKINS, report to the detective
agency has been given to the public. 1t
is made up in most part of detailed ac-
count of the trip to Alaska and the re-
turn. Perrin says Novak claims he had
bottle of whisky heavily charged with
morphine in his store as trap for rob-
bcrs who might break in. He says when
he and Murray entered the building he
went into the cellar to fix the fire, and
when he returned discovered that Muir
ray had taken portion of the contents
of the bottle and was stupid. He put
him to bed, went downstairs and lay on
the counter to read and fell asleep, and
that when he awoke the store was on
fire. He claims he tried two times to
rescue Murray, but was unable to do so,
and then, fearing his story would not
be believed, he ran away.
The National Guard.
The report of Col. w. III. Powell, Ninth
United States infantry, who was de-
tailed by the war department at Wash
ington to attend the encampments of
the four regiments Iowa national guard
and report upon the same, has been sub
mitted to the adjutant general of the
United States army at Washington. Col.
Powell compliments the guard very
highly, says it is an efficient one, and
recommends that the four regiments
in the state be brought together for an
encampment once every three years,
and at that time a regiment of the
United States regulars be detailed to
join in the camp. He also recommends
that the state purchase grounds large
enough for a camping place for all the
troops, and that the state rifle range be
moved to that place.
Cholera Not Contagious.
The Milwaukee and Burlington roads
are still experimenting with view to
checking hog cholera. That success has
attended their efforts is shown by let
teEs from scores who have followed the
advice and used the remedies recon-
mended by the agents of the railroad
companies. Officers of the companies
state that thorough investigation as
various points leads them to believe
that the disease is caused mainly by ir-
regular and improper feeding. 1t is
more prevalent in the fall, when farm.
ers commence to gather the animals for
market, than at any other time. Hogs
are then taken from the pasture,
crowded into pens, and permitted to
gorge themselves with grain. If care
were taken, say the Investigators. in
changing from one grain to another and
in the quantity given at regular times,
the disease would be prevented.
Coal Strike Ends. fE
The great coal strike in the state
that has continued for many weeks
seems at last to have been "called off"
on terms agreeable to both employers
and employees. At meeting of miners
in Des Moines resolution was adopted