Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-08-05


Manchester & Oneida. ....... l,1Os 49,.
Newton & Northwestern. $4,000 80.
Omaha Bridge & Terminal. zoos 80.
Union Pacific ................ 6,45S 80.
Tot Totals egg sc Sc ssno
Net increase ................ SS6.7l9
About half OF this increase is on new
mileage which was not assessed last
year, or II assessed was placed at the
lowest figure because not operated.
The increases made in the main lines
of the Burlington, Great Western, Mil
waukee and Northwestern were partly
due to new lines and partly to large
increases in revenue, as shown by the
reports.
Decide for Voting Machines.
The board of supervisors Of Polk
this fall and adopted the Standard
machine. The United States machine
went in the courts to resist this adop-
ton on the ground that the Standard
machine did not comply with the law.
The case was argued for six days be-
fore Judge Brennan, who decided in
favor Of the Standard machine. The
objection raised against the Standard
machine was that voter could not
vote for different candidates on differ
ent tickets, where two or more men
are to be elected to certain Offices, and
have the vote counted. For instance,
in Polk county four judges are elect.
ed. Under the law regulating the vot-,
ing machines the voter must express
his choice among the names In the ma.
chine, by the mechanical device, He
cannot vote for any man whose name
Is on the regular ticket In any other
way. It Is claimed that the Standard
machine does not allow him to do
this, but that he must vote part Of
such ticket by written ballot, and
under the law this could not be count
ed. The case will be appealed to the
supreme court and until 1t is decided
by that court it is not likely that the
machines will be bought or put into
use. The county of Dubuque is also
considering the use of voting ma
chimes. They cost about $175 each.
Opportunity for Farm Lads.
The stock and corn judging contest
at the Iowa state fair this year will be
Of real practical value to the farm
boys, and they are taking q lively ine
terest in it. as they did last year. II
gives an opportunity to earn q schol.
arship at the State Agricultural coll
lege. The conditions are the same as
last year, namely: Young men Of Iowa
under 81 years Of age will judge on
Monday, August 20, at nine a. M, two
rings each OF horses, cattle and swine,
consisting Of three or more animals,
and not less than two varieties Of corn
of ten ears each. The one who proves
to be the best Judge will receive q
credit Of 5000 at the Ames college.
Blank applications for entering the
contest may be secured from John @.
Simpson, secretary Of the state board
of agriculture, Des Moines. All entries
must be in the hands Of Secretary
Simpson by August 10. Students in
the short courses at Ames may enter
this contest, but regular students Of
agriculture are barred. as 1t is intend
ed for beginners. Those who were in
last years contest are also permitted
to enter this contest. Ellis Rail, Of
Birmingham, won last years contest,
and is now regular student at Ames.
Building Contract Awarded.
The contract for the central portion
and east wing of the state historical
building, diagonally across from the
state capitol, has been let for $167, 0Se.
This is for the bare building. The
council has spent $4,000 for the site
and $4,000 for the excavations. Com
tracts for the wiring for $4,000, ire
proofng $S,770, and plastering 1914
have also been awarded, which will
nearly use up the 100000 appropriated
by the legislature for the purpose. II
is expected that the building will be
completed as far as these contracts ara
concerned by January, 1906, although
1t will not be ready for use then. The
finishing and furnishing and much
other work will then be provided for.
The west wing of the building, which
has been In use for four years or more,
cost about $4,000 to build, besides fur
nishing and finishing. It is occupied
only by the state historical depart
ment. When the new building is ready,
the state library and state library
commission will move from the state
house and occupy 1t, leaving the pres
emit state library room for the exclus-
i've use OF the law library, which Ia
!. very large and needs the room.
Flood Protection Uncertain.
The city Of Des Moines is wavering
between the viaduct and the river
flood protection. The viaduct was
promised to be built over the railway
tracks when the army post was se1
cured. It has not been built, and now
that it is proposed to vote tax OF
about 100000 to pay for the river
front protection, there is some likeli-
hood that the viaduct may be lost
sight of. It is feared that the river
work will cost a good deal more than
Is now estimated, and the Commercial
Exchange has taken the matter in
hand, proposing that committee OF
business men shall act as q consulting
committee on these works, and also
that an experienced government en-
gtneer shall be employed to plan the
river work. It is likely that an effort
will be made to secure the cooperation
OF the United States government in
the protection Of the city from food
damage. The floods interfere with in
terstate commerce. with the transpor-;
tation Of the mails and threaten gov
ernment property in the city, 80 Con-
gresham Hull thinks he can secure IN
appropriation from congress to aid