Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-05-11
LAST NARROW GAUGE
Commission Rules Road Shall
Not Be Changed.
THIRTY SIX MILES IN LENGTH
Limo Between Bellevue and Cascade
Makes Showing That Earning Ca
pacity Insufficient to Change
to Standard Gauge.

Des Moines.-In dissenting to the
decision handed down by the state
railroad commission giving the c., NJ.
g ST. p. authority to continue the
Cascade branch as narrow gauge
line, the chairman Of the board OBJ
jected to the method followed in COM
putting the earnings of this branch.
He declared that If the same method
Is followed in consideration of other
Iowa branch roads, it will mean the
discontinuance OF many of them as
Improbable.
There is considerable interest in
the Cascade branch because 1t is the
last narrow gauge line left In Iowa
and one of the few such lines in the
United States. II is 80 miles IN
length and operates between Bellevue
and Cascade through what is known
as the Switzerland OF Iowa." The
hills are high and the valleys narrow,
throughout the territory. 1t would cost
$4,000 to make the line standard
gauge, engineers reported.
The line has three locomotives, one
OF which was purchased for $4,000
seventeen years ago and is expected
to last for twenty years more, the
commissioners say. The three pas
senger cars owned by the system are
expected to last twelve to seventeen
years. The company reported the
earnings last year as s31 900 and op-
Grating expenses $4,000.
The Thirty-ffth general assembly in
1913 ordered the railroad commission
to investigate all narrow gauge lines
in Iowa and to order them converted
into standard gauge, II feasible. The
commissions ruling is that the pro-
position is not feasible.
Would Change Drinks Law.
The federal government has a sys-
tenn by which all beverages having
less than one-half OF per cent Of al
cohol are classed as temperance
drinks and no licence is charged for
the sale Of them. The Iowa dairy and
food department has been following
this measure in establishing divid-
ing line between intoxicating and nom
intoxicating drinks. The officials of
this department take the view that II
is difficult to make beverages In which
fruit juices figure without a trace Of
alcohol. They believe that the Iowa
law should be amended so the real
temperance drinks may be sold pro-
viding they do not run higher than
the federal standard on alcohol.
Report on School Attendance.
Children leave school at an early
age because they have to make the
living for the family in great many
cases so the reports coming in from
the investigation into this problem
by the state labor commissioner indi-
cate. Some children report that they
did not care to go back to school
after having to stay out because Of
sickness and so went to work. 9th
ers say they did not like school and
would rather work while many reply
that they would prefer to go to school
but must work to help support the
family.
State Offices In Flats.
State officers occupy six fats in
the vicinity of the state house. These
buildings will be left standing until
the legislature makes an appropria-
ton for an office building or temple
of justice. An attempt to get an ap-
preparation in the last general as
sembly failed 1t is probable that
the council will order the rear OF the
office fats given stucco treatment,
in order that they may present q
more pleasing appearance.
VIII Have Progressive Ballot.
The secretary of state has notified
county auditors to prepare blank
ballot for the progressive party for
the June primary. The progressive
party is entitled to participate in the
primary, but only one candidate in
that party filed nomination papers
that was Ed Crane OF Odebolt, candi-
date for congress in the eleventh dis
trict.
sherIfYs Entitled to Fees.
The county accounting department
Of the state has received an opinion
from the assistant attorney general,
holding that sheriffs, when making
arrests without warrant, are enti-
tied to the same fees and expenses a.
II they had warrants.
Fall to File Reports.
On the last day for the filing Of
reports for the fiscal year by cities
and towns Of Iowa. or 900 cities and
and towns Of Iowa, of the 900 cities
and towns, about 800 had reported.
To Watch Ice Cream Supply.
Fearing that the present price war
among ice cream manufacturers over
the state will result In cheapening
the product the state food and dairy
department Is issuing special instruc-
lions to its inspectors to watch the
ice cream being put on the market II
must be kept up to the standard, the
state department says, and IL II falls
below the guilty manufacturer will be
prosecuted. The department is also
keeping close watch on the shipment
Of ice cream, guarding against the