The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-01-03

the coming legislature, whether the
commission to ascertain railroad val
ues is created or not. Mr. Cummins rec
ognizes popular belief that the rail-
roads are not assessed as high as other
property and believes that the work
and findings of commission such as
he suggests and on which only the men
of highest standing will be called to
serve will satisfy the people, whatever
the conclusion of the commission with
reference to the value of the rail-
roads. Another reason for the COM
mission, as viewed by Mr.. Cummlns, is
the lack of time to give the question
careful consideration and investigation
on the part of the executive council it.
| self. He reckons that the commission,
| Gevoting its time for three months to.
| the investigation, being clothed with
| power to take evidence and make orig
| inal inquiry, will be able 10 arrive at
conclusion justified by the actual con-
| dition of affairs, Public men have been
| giving this suggestion by the incom-
| ing governor careful consideration and
the opinion prevails that it will come
| to something during the legislative
session.
| Pleased with Results.
Director Chapel, of the government
weather bureau in Des Moines, is we'll
pleased over the excellent results at
tending the new scheme adopted by
| him in cooperation with the mail route
system in rural communities to dis
seminate information concerning the
weather. The representations are
| wired each morning to the postmasters
from which mail routes run in Iowa.
type and cards and are able to print
the bulletins, which are delivered to
the rural carriers and by them distrib-
uted along their routes. Whereas
heretofore the weather bureau was
able only to reach the cities immedi-
ately and the country indirectly, by the
| new combination all of the rural COM
| munities which have free delivery are
now furnished with the useful infor-
nation furnished by the government
respecting weather conditions. 1t is
thought by DR.. Chapel that fully 1o,-
900 people in the country are now re-
ceiving this daily information. More
than 10000 cards are furnished daily
to the rural mail carriers. 1t may be
stated also that DR.. Chappelis now at
work on a plan to enforce the dissem-
| ination of this weather information in
every community which has rural tel
ephone. As soon as this is sys.ematized
so that the records can be transcribed
at every exchange office and heard by
all the subscribers that have an in
terest it will be placed in force. In
many counties of the state every
house, practically. has telephone,
even on the farms. When this scheme
is made effective it will give perhaps
100000 people additional and valuable
information on this important subject.
Legislation Urged.
State Librarian Johnson brigham in
mis- biennial report TO the governor
urges him to ask the legislature to do
two important things. One is to take
away from the state library the bust
ness of handling the travelling libraries
of the state, and the other is to appro-
pirate 100000 for the completion of
the hall of history in which it is pro-
posed to house the library which re-
suits from the consolidation of the his
torical and miscellaneous libraries,
which are now separate institutions.
The state library commission is sug-
gested as the proper body to control
the travelling libraries which the state
library now manages and which take
the entire time of one employee. The
business is growing so enormous that
the state librarian wishes to be re-
lieved of its direct responsibility. How
/ ever, the state librarian is the presi-
| dent of the state library commission,
and would have indirect management
of the travelling branch anyway.
The Poultry Show.
| More than $4,000 worth of chickens
were exhibited at the poultry show
given in Des Moines the past week.
Owners representing all sections of
the state exhibited birds. More than
300 classes were open. The show was
distinctly state affair and was the
| first of what the managers believe will
be large number of state poultry ex-
hibitions. Illinois, Nebraska and Mis-
souri, poultry farms had exhibits at
the show also, to introduce their prod
ucts to the Iowa poultry men. f. II.
Kuhns, of Des Moines exhibited the
500 White Wyandotte cockereM which
took first prize at the Pan-American
exposition. w. S. Russell, of Ottum-
wa, and F. II. Shellabarger, of West
Liberty, were the judges. C. L. Sey-
Ter, of Bloomfield. was superintendent.
Charles Clark, of Des Moines, was man
ager of the show. The association
which gave it takes in members from
all parts of the state. Plans are maxi
ing for an exposition three times big
ger next year in Des Moines. 1t is be-
| lieved that n central western associa-
ton can be formed to give an annual
exposition in Iowa or Illinois, in which
| thousands Of birds can be entered. The
recent importation of eggs has lent a
decided impetus to the poultry bust
ness in the west. A state show has