Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-07-21
Reports Show That Increase VIII
Be Two Millions Compared
with Two Years Ago.
THE VALUATIONS MUST BE READJusTED
scholars In In dustrial school for Girls
Make Fine Record-County Clerks
study Naturalization Laws- Ex-
Convicts Secure Good Positions
other Notes and Comments.
rspacIal correspondence.l

$500, 100000 (actual value), as compared
with the assessment of two years ago.
The state executive council, sitting as a
board of review, will be compelled to
do some very drastic equalizing as be-
tween counties. For instance, the land
In Adair county is assessed at 1885 an
acre, while the land in Adams county
Is assessed at 1884. This discrepancy
is so large, since the counties adjotn
each other, that the board will be COM
PEELED to readjust the valuations. The
reports Of the sales Of lands and the
prices paid indicate two things: That
land Is not assessed too high and that
the ratio Of the assessment to the actual
value Of land In some counties is much
more nearly accurate than in others.
For instance, in Wright county the per
cent. of assessed value to actual value
is so, while in Winnebago county 1t is
116 per cent. These counties are con-
tiguous. In the readjustment Of all as
sessments, which is certain, the rail-
road property Of the state is likely to
be greatly increased In assessed valu-
alton.
A Fine Showing.
The recent examinations conducted
at the Industrial school for girls at
Mitchellville resulted in such fine show
ing that the management Of the school
has been especially praised by the board
of control, which has charge of the in
stitution. One of the girls secured q
mark of 100, or perfect in five different
branches. One young woman wrote
perfect paper in history, perfect from
every view. The board of control be-
lieves that Superintendent Fitzgerald
is doing better work in this institution
than is being done in any other like
Institution in the United States.
Question OF Citizenship.
The county clerks of this state re-
Gently have been made the recipients
of copies Of the amendments to the
naturalization laws passed by the Unit
ed States congress. These amendments
have put them to studying. They pro-
vide that persons who do not believe
in organized government, or who are
members Of organizations opposed to
constituted government. may not be-
come citizens Of the United States. The
clerks have devised amendments to the
oaths and inquiries which will meet
the new requirement and keep the class
affected by the law from becoming citi-
zens in this state.
Get Good Positions.
L. 8. CONN, who established Hope
Hall at Fort Dodge two years ago, re-
ports that he does not find 1t dif1cult
to place sx-oonvicts in good positions.
He has secured employment for score
Of them, fourteen before they had had
time after leaving the penitentiary to
go to Hope Hall. OF the six who have
been housed at Hope Hall five have been
placed in good positions The other
man gave no signs Of desiring to work.
and one day disappeared. A convict
who had been q f0rger was taken to the
home at Fort Dodge by Mr.. Cof1n, and
was placed in a large business estab-
lishment in Iowa In few weeks. He
Is now the Office manager for the insti-
tuition and has charge Of large amounts
Of funds. The firm which employees him
has the greatest faith In him, appar-
emily Hope Hall was established by
Mr.. Coffin to furnish home for ex-
convicts pending the securing of en-
ployment It has Is finely furnished
rooms, majority Of which never have
been occupied.
Need Not Take Checks.
Attorney General Mullan has rem
dered an opinion as to the legal ques-
ton involved In controversy between
a coal mining company In Iowa and Its
employees. The question was submitted
by agreement by the representatives Of
the miners and Of the operators. It was
whether or not employees could be COM
PEELED to take checks instead OF money
in payment of their wages. The at
torney general held that the law did not
require an employer OF coal miners to.
pay wages in cash, but that the en-
ployes could not be required to take
checks in payment, and might demand
their wages in gold. This will govern
the relations of miners and operators
In Iowa hereafter as to this matter.
shows High standard.
George N. Ellis, Of Olivet college.
Michigan, has been elected president OF
Tabor college. Iowa. John Gordon,
who was president Of the institution,
resigned recently to go to the Howard
university in Washington, d. G.. This
shows the high standard Of the work
done by the Tabor institution. DR.. Ellis
has been connected with the Oliyet COL
lege for 20 or more years. Senator
William Boyd Allison was elected q
member Of the board Of trustees Of
Tabor college at the same time the new
president was chosen. Congressman
Hepburn is member and suggested
that the senator's name be added.
Right to Homesteads.
The general land ONCE at Washing
ton is making inquiries Of the land Of
flee on this city as to the operation In
Iowa Of companies formed to profit by
the rights of soldiers widows, which
heretofore have not been claimed, to
homesteads. Recently two coach loads
OF widows were taken out of Des Moines
into the west, where they laid claim,
under direction of the company pro-
noting the deal. to quarter sections OF
To G.