davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05

Z. 1t will be noted that in the mean tenn
perature of the two years the difference
was only1. 2 degrees, ,butin the three sum.
mer months the daily average tempera.
ture was degrees higher in 1901 than
in 1902. And following the cool and ex-
cessively wet summer of 1902 the daily
temperature Of September was So de-
grees below normal, which so disastrous
ly affected the corn crop in the ripening
period.
The most striking contrast in these
two years was in the amount of rainfall
in the critical months of the crop sea-
son. The crops in 1901 suffered mater
tally from effects of excessive heat, and
the quality of the products Of 1902 was
greatly impaired by excessive rains,
floods and winds. The precipitation in
1901 was 5.6S inches below normal and
In l9O2it was l3 50 inches above nor
NAL, or 1920 inches in excess of the
amount in the preceding year. This
difference in rainfall was most marked
in the period from May 1st to Septem.
ber lst, the amount for 1901 being 8 SO
inches, and IN 1902 80 inches. These
figures represent the averages for the
state, and this implies that considerable
portions of tine state received very much
more than the total above given.
In 1901 there were 178 clear, 1O3 part.
ly cloudy, and 81 cloudy days. In 1902
the numbers were l45 clear, 100 partly
cloudy and Ill cloudy days. The aver.
age number of days on which .Ol inch
or more rain fell for all stations of rec.
ord, was "a in 1901 and 100 in 1902. The
excess of cloudiness and rainfall in the
latter year occurred mainly in the crop
season. As matter of course, with
such notable difference in the precipi.
tation, the last year brought much
greater amount,of destruction to prop.
erty by wind, hail and lightning. The
people who are most interested in the
crops of th,, state were seriously alarm.
ed and excited on account of the drouth
and heat of 1901; but though less fright
ened, they really suffered greater dam.
age from the effects of the abnormal con.
ditiions in 1902.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05
TWO ABNORMAL YEARS.
1901 and 1902 Afford Interesting
Study in Cllmatology.

An interesting study in climatology
is afforded by comparison Of the month
ly weather records of 1901 and 1902,
which may be regarded as types of eli
matte extremes. They certainly attest
the fact that variableness is marked
characteristic of the climate in this mid.
land valley. Within the past biennial
period the extremes did not exactly
meet, bat they came together more
closely than usual. While there is no
evidence of change in the general eli.
mate of this section, yet the records
show sudden changes and great varia-
bilty in the weather conditions as effect
ing the output of crops and the comfort
of the people.
The following table shows the month
ly averages of precipitation and temper.
ature and the departures from normal in
1901 and 1902, for the state of Iowa:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05
A LARGER ASSESSMENT
Increase in this Years Valuation of
Farm Land Looked For-Land
Owners Interested.

In the next two or three months
there will be made complete new cal
estate and personal property assess
ment for Iowa. The real estate assess
ment is made only once in two years.
The assessment this year will be
watched with especial interest, in view
of the enormous increase in the selling
price of farm lands in Iowa since the
last assessment was made.
The fact that the assessment of two
years ago was very deficient was plainly
shown at the time of the railroad as
sessment last July, when the represe nta.
tives of the railroad companies appear
ed before the executive council, and as
an argument against an increase in rail.
road assessments to something near the
25 per cent of actual value contemplat.
ed by the law they showed conclusi vely
that the real estate assessments on
which taxes were then being levied
averaged something less than 20 per
cent of selling values. The railroad
auditors and attorneys placed it at
about II per cent. In support of their
position they presented some tables
that Indicate the deficiency of the last
real estate assessment.
The Rock Island railroad company
had gathered some information as to
values and assessments along the line,
and made showing in some of the
representative counties of the state as
follows:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05

