Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-02-10
IMPORTANT 70 FARMERS.
State Railroad Commission Trying
to Determine What Constitutes
Crossing Over Railways.
VIEWS OF CHANGERS CONCERNING LAW.
st. Louis Fair-Work of Improving
Capitol Building Begun New
Building for Girls at MitchellvIIle
Other Iowa Notes.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Des Moines, Ia, Feb. 2.-The state
railroad commission is wrestling
with problem which is Of much i'm
portance to all of the farmers of the
state. 1t is: What constitutes a
farm crossing over railroad? Here
tofore the railroads have been put
ting gates in their fences and max
ing the embankment passable. Now
certain farmers objected to this kind
of crossing, because it permitted
their stock to run up and down the
right of way of the railroad unless
guards were provided in large num-
| bers. The farmers have appealed to
the railroad commission to define
farm crossing. They insist that the
law means that these crossings shall
be built just as ordinary highway
crossings over railroads are built
that is, with wing fences and cattle
guards, which would prevent the
stock from running from the cross
ing onto the right of way. The COM
mission has taken the matter under
Amusement. r. A. Grove, j. B. Flory,
c. S. Root, j. H. Wcgner and w. d.
Grove, of Keoluk county, were the
farmers who brought the case to the
railroad commission. They are ask
ing the board to order the Rock
Island to put in farm crossing built
like highway crossing.
| Want More Money.
The legislature will probably be
asked for 100000 additional for She
St. Louis exposition exhibit of this
state. The Iowa commission has dis
covered that it can make very lit
tie show with the $4,000 that will
be left after the building is provid-
ed for. All of the interests which
wish to be represented in the exhibit
are urging the commission to spread
out here and there, and the result is
that the commissioners are discour-
aged with the prospect. They de-
clare that they will not, themselves.
ask the legislature for additional
money, but it is understood that they
will be ready tic explain to the legis-
lative committees how and where
more is needed. The commission has
asked Gov. Cummins to send regi-
ment of the Iowa National guard to
ST. Louis to attend the dedication of
the Iowa building when it shall be
completed. The ST. Louis people
have offered to furnish entertain
ment for the regiment il it attends.
ImproNlng the Capitol.
The active work of improvement of
the capitol has begun under the di-
rection of the commission named by
the governor under the law passed
by the last general assembly. So far
Yale locks have been substituted for
the olu-fashioned locks, for which
keys weighing a pound were essen
tial. The wood work about the leg
islative halls. has been repaired and
now the business of interior decorat-
ing, fixing the tile roof of the build
ing and improving the walks and re.
tanning walls around the grounds,
will be undertaken. OF the appro-
priation the sum of about $125OOO is
now available for use. Early in tho
summer work on $4,000 electric
lighting plant and a So. 900 ware
house adjacent to the capitol will be
begun. The building now is lighted
with gas.
New Building for Girls.
The board of control will erect this
year building for the housing of
the smaller girls at the Industrial
school at Mitchellville. Heretofore,
on account of lack of room, the large
and the small girls have been housed
together at this institution. This has
had very bad effect on the morals
of the smaller children. The board
has decided on $4,000 worth of per-
manent improvements at the different
state institutions this year. This,
with the buildings erected during
the past year, will make the tota,
improvements for the biennial per;o,!
amount to about $375,O0O. The fol,
lowing are the improvements which,
have been planned by the board for
the coming season:
Glenwood-Two double cottage.
for boys, $4,000; q new brick barn
$4,000. Mount Fleasant--New laun
dry. $4,000. new brick smokestacls
$500; barn, $4,000. Davenport
Boiler and engine house, etc., $780,.
900. Fort NIadison-Power house
ETC., $21 200. Nfitchellville- build
ing for smaller girls, $4,000. Eldora
School building. $1,000; new shop,
1000.
Charged with Discrimination.
The A. f. Shorthill company, OF
Marshalltowp, has fled complaint
with the Iowa board of railroad com
missioners which will be forwarded
to the interstate commerce commits,
sion, In which it is charged tina,
eastern railroads have Disseminated
against Iowa companies in the trans
portation of coke. A Virginia colss
company's letter to the Iowa firm Is
= included with the complaint, and this
!, letter states that the company would
!. be glad to fill the order of the Iowx
concern, but it cannot get any of tbs
I roads east of Chicago to handle Ihs
freight. 1t claims to be able to shii
200 ears We're the roads willing t.
handle the product. The Iowa ant
: the Virginia companies have had &
standing contract for many years
and the Iowa concern is interested
t in knowing why it cannot get sup
v ply from the usual source. The lows
= commission will add it's endorsement
LIZ