IOWA. 



would Imvo a length of 16-5 kilometres, of 

 wliich 5-6 kilometres would be in tunnel. 



The second plan, which was moro seriously 

 proposed and warmly advocated by the pro- 

 jector, was for a tide-level canal by nearly the 

 same route. The level of the canal would be 

 lowered to that of the Atrato. Above the 

 Do.unado the canal would pass under the Na- 

 pi|>i in a tunnel, which must be 80 metres high, 

 and which would necessitate a change in the 

 route, which must pass farther up the valley 

 of the Napipi. From the Atrato, for 9 kilo- 

 metres np the valley of the Napipi, the excava- 

 tions can be done with dredges. The project 

 proposes a constant free connection with the 

 Atrato, but a look may be necessary for secu- 

 rity in time of high water. The depth of the 

 cutting increases gradually from the 9th to the 

 87th kilometre, to 50 metres ; at the 37th kilo- 

 metre the tunnel, 9 kilometres in length, com- 

 mences; at the end of the tunnel will be a 

 basin and two locks to bring the vessels down 

 to the level of the ocean, which in the Bay of 

 Chiri-Chiri is at mean tide 5'7 metres below 

 the level of the canal ; the variations of the 

 tide are 1'8 metre above and below the mean 

 tide-level. The length of the tunnel can be 

 reduced to 5,000 or even to 4,000 metres, by 

 making the cuts on each side more than 50 

 metres deep. The mouth of the Atrato chosen 

 for the Atlantic outlet of the canal is that arm 

 of the delta called the Uraba mouth. A bar 

 must be cut through for about 1,000 metres, 

 and the passage lined with walls of masonry. 

 In the Bay of Chiri-Chiri the port will be pro- 

 tected by two jetties. The expense of tho 

 canal is estimated at 491,000,000 francs. 



IOWA. The election for township officers 

 in this State takes place in April. The ques- 

 tion which was extensively agitated was the 

 prohibition of licenses for the sale of liquors. 

 There was cast a considerable vote on the ques- 

 tion by women. In Des Moines central pre- 

 cinct they cast 480 votes, of which 477 were 

 for prohibition. In almost every town where 

 a prohibition ticket was nominated it was de- 

 feated. 



A petition was addressed to the United States 

 Secretary of War by Mrs. Elizabeth Upright, 

 of Butler County, requesting the discharge of 

 her eleventh son from the army. The Secre- 

 tary, under date of February llth, replied as 

 follows : 



The discharge nf this soldier is asked by the peti- 

 tioner, who says she is seventy-two vears old, on the 

 ground that she Lad ton BODS in the tlnion army dur- 

 ing tho rebellion, including one employed as a team- 

 ster, and that the one above named, ner eleventh and 

 youngest son, has served for over five years in the 

 regular army. She furnishes the names of her sons 

 and a statement of tho organizations in which they 

 served. 



Tho papers having been referred to the Adjutant- 

 General for an examination of the records with a view 

 ; to verifying her statements, that officer reports that 

 they arc" true in every particular. 



1. G. W. Merchant was a private in Company C, 

 Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteers, afterward a licu- 

 VOL. xix. 33 A 



tenant, and was honorably dtohamd September 24, 

 IMS, 



8. Abel L. Merchant wan a private in Company C, 

 Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer*, and died in nervicc. 



8. Do Witt C. Merchant wan a private In the lm*t- 

 namcd company, and was killed in action July 22. 

 1861 



4. Enoch Merchant was corporal in Company F, 

 One Hundred and Fifty-Sixth Illinois Volunteer*, 

 and honorably discharged September 20, 1865. 



5. David O. Merchant wan a private in Company C, 

 Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteers, and honorably dis- 

 charged June 10, 1865. 



6. Silas B. Merchant wan a private in Company C, 

 Forty-fourth Illinois Volunteers, promoted to fint 

 lieutenant, and resigned September tf>, ISM. 



7. Ario J. Merchant was a private ir the last-named 

 company, and honorably discharged September 25, 

 1865. 



8. Lewis A. Merchant was a private in Company G, 

 Forty-firth Illinois Volunteers, and honorably dis- 

 charged September 26, 1864. 



9. Aaron Merchant was a private in Company G, 

 Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteers, and was killed at 

 Island No. 10, December 26, 18G2, by the accidental 

 discharge of a cannon. 



10. James B. Merchant, teamster, in tho employ of 

 the Quartermaster's Department. 



11. Thomas M. Merchant enlisted March 8, 1878. as 

 a private in Company B, Sixth United States Cavalry 

 (regulars), and was discharged March 11, 1878, by 

 reason ot expiration of term of sen-ice. Ho again en- 

 listed May 4, 1878, and was assigned to Battery B, 

 Fourth Artillery, and is now in tho service. The dis- 

 charge of this soldier will be ordered in accordance 

 with his mother's request. Discharges from the army 

 as a matter of favor are not granted except in extraor- 

 dinary cases, but this is, hi my opinion, such a case. 

 Indeed, I doubt whether another like it can be found 

 upon record. But if another mother can be found who 

 gave ton sons to the service of our country during the 

 war^ she may confidently ask, and expect to receive, 

 similar favorable consideration. I have the honor to 

 remain, very respectfully, your obedient sen-ant, 



GEOBGE W. McCRARY, 



Secretory of War. 



The result of the operation of the law to se- 

 cure the planting of trees throughout the State, 

 by allowing a certain sum to be deducted from 

 the tax for the number of trees planted by each 

 person, has been most successful. The amount 

 of property returned by the assessors for the 

 years 1879 and 1880, and thus made exempt 

 for five or ten years, was $5,949,730. 



The State assessment is two mills on the 

 dollar, or two fifths of one per cent, and thus 

 the annual cost of the tree-planting law to the 

 State in the loss of taxes is $11,899. The en- 

 tiro amount of tax-levy, including State and 

 county, averages about three per cent., and 

 thus those who have taken advantage of the 

 law saved just about $178,492 per annum in 

 taxes. 



The following statement shows the amount 

 of live stock assessed in the State for the year 

 1878 ; cattle, horses and mules under one year, 

 and swine under six months, are not included 

 in the assessment : Cattle, 1,530,066 ; horses, 

 672,808; mules, 42,566 ; sheep, 801,743; swine, 

 2,324,116. The average assessment of animals 

 varies greatly ; cattle in some counties are val- 

 ued at $8, while in others they run all the way 

 along to $14 and $15 ; hogs and sheep are val- 

 ued at from 50 cents to $2 and $3; horse* 



