Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-28
STATE BUILDING Fund
Urgent Need OF One Empha-
sized by Disaster at Glen
wood Institution
THE IOWA FLOOD PROBLEM
Des Moines People Have Come to Stern
Realization That Conditions Have
Changed Very MateriaIy-No Fear
of Epidemic Followins-Cumr1,ns to
Attend Dubuque Banquet.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. May 2S.-The experience
of the state of Iowa in the matter of
the loss on state buildings at Glenwood
emphasizes the value of the suggestion
which has often been made by Chair
man Cownie of the state board of con-
troll to the effect that the state might
well afford to set apart a permanent
! fund of from 100000 to double that
amount to be made use of in the con-
struction of state buildings where they
are destroyed by fire or otherwise. Mr..
| Cownie has been opposed To the idea
of the state buying insurance, and in
this he is supported by other members
Of the board, by the superintendent of
| institutions. heads of colleges and
schools. and by most OF the state Off
GERS. If they could secure a blanket
policy covering all the buildings of the
state at a reasonably low rate, they
might consider it, but in fact the in
surance companies would not do this,
state buildings and the fact they are
| scattered and that many of them are
! already fireproof they say that the
state can much better afford to carry
! the Insurance than any private insur-
ance corporation. But the experience
of the board at this time illustrates
anew the state of affairs which APP
| peared when the college buildings were
| burned two years ago. The board had
expended all the money at Glenwood or
authorized the expenditure which t
has available until after the legislature
meets. Two new fireproof cottages.
costing $4,000, are under process of
construction at Glenwood and they
We're much needed. The contract was
also let for n fire station and COW
barn. But the board has no money for
repairs at Glenwood. AnG the state
executive council has practically no
money for that purpose. The neces-
sites of the day at the Council Bluffs
school sC IA ideally
exhausted me appropriation which was
in the hands OF the council for emer-
gencies. 1t is plain thst there ought to
be larger fund somewhere that could
be drawn on for the use of the state
officials in rebuilding in case Of fire
or storms. and it should be so safe
guarded that it might only be drawn on
with the consent OF the executive coun
ell or other proper body in addition to-
the board that has its expenditure. The
simplest of temporizing can only be
followed at Glenwood.
The people Of Des Moines have come
lat last to stern realization of the fact
that conditions have changed materially
in Iowa and that hereafter and for al!
time ii may be expected that there
will be occasions when the water in the
streams rises higher than it ever did
in the early years of statehood. The
blowing up of the broad praries, the
placing of thing, the growing OF for
ests etc. have made this reality The
deep sod of wild prairie holds water
better than Il plowed field. The water
which comes down now reaches the
streams quicker than it did In other
years and hence the rivers rise quicker
and higher and there is more danger.
Des Moines people are suffering from a
second flood within q year and this one
promises to be as bad as the one of last
June save that the people living along
the lowland are better prepared to meet
it and will not wait as long before
moving out. The leveeS that were brok-
en- over last year were all rebuilt and
some of them were made higher. But
it is certain that scores of houses
will have to be abandoned in the next
few days on account of flood. One
matter which caused apprehension last
year will not create much worry this
year. 1t was feared that an epidemic
would follow and that fevers and other
ailments would prevail in the over
flowed district. This was happily
avoided last year and there is no danger
Of it this year. Promptness in clean
ing up after the flood was all that was
needed.
Gov. Cummins will attend the ban
quet given to President Roosevelt ana
his party by Senator Allison on the
Dubuque next week. The governor will
of course be with the presidential party
along the way and will be at Dubuque
where a fine banquet has been ar
ranged and some of the best speakers in |
the state will be present.
The governor has issued parole
to Edgar de Muells. a young man of
Dubuque who confessed to taking some |
money belonging to another. No finer
of clemency We're ever |
presented a governor than were given |
for this young man and there is no /
doubt OF the propriety of issuing the
parole. But it is remarked by those I
who come to the governor in search |
of clemency that he is not one easily |
moved.