The average per cent of ass sassed value
to estimated actual value ia the several
counties from which the Chicago, Mil
waukee and St, Paul road secured
figures was a fraction over 10.
The Illinois Central pursued still
another plan. A statement was secured
from the county records in each of the
following counties of the actual con.
sideration in three representative land
sales in each. and the assessment on
the same tracts, namely, Buchanan
Buena Vista, Butler, Bremen, Calhoun,
Cherokee, Chickasaw, Crawford, Dele
ware, Dubuque, Floyd, Hamilton,
Hardin. Harrison, Ida, Lyon, Linn,
Mitchell, % Brien, Sac. Woodbury. and
Webster. IL was found that the total
consideration Of the sixty.si represen.
tative transfers in the counties through
which the Illinois Central passes WAS
S645.S 50. The total aggregate assess
ment on the same lands was SlOo, ,35S,
or l6 per cent of actual selling value.
With this surprising showing before
it the state executive council failed TO
increase the railroad assessments to the
figure which would have been demanded
by strict compliance with the law.
adding, however, over 81 100000 to the
assessments, making the total over S5l
100000.
/ The railroad auditors are already err.
gagged in gathering information rs TO
real estate values in Iowa, and will have
these for comparison with the assess.
ment returns from the several counties
to show to the executive council
Members of the council are therefore
much interested for in making the rail.
rad assessments will depend largely
The success of the real estate assessors
IN putting assessments where they are
legally required to be.
1t is regarded as certain that the real
estate assessments will show an enor.
nous aggregate increase over those of
two years ago. Whether they Will come
up to the % per cent is doubte.i. But
unless there is an increase the council
will be up against another hard propo.
sition this year. n
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05
Cutting ARRAY at pIeasanton.

our little city was almost thrown into
conyulsions Sunday night when bang,
pang!.went a revolver, and halt! stop!
was vibrated and echoed over town.
calling people to the streets and causing
the more timid to draw the curtains
thinking that some awful deed or mur.
der was being committed. But this was
the ending. A few minutes before in
front OF 1. j. Graves store ]. w. Bick-
nel'slanatomy vas being cut to piece s.
by Charles Henderson and his brother
Henry and they were making fast their
escape followed by Constable Chas.
Cornett and James Estes and who used
the "persuader' to get the boys to STOP
but having the start and the iron bars
OF the county Jail coming before them :.
1t acted as stimulant and made the.
boys more fleet Of foot in seeking a
place of refuge, across the line.
The trouble came up very unexpect-
edly, Jake says as he was coming from
milking, Henry Henderson accosted
him in front of Graves store and then
Henry's brother Charles came up and
OF course some words were used then
blows. Jake did not see any knife as it
was dark, and did not know that thew
had knife until he received cash in
the shoulder blade, another one in the
back. the ball of bis thumb taken eff
and felt several sashes in his clothing.
BY that time help came, officers and
doctors sent for. DR.. Macy and son ar
rived and examined and dressed the
wound, and did not think any of them
fatal or serious unless the healing pro-
cess was arrested. Jake was up town
early next morning having his hand in
sling and doing what he could at his
work in Haag & Co.'s. store. He SAYS
tits giving him no pain unless he gets
in strain and pulls the wounds open.
but he is very careful and an uninter-
rupted recovery is expected. The
phone wires were brought into active
use after the boys made their flight, but
as yet they have not been apprehended
that we have heard of.-Pleasantop
Index.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05
Change of Officers.

$. G. Mitchell retires from his position
as cashier of the Farmers Bank today
and o. l.. Frazier assumes the reins.
Stephen Radnich will step into the po.
sinon formerly occupied by Mr.. Frazier.
Mr.. Mitchell, the retiring cashier, ex.
poets to remove to the vicinity of Or
tumwa in the near future and give his
attention to farming.
Mr.. Mitchell and his family are most
sstilnable people andit is with feelings
of regret our citizens contemplate their
moving from our midst, but they will
leave with the best wishes of all for their
future prosperity and health.-Dayis
City Lariat.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05
ASK CHANGE OF VENUE
Matt Hunters Attorneys Say Fair
Trial Cannot be Had at MT. Ayr.

