Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-10-23
a noble 81 I.stitutlon.

4 Noble Institutlon.
More than 1000 girls have passed
through Benedict home in this city dur
ing its 81 years existence. This re-
port was made to the w. G. T. u. Of
Iowa at its meeting in Des Moines the
past week. The home is maintained by
that organization and by the legisla-
ture of Iowa, which appropriates for its
support every two years, and cares for
unfortunate young women. Ithas a con-
slant population of about 80. More
than 80 per cent. of the women who have
been cared for in 1t have given up dis
solute lives, was reported to the con-
vention. Mrs. Florence Miller, of Des
Moines, was elscted president Of the
w. c. T. u for the ensuing year.
Survey of Fair Grounds.
A survey of the state fair grounds is
about to be made by the managers of
the department of agriculture. This is
for the purpose of furnishing data on
which permanent scheme of locating
the permanent improvements which
have been determined upon may be
based. The legislature this winter will
be asked to appropriate funds for the
erection of permanent exposition hall
and other improvements of like charac-
ter. The survey is for the purpose OF
properly arranging these buildings on
the fair grounds. The department now
has about $4,000 cash on hand, and
with the help Of the legislature will be
able to erect $4,000 building next
year to add to the permanent stock pa
vilions which were erected last year.
To Study Agriculture.
Mr.. c. F. Rush, of Kent, England, is
organizing secretary Of a party forming
there to come to this country early in
1904 to study agriculture. Mr.. Rush
has written G. ]. Zintheo, professor of
farm mechanics in the Iowa state col
lege at Ames, for information as to fees
and details of the work in farm machin-
cry, farm motors, farm drainage, and
so forth. Mr.. Rush and party plan, If
the work is as anticipated, to take
years course at Ames. This department
has only been instituted few weeks,
but it is the most complete course in
that work to be obtained anywhere.
The practical Importance of the work
is shown by the fact that 1t has thus
early attracted attention across the At
lantic.
Latest Temperance Policy.
One of the judges of the district of
Polk county has begun making decisions
in accordance with the latest and most
approved temperance policy. Recently,
in divorcing couple, he gave the father
the privilege Of seeing his own children.
left in the custody of the mother, as
often as he desired, provided he kept
sober; if he should drink, the court held
that he might not see the children. The
man, from whom the wife gained d.
vorce on the ground of intoxication, has
not touched liquor since The extent to
which the father love will overcome the
love for liquor is being watched with
considerable interest by the court Off
Gals and the temperance workers.
Want Elevator Room.
A bill has been prepared in northern
Iowa and will be urged upon the next
legislature providing that railroad COM
panies shall be required to give farmers
elevator room on their rights of way
whenever demanded, within reason.
This is movement on the part of the
farmers to head off the Grain Dealers
association of the state, which they
think now rather monopolizes the ele-
vator business. The farmers do not try
to compel the railroads to deal with
scoop-shovel dealers who load cars from
wagons instead of elevators; but they
do demand the right to build elevators
alongside the railroad tracks in what
ever communities they desire.
Want New Laws.
The retail grocers of Iowa expect to
ask the legislature this winter for two
important laws. One will be a so-called
pure food law, which will require the
manufacturers of food preparations to
place on the exterior of their packages
the ingredients of their mixture The
other will be to cut down the amount
Of wages which is made except under
the present law from execution for debt.
The grocers want an ght-dollar-a-week
limit now. The present law absolutely
exempts the wages of the heads of fam
lilies from execution for debt. Under
the proposed law but eight dollars of the
wages would be exempt
Crop Conditions.
The Grain Dealers association of
Iowa has prepared statement giving
review of the crop conditions of Iowa
during the past year. 1t finds that the
average yield of corn this year has been
38 bushels to the acre, which is high. It
also found that rs per cent. less acreage
was put in corn this year than last. That
is the acreage which yielded matured
corn was that much less than last year.
More acreage was planted, but it did not
yield, being flooded out.
LEON BROWN.
New Interurban Road.
A new line of interurban railway il
being projected at Oelwein that will
connect a number of the principal