Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-16
LAKE BEDS CONTEST
The State and the Land Owners
On Opposite Sides of the
Question
THE LATTER DESIRE RE-sURvEY
Results of an -ppncation to Governor
cummins Indicate That He Is Not
Ready to Accept the Proposition to
Abandon All the Lake Beds and Sur
rounding Property.
pecial to Times Republican.

Special to Times publican.
| Des Moines, March 16.-A few weeks
ago application was male to Governor
A. b. Cummins to have him write ths
secretary of the interior and make
request that the surveyor general or
der resurvey Of the lake beds Of Iowa
or of those that are in dispute, such as
tGoose Lake, Owl Lake ard many others
Harry Evans, an attorney of this city
has made a speciality of litigation re-
llating to the laka beds and swamp
lands and he appeared before the gov
that the request be made. In order tc
secure consideration at tie general land
office it would be necessary for the gov
ernor to certify his belief that the lake
beds are in fact swamp land and there
fore indirectly testify to his belief that
the state of Iowa has no right in the
disputed property. For instance. all
around Storm Lake, in Buena Vista
is claimed that the meandered line was
mot made right. Abutting property
owners claim the land in this zone down
to the waters edge. But the state has
assumed ownership Of this zone and in
|order to keep farmers from taking 1t
has leased 1T to persons in the city OF
Storm Lake who are interested in hav-
ing the lake maintained. II the abut-
ting property owners should obtain a
title down to the low water mark of
today and afterwards the state under
take to dam UP the outlet the property
|owners would probable be able to pre-
vent it. A similar state of affairs OBJ
Etains elsewhere. The lard owners de-
sire 1esurvey and thus to obliterate
the states title to the la,id around and
III the lakes. But the state executive
eo-l.yil has just ordered new haaseS for
the land surrounding the several lakes
and these will be issued again for this
year, which indicates that so far as the
governor is concerned he Is not ready
to accept the proposition to abandon all
the lake beds and surrounding property.
The lake bed proposition is one which
is likely to be referred to the legisla-
for the purpose of having a commission
pose of the entire matter and free the
state officials from embarrassments.
Present members of the executive
council believe something should be
done to end all the litigation and bother
once and for all time.
A few days ago the state executive
council received check for $167 from
the Iowa Printing Company in settle
ment of the accounts OF the company
with the state for the biennial period
ended Jan. 1 last. This settlement is
something entirely new to estate and
marks the full establishment of busi-
ness principles governing the relations
of the state with it's servants. In re-
cent years 1t has been customary for
the state to buy its paper and other
supplies for printing, binding and 9th
er work, to place 1t in the custody of
the secretary Of the executive council,
and as stock was needed it was drawn
by the foremen in a somewhat hap
hazard way. There was no giving and
taking of receipts nor careful keeping
of accounts and a settlement on a busi-s
ness basis was impossible. A few years
ago the law was changed and it was
required that the most careful account
ing should be made. TIE secretary OF
the executive council, who is custodian
for the state supplies, is required to
TAXA a receipt for every quantity of
stock turned over and to charge it to
the person receiving the same. When
work is turned over to tine proper state
officials credit is given, with due al
lowance for waste. When the biennial
period was reached this time the secre-
tary's books showed exactly the amount
Of tina states supplies which had beer
drawn by the state printer and binder.
the amount received and the amount
which should be shown in the invoice,
the allowance for waste. and when this
was adjusted the contract company
which handles the printing for the state
printer balanced the account with 4
check to cover stock for which no ac-
had been made. 1t is to the
credit of the present state printer, b.
that he was quite as insistent
as the state officials on complete set
tlement al the end Of his first term, so
that the second term might be entered
upon with books balanced. 1t is some
thing that has never been done before.
L the policy now pursued had been
followed the past ten years the state
would have been spare! much bother
md expense. 1t is significant that the
reform measures started hy the legisla-
ture several years ago lave only now
Tor the first time begun to demonstrate
heir practical nature and to bring
,bout the results so earnestly sought
ny the legislators.
New banks continue to be organized
II Iowa. Since the first OF the year
charters have been ISSUED by the audi
or of state to twenty-five new state
savings banks and not che charter has
been abandoned. There will ba sew
,ral renewals and congratulations dur
ng the year also and many banks have
been increasing capital stock.
Since the law to compel the "home |
cooperative" business to incorporate
.nder the building and loan laws of
Iowa has been declared unconstitutional |