Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-07
INTERVIEWS AT LONG RANGE.

INTERVIEWS AT LONG RANGE.
"In what way ought Iowa to turn
over new leaf, if at ALP The cues
ton was asked of an Iowa public man,
familiar with the progress of the
state.
q am not sure that there is any oc.
casion for any leaf turning" respond
ed the one interrogated Iowa has
had pretty good year of it. If the
year, 1902, is as good as the first one
of the new century we will not com
plain greatly. Let us see what has
been doing in Iowa the past year.
Soil products worth $44,0O0,O0O
more than in any previous year of the
decade. and that in a record year for
unusual heat.
More taxes collected, more money
in the state treasury, and better fin
ancial condition than ever before.
Heavier bank deposits more bust
ness, greater railroad traffic, more
buildings, growth of towns and cities
and country-a year of great material
expansion.
Schools and colleges overlooking
and better spirit prevailing toward
all educational work.
| Greater improvement at all state in
situations than ever given in the his
tory of the state.
A new governor with the biggest re-
publican majority ever given any can
didate for governor.
Supplied the nation with new sec
Rotary of the treasury.
There" the speaker continued. 81
think l have covered the ground in
general terms. 1t is true We lost the
| biennial elections amendment, the
army post war is still on, the bindery
controversy is still with us, like a
ghost and the board of control had a
row with the agricultural college--but
on the whole we did well enough last
year. Iowa can turn new leaf only
to hope for another page just as good. .
John Cownie, member of the state
board of control: Eve are organic
ing a second orchestra among the
girls at the Mitchellville Industrial
School. We expect to have thirty-five
members in it, the same as in the or
chestra which has been organized now
for the past two years. The only
trouble is that all the girls want in
it. The rivalry is intense Every
girl is doing her best with her music
and the friendly rivalry is making
good musicians out Of them for they
work hard There are 1876 girls there
The first orchestra has thirty-five
members so that the next thirty-five
will be the best musicians among the
remaining 100. You can see what an
influence music is having over them
when they are. ,contending for mem
bership in the second orchestra as ii
it were the greatest prize in the world
) Superintendent Fitzgerald has had
phenomenal success with the institu
ton in every way. He will examine
the girls as to their ability in music
on the different instruments and Sc
lect the ones hest fitted to go into the
: orchestra, His decision will beeac
) cepted without murmur, although
, there will be keen disappointments
probably The others will continu,
to strive so as to get memberships a:
soon as possible The uplifting influ
4 ence of music was never better illus
trated than in that institution. Thu
board has bought about $500 worth O
musical instruments for the girls or
chestra. The first orchestra will pla.
at the state fair this year / think
will be an excellent thing for the girls
, They were here at the Chautauqua las
l year and did remarkably well. w
: have found but one girl in the who'll
{ institution who wishes to leave befor
. her time expires. This is remarkabl
in view of the apparent general desir
to get away year or two ago. Thi
d one girl is in the sixth grade Sh
8 insisted that she wanted to leave tn
institution | asked her what sh
would do. She said she had learne
$ to cook and she would get houseworl
o | explained to her some of the marc
ships she would encounter and urge
her to remain for the remainder c
q her schooling. AS left she came to m
!. and said She had concluded that
! would be better for her to remain j
n the institution and finish her educ;
1t ton SO far as it is taken there. Non
If of the others expressed a desire to r.
:. turn to the evils of the world"
lie John Werner, state mine inspector
u. II have not heard any serious obje
w ton among the miners to the plan {
:. the operators to hire commissions
II to look after their interests in TIL
h state. They are of the opinion thu
ic the employment of a commissions
"a will work them no injury at ALL an
are well satisfied with the prospect
IL having a commissioner to treat wit
ne providing that he is a fair man. TT
e. experience of the Illinois miners wit
III the commissioner employed by the o
orators has been most satisfactor.
We The plan has also worked well in OF
re er states, and there is no reason WI
it should not prove satisfactory
Iowa.
&C "The duties of commissioner a
to look after the interests of the ope
ir- ators in the first place. Wherev
ot there is any disagreement he goes al
ng acts as an arbitrator for the compan
bv There is an advantage in this to DO
- sides. The commissioner will be
70 man who thoroughly understands Il
MT business, and he will be familiar wi
es the terms of the agreement which
;, :, made every year between the mine
~ and the operators. Often it happe
Sc that there is disagreement betwe
lie, the miners and their employers regal
in ing the Interpretation of a clause
:. this agreement or it's application.