Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-04-26

other order will shortly be issued re-
quiring all the enlisted men of the Iowa
national guard to undergo similar ex-
animation, and all who fail to pass who
have any physical imperfections will
be discharged and their places filed by
men in perfect condition to undergo
hardship. In cuse of war, If the stateis
called upon for troops, the entire Iowa
national guard will probably be called
to Des Moines and prepared for serv-
ice. Adjt. Gen. Byers says the state can
put into the field 5000 good men, fully
equipped with everything but guns, in
a few hours. The guns and ammuni-
ton are furnished by the government
The state has only about 1000 OF the
latest pattern Springfield rifles, caliber
As, the gun most in favor among mill
tary men. Volunteers are still writ
ing to the governor by hundreds. 1t
will not be hard to raise several regi-
ments of volunteers in q few days
Many medical men are volunteer.
ing, and their services as sur.
geons and hospital stewards will be es-
pecially acceptable. In case of war the
organization and recruiting Of the
states quota of troops would be under
the direction of the adjutant general
He has arranged to have private wire
in his office.
Grants Birthday.
The Grant club of this city will give
it's annual celebration of Grants birth
day April 81 in the form of banquet
at the Slavery house. The speakers will
be Col Charles A. Clarke, of Cedar Rap
ids; Chief Justice Horace e. Deener
of Red Oak, and A. b. Cummins, of Des
Moines. 1t will be notable event, so
cially and politically.
Plan May Fail.
1t is possible that the plan perfected
during the closing hours Of the legis
lature to provide a new site for the his
torical building may fall through. II
was proposed to sell the old state ar
senal site, two lots at West First ant
Locust streets, to the city for ,00(
for a library site and turn over the pro
ceeds to the purchase of a new site fol
the historical building. The library
trustees voted to purchase the proper
ty, but now serious objections art
raised to the proposition to locate the
city library in this place. The plan Is
to improve the river front and make al
accessible downtown park Of 1t. which
would make this part of the city beau
tiful. The Wo1nen's club is taking {
l., hor 10
public meeting to discuss the ques
ton. The ladies and many others OBJ
ject to the location because it is an un
pleasant part Of the city, now mostly
given up to wholesale houses, and TIL,
tendency of business is to go west ant
north, making this location less desir
able as time goes on.
On tho Way to China.
Maj. Edwin II. Conger is spending
a few weeks in this city In compan,
with his wife and daughter on theil
long journey from Brazil to China
where he goes as minister of the Unitet
States, transferred from Brazil. The,
have been the recipients Of marked SO
cial attention during their visit home
1t is with some misgivings that al
American family Of culture and refine
ment like this one goes into exile sucl
as this, for the only society they will
have will be the foreign residents Of tn
Chinese capital. They will sail from
San Francisco May 10.
For Half Holiday.
Tba "a NJ, Hfo{,o, ~, =,
started movement to secure half hol
iday during the heated season for tn
workingmen of the city, probably to b
Saturday afternoon. In this city tn
stores have never closed Saturday aft
ernoons, as they do in the larger cities
and the poor clerks and other worki1I
people have to work harder then than a
any other time. Most of the stores ar
kept open late Saturday nights, SO Their
is no holiday for any person connected
with them. But this movement is di
rected also toward securing cessation
Of work for laboring men who worl
outdoors and for all kinds of working
people. 1t is based largely on the CLAIM
that the employers would be better Of
If 1t was granted, because the employee
would be in better spirits and be able t.
do more.
Railway Assessments.
Secretary Shipley, of the e1eoutiv
council, has completed the computation
Of railway and sleeping car assessmen
made by the executive council Marc
rs, and it is for the first time publishes
accurately. The total assessed valus
ton of railway property in the stat
is $44,e2s, ss5.63, or an average Of 1928
per mile on the total mileage Of SAT
miles. Last year the assessment wa
$44,373,91e, or an average assessment o
$500 per mile on the total mileage Q
s,4s1 miles. The sleeping car mileag
is increased from $3.50 to 1895 miles
and the assessment is increased froI
$f50,637 to $227,O71. The Iowa Contra
Rock Island and Minneapolis & 81
Louis have increased their service
hence the increased assessment.
Want the Road Laws.
Many applications have been made t
the secretary of state for copies of tn
road laws, which the legislature author
lied him to have published in pamphle
form for the benefit Of the township an
district officers. But as the law doe
not have a publication clause it will no
go into into effect until July i, an
the laws cannot be published till
month or two later.
B. W. BIcKNELL.