Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-16
GOVERNMENT SOON
TO START CAMP WORK
Announcement From Washing
ton That Two and Half Mil
lion Will Be Spent at
Des Moines.

Des Moines, June 15.-(Special.-)
The government will start construc-
tive work at the conscriptive army
camp here within a short time, it has
been announced from Washington,
and will cXpend about $2,500,000
Some 2o000,000 feet OF lumber will
be required and approximately 5000
workmen will be employed. 1t is
expected the contracts for the work
will be let soon. The governments
plan is to let the contract to one man
and he will let subcontracts.
Bankers Convention.
Nicholas Murray Butler, president
of Columbia university, was one of
the principal speakers at the state
bankers convention which met yes
terday. Peter ,Goebel Of Kansas City,
president Of the American Bankers
association, also addressed the con-
vention. More than 1000 Iowa bank
ers are in attendance. George S.
Parker of Sioux City is president of
the association. S. M. Leach of Adel
is slated for the presidency next year.
F. D. Ball Of Creston and o. F. Fryer
of Fairfield are candidates for treas
urer.
To Buy 10000 Horses.
The government has announced
that it will buy 10000 horses in the
central zone for use by the new con-
script army. Eleven officers OF the
regular army were in Des Moines
yesterday for preliminary inspection
of horses in the yards of Joe Nugent,
who has been buying for the allies
since the outbreak of the war. The
officers purchased thirty-six out of
seventy inspected.
Red Cross Campaign Starts.
The Red Cross campaign will start
in Iowa next week, which has been
officially designated by President Will
son and by Governor Harding as Red
Cross week. Iowa is expected to raise
$},000,000 for the Red Cross fund.
Bank Commission Gets Offices.
The new state banking commission
created by the last legislature will
have its offices in the state house in
the rooms now used by the State
Pharmacy commission The phar-
macy commission will be given Offices
in one Of the Swanson flats. Add
tional room for the banking depart
ment will also be provided by utliz-
ing a portion of the room just south
of the phramacy commission office,
now used by the state architects. The
architects will use the room lust
south Of their present one, now part
of the county accounting department
quarters.
Caddock Will Buy Land.
Earl Caddock, heavyweight wrest-
ling champion, will put his money in |
Iowa land. thus following the exam
pie of Frank Gotch. Caddock staged |
a wrestling contest before the state
bankers convention here last night. |
He told friends that Iowa land was
the best investment he knew OF and |
that was where his money was going.
He has also bought a big bunch of
Liberty bonds. Caddock has picked
out farm of 100 acres not far from
his home town of Anita, which he
expects to buy. 1t has been offered
TO him for $500 an acre.
Insurance Merger.
The consolidation of the Merchants
Life Insurance company of Burling-
ton and the Preferred Life Insurance
company of Grand Rapids was an
nounced today. w. w. Watts is to
be the head of the new company. The
company will have ap-
proxmately $60,000,000 Of business
in force, 100000 in assets and cap
ital stock Of 100000.
Messenger Names Force. !
George H. Messenger of Linden,
state banking commissioner, who will
assume his new duties July a, has an
nounced the following appointments:
]. NJ. Woodworth, Grinnell, chief in
spector. Other inspectors, H. A. Barr,
Sioux City; R. T. Fuller, Mason City;
V. w. Miller, Cedar Rapids; w. o. |
Reed, Eldora; Fred J. Bole, Hancock;
Vern R. Martin, Oelwein; H. B.
Schloe, Perry; R. F. Wilson, Fairfield.
Members of the Office force will be:
Roy Alber, chief clerk; Adolph E.
Griffin and Sarah G. French OF Des
Moines. Charles A. Mains, who has
been chief banking inspector, has ac-
cepted a position with the Waterloo
Loan and Trust company.
Italian Commission on Trip.
The Italian war commission will
visit Burlington Saturday. Governor
Harding, who has been invited to
Burlington to meet the council, will
not be able TO accept the invitation, as
ne will not get back from Washing
ION until the first of next week.
The governor has named the fol-
owing committee to represent him:
Hon. c. Z, Pickett, Waterloo; Col
9nel n. P. French, Davenport; C. H.
Waterloo. A private car
will be sent from Burlington to Fort
to meet the commission.