Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-16

merce, and while other committees
We're looking after their furniture and /
subcommittee, Col Hep
burn and his committee colleagues
We're getting a bill in shape for report |
ing. The bill was among the very
first on the calendar, and just as the |
holiday recess was about to be an
nounced, Col. Hepburn secured recog-
milton and asked unanimous consent |
that his bill be made a special order
for the second day Of the session fol-
lowing the holidays, Jan. Z. Cannon
instantly jumped up and made numer-
Gus inquiries, all of which were an
swered point blank in such manner
that Cannon had no reasonable oppo-
sition. and he offered no objection and
the bill was scheduled for that date
The story of Col Hepburns gallant
fight for the bill. almost single-handed,
is matter of history. The Senate
will find very little left undone in the
measure Col. Hepburn has forwarded
to that body. although it will be de-
bated for weeks.
Seed Distribution.
The apportionment of seeds for To-
wa will be sent out Feb. %, provided
department of agriculture by Jan. 10.
The apportionment for each member
is nearly double that of last year,
amounting to $4,000 packages of gar
den seeds, eacn package containing
five smaller packets. The packages
vary in contents, the seeds generally
put up for Iowa being peas of several
varieties, beans, of several varieties,
lettuce, onions, spinach, beets, turnips,
melons, sweet corn, etc. The seeds
are purchased of contractors, who are
compelled to furnish samples, select
ed at random by the department, and
experiments are made with these in
the hot houses of the agricultural de-
partment with view to ascertaining
their fertility. The department will
send out only seeds that it has proven
will grow. In addition to the 14400
seeds, each members quota includes
400 packages of flower seeds, five small
packets in each, thirty quart packages
lawn grass, fifty two-quart packages
forage crop, twenty-five one-auart
packages sorghum, thirty-five two-quart
packages sugar beets, forty grape
vines, $50 strawberry plants, fifty
shade trees The congressman fur
nishes the agricultural department
with labels addressed and ranked,
and the department does the rest. This
means that congressman must furnish
100000 labels. addressed and that
these must be pasted upon as many
packages of seeds. Mere figures con-
vey but slight conception of the enor-
nifty of the work involved.
Where the Pennies Go.
The question, Where do all the pen
MES go?' was put to Director of the
Mint George E. Roberts of Fort Dodge
| Yesterday and he replied as follows:
THE new pennies and nickels and
| dimes practically all go out to the
| banks. The volume of fractional cur
rency which is minted only at Phila-
delphia, is constantly being increased.
! The output runs into the millions. an
nually. and almost an equal number
! are redeemed. The life of the penny
is trifle longer than that of the other
/ smaller coins, being used less. the east
and north using more pennies than the
west and south New dies-not de-
+ signs-are made each year. AS soon
as issued the coins are sent to banks
asking for them in sums of $40 or
more. the banks giving them out to
their customers and thus to the people.
| When the coins have become worn and
are unfit for use they are melted up
and become new and bright pieces of
money, there never being any shave
on them, by reason of wear, as in the
case of gold coin. The average life of
the small coins is about five years, al
1 though of course some coins keep in
circulation five times this length of
time"
Senator Delivers Father Well.
Iowa friends will learn with pleas
ure that Father" Dolliver, the veneer
4 able and in Washington, much-loved,
father of Senator Dolliver, is enjoying
very good health, although IS years of
age. He takes drive out often keeps
thoroughly posted upon the current
events of the day. and is happy, con-
tented man, finding never-ending joy
in the two little granddaughters, and
great pride in the well-deserved popu-
larity and achievements of his son,
Senator Deliver. He is well known
throughout Washington as Father
Deliver. and there is no home door
that does not swing inward at his com
ing, and no home circle that is not
warmed by the sunshine and good
cheer of his kindly presence.
Frank j. Stillman