Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-30

Wants Part Of a River.
Application has been made to the state
executive council by George w. Brown for
a lease of nearly forty acres of land which
lies within the city Of Des Moines, but is
between the meandered lines Of the Des
Moines river according to the first govern
ment survey. Mr.. Brown has been a squat
ter on this land for FIVE years and claims
that he is entitled to ownership of the
same. He has been trying for some time
to secure a title to the land from the state
In some manner, but has been refused, and
he now desires to lease the same until the
title can be settled. The land is becoming
quite valuable, as 1t is in a part Of the city
where the manufactures are located. The
members Of the council are in great doubt
as to the status Of this land. The Des
Molnes river was originally declared to be
a navigable stream and the lines Of the
river we're meandered, so that the title to
the land between the lines fell to the state
as a whole. Later It was found that the
navigation. of the river was not feasible and
the status Of the river was changed. It is
not known whether thsE title vests in the
state now or whether this act gave the
riverbed to the ~abutting property owners
in case Of accretions, Until this is settled
Mr.. Brown will remain merely as a squat
ter on the land. but he can engage in OK
tensive farming operations.
Getting at Land Values.
County auditors OF Mills and Clayton
county have made complaint to the state
officials that the plan proposed for secur-
ing information as to the land values in
Iowa is not reliable, and the state executive
council has directed the secretary to ask
+N-' -"Tnty auditors shall include land
sales for the entire year 1902 as we'll a.
Ia-t half of the year In making their
statements. They are to report actual
land sales and the assessment on the same
pieces of land. The council will thus have
before it the information as to how assess
ments compare with actual land sales in
the different parts Of the state. 1t is the
intention Of the council to try to secure a
complete assessment and valuation in ac-
cordance with the aw. The auditors OF the
two counties named complained that II only
a half year was taken II would not be fair,
as the better class Of lands are sold the
first half of the year.
Inquiry on Teachers Wages.
Prof. Thomas Nicholson of Cornell col
iege, who is chairman Of the committee
Of the State Educational council appointed
" ANBOAN ia Nv . - NoFhNA oaAh-
ries and the social conditions surrounding
teachers in Iowa. has started out on a plan
which II is believed will bring excellent
results aud enable the committee to make
q report this year that will be of vast
benefit. Prof. Nicholson desires that the
whole matter shall be disposed of in one
year, and ne has divided the committee into
subcommittees, as below, to consider the
various phases Of the question:
AS to salaries, investigation OF amounts
paid In comparison with teachers in other
states, average term of service and similar
statistics, ]. ]. Williamson OF Fairfield,
q. c. Thornburg Of Des Moines and S. W.
stuckey OF Cedar Rapids.
Comparison of salaries in the teaching
profession with those in other professions
and in trades, A. T. Hukill Of Waterloo
w. NJ. Stevens OF Sioux City. Maurice
Kicker of Burlington and Bruce Funk Of
Fayette.
Social standing OF teachers as compared
with those in other occupations and thosC
in other countries, W. S.. HENDERSON Of
Grinnell, Dan F. Bradley Of Grinnell and
Miss Libbie Dean Of Newton.
AS TO pensions, What is done in other
states. whether feasible in Iowa, H. C
-Hollingsworth OF Abba, W. o. Riddell o.
Des Moines and o. W. Weyer Of Keokuk.
What can be done for rural schools, o. J
McManus OF Council Bluffs, Agnes ]
Robertson Of Cherokee and ". H. Bender
Of Cedar Falls.
How far is the present system and man.
agement meeting the expectations Of thu
people, W. o. Riddell OF Des Moines, o. W
Viewer Of Keokuk and C. E. Finch o
Marion.
Is a campaign of education in each count!
practicable, F. E. Palmer OF Villisca. ANN
Donovan Of Emmetsburg. F.. H. Fultz o
Burlington and c. E. Miller OF Sigourney.
HerrIOtt In Drake University.
The board Of trustees Of Drake universlt!