Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-31
PAST TWELVE MONTHS TO BE
RECOGNIZED AS PERIOD OF
PROGRESS.
SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION
SURPRISES ALL RECORDS
Advancement in Matter of Good Roads
Capitol Extension Improvement
nerciai Circles Report Volume of
Business Greater Than in 1914.
Special to Tsmes-Republscan.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Dec. 31.-The year 1915
will be recognized in Iowa history as a
year of progress. Probably the most
outstanding event is the repeal OF the
mulct law by the Thirty-siXth general
assembly which has established pro-
hibition in Iowa beginning with the
new year. II has been the greatest
year. for school consolidation in the
history Of the state. On Jan. ! there
were sixty FIVE consolidated schools Il.
Iowa and the close OF the year shows
a total of l54. In the matter Of roads,
there has been great advancement.
The appointment Sy Governor Clarke
Of the good roads commission whose
members contribute their rtrne and
talent to the study Of good roads for
Iowa and which will recommend TO the
next legislature a plan Of procedure
marks an epoch in road development
in this state. In many parts Of the
state there are reports of road develop
ment, of the building OF graveled
roads, of improved highways and new
bridges.
Another big achievement IN a pub
lie way is the completion OF the pur-
! chase of the capitol extension grounds
and notable progress in the work OF
putting the grounds in shape
Iowa's greatest concern each year
IS for her crops as il is from the farm
that her wealth comes. The past sea-
son was erratic, the crops were spotted.
and IN many ways It was a trying
growing season for the farmers yet the
governments figures show cka: - sn
around production 1t has been q good
year. The final estimates place the
corn crop at 3o3,009.000 bushels as
against 3ss, 900 900 last year and worth
more than $3.50, 100000. The oats crop
was one Of the greatest IN the states
history totaling 1913, 100000 bushels as
against 1s5,000.0oo in 1914 and last
years crop was considered a record
breaker. The wheat crop went little
ahead Of last year totaliug $500, 900
bushels. The hay crop was more than
a million tons ahead OF 1914 and the
barley and potato crops were larger.
All in all the state produced abund-
antly.
In business way the commercial
ORGANIZATIONS report that the state has
been unusually fortunate. that the
volume of business has increased over
year ago. that business failures
have not been heavy and the state has
escaped any disastrous fires. -
In a business way the commercial
organizations report that the state has
been unusually fortunate, that the
volume Of business has Increased over
a year ago. that business failures have
not been heavy and the state has es-
capped any disastrous fires.
.- County Taxes lncreasina
Counties reporting to the state audi
tors office the amount OF taxes 70 be
raised in 1915 continue to show IA
creases in the amounts levied. Up TO
last evening six counties had reported
in all and the total increase n taxes
to be collected In those six counties as
compared 10 the past year amounted 20
s214.o0o. II this per cent Of increase
should be kept up by other counties Il
would mean a 100000 increase n
the amount of taxes 20 be collected
thruout the state, the auditors office
estimates.
The counties reporting up TO last
night were Taylor, Lyon, Marshall.
Greene, Emmett and Ida. Lyon county
IS building new court house and so
is Green which make the taxes much
larger IN those counties. Improvement
in schools and in roads and in the
cities all go to make up the general in
crease.
New Weights Inspector.
The state executive council yester-
day approved the appointment Of
Edward c. Lytton. Of Dies Mo,nes, as
chief inspector OF weights and meas
ures in the office OF the state food and
dairy commissioner TO succeed E. ".
Van Duyn, resigned. Mr.. Lytton has
been secretary TO Mayor Hanna, Of Des
Moines. Previous TO that he was chief
clerk in Commissioner Barney's office
SO he is more or less familiar with the
work Of the office.
Mr.. Van Duyn was formerly state
labor commissioner. For the past two
months he has been on A lease Of alb
sence and has been travelling In the
west in the interests of Senator Cum
Minis candidacy for president.