The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-08-27

about 40 miles. The story that the
Great Western line was about to be
sold to the Milwaukee is shown by this
arrangement not to be true. The new
ly constructed line will be shorter than
the Great Western even.
An Italian Band.
Iowa probably will exhibit in the
building devoted to this state on the
st. Louis exposition grounds next year
an Italian band which will be claimed
as an Iowa product. 1t was organized
at the city of Davenport by Charming
Ellery and has about 40 members.
Having met some difficulty in securing
employment, because of the fact that
they were Italians and not Americans,
last week the entire band took out nat
uralization papers, 1t is called Ellery's
Royal Italian Band and goes about the
state giving concerts. 1t also has
played in some of the eastern cities.
Against Normal Institutes.
An agitation has been started
against the normal institutes as held
in the different counties of the state.
Newspapers are taking it UP and it is
probable that an effort will be made to
abolish the institute. While attend
ance is not compulsory, teachers are
made to feel that they ought to attend.
The attendance, however, is largely
for those making $25 month or less.
1t is estimated that the normal insti-
tutes of the state cost these teachers
not less than 100000 year. The ex-
penditure is Of character which the
teachers can i'll afford, it is said, and
from which little benefit is reaped.
Going TO Europe.
Abbot Alberto, OF the monastry of
New Meleray at Dubuque, will leave
this week in Europe, where he will be
in conference with the other abbots
of the order who have been summoned
from all parts of the world for con-
vention, in which views viii be ex-
changed as to the future policy and
growth OF the order Many OF the
Trappist monasteries Of Europe have
been abandoned in recent years and it
is probable that the monks from these
will be scattered among the other
homes through the different countries
in which monasteries are maintained.
In all likelihood a number win come
to Iowa. There is, a possibility that a
large extension of the order in Amer
lea Will be attempted.
Wants Expenses Limited.
Mr.. w. L. Eaton, speaker of the
house of representatives, and who will
retire from Office before the meeting
of the next general assembly, says that
he expects to use his influence next
winter to induce the legislature to pass
laws restricting and limiting the ex-
penses which assurances companies
may incur. At present there is no law
governing this subject Insurance
companies enter into contracts to do
certain things, with reference to Civ
ing insurance protection and repay
ment at the end of periods of time of
certain amounts plus accrued profits,
but nothing is determined either by the
policies or by the law with reference
to how much these profits shall be-
That is, the expense is not limited, and
the companies may expend all Of the
profits in salaries, ETC. Mr.. Eaton will
urge the passage of law governing
this matter
A Rare Find.
James q. McElroy, of Eldora, has Just
made rare find in volume OF Burns
poems held by Scotchman at Dubuque
at a very low figure. The book was
worth $1,000 and Mr.. McElroy acquired
1t at nominal price. 1t is one of the
three extant copies of the second edi-
ton of Burns poems printed in about
1880 at Kilmarnock. There are only
two other volumes of this edition
known to exist, in this country at least.
Mr.. McElroy has managed to collect a
very fine library of old and rare books
which have great value. In all proba-
bility he will give them to some public
institution like the State university
eventually.
Remarkable Hogs.
Timothy Fairchild, ST., Of Coralville,
Johnson county, has on hand some re-
markable hogs. They are of the York
shire and Tamworth breeds. The lat
ter grew the larger and Mr.. Fairchild
has several in his yards which weigh
more than 600 pounds. One animal
weighs 1000 pounds. 1t is not fattened
either, but is in ordinary field flesh. It
is estimated that from 300 to 400 addi-
tional pounds of flesh can be placed on
the bones of this brute and in all proba-
bility 1t will be exhibited at the interna-
tional live stock show in Chicago in
December.
Pired First Shot.
J. c. Jordan. the young colored man
who fired the first shot at the battle
of Manila bay, being gun captain in
the forward turret of the flagship
Olympia, on which Admiral Dewey was
during that fight, has been in Des
Moines during the past week He is
visiting here the parents of colored
boy who was killed in the gun explo-
sion on the battleship Iowa few
months ago. Jordan has been in the
navy for about 16 years.
A Good Record.
But four of the 81 convicts released
from Anamosa during the last bien-