Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-09-02

to report on the fifth day OF each month
all the births and deaths occurring with
In their jurisdiction for the month pre-
ceding. The returns have previously
been made by the clerks of the district
court for the entire county and have
not been very complete. Physicians and
midwives are also required to report
births and deaths to the local registrar
of vital statistics, who is the city ply
stefan or health officer. In case no ply
clan is in attendance the report must be
made by the family. The supreme court
has held that physicians are required to
perform this service. although some of
them have declared they would not do
so, on the ground, that the requirement
was unconstitutional, exacting service
without compensation. They will not
be able, however, to escape the obliga-
ton.
Result Of Judging Contest.
Thirteen young men appeared to con-
test for scholarship at the state agri-
cultural college, which was awarded by
the state fair to the young man who
should demonstrate his superior ability
to judge cattle, horses, swine and corn.
1t was very close contest, and was won
by Charles F. Steen. Of West Liberty,
who scored 3051a points out Of a possible
400. 1t was noticeable that all the con-
testants but one, who stood second on
the total, were very deficient in judging
swine. Mr.. Steen, for instance, only
scored 52ka out of 100 on swine, whereas,
in cattle and horses he stood 921a and
94Ha. The judging of the contestants
was passed upon by Profs. G. F. Curtiss
and P. G. Golden, of the agricultural COLI
lege; the latter on the corn contest and
Prof. Curtiss for the stock.
Few "Skin Games" at Capital.
The streets of the city have been
singularly free the past week from fakirs
and all sorts of Skin games" which
are usually thick during state fair week,
The present mayor of Des Moines,
George w. Mattern, is determined to
suppress these things and prevent
gambling so far as it is possible to do
so. Several gambling institutions I'M
dertook to open up during the fair, but
they were quickly suppressed and the
paraphernalia of the concerns was
seized. The mayor believes 1t is posi-
BILE to prevent any open gambling in
Des Moines, and there is no doubt that he
can prevent it If he is determined to do
so and requires his police force to carry
out his wishes.
Crops Show Up Well.
The crop record for the past week has
been highly satisfactory since the
weather has been favorable for the corn
crop, and there has been no interference
with stacking and threshing of small
grain; the harvesting Of the hay crop is
also well under way, and the yield is
very good. The quality and yield Of
the oat crop continues to show up we'll
as threshing returns come in. The rain
fall has been well distributed and there
is no longer any danger Of drought.
Pastures have been revived by the show
ers, and altogether the farmers out
look is very bright. If frost holds off
until about the Goth of September the
corn crop will be all that could be de-
sired.
Ex-Mayor Turns Barkeeper.
James NJ Brenton, Familiarity known
as "Jim," formerly mayor of Des
Moines and county superintendent Of
schools of Polk county, has gone into
the saloon business in East Des Moines,
and is in full-fledged personal conduct
of a regular saloon, which is understood
to belong to the big saloon syndicate in
Des Moines The comment of the peo-
pie of the city on this turn of Mr.. Bren-
toms career. it is said, would not be ex-
actly pleasant for the ex-mayor to hear.
F. w. BICKNELL.
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