Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-16
PROJECT An ELECTRIC LINE
Company Proposes to Construct One from
Des Moines to Council Bluffs.
TAX FERRET is AWARDED HIS MONEY
Supreme Court Amrms the Cunning
ham Case, Appealed from Potta-
wattamie COunty-PickinE n
President for Ames.
From a stan Correspondent

From a Stan correspondent
DIES MONIES, May 15.-(Special)-The
articles Of Incorporation of the Western
Iowa Interurban Railway company, cap
ital. 81. 5000 BOO, were adopted this afternoon
by a meeting Of persons interested in the
construction of an electric railroad west
from Des Moines to Council Bluffs or Mis-
souri, Valley. The articles provide for a
directory board of one person from each
county through which the line will pass,
namely, Polk. Dallas. Guthrie, Audubon,
Shelby, Harrison and Pottawattamie. II
was decided that the stock should be sub
scribed as far as possible by those living
along the line. The route has not been
fully selected, but it will pass through
Dallas Center, Panora, Guthrie Center,
Audubon, Harlan and Logan. Among
those who are conspicuous in the move
ment are: F. NJ. Hopkins, Guthrie Center;
c. r. Benedict, Harlan; ]. c.. Milliman.
Logan; H. l.. Moore. Panora; A. Barr.
Dallas Center, and j. A. Nash, Audubon.
The movement is the result of efforts made
all along the line TO secure an electric
interurban of this kind. 1t will make
connections with the Des Moines system of
interurbans, which is very extensive now.
The members OF the company today took
a. trip to Colfax over the Des Moines inter
urban line and were greatly pleased with
it. This line has proved very profitable,
although not yet in operation an entire
! year. 1t is believed here the plans for a
western line are sure to materialize and
1t will be commenced this year.
Tax Ferret Case Decided.
The supreme court this morning decided
the tax ferret case from Pottawattamie
county. in which taxpayers called in ques-
ton the contract made with Cunningham
to pay him SO per cent of collections on
taxes. The contract was made before the
new law limiting the compensation to tax
ferrets was put in force. Cunningham was
to not only ferret out hidden taxes, but
was to collect the same. The supreme
court upheld the lower court in sustaining
the contract, as there was nothing to show
that the contract was contrary to the law,
as 1t existed at the time it was made,
nor that the compensation was excessive
for the work to be done.
The court also decided the case of Branz
against the Omaha & Council Bluns
Railway and Bridge company, in which a
verdict was obtained for plaintiff for
personal injuries. The case was affirmed.
without n Candidate.
Captain w. X. Brown of Ames, whom the
prohibitionists of Iowa have been urging
to accept the nomination of their party for
4 governor, in a letter to State Chairman ].
II. Campbell yesterday announces that he
cannot become a candidate. This leaves
the party without any prospective candi-
date for governor with the state .conyen-
ton only two weeks distant. A4i- ayf y
State Chairman Campbell announced to-
day that the list of delegates to the con-
vention. which meets May q, at Marshall
town, would be announced in a few days.
II Is axRaCfad that q Lance ,,,aAo ~ r..
Moines members Will attend the eonven-
ton.
Trying to Agree on President.
A meeting of the subcommittee of the
committee on presidency Of the State col
lege was held here this evening, the sub
committee being one that was authorized
to make personal investigation of the
claims Of the various Iowa candidates for
the presidency of the State college. The
committee has made personal investigation,
has visited several places in the state and
made inquiry among a great many persons
and It is expected will be able to make a
report to the trustees at their meeting in
Ames on Saturday that will be acted upon.
The committee has never been able to
make any report at all.
Lost Relatives in Russia.
Jacob Rosen. a Russian Jew, residing on
Des Moines street near East Second. has
received advices convincing him beyond
doubt that his parents were slain in the
terrible religious riots at Kischinen, Rus
STA, during which Jews were mastered
with almost unparalleled cruelty. Fearing
that other members of his family may
share the same fate. he hurriedly departed
for Chicago. at which place he expected to
procure transportation back to the land of
the car and means with which to bring his
innocent and helpless brothers and sisters
to free America.
Des MOines Went Wrong.
The city Of Des Moines was rather Sc
verely scored for its procedure In trying to
open a street. The city had sought three
separate lines to condemn land for a
street leading to Mercy hospital. The first
two awards-were regarded too high and the
city merely abandoned them. The money
was put up on the last one. The court
held that this was a wrong procedure, as
abandonment of an award in condemna-
ton proceedings must be in good faith.
which this was not. The following were
the court decisions in full:
Margaret 2. Robertson. appellant. against
=. ]. H~artenbower, mayor of Des Moines;
Polk county; Judge Prouty. Reversed by
Sherwin.
J.. ]. Augustine against J.. r. Mcdowell.
appellant; Mahaska county; Judge Dewey.
Reversed by Ladd.
Charles T. Omcer against Oficer &
Pussy, appellants; Pottawattamie county;
Judge Thornell. Afirmed by Deemer.
Henry Branz against Omaha & Council
Bluffs Railway and Bridge Company. APP
pellant; Pottawattamie county; Judge
Thornell. Affirmed by McClain.
Frank Shinn, appellant, against F. NJ.
Cunningham: Pottawattamie county;
Judge Wheeler. Affirmed by Weaver.
Alvina Schick. appellant. against d. IT.
II. Stuhrt; Scott county; Judge Bollinger.
Afhrmed by Bishop.
IL nnKS LIKE CASE nE SuIclnE