The attorneys for Matt Hunter will,
as previously indicated in the News,
ask change of venue for their client,
fearing that he cannot get justice if his
second trial for the murder of Homer
Holland is held in Rlnsgold county.
8. w. Miles is now engaged in securing
affidavits which will be presented to
Judge Parrish when court convenes Feb.
9. Not all the reasons which will be
urged upon the court are included in
the affidavits, but the affidavits max e
the following allegations: That the
homicide and the trial attracted the at
tention and were the subject of general
conversation throughout the county;
that they have been very largely the
subject of conversation from the time of
the homicide up to the present time;
that Homer Holland was we'll known
throughout the county, being an athlete
of great reputation all over Iowa and
especially here at home; that his father,
Capt. Holland, is we'll Known in thi.
county on account of having been sheriff
of the county for six years up to four
years ago, and has made many friends
and great influence in the county; that
the trial of Matt Hunter held in Febru.
ary, 1902, was attended by great mum
ber of people from all over Ringgold
county, exciting large interest; that a,
that trial the Des Moines Leader and
Capital bad reportersin attendance who
sent several columns day to their re-
spective papers, which circulated sever
al hundred copies in the county; also
that the News, the Record and the Jour
nal, circulating total of ove
5000 copies in the county, pub
lished extensive accounts of th'
trial and the evidence, and tina
the Record made severe comments ad
verse'to the defendant; that the whole
county is connected by telephone witt
the county seat and that the homicide
and trial nave been a topic of conver
sation between town and county; the
whole being summed up in the clain
that ltoo much excitement and preju
dice exist for the defendant to get fai
and impartial trial in the county, an,
that on account of the notoriety Of tn
ial, it would be difficult to obtain
Ijury.-Mt. Ayr News.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05
ASSESSORS ARE ABROAD.
Question of Taxation is now Worry.
ing a Large Number of Exten-
siYc Property Owners.

At this time of year, when the as
SCISSORS are at large and may swoor
down upon the unsuspecting people al
any time, the question of taxation is
worrying many property owners. Per.
haps it is because the people of Amer
lea are liberty loving that they object
to paying taxes Perhaps the love is
more for the money than the liberty
but the fact remains that the assessor
is most unwelcome caller at great
many places. In connection with this
matter an address made by ex-Judee
Remley of Anamosa at Marion a short
time ago is timely and of practical in.
terest
The judge began with a statemen,
of the law with regard to the duty of
assessors and finished with an origin
al comment upon the laws and the work
of carrying them out. His address ". g
as follows:
"The' assessor shall list every person
in his township and assess all the
property therein, personal and real,
except such as is exempt or otherwise
assessed, and any person who shall re-
fuse to assist in making out list of his
property or any property belonging TO
others which the law requires him to
give in shall be guilty of misdemeanor
and on conviction may be fined $500
(section 1854. The assessor must ad.
minister the oath printed on the assess
ment rolls and require the person
taking the oath to sign his name there
TO, and if the person refuses to do So,
the assessor must note the fact in the
column opposite his name (section 1854
and such refusal is misdemeanor for
which fine not exceeding $500 may be
imposed (section 1854. He must in
firm the person assessed in writing of
the valuation put upon his property and
notify him if he feels aggrieved he can
appear before the board of review and
show why the assessment shall be
changed (section 1860.
If the person or corporation refuse to
furnish a statement under oath of his
property, the assessor must take an as.
sessment from the best information he
can get and then add to this taxable
valuation 100 per cent, which valuation
and penalty must be separately shown
and the taxes thereon be collected
(sectlon 1850. Anyone making false
statement under oath is guilty of per.
jury (section 1859.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05

