Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-05-05
iowa I|LANl T00 HIGH
POPULATION DECREASE LAID TO
800 AN ACRE FARMS.
HoMEsEEKERs sHUN STATE

Member OF Worlds Fair Commission
Declares He Has Reason for Fall
ing OFF in Census Reports
Banks Factor.
Especial Correspondence
Des Aoines, Ia, May /. Statistics
from the state census bureau show that
there has been very noticeable drop in
the population Of Iowa and to explain
this officials are advancing many the
cries, but as a rule feasible reasons for
thoroughly solid answer to the question
OF why the state seems to be in disfavoT
to home-builders, is offered by Hon. w.
T. Shepherd, Of Harlan, a member of the
worlds fair commission. Speaking OF
the shrinkage in lowas population, he
says: THE price Of land in the state OF
Iowa, which has now reached the 500
mark per acre, is entirely too high when
we take into consideration we have not
the wage earners to make this land q
paying investment. II we expect to in
crease our numbers we must put down
the price of land, or make 1T an induce
mint for the manufacturing establish
ments to locate In every part Of the state.
We are not giving them the encourage.
ment We should. There is too much
money in the banks, too. Instead OF
Dragging on this condition, we should
rather feel that it represents condi-
ton that is unfortunate, to say the least.
This money should be placed somewhere
where it will do something in the way
of promoting industries. which is nee
essary to make the Iowa land worth
what We ASK for it. With proper sur.
roundings and encouragement to wage
earners to locate here, we can make Iowa
lands worth the present valuation. AS
1t Is now, home-seekers shoot clear over
this state and are going to the western
states and to Canada, where they can
find lands on which to earn a living.
Settlsrs No Longer Attracted.
I'VE have ceased to attract settlers,
and the population in the rural communi-
ties is decreasing at such rate that 1t
makes US ashamed of ourselves when
we come face to face with the state or
government census. | am against the
idea OF boarding money. and believe that
1t was made to be used for active op-
erations, and not simply to swell the de-
post accounts of city and country banks.
We must give encouragement in finan-
cial way to tbs manufacturing indus
tries, and we must give tEam further en-
eonragepent in the way OF tagiH. It
seems to me that the great agricultural
state Of Iowa has gotten past the day
when 1t must give all of its encourage
ment to the infant industries along the
sea shore. Protection is all right in its
way, but Iowa farmers must not give all
OF the time to the eastern manufacturers
70 the detriment Of their own. We must
work out M iowa idea, and one that
Will mean something fer Iowa. and not
altogether for the other feliows.n
Pushes State Liquor Sale.
ha Representative weeks OF
Guthrie county will distinguish him
self by the introduction Of bill pro-
vidiRg for state sale Of intoxicants.
The scheme, Mr.. Weeks points out,
has been successfully adopted In
South Carolina, and the abolition OF
the private saloon, he says, has proven
a check on the c. o. D. evil. The
Guthrie representative has been study
ing the Carolina method and others
Of controlling the liquor supply from
the time It passes into the hands of
the retail consumer, and clauses which
will coincide with Iowa conditions will
be culled from the laws of other states.
to form part OF the system in this
state. Speaking OF the necessity for
such law, Representative Weeks
says: THE condition in some sections
of the state is deplorable in the ex-
treme," said Mr.. Weeks, at the Slavery
hotel, recently. I'm some Of the
country towns we can see the fellows
hasten to the depot on Saturdays and
later find them on lumber pies and
telephone poles all around, bountifully
supplied with the liquid which they
crave. This liquor is being shipped
into communities which have no mulct
saloons or other means of supplying
the want, by the G. o. D. express pack
age from out Of the state. I have not
yet carefully considered the extent to
which we shall be able to control in.
tersrate traffic Of this character, in
view of the recent decisions of the
United States supreme court adversely
to the state OF Iowa, but it seems to
me possible that the law may be SO
adjusted that we can prevent the sale
to individuals by separate and distinct
g. o. d. shipments Of liquor manu-
featured outside Of the state. This
matter remains to be determined, how
ever. have not yet given 1t sufa.
cient investigation to say definitely
what the powers Of the state may be.
If it shall itself assume the exclusive
right Of sale OF intoxicants."
Report Declared False.
Sioux City journalists are responsible
for the great mass Of wouldbe teachers
that has been besieging the Offices Of pub
lie instruction officials throughout the