Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-29
RAILROAD LOSES The BONUS
Iowa Fails Line Completed, but Not in
Time to Secure Bonds,
ALL READY TO MAKE DAMASCUS STEEL
Thirty-six Thousand OF Fifty Thou
sand Dollar Fund for
nuated Methodist Ministers.
IL Raised.
tFrom a SIAN correspOndent.l

pltltu IOm lOWh rams " Oo5 hOhhSo ohN
has been put in condition for 'trafnc, will
soon start additional trains and put on an
excellent service, making connections with
the Illinois Central trains east and becom-
ing to all intents and purposes a feeder for
the Illinois Central. though separate from
It. The company has put up an excellent
track and the trains will run into the
union depot In Des Moines. 1t had been
expected all along that the company would
secure a handsome tax bonus from towns
along the way and tax aid was voted in
Nevada and other places, but all on condi-
tion that the company should complete its
line and have Il in operation to Des Moines
by January 1 Of this year. The company
did lay track into the city limits and run a
train in on the last day OF the year, but
did not succeed in establishing regular
service for some time afterwards. The
town council at Nevada at first voted to
have the tax levied. but later rescinded
the order and now II the company secures
any of the aid It will be after a long tight
in the courts. The general impression is
that the bonus will never be secured.
VIII Make New steel.
The Damascus Steel company, which was
formed in this city to manufacture the
steel which is the invention Of S. R. Daw-
son, has decided upon engaging directly in
manufacture and has purchased a mill at
New Brighton, Pa. The company is formed
largely of Des Moines and Iowa capitalists.
Before going into the scheme Dawson gave
abundant evidence hat he was able to
make steel by a very simple process direct
from soft iron by addition OF chemicals.
While he was serving time in the %peniten-
tiary for the murder Of his son-in-law,
desperate efforts we're made to wrest from
him the secret Of his invention. but he
would not give IT up, even to those who
had then partially formed a company to
manufacture the metal. Now he has con-
fded his secret to one other man so that
in case he should die someone will know
how to make the steel. Des Moines people
have great confidence in Dawson. He is
Just one OF these queer, erratic g~eniuses
most likely to hit upon some great lnven-
ton, and he has certainly demonstrated his
ability to make steel Of a superior quail
ity and do it very cheaply.
! Fund for Ministers.
The movement to establish a permanent
fund to make provision for supersnnuated
Methodist ministers is making excellent
progress In the Des Moines conference OF
the church, which embraces all southwest
ern Iowa. For three years Rev. Fletcher
Brown OF this city has been engaged in
work for this fund and to date has secured
about $50. 900. He was commissioned by the
conference to raise $50. 600. which will be
! invested where IL will yield a permanent
income which will be used to give assist
ance to ministers who have passed their
usefulness and are in need. Mr.. Brown re-
ports that It is only a matter OF time In
getting the matter before the members OF
his church in the conference and that the
sum will be raised in less than two years
more.
Convention Held July 1.
The republican state central committee
held a meeting here today and made an
excellent start for harmony In the cam
paign this year as every faction was
taken unanimously. The date was fixed for
July /, and the place Des Moines. George
d. Perkins of Sioux City. was unanimously
selected as temporary chairman Of the con-
vention and 1t Is expected he will make
an address that will be concilatory and pave
the way for entire harmony. There was no
discussion of the platform and this is re-
garded as practically settled at this time.
Iowa Crops.
Iowa Crop Bulletin for week ending April
27:
The past week was cool and cloudy, with
light rainfall. Al the central station the
daily temperature was S degrees below nor
NAL. which was about the average def
cheney for the state. Light to heavy frosts.
with some ice, were observed on several
mornings, and traces Of snow were reported
at a number Of stations on the 2Sth. The
extent OF damage to fruit cannot be as
certained at this time, but 1t is probably
not heavy.
The general conditions for farm work
have been somewhat better than during the
preceding week. The soil is slowly drying.
though there is still great excess Of mois-
ture in fiat and u~ndrained nelds, some Of
which are not likely to be seeded or
planted this season. Seeding Of small grain
is practically completed, except in portions
Of the north central and northern districts.
Early seeded fields generally show a good
stand, though the growth has been retarded
by cold weather.
Wherever the land 10 sufficiently dry,
blowing for corn has been vigorously
pushed. In a few favored locations in the
west and southwest planting has been be-
gun. Reports indicate that the soil Is gen
orally heavy, and more than the usual
amount Of labor is required to put 1t In
8 good filth for planting. With the restora-
D ton Of normal weather conditions the crop
outlook will be good.
Settling Mine Troubles.
President Edwin Perry OF the United
Mine Workers, District No. 10. and John P.
Reese commissioner Of the Iowa coal opera
| tors we're in the city yesterday on their
way to the mines at MarQuisville and from
there to Boone to settle some minor differ
ences between operators and miners. Presi-
dent Perry stated that thus far the new
scale was working very satisfactorily.
Three mines OF the district have closed
down, but only one OF them, he said, was
because Of the increased cost of operation.
The Hilton mine and the Christy mine have
been compelled to close because Of an over