] roads. This section should be carried
out more generally than heretofore, but
would advise that the board of super
visors furnish the guide boards and pay
for them out of the general fund, as the
placing of guide posts is great con-
yenience to the general public of the
whole county. Des Moines county
acted on this plan and it gave general
satisfaction.
There is one more section of the road
laws wish to call your attention to; it
has been law for six years or more but
has hardly ever been enforced, and it is
the very one, which in the future
should be strictly enforced by the road
superintendent, as he is given the
power to do so.
l refer to section 1871, "Steam En-
gines on roads, This section provides
that any engine driven in whole or in
part by steam, shall carry four strong
l2.foot planks along, to be placed un.
der the wheels whenever the engine has
to cross a bridge or wooden culvert on
the highway.
| Although heavy fine of $l0O and
imprisonment in jailfor thirty days is
provided for any failure to comply with
this law, nine out of ten owners of steam
engines utterly disregard the same.
They come clanoring before the board
| rfc orr oruico frr to of hoo
and stronger bridges, so they can safely
cross them with their ten and twelve.
ton engines, but to use the least fore.
sight themselves, and comply with the
law, seems to be asking too much Of
them. For this reason the newly
appointed superintendent of roads
should enforce the law strictly, set a
few examples Of violators. and have
them fined to the extent of the law.
Even crossing the heaviest bridges
they injure the floor more or less by
crossing without the under-laying of
planks. In conclusion l will call the
attention of the board of supervisors to
permanent road work, which now
could be more frequently inaugurated,
if the township trustees and board of
supervisors work together in improving
permanently certain main roads within
their districts. The township trustees
who will levy 4.mill road tax, should
every year plan some permanent road
work, either by graveling, where gravel
can be secured, or by macadamizing
when very bad places have to be rs.
paired, or by tilling wet roads. They
should apply to the board of super.
yisors as early as possible, and submit
their plsns, state how much funds and
volunteer work they have to offer, and
am certain that every board of super.
visors in the state would be willing to
assist these townships, the work to be
done under supervisor of tie county
superintendent, where such one is
appointed. The rural mail routes
should be cared for first, because un-
der the new regulations of the govern.
ment, the delivery of the rural mail will
depend on the condition of the roads,
not that the government requires all the
routes to be in good, frst.class con.
dition at once, but what they insist on
is that the districts make All honest
effort to improve the roads even gradu-
ally as we'll as they can with the means
at hand, IN all such efforts they should
receive. aid and good will from the
county board of supervisors.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05

W.STED-In each county local resi-
dent representatives to sell our high
grade cigars to the trade on new
proposition; quality and prices defy
competition. a salesman can easily
make from 5000 to $500 month. Ex-
elusive territory given; no capital need.
ed; no pay for samples exac.ed. Apply
viii references to Geo. SameIs & Co.,
o9-7l Dearborn ST., Chicago, Ills. 22.4t.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05
Mysterious Circumstance.

One was pale and sallow and the
o:her fresh and rosy. Whence the diff
ference? Sue who is blushing with
health uses DR.. Kings New Life Pills to
maintain it. By gently arousing the
lazy organs they compel good dige stion
and head off constipation. Try them.
Only 25c at 1. VanWerden, druggist.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05

The Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul
railway obtained some figures by diff.
ferent method. Estimates were OBJ
tanned from leading bankers and real
estate men in the several counties as to
actual cash value OF land in the coun.
ties, and these estimates were compared
with assessment returns with the fol.
lowing result:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-02-05
Good Housekeepers

Use the best. That is why they use Russ
Bleaching Blue. All good lgrocers. loc. 23-A
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-09
Close
40 Border Line of
: Life and Death.
Neuralgia Of Heart,
Weak Stomach.
DR.. Miles, Heart Cure
Cured Her.

Neuralgia Of the heart causes sudden
death. 1t is an acute affection of the car
diac nerve, just as neuralgia is of the nerves
of the face, usually, and sciatica is of the
nerve trunk Of the thigh. One of its most
stomach and liver. Strengthen the hearts
action and enrich the blood with Dr. Miles
Heart Cure; tone up the nerves with Restor-
alive Nervlne and you will soon be cured.
NERVOUS exhaustion and liver trouble so
affected my wfe's health that she was greatly
run down; neuralgia of the heart set in and
for long time she was very close to the Dor
der line OF life and death. She was attended
by two good physicians, who did all they
could for her, but in spite Of everything she
grew worse right along. One day saw an
advertisement Of DR.. Miles Nervine and
New Heart Cure, and the doctors explana-
ton of the effects of nervous trouble upon
the heart seemed SO logical that decided to
give the remedies a trial. We now know
that the stomach and liver troubles were part
of the heart weakness. She improved won
derfully at once. Her appetite picked up,
she slept well at night and the pain around
her heart rapidly disappeared. Thanks to DR..
Miles Heart Cure in few weeks she was
able to be up and attend to her household
duties, and in few months every sign OF
nervous and heart trouble had vanished"
JAMES ID. SIDLEY, Torrington, Conn.
All druggists sell and guarantee first bottle
DIR. Miles Remedies. Send for free book
on Nervous and Heart Diseases. Address
DR.. Miles Medical Co., Elkhart, Ind.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-09
AN INCENDIARY
Starts a Fire at House at
No. II State Street.
Prompt Work of Firemen Frustrated
the Villains Intentions.
Suspicious Action of Stranger Seen in
That Vicinity.

