Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-24
NOT BADLY TREATED
Northwestern Iowa Does not Need
to be Redistricted.
LUCAS COUNTY MAN DISPROyES IT
Says kickers Already Have More Rep.
resentatives Than the Southeastern
Part of the State-RaiIroads Answer
Questions as to Value of Lines.

Des Moines, April 21.-Representa.
tive R. A. Hasselquist, of Lucas coun-
ty, who Went deeper into the senatorial
and representative rediStricting than
any other member of the legislature,
has prepared an expression of his
views on the subject, effectually dis
proving the allegation made by the
northwestern Iowa republicans that
they We're unfairly treated. The legis-
lators from northwestern Iowa went
home threatening that they would
come back in two years from now and
block legislation until they were given
their full demands for additional mem
bers of the assembly Mr. Hasselquist
shows that already they have larger
representation in the legislature than
the southeast quarter of the state.
This was the talk all during the ses-
sion that the southeastern quarter of
the state was more largely represented
in the assembly than was the north
western, according to population. Rep.
Iresentative Hasselquist shows by the
figures that the counties in the north
western quarter of the state enjoy SEN
of one to every 1925 people; while in
the southeastern quarter of the state
the people there have one member of
the legislature to 1876 population.
AS to the northeastern and southwest
ern quarters, they have one member to
each 14,721 and Ia, 1872 population. This
shows that the four quarters of the
state are very eauitably represented
Ine, ic u NIL,
had been given two additional sena-
tors as they demanded, it would have
had representation out of all proper
ton to the rest of the state. Mr. Has
selquist's figures will dispose of the
complaint made by the northwestern
Iowa legislators for some time, in all
probability. AS it was, the northwest
ern quarter got two representatives
away from the southwestern quarter
of the state. Senator E. H. Hubbard
who had charge of the redistricting
plans in the legislature the past win
ter, is quoted by the Sioux City Jour
nal as saying that he does not believe
that the governor will veto the district.
ing bills that did pass because it would
necessitate. "a special session of the
legislature to adjust. the matter He
also calls attention to the fact that un-
der the law the senatorial districts can
only be readiusted after each state and
federal census. Therefore they cannot
again be touched until after the state
census of 1905. He fully expects the
northwest to come down loaded foi
bear in 1906.
Session Laws Delayed.
|
acts passed by the recent general as.
, sembly cannot be issued by the sec
rotary of state before July |. The
work of compiling and indexing this
work is arduous. 1t is probable that
the code supplement which will con.
tain all of the laws passed by the last
three general assemblies will not be
published before the end of the year
; so that the demand for the session
: law publication by the secretary OF
state will be as large as usual with
out doubt.
Value of Railroads.
On the question of comparative val
ue of the Iowa mileage and that in
. other states some of the roads make
. satisfactory reports and some do not
The Rock Island company is unable
, to say as to the comparative value of
the property. The Union Pacific ad.
, mits that Iowa mileage is more valu-
able than any other. The Illinois
Central does not undertake to report
for its Iowa line-The Dubuque &
: Sioux City-has but little mileage out
side of the state.
The Wabash.
The Wabash, for instance, makes an
interesting report on this subject OF
5 the comparative and actual value OF
) the property:
, THE general account does moi
, show the average value per mile of the
line. The cost of road equipment ant
appurtenances as shown by the gen
eral ledger on December 81. 1901, is
$144,525, 800 The road having beer
purchased at foreclosure sale the
= cost of the road etc, is represented
e by the capital stock and bonded debt
5 the total on December 81, 1901, beini
t $144, 626,0G9. Based upon met earn
Q ings per mile the average value PEI
| mile of the Iowa lines would be mucI
less than than the average value pc
) mile of the entire system, the net los.
per mile in Iowa for 1901 being $500. s,
and the net earnings per mile of tn
entire system s2,16O.01."
The Omaha.
= The Omaha road reports that eth,
= average value per mile in Iowa il
u greater than of the entire system be
Z. cause the average gross earnings pc
:, mile is greater" The Cedar Rapid
e route reports that "the earning powe
II in money should be the basis in deter
It mining the value of property. The a,
9 erage earnings per mile in Iowa
e greater than in Minnesota and Soutl
Dakota. hence the value per mile il
iowa is more than the value per mil
beyond the state"
The Milwaukee.
4 The Milwaukee company has this t
say in regard to comparative values
THE company has no means of d.
termining the value of its line in low
per mile as compared with the valu
u per mile in other states. Any attemr
4 to answer this question without accl
rate information which is not in e,
7