Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-06-04
BOARD OF CONTROL
AWARDS CONTRACTS FOR FIT
TING Up FOUR NEW STATE
INSTITUTIONS.
MANY FIRMS ENTER CONTEST
Claimed That Much of the Furnish
ings Already Purchased Have Been
Secured at Prices Under the Whole
salers' Usual Quotations to Dealers.

control is making contracts for the
furnishings Of four new buildings
erected at state institutions which are
ready for occupancy The leading
firms Of the middle west are compel
ing. 1t is said that considerable of
the furnishings already purchased
have been secured by the state at
prices less than wholesalers quote to
the average small dealer.
The Davidson Furniture company of
Des Moines has been awarded the
contract for furnishing the girls dor
mitory at the institution for the fee
BILE minded at Glenwood. The build
ing cost $4,000 and was recently
completed. The total cost Of the fur
nishings will be in the neighborhood
Of $4,000. The contract calls for 260
beds, dressers, etc. The contractor
will begin shipping the goods to Glen.
wood at once.
The Smith & Davis company OF St
Louis secured the contract for supply
ing the iron beds for the new cell
house at the Fort Madison penitenti-
airy, which will be opened June Is.
The company will furnish 400 beds
at cost of $3.50 each. The mat
tresses fop the beds are being manu-
featured in the workshop at the peni-
Tertiary. In addition, the board will
buy for each cell a rocking chair, rug,
blanket and mirror.
Bids are now being received for the
furnishing Of the hospital for the tn.
bercular insane at the state hospital
at Cherokee and for the nurses home
recently completed at independence.
The contracts having been let, the
iron beds which occupied the hallway
at the state house for the past month,
will be removed. The presence of the
beds was source Of mystery for Wis
itors at the capitol.
State Orders Sale of Islands.
After being forgotten for twenty
four years, the state has just authoriz-
ed the sale of a tract of land l5.5
acres in extent which forms part OF
the lower section of Council Bluffs,
known as East Omaha. The squatters
will be given first chance to buy the
property at a valuation of 5000 an
acre, the improvements not being TAX.
en- into consideration.
When the Missouri river changed its
course below Council Bluffs some
thirty years ago 1t cut off bend in
which there were 1000 acres Of land
This property was transferred from
Nebraska to Iowa. Persons moved on
1t and claimed possession. The most
OF the land was sold off at various
times to persons wanting 1t, but in
some way los acres in the heart of
the tract was forgotten. This land is
now in the possession OF Jacob Han
sou. who claims thirteen acres, and
J. Clausen and ]. Jacobson, who have
small residence properties. The Gun
derson Ice house also is located on the
tract.
Hanson asserts that he squatted on
the land twenty-four years ago and
that he has been in possession since
that time. The East Omaha Land
company at one time claimed posses
sion. but Hanson defeated the COM
pany in the courts, although he held
no deed himself
The state has also authorized the
sale OF two islands in the Mississippi
river. Both are above Burlington and
are composed OF 1886 acres and $50
acres. The island which is east from
Mediapolis is to be appraised by Lynas
Brockway, S. L. Ping and w H. Bailey
OF Mediapolis. The smaller island, a
few miles above Burlington, is to be
appraised by A. ]. Addicks, Fred Buhr-
master and C. e. Andre. 1t Is said the
islands, which are subject to overflow,
are wanted for summer resort pur.
poses.
Speculation In Land.
Speculation in Iowa land is prob
ably one of the worst things that could
ever happen to the state said Henry
Wallace. at usually forces the value
of the land up unnaturally for a time,
but II continued long enough II would
ruin 1t absolutely for cultivation. A
Spectator almost invariably rents the
land in his possession In order that he
may get his interest on the money ne
has invested in the land while he Is
waiting for a sale at an advanced
price. But he usually rents for only
one year Neither he nor the renter
expects to stay on the land. and con-
sequently neither has any interest in
building 1t upN On the contrary, they
try to get all they can out of the land
while they have II, A one year lease
is merely contract to rob the soil
OF all they can and divide the swag."
New Drainage Question Up.
The attorney gsnsral's pfiee has
been asked AZ dectas Z question in
Connection -Nttk the establishment OF
drainage districts under the new state
law that is causing trouble In the
northern part Of Iowa. Farmers near
Doys requested an Interpretation OF
lne statute. II oCOAAS
more than one drainage district is es-
tabIished. the second district some
times oyerlaps the first In this case
the farmers whose lands are located
in both districts would be compelled
to pay double price
Patents for Iowans.
The following patents have Just been
granted to Iowa inventors;
], A. Nicholaus, Mt. Pleasant, renee
stay.
F. s. Thornley,. Clarion. explosive
engine
W. e. Green, Promise City, number
supporting brackets for automobiles.
j. c, Griffith, Anamosa, cement
block molding machine.
A. F. Victor. Davenport, picture
record for display machines.
w. c. and Fl. +. Jacobs, Waterloo,
water tube arch for Ere boxes.