Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-08-24
NOTES FROM The CAPITAL!
Dcs Moincs, August 81. 100!


Dcs Moines, August 81, 1905.
There was a very decided increase
in the coal production of Iowa mines
last year, according to the biennial
report of the state mine inspectors
filed with the governor recently,
and which was the second report SO
filed, following the report of the treas
urer of state but a few days. This In
crease was about 100000 tons. 1t Is
described by the inspectors as upusu-
ally high increase. However, II was
not uniform. or the tw~enty-three coal
producing counties of the state, Mon
roe. Polk and A~ppanoose produced
more than three.hfts Of last years
output, or over 60 per cent. Eleven
counties produced more than 100, 900
tons each, while the combined output
of all the remaining twelve counties
amounted to but little more than
160, 900 tons. Not only did the coal
output increase immensely last year,
but The number OF accidents decreas-
ed materially. For the biennial period
the accident record Is good. IL was
55 fatal and 1874 serious accidents. In
1905 one life was sacrificed to 1884,
5S4 tons mined, or Ia per 1000 en-
ployes, a record never before surpas-
sed. In 1902 the record was AZ per
1000 employees, or one fatal accident
to every 100, 25S tons produced. or
the 1924 employees in and about the
mines OF Iowa last year, 12,197 were
actually employed in digging the g.
S06,011 tons which were produced.
| nh total pnnahnr ~ anNn1nvng In
creased from 1876 to 1884 and OF
miners from 11,19S to 12,l97.
The recent number OF suicides from
/ carbolic acid poisoning, and the mum
Der OF accidents which have occurred
from installing the powerful drug for
some less deadly medicine or liquor,
have brought local authorities to a
realization OF the necessity Of string
ent laws in regard to the sale OF the
acid, and an effort will probably be
headed by the local board OF health
TO have a law passed at he next leg
islature. or the many suicides and at
tempted suicides which have occurred
In Des Moines In the last three
months, to great majority have been
from carbolic acid, and the prevalence
of this seeming mania has attracted
the attention OF local physicians to
the pressing need for laws regulating
the sale Of the drug. Under present
conditions, carbolic acid may be
bought In any drug store without any
precaution being taken by the sales
man as to the use to which II Is to be
put, and this easy method OF procur-
ing the poison probably accounts for
the number Of respondent persons
who buy It with the idea of ending
their lives.
Senator G. NJ. Titus OF Muscatine
IL sending letters to the county audi
tors Of Iowa, asking them to present
to the board OF supervisors at their
September meeting n suggestion that
concerted action be taken to induce
the legislature to fix county officers
terms at four years instead of two.
It is the theory of Senator Titus
that the official ballot hex year will
be a blanket unless something Is done
to cut down the size OF 1t. He does
not undertake to agitate In favor OF
n four year term for state officers.
but of course that will follow eventu-
ally. He does not mention 1t In his
letter to the county auditors.
The state mine inspectors predict
an Increase of 80 per cent In the coal
mined In Polk county the current
year. The product In the year end
ing June 80, 1905, was 1904, 521 tons.
Not less than 100000 tons are ex-
pected to be mined In the coming
e More than $500 men have been
employed in the Polk county mines
during the last year. There were fif-
teen fatal accidents during the bien-
NAL period just ended. The total put
put OF coal during that period was
2,070,6 93 in this county which Is an
average of 13S,D46 tons to each per-
son fatally injured. The average is
very low. Nearly all Of the mines
now under construction, said Mine
Inspector Sweeney OF this district, are
going to be large producers. A ma
jority Of them will nave railroad ia
%c!lities. Some of these mines have had
to be sunk 275 feet to get to coal
measures OF advantageous thickness
| anu COIulllOnD. y Hdp laNVh "h 'io
nous sum Of money to develop them.
1--WE are confident that the brewery
petition has been defeated" said DR..
[. N. McNash emphatically. Il am
satisfied the sentiment is strongly
against 1t and that not nearly enough
signers have been secured. ! think
too, that the men who expected TO
back It financially are not willing to
go into It with the sentiment 80
strong against 1t"
The temperance forces and anti
brewery element throughout the city
now express universal confidence In
the defeat Of the petition and in 80 far
AS can be learned the claim appears
to be reasonable.
Harry Seki, a young Japanese OF
Council Bluffs, procured q license 10
wed Miss Mamie Watts, a white
-lt -. .Nnalr LtnUliGh and