The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-06-07
NOTES. FROM THE CAPITAL
{ DIES MONIES. june S, 1900.


n Treasurer Herl'iott has discovered
that counties appear to be ignorant of
the tax ferret law passed at the recent
session Of the legislature, and which,
under publication clause, is now in
force. The treasurer las just been irs
formed by a county auditor that one
county at least has made tax collec-
ton contract in which it is agreed that
the collectors shall receive SO per cent
of all collections. The law specifically
provides that not to exceed15 per cent
of collections shall be paid to the col
lectors. The county authorities have !
been notified that they are entering
into an illegal contract, and it is pre-
sulned the same information will be
needed by other counties before the
tax ferrets are suppressed.
The executive Office has received
another United States warrant for
swamp land indemnity funds. The
check just received is for 81, o79. Al, be-
longing to the following counties:
Hardin, $5s1.53; Howard. $52s. 6s;s
Wapello. $s69.2O. The funds have
been turned over to the state treas
3urer, who will pay them directly to
the counties which are entitled to
them.
The Cheshire law for the taxation Of
express company property requires the
distribution by the state of the taxes
levied to the assessment districts.
This increases the work of the state
auditor about ten fold. The list of the
districts, alone, covers 125 pages Of
typewriter legal cap single space
The reports are not all in yet and the
work of making this assessment will
be taken up as soon as they are. The
telephone aud telegraph assessment
this year does not come off till in July.
John Cownie, of the state board Of
control, has returned from Clarinda,
where he had been for three or four
days looking after the contracts for
the improvements which are to be
made atthe asylum there. The gem
eral assembly gave a total of 900
with which to enlargen the kitchen,
convert large well into cistern,
cover a system of reservoirs with II
beams and brick arches, and build q
new COW barn. When the appropri-
alton was made it was suggested the
amount would be ample to cover the
made. The board advertised for bids
and when these were received it was
found that the lowest made total OF
.022 for the work. This was alto
gether too high and there was a good
deal OF uncertainty as to what course
should be taken. various plans We're
discussed, and finally it was decided
to make q few changes in the plans
for the work, and endeavor to bring
it within the appropriation. This
was the MATTER which took Mr.. Cow.
ME to Clarinda. As Il result of his
visit the necessary changes were made
and the contract was closed at the
figures allowed by the appropriation.
The firm of WEIGH & Lueder secured
the contract and work will begin a.
once on it.
Wesley Greene, secretary of the hor-
ticultural society. has prepared sum
mary of the reports of the fruit crop.
Considering one hundred an average
crop, the per cents are: Apples, 81
per cent; pears, 43 per cent; plums, ~
per cent; cherries, SO per cent; peaches,
so per cent; grapes, AZ per cent; red
raspberries, 36 per cent; black rasp-
berries, 40 per cent; blacl<berries. 81
per cent; Strawberries, 35 per cent.
i:
4 Chintz bugs are becoming the terror
ofgardeners around Des Moines. VIM.
Marshall, a North Des Moines farmer
said: The pests are as thick as.
5locnsts in my meadow, and Ifear they.
tss.AI II a l.