IOWA. 



361 



due 1881, are not offered for redemption, and 

 could not be purchased at par. 



The Auditor states that, during the last two 

 years, over $38,000,000 have been added to the 

 material wealth of the State, which manifests 

 an unusual degree of prosperity. 



The amount of warrants issued, and other 

 expenditures of general revenue during the 

 two years ending November 1, 1869, is $1,574,- 

 534.03. 



The estimated expenditure of the next two 

 years, exclusive of extraordinary appropria- 

 tions, until April 1, 1872, is $1,107,955.20. 



The balances due from the several counties 

 on the 30th October, 1869, are : 



State revenues $432,971 05 



Insane hospitals 98,699 75 



Deaf and Dumb clotUing account 114 41 



Blind Asylum " " 514 67 



Total amount due from counties. . $532,299 99 

 To balance due from county treasurers . 43,224 56 



The following is a summary of taxable prop- 

 erty, and the State tax thereon, in each county, 

 for the year 1869 : 



Acres of land 30,109,771 



Reported value of land $181,881,953 00 



Reported value of town-lots 40,272,055 00 



Personal property 71,971,191 00 



Reported total value 294,125,199 00 



Equalized total value 294,532,225 00 



State tax at two mills 589,064 44 



The assessment of stock, etc., is as follows : 



Cattle No. 841,925 Value $10,406,619 



Horses " 422,275 " 18,947,868 



Mules " 26,259 " 1,618,071 



Sheep " 1,100,708 " 841,451 



Swine " 679,703 " 1,692,852 



Total value $33,506,860 



A convention was held at Dubuque, on 

 November 11, 1869, composed of the leading 

 men of the West, including the Governors of 

 Iowa and Wisconsin, and several members of 

 Congress, to take into consideration the feasi- 

 bility of improving the water communication 

 between the Mississippi River and the Lakes 

 (a distance of about 280 miles), and also the 

 most judicious course to be pursued in order 

 to obtain an appropriation from Congress to 

 carry out the work. Statistics were read, 

 showing the advantage of water over land 

 transportation of freight. 



The following resolutions were unanimously 

 adopted : 



Risolved, That we adopt, as the unanimous sense 

 of this meeting, the resolutions passed by the City 

 Council of the city of Milwaukee, on Monday last 

 to wit : ' 



Resolved, That the great question of cheap trans- 

 portation of products of the Northwest by means of 

 Iree navigation by the Mississippi River to Eastern 

 markets, embracing the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers 

 improvements, and the Michigan Ship-canal, is one 

 of the most important and grand projects of this age 

 and commends itself to every producer and consumer 

 in the Northwest. 



Resolved, That this subject should command the 

 earnest and prompt attention of all Representatives 

 of the new States in Congress, and that liberal appro- 



priations should be made to promote the accomplish- 

 ment of a work so much needed by the people, 

 and demanded by the necessities of commerce. 



This improvement of water communication, 

 it is stated, will reduce at 10 cents per bushel 

 the cost in the transshipment of wheat alone 

 by the enormous sum of $1,500,000 annually, not 

 taking into consideration the other cereals and 

 products. It is strongly urged that with wheat 

 selling in the State of Iowa at an average price 

 of 50 cents per bushel, and on Lake Michigan 

 at 75 cents per bushel, Congress should not 

 hesitate to grant the needed appropriation. 



From the late geological survey it appears 

 that the extent of the coal area has been 

 underestimated, and, when capital is induct- 

 ed into this channel, it is anticipated that 

 these vast beds underlying every portion of the 

 State, especially along the valleys of the rivers, 

 will become one of the chief sources of wealth. 



The existence of vast quantities of peat has 

 been clearly demonstrated, which, when the 

 scarcity of native timber is considered, forms 

 a highly-favorable solution to the question of 

 a future supply of fuel. 



Upon the same authority it is stated that 

 extensive mines of lead are found underlying 

 the whole region of Dubuque. 



Stone of good and durable quality (sand and 

 limestone) is found in various parts of the State, 

 and in sufficient quantity to satisfy demands. 



Beds of excellent quality of gypsum have 

 been found in the northwestern part of the 

 State, near Fort George, and in a deposit so vast 

 that, when worked, it will afford the entire 

 West all it may need for centuries. 



A large quarry of marble of a beautiful 

 quality, and susceptible of a fine polish, is now 

 worked in Marshall County. It lias also been 

 found in Johnson and other counties. 



Potters' clay of superior quality is abundant 

 in many sections, as likewise a superior clay 

 for brick. 



Iron-ore has been discovered, but not in 

 richness exceeding forty per cent. 



In reply to a request from the Citizens' As- 

 sociation of New York, a letter was addressed 

 to its president, Mr. Peter Cooper, on Novem- 

 ber 23, 1868, presenting such statistical and 

 other information as was deemed of value to 

 persons seeking homes. This letter was sub- 

 sequently reprinted in various languages and 

 widely scattered over Europe, and has been 

 instrumental in causing a great influx of 

 respectable immigrants. A plan is now matur- 

 ing, through the cooperation of railroad cor- 

 porations and wealthy merchants, to furnish a 

 constant supply of labor by granting facilities 

 of land-purchase and transportation. 



From all sections of the State the universal 

 desire appears to be the establishment of 

 manufactories, for the various staples which 

 the State produces which, when the prices of 

 provisions and moderate rentals are taken into 

 consideration, appear to promise good profits. 



The State library at present contains 10,961 



