Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-09-18
Especial correspondence.l

Manufacturer to Organize for Mu-
tual Benefit-Other Notes.
Especial correspondence.l
Des Moines, Ia, Sept. 1.-THE extent
to which labor is being organized in this
state has been indicated the past week
by the report of the state labor commits
eionsr. who says that there are now 1923
unions in Iowa, having 48,400 members
and representing Ga crafts. Two years
ago, when he made his biennial report to
the governor, there were s96 unions only,
having q membership Of 26,068. There
were 46 crafts then represented. The in
crease 10 ITO per cent In the number Of
unions and 80 per cent in the number Of
members in two years. The Labor day
celebration In Iowa was more general
this year than ever before and the num-
Der Of men appearing in the parades was
larger. In Des Moines the union Of
1anitors marched with feather busters
to distinguish their craft. They have de-
,manded Of the school boards Of the city
that their union be recognized. The
boards have taken the matter under adj
visement, but will accede to the demands
of the union
n The State Treasury.
The biennial report OF the treasurer
! of state has been presented to the COVER
nor. 1t shows an estimated balance on
hand at the first Of next year, when the
legislature meets, of 81 900 900. Had the
; state not been the recipient Of several
large sums which were not anticipated
by the last legislature there would have
been very small balance at the begin
ming of the next session. The revenues
received by the treasurer Of state during
the biennium ending in 1903 exceeded
! those received during the preceding two
years by 81 .o57,795. Ofthis, $199, 900 was
an increase in the fees collected by state
officers and turned into the treasury and
! $4,000 was corporation taxes.
Lion at Large.
The people of Polk City, in the north
end Of this county, have been terrorized
for several weeks by the presence of a
large lion which is said to be roaming
the woods and fields In that vicinity and
!, Juggling off calves, etc. The children of
the community are afraid to venture out
! In the daytime, even, and there is talk
| durability to keep the schools in the sur
rounding country open till the lion,
which is supposed to have escaped from
some travelling show, is done for.
| Suit of Wide Interest.
| really extraordinary liquor suit has
been begun in Des Moines, which has
statewide interest because on the de-
cision here will depend the future Of
many saloons in every community in
which they are permitted to operate.
Suit has been begun to close up place
! here because it has not tho coneont of
every property owner within SO feet Of
1t on every side. Heretofore the saloons
have secured the consent Of properties
lying alongside, but not in the rear. Il
the case is won by the people who have
been instrumental in starting it it will
close half of the 80 saloons in Des
Moines.
Too Much Rain.
/ During the eight months of 1903 which
have gone this section of the state, which
is an average Of the whole, has had %. 60
inches Of rain. In May 1854 inches fell,
the heaviest rain experienced in the CEN
trail portion of Iowa for quarter of a
century. In June, 1881, however, 1879
inches fell, but that was regarded as the
result of cloudburst. During the eight
months of 1902 compared with this year
30.59 inches of rain fell in this state. The
excessive moisture has ruined at least
one-third and probably one-half Of the
corn crop.
For Mutual Benefit.
rnaefinp of tho 80
Iowa will be held in Des Moines in Octo-
Der with view to forming permanent
state association for mutual benefit and
to establish headquarters. Des Moines
and Waterloo will be the principal con-
testants for the headquarters. OF the
100 present members OF the association
Des Moines has about 20. The association
; will aim to take hand in legislation
and will see that the manufactures Of the
state are properly represented at the st.
Louis meeting.
II Women Inebriates.
The reports ofthe state hospitals show
that there are IL women inebriates beiny
) cared for at the different institutions,
Eight are at Mount Pleasant and the re-
mainder are at Cherokee and Indepen-
dence. Superintendent Crumpacker, Of
the latter institution, has reported to the
board that the legislature must take OF
the hands Of the institutions the care OF
these people. He doubts the efficacy al
the law as now administered.
An Old Story.
The story Of Joseph White, who died
: in 1851, leaving $4,000 to establish .
school at Salem, has been revived, an.
pearing by mistake in one Of the news,
papers recently as new thing. White
left the money to found manual train.
ing school for destitute and unfortunate
children. that they might become
equipped in the struggle of life with q
means to earn living. The Friends
,, society discharged the trust until 1868
when the state of Iowa leased the insti.
tuition for reformatory for boys. When
the lease expired the state located this
reformatory at Eldora and leased the
Salem institution for reformatory TO,
J. girls. In 1880 the state acquired its own
property at Mitchsllville. Since then thu
, history OF the White institution is OBJ.
scure.
III Home from Philippines.
Mr.. and Mrs. c. e. Steele, of Cedar
. Falls. have returned from the Philip.
pines, whittier they went two years ago
to teach. They were graduates of the
Iowa state normal school and were of