The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-10-03
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL
Des Moines. Oct. i. lo(

Des Moines. Oct. /. 1901
The biennial report of the land de.
partment has been filed with Cover
nor haw by Secretary of State Mar
tin. The report is for the period
ending June 30, 1901. During the hi.
ennial period few patents and GER
titicates for swamp and railroad
lands were received from the general
government. The state has also re-
celved from the government swamp
land cash indemnity to the amount
of $32,3SS.3S which in turn was turn
ed over to the treasurer of state to
the counties to which it belonged.
The table giving the quantity of lands
the state has received under the sew
eral congressional grants shows
total of S,937, S4121 acres.
In view of the recent unreasonable
weather during which time frost was
reported generally all over the state
Director Sage has issued special
weather and crop bulletin for the
week ending September 23. This
bulletin is mainly for the purpose of
giving an idea of damage done to
corn and to other growing vegita-
ton. 1t is found that all Vegetation
suffered very little from the effects
If the slight freeze. 1t says: e
The past week was unusually cold,
the daily mean temperature rang.
ing from s to 10 degrees below nor
NAL. Frosts occurred in all districts,
reported as heavy or "'killing' in
the western counties, and eight" in
the balance of the state. The dam.
age resulting from the frosts in the
state as whole appears to be rel,
atively light. The percentage of I'M
matured corn was small and the
damage to that portion of the crop
has been mainly in killing portion
of the leaves, thereby impairing the
value of the fodder. The general
effect upon the quality of the grain
will not be appreciable, as the
bulk of the crop had been cut
up, or was beyond danger of
harm from frost. The recent
heavy rains have been very beneficial
to pastures and meadows, and in
some sections late potatoes are Civ
ing promise of better yield than
has been expected. The soil is in
fine condition for blowing and fall
seeding.
The probabilities are that the Des
Moines, Iowa Falls q Northern road
will not commence operating trains
into Des Moines before spring,
though there is possibility that
operations will be commenced this
fall. This is because of trouble in Sc
curing right-of-way and aid through
the town of Nevada and in securing
an independent route into Des
Moines. The grading has been COM
pleted to. McCallsburg, on the Iowa
Central, and trains will be operated
to that point in few weeks. The
track has been laid to Buckeye and
will be pushed south as rapidly as
possible. The company has asked for
right-of-way through Nevada and
tax of 21% per cent. Business men of
the city have arranged to donate the
right-of-way, and the tax proposition
is to be submitted at an early date.
If the result is favorable, it is barely
possible the road will be completed
to Berwick this season. lI not, the
work will be stopped until next year
and the line will be built to Berwick
over survey made to the east of
Nevada. 1t is not the intention of
the company to build it's own line
into Des Moines for year or two.
An arrangement has been effected,
however, by which trains will be
brought into Des Moines from Ber-
wick over the Chicago Great Western
tracks and the Des Moines Union ter
minals will be used here.
Governor Shaw, having been mott
fed by the United States naval de-
partment that the protected cruiser
Des Moines will be ready for launch
ing about the end of November, has
selected Miss Frances West of this
city to christen the vessel Miss West
is the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Harry West, old residents of Des
Moines. The christening will take
place at the Quincy, Mass, shipyards.
Governor Shaw, Mayor Hartenbower
and number of state officials and
Des Moines citizens will witness the
event. The only similar ceremony in
which Iowa people participated was
the christening of the battleship
Iowa. Miss Mary Drake of Center
vie, daughter of General F. M. Drake,
christened that vessel. The Des
Moines has displacement of 5000
tons, speed of 1875 knots per hour
and has an armament consisting of
ten 5-inch guns, eight 6-pounders, two
1-pounders and two Colt machine
guns. 1t is of the same class as the
Cleveland, Denver, Galveston, Ia
coma and Chattanooga.
Lewis Miles of Corydon, United
States district attorney, in recent
interview said that Judge Mcpherson
has decided on radical change of
policy toward offenders against the
liquor laws. Heretofore it has been
the custom in the district court to
suspend sentences in cases of first
offenders during good behavior. It
has been found that this not only in
ours a great deal of work in looking
after the paroled prisoners, but that
it has not tended to discourage yio-
1ations. AS a result Judge McPher-
son has decided deal severely with.
all offenders and see if in this way liz
cannot discourage violation.