The fire department was called out.
lat 1890 Saturday evening, in response
to an alarm from Box 81, at the corner
of State street and Western avenue,
which was caused by the discovery of
fire in the story and half frame house
at II State street, which is owned by
Mrs. Louisa Higgins, wife of the late
Stephen Higgins.
The fire was not large one, but be-
ing in the south wall of the house. it
was some little time before it could be
subdued. Owing to the illness Of
Chief Engineer Kicker, First Assistant
Pedder was in charge, and handled the
fire in an able manner. But little water
was put into the house, and the fire
loss will be small.
That the fire was of incendiary
origin, there is not a doubt. The house
was not occupied, as Mrs. Higgins is
passing the winter in another part of
the city. A Mrs. Libby was reported to
have some furniture stored in the
house, and occasionally goes there, but
was not there, Saturday night.
The most conclusive proof that the
fire was set, is the fact that it started
in the cellar window on the south side
of the house. From there it worked its
way in over the cellar stairs, and up
between the studding TO the second
story. The blaze was seen by neigh
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-09

bors before it got much Of a start, and
the alarm WAS pulled.
AS yet it is not known who the in
cendiary was, but a possible clue TO
his identity may be reached by the de-
scription given by a gentleman who
lives in that vicinity, of a man who
was seen by hm running out of the
lane that leads to State street from
the houses in the vicinity of that in
which the fire was. The man was tall
and slender, wore Il black Overcoat and
q black SLOUGH hat, and either had his
pants tucked into boots or CATERS. He
came out at about the time the alarm
sounded, and as he ran by, the gem
tlenlan asked him if there were any
one i'll the house, to which he replied:
I'm damned if I know and kept on
his way down State street, in the di-
rcction of Grove, and soon disappeared.
He may have been all right, but it was
decidedly strange that he should come
from the vicinity of the burning build
ing, and have, at that particular time,
such urgent business at some point re-
mote from the scene of excitement that
he had to run for it.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-09
SIXTEEN YEARS OF cATARRH.
well Known Massachusetts Woman
Cured by Hyomei.

How to cure catarrh has been a
problem in medicine for many year S
that was not solved until the discovery
or Hyomei. This remarkable treat
ment makes it possible for any one to
breathe in an air at home which is al
most identical with that of the Adj
rondacks. the Carolinas or other health
resorts where the air is impregnated
ing trees and plants.
Simply place a little Hyomei in the
inhaler which comes with every out
fit, breathe it occasionally during the
day and benefit will be seen after it's
use for only two or three times. while
perseverance for a few days or weeks
will effect a complete cure of even the
worst case of catarrh.
Mrs. Elvira E. 3. Gibson who holds
responsible position in the great dry
goods store of Jordan, Marsh & Co. of
Boston. wrote in April: Il had catarrh
for twenty years, and the last ten
years (all of which time has been
passed in this great establishment |
suffered fearfully. One half dozen
handkerchiefs per day would be used.
1t extended to my throat; the base of
by tongue was badly affected. | con-
stantly kept in my mouth cardamon
seeds, or some such breath purifier.
could not sleep with my mouth closed.
[ began using Hyomei in December
and in two weeks l was entirely-and
now, after four months and no return
of the disease, can say, permanently
cured. The head of this firm, Mr..
Jordan. endorses this statement
Percy w. Means and Bowditch &
Webster have sold hundreds of Hyomei
outfits, consisting of an inhaler, a medi-
cine dropper and a bottle of Hyome;,
lad with every purchase have given
their personal guarantee to refund the
money if Hyomei did not cure. They
will still sell the treatment on that
plan and every catarrh sufferer ought
to take advantage of their fair PROPOSE
ton.