Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-21
subject of county asyluins there is no
difference of opinions among SCENT
lists and officials-they should be abol-

y
difference of opinions among scient-
lists and officials-they should be abol-
ished.
Another suggestion which it III
thought the board would like to make
to the legislature is that reformatory
be established. 1t is understood that
the State Bar association is already
workin~ along this line in the prepar-
alton of bill for the creation of such
an Institution. The board found the
grade system in force at Saltwater,
MINI. and has established the same
thing at Anamosa. But there should
be some preliminary institution into
which persons might be lawfully placed
for the real purpose of all restraint of
this character, reform. The influence
of hardened criminals on those who are
not yet criminals, though criminally
inclined, has been recognized by the
world for an indefinite period as re-
quiring elimination in penal institu-
tions.
Iowa is doing itself small credit in
the matter of Porto Rican relief. Thus
far about $3.50 has been contributed by
the people of this state, being sent to
the state treasurer by mayors or other
people who have taken enough inter-
est to pass the hat in their commune
ties. Next to Davenport, which sent
$1,000 before the governors proclama-
ton was issued, the little town of
Shenandoah, Page county, with about
$3.50 to its credit, heads the list.
#s<
Considerable interest has been
aroused lately in some of the old bust
ness concerns of Iowa. Down in Van
Buren, county in 1898 a wooden manu-
featuring concern was established by
William Meek. Today it is conducted
by Meek Bros, the grandsons of the
original William. 1t has been in the
same family for three generations. To-
day the firm has capital of $250,000,
employs $50 people, and is one of the
richest and most substantial manufac-
turing concerns in Iowa. It is at Bon
aparte, which is regular old New
England factory town, with nothing
else in it of Importance except the big
factory.
J. w. Waters, of Dubuque, manu-
facturer of pig lead, is the grandson
of the founder of the business which
he is now conducting. 1t was started
in 1885, when the first Scotch hearth
furnace was built near Dubuque. The
business has made money for two
thirds of a century and is about to be
greatly enlarged and improved.
The Oldest bank in Iowa is at Deco.
| rah, a big private bank of which G. ]
Wiser is president. His father found
ed it in 1886, and it has been in the
family ever since. 1t has a response.
bility of 100000 and is one of the
livery richest banks in Iowa.
There will be one interesting inques
when the Fifty-frst Iowa regiment get
back from Manila. Capt. A. T. Bur
ton, of Company B, OF Villisca, wa
some time ago suspended from his com
mand for cowardice. He remained n
Manila during the period of suspension
The monthly report from Gen. Lope
for July is just received and shows thu
\ Capt., Burton has been reinstated to hi
command. No reasons are given TO
the reinstatement, and so far as officia
advices are concerned no explanation
4 has ever been given for the suspensio,
j Capt .Burton's friends have all along ii
i sisted that when the whole matter wa
i explained there would be nothing to II
nect on MN.
-Des Moines, Sept. 16.-The women o
4 the Des Moines w. c. 7. u, anon
: their other tenets, held to the anti
trust notion. They are after Ben I
Parker, who runs nearly half of tn
saloons of this town, and is CONSTANT
increasing his list. Mr.. Parker rcpct
sents big Illinois brewing concern
and. has rapidly been getting monor
: oily on the saloon business. In fac
= that is Just what his company aims t
secure, according to reports. Som
II time ago Parker bought the lease {
' the basement Of the Equitable blocl
{ occupied by barber shops and bat
e rooms, and started a buffet, placin
liquors on sale. The. w. C. T. u. di,
covered what was going on, and som
of the ladies swore out informatio
: against the establishment, with the r,
suit that lot of LIQUOR was gathere
! in by the police on pull of the plac,