Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-19
BOARD OF HEALTH PUZZLED
OnfsSSss Inability to Cope with Epidemic
Of Spinal Meningitis
WABASH MUST RECONSTRUCT ITS BRIDGE
State Executive Council In = Deadlock
over the Election of q Mail
Carrier and Postmaster at
Capitol Building.
From a star correrpondent.>

DIES MONIES. April 1S-Cspeclal. THE
State Board OF Health and others interested
arc much concerned over the spread OF
spinal meningitis in different parts Of the
state and the apparent inability Of the
health officers to control the epidemic. In
Appanoose county, near Centerville, II has
broken out in bad form and q number Of
deaths have been caused. In northern and
central Iowa a number Of cases are re-
ported The health authorities have never
had to deal with such an epidemic before
and about all they can do is to request
isolation OF all cases. II is feared that a
general wave Of this strange illness may
sweep tho state. causing great damage.
Council Bluffs Case Decided.
A bit OF bad railroad engineering near
Council Bluffs must be corrected, but the
railroad commission refused to order a new
bridge for the wabash over Mosquito creek,
The commission inspected the place last
Monday and today gave an order. N. p.
Dodge and others complained because q
trestle work supported by piling over
Mosquito creek obstructed the water and
caused damage, The commission found this
to be true and II was because the trestle
did not go directly across the stream and
the rows Of pilng ran diagonslly. Instead
Of ordering an entire new bridge as the
compliments asked the commission d.
rected the Wabash to rearrange the piling
so as to be in harmony with the flow OF the
stream. This must be done in ninety days.
The creek lie narrow and tortuous and
at times carries a large volume Of water.
Cannot Choose Mail Carrier.
1t appears that the state executive coun-
ell is up against a hard proposition'-the
matter Of selecting a mail carrier for the
state capitol, and, in fact, Is in a deadlock
on the matter. Colonel r. c. Hubbard,
who had long acted as mail carrier and
postmaster, died a few weeks ago, and a
dozen or more want the place. A number
Of the candidates are old soldiers and there
is very little doubt that an old soldier will
be selected 1t is. however, difficult place
and will require a man capable Of great
deal Of hard work The candidates repre-
sent various sections of the state.
Military Maneuvers Planned.
General Thrift and the four colonies Of
Iowa regiments, Iowa National Guard, in
company with a representative of the Elev-
enth cavalry, United States Army. called
upon Governor Cummins today and planned
for the extensive military maneuvers OF
the guard in conjunction with portions Of
the regular army next summer. It IL
the regulars. also the signal corps. in con-
junction with the state guards, and to have
a series of operations in and near Des
Moines, covering a full week. II will be
the first time anything OF the sort has been
tried in Iowa
Slight snow I'm Iowa.
Only a slight snow fell in Iowa this morn
ing and but trace OF snow at Des Moines
There was frost last night, and the last
two or three days there has been almost
constant freezing weather, which has in
jured the prospect of a fruit crop
Joint Schedules on Freight.
The State Railroad commission will, on
the sth OF next month, take up the matter
OF adjusting rates and arranging a schedule
of joint rates for Iowa The law went
into effect at once and the commission il
given very little time in which to make in
vestigation with a view TO making the joint
rates In the meantime the commission will
make a tour OF the state. thoroughly In
specting all the railroad lines and making
inquiries as to the needs Of the people
Delegates to Presbytery.
At the Des Moines presbytery this morn
ing Rev. John L. Gage Of Fairfield Rev. G.
D. Gurley of Sharon and Elders A. johnson
OF Lineville and W. B. Campbell Of Chart
ton, were appointed as delegates to the
General Presbyterian assembly at Column
bus in May. The presbytery will meet In
fall session at Dallas Center.