Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-09-27
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL
Des .Moiues. September "a, 1900

county has been issued. 1t is the larg-
est ever known in the history of the
local bar, containing something over
! 800 cases noted for trial. OF these
cases 162 are divorce cases, probably
which is many more than have ever
been called up for trial at one time
in the county before. Nearly all of
these cases are new ones, having been
commenced since the last term of
court. Counting seventy-fve days
since the close of the spring term of
court, it makes an average of three
new cases that have been commenced
daily, including Sundays, since. The
number of wedding licenses that are
issued from the office of the clerk OF
courts average five or six, so that
the number of divorce cases COM
menced in the county is not far from
equalling the number of weddings
that take place.
The board of control does not pro-
pose to leave any stone unturned to
get TO the bottom of the recent Mt.
Pleasant disclosures, which resulted
in the arrest of John w. Stone, SUI
perintendent of the industrial de-
partment of the hospital for the in
sane. The examination of witnesses
at Mt. Pleasant will begin shortly
The plans for the investigation there
have not been matured fully. 1t is
expected one member of the board
will go to Mt. Pleasant and examine
all employees and others that have
any means of acquaintance with the
n n IN.E NJ Al Ia
son will probably take charge of the
IN estigation, although this is not
fully decided and circumstances may
make some other arrangement nee
cssary. The board has completed the
examination of John j. Hamilton of
the Daily News. AS in the case of
Eli Hardin and Tony Valid, the testi-
mony was made a matter of record.
lne board will not divulSe this tes-
iimony for the present, but will make
it public when the investigation is
completed.
Judge Robinson has returned from
visit to Independence, where he in
Vostigated the facts as to the typhoid
fever epidemic at the hospital. In
the past six weeks the total number
of cases among the patients and en-
ployes was 105, and there were eight
deaths. The patients had been drink
ing city water, the same as the peo-
pie of Independence, who have not
been afflicted. The cause OF the dis
ease was found to be large tank
in the attic of the hospital This
tank had been opened, and it was
found to be in filthy condition, and
TO contain typhus germs. 1t has been
cieansed thoroughly, and the fever
is now on the wane. All the cases
are convalescing.
Cards of instruction for the coming
election are being sent out to the
county auditors from the office OF
the secretary of state. These cards
are prepared by the attorney gen.
eral, and are modified from the usual
instructions, so as to conform to the
changes in the election laws made
by the Twenty-eighth general assem-
bly,. Attention is called to the fact
that for voting upon constitutional
amendment or other public meas
ure, separate ballot of yellow coll
ored paper is used. The yellow bal
lot this year contains two PROPOSE
tions. One is, shall there be a con-
NentiOn to revise the constitution and
amend the same?" The other is a
proposition to amend the consttu-
ton so as to provide for biennial cleo
tions. The Instructions are varied
to accord with the measure of the
last general assembly in regard to
the necessary marking of a cross in
n halnxy a RI ,,;r
does not alfect the validity of tho
vote.
The annual report from the hospi-
tai at Independence for the year end
ing June 80 has been submitted to
the board of control. 1t shows that
June 30, 1899, there were COZ male in
mates, and 443 females, or a total of
1.G50. There were in the year 21s men
discharged, and 100 women, while 2l5
men and 1872 women were admitted
This leaves as the population of the
institution June 30, 1900, 6O4 men and
ABS women, or 1899 as being the tota'
inmates.
The articles of incorporation of tho
Southwestern Railway Company have
been received at the secretary OF
states Office. The articles provide for
the organization of a railway com,
pany and construction of a line
from Pella to Howell, a distance of
about eighty miles. The line will con,
meet the Wabash at Pella and the
Keokuk and Des Moines division OF
the Rock Island at Howell. The com,
pany is to be capitalized at Sl0O.OOO
The state horticultural society Is
being furnished with a collection O,
the flora of the state. The plants are
being donated by Professor Pammel
of the botanical department of the
state agricultural college at Ames
and mounted by him, the state having
10 pay for the paper and materials
used in mounting only. Over zoe
specimens have already reached the
office of Secretary Wesley Green.
Heretofore the state has had no col
lection of the state fora. Professor
Pammell has also provided number
of specimens showing fungus dis
eases of fruits. Another collection
that is being made up in this depart,
ment is that of the fruits of Iowa
preserved i'm acids.