The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-12-12
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL

NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL
Des Moines. Dec 10, 1901,
State Auditor Merriam in his forth
coming biennial report makes rec
Dmmendation for the establishment
of an insurance department. This
recommendation is one of the most
Important features of the report.
An insurance commissioner, with pow
ers similar to those conferred on
ike officers in other states, is recon-
mended, in view of the fact that the
auditors Office as now constituted is
overburdened.
According to statistics In the office
If the secretary of state there were
1929 convictions in the counties of
iowa for criminal offenses last year.
This is for the year ended September
10 last. The number for the previous
year was 1,153, and for the year be-
lore that 1,191. OF those convicted
w were convictd of felonies. 724 of
misdemeanors and % for other often
ses Five persons were convicted of
murder, SO of burglary, GO of break
ing, and 33 of robbery.
OF the persons convicted during the
year 705 We're American born, 100 for.
eign born and 1884 of unknown nation
atty.
The total amount of fines collected
and paid into county treasures was
e52,651.95 this year, against $4S,99015
N 1900.
The state G. A. R. department has
been notified of the appointment of
John Hughes of Iowa county as in.
spector of the state department. He
has been appointed by General Tor.
rance, the Communicated chief, and
will make an inspection of the state
headquarters this winter. Mr.. Hughes
was reelected as member of the
lower house this fall.
Secretary Van Houten, who attend
ed the meeting of the fair secretaries
In Chicago, reports that the meeting
was harmonious and satisfactory The
date for the Iowa fair was fixed for
August % to 30; the Nebraska and
Minnesota fairs following in order.
The last bulletin issued by the cen.
srs department at Washington is on
the subject OF manufactures in Iowa,
and much information is contained
which is OF much interest. In the first
place the bulletin shows that Iowa
has passed into new era and has dis
covered that she can manufacture raw
material into finished products as we'll
as raise corn and fatten stock. There
are now 1853 factories in the state,
whereas in 1890 there were but 7,44O,
hni Sc
GIT ,S77, wneraS ten years ago it was
Sl25,o49, 1S3, and twenty years ago
was but ST., 045,926. 1t is shown that
The wholesale slaughtering and pack
Ing OF meats is the most important
industry in the state, the 81 Iowa
packing houses giving. employment to
total OF 1887 wage earners, while the
products OF 1900 were valued at
$50, 695,044, or 1876 per cent of the
total value Of state manufactures.
The manufacture OF butter, cheese
and condensed milk in factories oc.
cupies second place as a state indus.
try, there being no less than GOT estab.
hshments, employing 1,133 wage earn
ers and turning out product valued
at $15,846,O77. The increase in the
value OF this output during the decade
was SOB per cent. Third place in
state is held by the flour and grist
mills. there being 7O2 such establish.
ments, employing 1885 wage earners,
and turning out product worth S13,-
S23,OS3. There were 264 establish
ments engaged in the manufacture of
lumber and timber products in 1900,
and these employed 2,7y3 men and
produced $S,677, O5S in the way of a
manufactured product. In 1890 the
product was much larger, being worth
$l2,O56,302 that year the decrease DUR
ing the decade being % per cent.
An interesting description is given the
pearl button factories, an industry OF
recent origin. In 1900 there were So
establishments, with 1,042 wage earn.
ers and products valued at $S66,53S,
the leading center of industry being
Muscatine, where in 1898 they have
five completely organized plants and
28 saw works. The report says that
almost every Iowa town between Sab.
ula and Fort Madison on the river
has plant.
Iowa State College at Ames has a
right to plume itself on it's tremend.
GUS victory at the live stock show Just
ended in Chicago, where it took about
all the prizes there were to take in
college, and class exhibits and in the
stock judging contests. Following
We're the prizes won: On steers six
first prizes, three seconds, two cham.
pionships; on hogs, two first prizes,
one second, one championship; in
Judging, the Spoor trophy and most of
the money prizes.
In the stock judging contest the
Iowa college team was composed of
II. o. Tollier, F. i. Kennick, R. J.
kinzer, j. T. Hoover. Not only did
they win the Spoor trophy, but they
took $, out of every possible 81, took
the grand sweepstakes, twenty-one
class prizes, and out of $1,45O took
$l,O18.
The experiment station also took.
second for the best all round exhibit
Governor Shaw has issued a procla.
nation offering reward of $3.50 for
the arrest and conviction of the muir.
Harar Or murlarara of Nforcho1 To,,.,