Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-03-19
State to BUY TWO EARNS.

| ana WOmenS reformatory, PROVISIONS
! for which were made by the Thirty
fifth general assembly. A tract Of
| from SEQ to 600 acres will be secured
| for the former and about 100 acres
will be purchased for the women's re-
formatory.
There are about one hundred wOm-
en- in the state penitentiaries," said
A. M. McColl, member of the board.
''The legislature decided that they
shall be isolated from all the insti-
| tutions where the men are kept" The
custodial farm will be maintained to
| provide quarters for the aged, Grip
pied and mentally unbalanced Grimm
ais now confined in the state peniten-
| tiary and insane asylums.
"We will have no trouble in local
ing either of the institutions, If our
experience with the epileptic farm is
any criterion" said. Mr.. McColl. 1--WE
were offered over seventy farms.
However, / feel satisfied that we
made a good selection. The tract at
Woodward is perfectly level, we'll til
ed, is adjacent to numerous coal
mines-in fact, ! believe there is
coal on the land. There is a small
amount of timber and the tract is
certainly beautiful. On a clear day
one can see from the farm for twen-
| ty miles in each direction.
Eve may not make any improve
ments this spring, though we get the
rent from the land this year. One
tract of 290 acres of the land is rent
ed at $40 per acre. We expect to
make some investigations of the wat
er supply. I believe that we can Sc
cure fine artesian well there"
Railroads Pledge Better Crossings.
Pledges to cooperate with the state
highway commission in eliminating
dangerous grade crossings in Iowa,
were given by practically every rail-
road operating in the state at con-
ference held at the capitol at the call
of the railroad commission. The rail-
roads demanded and the highway
commission conceded that where ii is
deemed necessary to change the exist
ing highway so as to cross overhead
or under the railroad tracks, part
OF the expense shall be paid by the
counties.
The commission told the railroad
representatives that there are 500
grade crossings in Iowa which are
dangerous and on which the grades
should be changed. Upon the esti-
mate of ]. c. Davis, attorney for the
Northwestern, that changes of this
kind cost from $500 to $12,500. each,
the total cost of making over these
500 crossings was estimated to be be-
4 tween SO. 100000 and s6,ooo,OOo. IL was
further estimated that If the state un-
dertook to do away entirely with
grade crossings the cost to the rail-
roads would be between $90,000,000
and s1Oo,OO0,000.
The talk of improving the grade
crossings Immediately brought up the
topic of finances. The railroads rep
resentatiyes argued that 1t is easier
for the counties to get money than
the railroads and that the counties
should pay a portion OF the cost Of
changes where separation of grades is
necessary. Twenty-Five per cent was
thought to be reasonable for the
county to bear, although the railroad
men declined to bind their roads to
any proposition until 1t is made more
definite.
Iowa's Total Taxes.
Iowa's total taxes this year will
be approximately $7,S12,31195 more
than last year. The total amount
paid by property owners of the state
last year was s44.332 ,O0604. These
figures are based on the report issu.
ed by the state auditors office. Two
counties-Lee and Butler-failed to
report and are not included in the
statement. The increase is shown to
be due to increase In local levies.
The statement shows an enormous
gain in the road and bridge funds OF
the state. The three road funds this
year combined reach total tax OF
$5,151,758.16 as against $3,371, 473.70
last year. An increase of nearly one
million dollars is shown in the bridge
fund alone.
The increase in the school funds OF
the state reaches s1,367,24912 more
than last year, while the city tax
is increased more than a quarter OF
a million dollars. The statement
shows no returns for capitol extern
sion or for the Agricultural college
extension. which levies we're added by
the state legislature last year.
State Employs Dentist.
Henry Morrow of Iowa City has
been engaged by the state board of
control as chief dentist Of the two
penal institutions at Anamosa and
Ft. Madison and the children's home
at Davenport. Heretofore the board
has contracted with local dentists
for this work.
Capitol Bonds In Demand. y
The capitol extension bond issue
has been oyersubscribed to the ex-
tent OF $4,000, according to report
made by F. ]. Murphy. cashier in the
state treasurer's Office. The total
amount of the extension bonds sold
is s675,OO0. And there is demand
for more, the cashier asserts.
Begins Work With State.
w. S. Rankin has reported for du-
ty at the office Of Attorney General
George Cosson. He has been select
ed as an assistant to the attorney
general, and in order to satisfy Carl
FRANKIE he has notified the members
OF the progressive central committee
Of his withdrawal from the commit
tee.
In the letters of withdrawal, Mr.
Rankin states that he feels that he
can not give all OF his time to the
state II he remains active with the
progressive party.
Candidate for Speakership.
Henry Brady Of Perry, representa-
tive from Dallas county, is making a
campaign for reelection and will be
a candidate for speaker of the house
at the Thirty-sixth general assembly