Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-17
STATE HOLDS TO ITS TITLE
Governor 0ummins Declines 10 Ask for
Rssurvey of Lake Beds,
ODD FELLOWS TO DEDICATE THEIR HOME
Asphalt Company Turns n Trick I'm
Paving war by Buying Up Largest
of Des Moines Brick
Making Plants.
From a stafr Correspondent

ernor Cummtns has declined TO ask the sur
yeyor general Of the United States land
office for a resurvey Of the lake beds and
surrounding land claimed as accretion
land, as asked for by a large number of
property owners who live adjacent to the
lakes in northern lows that have been dry
ing up for several years. There has been
much litigation over these lake beds and
the land formed by drainage of the shallow
ones and the United States court recently
passed on one very important case which
was taken there by the state; but there Is
a great deal Of the land still in dispute
and the trouble is regarded as only in It's
incipiency unless some definite action is
taken to end the controversies To this
end the land owners who are claiming land
in the lake beds by reason OF owning the
surrounding land asked to have the land all
resurveyed and declared swamp land. To
do this the governor would have to certify
his belief that The state has no actual right
in the land and that it disavows owner
ship. But the state claims the ownership
of the lake beds and the right TO dispose
OF the same after retaining. The state
executive council has been leasing the re-
claimed lands for a nominal sum for a
number Of years to preserve this right in
the title, and the secretary Of the council
has just been directed to secure bids again
for another year for the lease OF these
lands. In this way the state will hold its
title until the Legislature takes some action
looking to n clearing of the titles and
disposal of the whole matter.
odd Fellows Home Dedication.
r. L. THton Of this city has been Sc
lected as the orator for the dedication of
the orphans home built at Mason City
the ceremonies to take place May 26. The
grand lodge officers will go from here and
a large delegation of Odd Fellows will &C
company them. The home has now been
completed and will soon be opened. Mrs.
]. w. Lewis Of Ottumwa has been selected
as the matron. A large delegation of Odd
Fellows from all over the state will be at
Mason City. Mrs. Alice Bellamy of Knox
VILE will represent the Rebekahs. The
Odd Fellows Orphans home has been built
by the grand lodge at a cost of about S4O.-
900, and the building is 65x152 feet in size,
and has a farm with 300 apple trees in con-
n%ection.
Asphalt Versus Brick Warfare.
Another turn was given today to the
long-staDding fight of the brick combine of
this city to prevent Des Moines or any Of
the cities Of Iowa from using any paving
other than Des Moines brick, the asphalt
people. practically effecting the purchase of
the most extensive brick plant in the state.
This is the Capital City Brick and Pipe
company. of which ]. B. McGorrisk OF Des
Moines and Omaha is president. Negotia-
lions have been in progress for several
weeks to this end. A few days ago the \
Barber asphalt people got a big contract
for brick paving in Waterloo. undertaking
the other brick companies. This necessi-
lated the completion OF the deal here, and
today representatives Of the asphalt COM
panies met the brickmaker and concluded
arrangements for the purchase Of the Cap
ital City plant for 800, 900. This will en-
able the asphalt people to compete with the
brtckmakers in the use of brick for paving
In Iowa., and IT is regarded as certain TO
END In cutting prices on all kinds of paw
ing in this state. 1t has been shown in
the past that the Des Moines
were selling brick in cities of the state
tar below Des Moines prices and the belief
has been general that the companies were
in a close combine.
Accusations Against Hull.
A sensational story comes from Pueblo.
Colo, relating to Captain ]. A. T. Hull of
this city, member OF congress and chair
man OF the house committee on military af-
fairs. 1t relates to the probating Of the will
of Captain Hull's father. Dr.. A. Y Hull
formerly and for many years a resident
here. There has been some contest over
the will aud Captain HulI's sister. Mrs.
Morris, who is a wealthy society woman !
OF Pueblo, makes afhdavit that the will
which was filed for probate was not the
same will that was shown her by Captain
Hull a few days after the death OF DR..
Hull, thai there is a wide difference in
the handwriting and that the wording has
been changed, and that the codicil to the
Will, which favored Mrs. Morris and her
brother, was not filed with the will until
several months after the new will was j
hled. Nothing is known here about any
trouble over the will. Captain Hull has
not yet returned from Washington since
the adjournment Of congress.
Miners Making Progress.
, The conference of miners and mine op-
orators In session here was continued today.
but very little done. The work OF prepar-
ing the schedules is in progress and the
miners and operators hope to finish during
the week.
The articles Of incorporation Of the Jack
son Telephone company OF Preston, Jack
son county, were filed with the secretary
Of state today. Capital, $25 900; n. ].
Millhoem, president; F. ". Potter. secre-
tary. The Elkader Opera House company
has been incorporated; capital, $12, 900; R.
e. Price, president; L. E. Corlett. secre-
tary.
Prohibition Party Work.
The alliance formed in Des Moines which
brought f. w. Emerson of Kansas to the
city for prohibition party work is the forty
third formed in the state, and the prohibit
tion workers report that the movement is
in excellent condition in the state. Chair
man Elwell reports alliances formed in the
following places in Iowa in addition to Des
Moines: Ames. Marshalltown, lie Clair,
Quasqueton. Jesup, Edgewood, Grinnell,
Manchester. Cedar Rapids, Perry, Sac City,
Columbia, Knoxville, Fayette. Bonduran,,
Center Point, Central City, Coggon, Ep-
worth. Cambridge, Norwalk. Oakland, Alton,
Waterloo, Iowa Falls, Vincent, Boone,
Webster City. Lake City, Kiron, Council
Bluffs, Forest City. Birmingham, Stock
port, Kale. Fairfield. Oskaloosa, Goldheld,
Vilisca, Red Oak, Washington, Woodbine,
open New Coal Mines.
FIT. DODGE, Ia. March 16.-tspecial Tel
egram. 1T Is announced today that a
large new coal company is to be formed to
onarata the large mines southeast OF FIT.