Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-19

The yield this year will be 1.s53,sso
bushels. which is about 40 pa:' cent c ),
an average crop. In the northern tier
OF counties the yield is reported to be
10 per cent of the average and in Buenn
Vista county the crop is but 5 per cent
of an average. In the south central
section the yield is over 80 per cent and
in the counties of Pottawattamie, Har-
rison, Louisa. Wapello and Clinton. the
yield is 20 per cent of the average
crop.
The milk dealers in cities are observ-
ing the law better than ever before.
They have taken out permits and close
inspection has made them much more
careful. The dairy commissioner has
issued $50 permits since the 1st of July
and he will issue probably 100 more be-
fore next july, to new dealers. bring
ing the total number nearly 100 above
last year. Every dealer in Des Moines
now has permit-they are not talking
about fighting the law any more. Dairy
Commissioner Norton went out the
other day and caught two railway con-
tractors using oleomargarine, colored,
and he brought them to time.
:::~
Following are those who have receiv-
ed invitations from Mr.. Brigham to
meet in the library on November IA:
Mrs. Flora Preston. TT. Dodge; Mrs.
Carrie Hawley, Des Moines; Mrs. II. NJ.
Towner, Corning: Mrs. A. J. Berkeley.
Boone; Mrs. Mabel Decentralization,
Ottumwa: Mrs. Ida Taylor Mckinney,
Dewitt; Mrs. Walter Campbell, Oslla-
loosa; Mrs. w. L. Johnson, Des A[oines;
Miss Ella McLoney, Des Moines: Cap
tain w. FL. Johnston, TT. Dodge; Frank
c. Dowley, Cedar Rapids.
The supreme court of the United
States is likely to be called to pass on
the question of patenting and draining
the lakes of Iowa. Attorney General
Remley announces that he is determine
ed to save the lakes of the state if it
can possibly be done. The case of Owl
lake and impossible Swamp, in Hum
boldt county, is likely to be the one OH
which the federal courts will be asked
to pass.
1t is commonly supposed that the IA
nous Owl lake case is finally settled so
far as concerns Iowa courts: but this
is not the fact. The story of the case
is, briefly, as follows: Geo r. Pearson
of Fort Dodge. was one of the promot-
ers of the old Fort Dodge & Fort
Ridgeley Railroad company. Huns,
boldt county gave to this company, as
bonus, all its swamp lands. and Pear
son received them from the company
Congress. many years ago voted to the
/ ctos oil =
or more, which were swampy: that Is.
too wet for cultivation. The state leg
islature gave them to the counties and
there have been nnnumbered scandals
growing out of their management by
the counties. 1t was not presumed
that lakes, that is, navioable and mean
dered bodies of water. We're classed as
swamps. But in time MANY bodies
which had contained navigable water
when the laws passed, partially or en-
tirely dried up, and came Ito be mere
swamps: at least, covetous spectators
regarded them rs such. With the in
| PRODUCTION of modern drainage meth
DDS it became evident that there was Il
bonanza in draining these lands. So it
became customary for spectators TO
secure grants from county boards OF
all swamp lands in the counties and
then drain them at big profit.
Mr.. Pearson. having blanket con-
tract with Humboldt county covering
all swamp lands. cast about for a
method to determine that Owl lake and
| Impossible Swamp We're swamps, rath-
er than lakes. The two included about
$500 acres, and We're only about a
quarter of a mile apart. The testimo-
ny which has been presented in the
trials indicates that Pearson dug a
great ditch, twenty-five feet deep, and
drained the lake and swamp, so that
they became in fact swampy land.
Then he had Humboldt county apply
| to the state for a patent for these
lands as swamps. The county did so.
and the state in turn applied to the
federal land Office, representing that
another tract of swamp land had been
located and the state wanted it. Under
the old law the patent was secured
and Pearson finally received his deed
from the state. There was a good deal
of protest against this action and final
ly it was taken into the courts. The
district court for Humboldt county de-
Slueu tuat tHe IearSOn parent was
good and quoted the title in him. The
case was appealed to the supreme court
and after hard fight Attorney Gener-
al Remley was defeated and the lower
court sustained. The attorney gener-
al was supposed TO have given up the
fight. But he instead filed motion
for rehearing, and this will be argued
this week. There will be u
strong array of legal talent. including
Congressman Dolliver. son-in-law of
Mr.. Pearson, and r. NJ. Wright, of
Fort Dodge. as leading counsel for Mr..
Pearson. The attorney general main
tains that meandered lands were never
intended to be included as swamp lands
at the time of the grant; and that
lands which afterward became swamps,
whether from natural or other causes,
should not be included int,he grant to
the counties, but should remain the
property OF the state. This is the
whole question at issue. Mr.. Remley
declares that if defeated in this case he
will probably take the matter to the
| federal supreme court.
"The matter is one of the greatest
| 4