Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-04-17
r. A w K e y Il.
I'd S Tvs
Interesting Items Of News Xxx
Gathered From oil Parts Of Iowa
40 !

Indications point to a shortage OF
farm help in Iowa this year. A care
full survey of farm labor conditions
over Iowa by w, j. Guthrie, farm
help specialist of the agricultural ex.
tension forces of Iowa state college,
show that nineteen counties are al
ready asking for from eight to Is
farm laborers, including married and
unmarried men, Investigation begun
about the middle of January and ex-
tending to about March 20 shows the
average demand for single farm
hands to be about 10 per cent; for
married farm hands about 3 per cent.
The prevailing wage for single men
ranges from $50 to $50. One county
reported the minimum at $40 and
three counties at ,$45. The average
wage for married men found to be
from $50 to $40. These figures were
secured from county agents, bankers,
farmers and others who were in a
position to pass intelligent judgment
on the subject Investigation by Mr..
Guthrie shows that the highest top
wage now being paid a married man
for farm work is in Ida county,
where one gets 800. The highest
price paid single man in that same
county is $50. Sioux county is paying
one married man $50. The average.
however, will show from $40 to $65
Why do lanterns fit fitfully about
Casey fields OF night? For most
folks it is a mystery and for them In
spires an uncanny feeling. But they
who tote the lanterns know Some
whereabouts is buried, not pot of
gold, exactly, but an autoload of
booze, and the man who inferred it
has gone to his eternal reward with
out disclosing the spot at which 1t Is
buried. They who are wise have
learned that it was planted in a field
and farmers in the vicinity will not
have to do much spring blowing after
the searchers get through prodding
the earth for the treasure. Some Of
the farmers complain about their
spring wheat being seriously dam
| aged. But there are always two sides
to thing. The dealers in spades are
doing an enormous business. And
vendors of witching sticks, guaranteed
to twist the wrist above subterranean
| fluids, are doing landoffice business.
| The booze runner between st. Joseph
and Casey, who died with his secret
locked in his bosom, made $4,000
out Of the business, 1t is reported, be-
fore the "flu" got him. 81
Investigation of the affairs of the
Batavia Savings bank following the
suicide of Walter Lewis, its cashier,
reveals shortage which directors Of
the institution estimated at 1925, 900.
Assets Of Mr.. Lewis estate which will
be turned over to the bank by his wild.
ow amount to about $4,000, it is es,
timated. The shortage of approx.
mately $4,000 will be met by the d.
rectors and stockholders of the banks
and the institution will reopen. j
T. Hackworth of Ottumwa, president
Of the Ottumwa National bank and
one Of the richest men in southeast
ern Iowa, signed a bond with three
every depositor in the Batavia bank
e. M. Steiner, George P. Israel and
j. Curray, which insures payment Of
every depositor in the Batavia bank
dollar for dollar This bond is in the
hands of George Messenger, state
banking commissioner.
Mrs. Mary .O'Rourke, of Waukon
oldest woman in Iowa, is dead. She
died the day following her one hun
dred and fourth birthday, April 8
She was the mother of fourteen chill
dren. Four survive her-Mrs. Thorn
as O'Rourke of Dubuque, Patrick ant
James Kaveny and Mrs. Hanna Con
away of Crete, Neb. She lived TWEEN
ty years with her daughter-in-law
Mrs. Thomas Kevany. She was twice
married. She was born in IRELAND
Clara Fry, 5 years old, died at the
sanitarium in Nevada from burns SUI
fereed at her home in Iowa City
Three of the six children of Mr.. ant
Mrs. Fry were playing in the HON,
when the fatality occurred. One o
them was striking matches and tn,
cotton dress of Clara caught fire. Al
older child ran for the mother, VIII,
was at neighbours home, a doctor
was summoned, the little girl wa,
taken to the hospital at Nevada ant
there died in great agony after thirt.
hours suffering.
City Attorney R. u Thompson o
J Muscatine has dared Attorney Gen
eral Havner to "stick his nose into
the controversy there between thu
city and police officers. The cit,
council claim the officers should turf
over to the treasury fees they ear
as witnesses. The city attorney say
they should not. The attorney ger
eral agrees with the aldermen. TIL
city attorney defies him and dare
him to go down and collect the feet
The Dallas county farm bureau /
strongly opposed to the change i
time and has passed resolutions urs
. ing farmers and business men to Of
serve the suntime. Resolutions wer
adopted reciting that Canada had n
pealed the law by two to one vote.
Throughout Union county one G
the most noticeable features feature
on every farm are the f1ocks of pou
try and within the past three year
this line of endeavor has made sue
rapid strides that today the hen an
her duties are better known than eve
before.
A fine of 500 is the maximum pei