Omaha daily bee., 1897-11-30
STATE PURCHASES THE FARM
Avoids a Lawsuit by Buying Off the
Aggrieved Owner.
EXTENDS ITS HOLDINGS At HASTINGS
sewer from the Asylum becomes n
Nuisance and an Action for
Damages is Compromised
I'm the Sale.

LINCOLN, Nov. 29.-(Special.)-whe the
legislature met last winter the state was
threatened with damage suit by Mrs Mary
Newmeyer Of Hastings because of the sewer
from the asylum, which emptied out in a
little draw on her farm committee was
sent there to investigate, and on its return
reported that there was no other direction
in which tho sewage could be sent and that
the best way for the state to avoid a damage
suit was to buy the farm. The committee
had figured on the value of the place and
recommended that the price paid be S37 80
an acre. The report was adopted and an
agreement having been reached with the
owner of the farm a special appropriation
of $4,000 was made for the purpose of buy
Ing the farm. Since then nothing has been
done about the matter, and Mrs. Newmeyer
was becoming very anxious to either have
the deal closed up or go ahead with her
damage suit. Today the Board of Public
Lands and Buildings held a meeting and
ratified the contract, whereby the state gets
the farm for IS 1880, fifteen acres bslng
figured out because Of the fact that two rail-
roads cross the place.
REFUSES THE CHARTER.
The state auditor today refused the appli-
cation of w. NJ. Guiwits and others for the
chartering of q new fraternal insurance com
pany to be known as the Royal Oaks"
The reasons given for the refusal are that The
constitution of the new order does not pro-
vide for a representative form of govern
ment and would permit of some of the Off
GERS holding office perpetualy. For instance,
a council of six is provided for, and pre-
siding officer known as the chancellor. The
chancellor could be removed from Office only
by vote of hve.sixths OF the council three
faI, TOD I,, I,f
self. In the organization of this frlternal
company the promoters seem to have had a
stormy time from the beginning. Associated
with Mr.. Gufwits in the scheme was DR.. s.
u. Mercer, and on account of some differ
ence between them DR.. Mercer drew out and
announced that he would organize a company
of his own. A short time age he presented
papers to the auditor and asked for char
ter for his new company, also known as
the "Royal Oaks" but was refused because
of the fact that his petition did not contain
the number OF names required by law In
regard to the defects in the constitution pre-
sented by Mr.. Guiwits the auditor says
that there are number of other companies
in the state against which practically the
same complaint could be made and that they
will be called upon to make the necessary
changes.
LINCOLN LOCAL NOTES.
John Farwell, one of the well known young
men of Lincoln, left today for New York
City from whence he will embark later in
the week for Tamoico, Mexico, to take up
his duties private secretary to Consul
Magill of Chicago, who is assigned to that
port.
The coroner's jury, impaneed today to
inquire into the cause of the death of A. Fl
Oxley, B. & NJ. switchman, who was killed
in the yards yesterday, brought in verdict
that Oxley came to his death from his own
carelessness and that no blame could attach
| to the company or it's employees. In coupling
some cars yesterday OXley was walking back
ward and, falling down, had his hips crushed
under the wheels so badly that he died. He
was unmarried.
Tie executive committee of the State Press
association met here this evening and set
the date OF the annual meeting for January
II, at II a. m. The meeting will be held at
Lincoln. The local newspaper men held
meeting this afternoon and are making
preparations to entertain the visitors in good
style.
Omaha people at the hotels: At the Lin
dell-Lou Levy, C. X. Collins Charles II.
Ganson w. A. Sheldon, j. r. Buchanan. At
the Lncoln-B. H. Robson, w. j. c. Ken
yon. II. V. Clark H. B. Coryell.