Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-06-21
Impros al I'm Hcsirn.

Former Gov. II. NJ. Drake, who was
near deaths door when he retired from
the governors Office last January, has
greatly improved in health. He spent
the winter in Excelsior Springs, Mo-,
until the hotel burned down. He came
to Des Moines last week to attend the
commencement exercises of Drake uni
yersity, of which he is the founder, and
he took this occasion to make another
liberal addition to his gifts to the uni
versity. He gave $4,000 for the inn
mediate needs of the institution, on the
condition that like amount be sub
scribed by others. Nearly all the re-
quired amount was raised within an
hour and the rest will be speedily forth
coming. Several important improve
ments and extensions of University USE
fitness will be made this year.
A Good Index.
The annual report of the Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific railway for the
year ending Marcel, 81, 1898, is a pretty
good index to the prosperity of Iowa
farmers, for the Rock Island gets a
large share of It's business from this
state, in which j; has more miles Of
track, than in any other state. No doubt
other lines will show increase of freight
business and earnings, but this is the
first one to report, as the other lines
end their year June 80. 1t shows that
the tonnage of wheat, corn and oats
hauled increased from 641,s42 in 1S94-5
TO 1,GGS,7l5 during the past year. The
tonnage of cattle and hogs increased in
the same time from 1913, 142 for cattle
and 190,202 for hogs, to 39s,a94 for cat
tie and 2OG,907 for hogs, not so great an
increase. AT the same time the return
freight, the goods and commodities sold
to farmers and because the farmers had
money to spend, increased 100000 tons.
This is business barometer that fairly
indicates the improved business condi-
tions in the state.
Historical building Located.
The executive council has located the
new historical building on the north
east corner of East Eleventh street and
Grand avenue, diagonally across the
corner northeast from the state
house grounds. The property pur-
chased is $50 feet on Grand avenue by
$50 feet on Eleventh street. The price
paid was $4,000, the money derived
from the sale of the old state arsenal
to the city. About $4,000 is now avail
able for the building and the plans for
one wing are ready. Bids will be adj
vertised for and the work will be COM
menced soon, though the building can
not be erected this year because the APP
preparation is not payable till next
year.
osteopnthy.
The new law allowing the practice of
osteopathy under more liberal condi-
tions has resulted in the establishment
Of a strong college of osteopathy in Des
Moines, with sanitarium connected
with it. The parties at the head of it
are we'll known in this work, some of
them coming from Kirksville, Mo-, the
home of osteopathy. Former Congress
man A. L. Conger, of Ohio, is one of the
leading incorporators.
In Baseball Dnngerousf
A singular question has arisen in the
district court of Des Moines, where a
young man named Frank Lee is suing
an accident insurance company for
benefits he claims the company owes
him under his policy. lie was hurt
while umpiring a baseball game, being
hit in the head by the ball, and the COM
pany refuses to pay because the policy
provides that the insured shall not en-
gage in any dangerous occupation. The
question to be determined by the court
is whether or not baseball is danger
Gus occupation.
Teachers Certificates.
State Superintendent Barrett has
given an opinion to the effect that the
law now requires every teachers Ger.
tificate to be issued as result of ex.
animation or other evidence of fitness
must be submitted to the county super.
intendent, and cannot be renewed from
time to time upon the recommendation
of the city superintendent. Neithe,
cnn certificate be issued upon IN ex
animation taken in another county OF
state. This is very important to the
many teachers who have not been re.
| quired to pass an examination every
year or two in order to secure certifi
| Gates.
T. w PIcKNELL.
Death of Pioneer.
Hon. John i. Wilson passed away a