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IOWA. 



IOWA. 



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brioQH Th« upland pnirie^ ara gmarnlly h>-althy, owing to the 

 gwial parlwlio brecxri which blow r<-KuUrly orer thrm. The tomp«- 

 ratar* dor* not ran Terr rvmarkablT throughout th« itato. Along 

 tb« bottoma, whera mandatiou oooaaiooallr happen, feTen aoinstimM 

 occur; but from th* rivers generally flowing rather rapidly the 

 bottomi are leai lubjeot to miaamatio WiitatioD* than in the itatea 

 lying along th* lower oonrae* of the sraat rirar*. The winter* oom- 

 ■Moc* in Drwniber and end in Blarrh ; tliey are variahla, and 

 loinetiin** aerere, but laia ao than In u»ual in limilar latitude*. The 

 (uiumera are not oppreaaively hot, and abower* are freauent. 



The aoil i* gent-rally good ; indeed it i* said that the goTemment 

 ■urTFy* hare prore<I that there ia no (tate in the Diiion which haa a 

 amaJler extent of inferior land. Throughout the prairie* a laody 

 loam prevail*, which, while pro<)uciug the finest natural giaaaea, hu 

 been found to be excellently adaptt-d for the growth of grain. A re<l 

 elay and gravel i> alw a prevalent soil in some part* of the state. 

 Along the bottoms the alluvial dvpoait* yield a deep and very rich 

 black mould. The climate and aoil seem to be geurrnlly suitiible fur 

 th« growth of most kinds of grain. All the usual fruit* do well, and 

 the melon tribe, grape*, tc, flourish. The various garden vegetables 

 •1*0 grow extremely wclL 



At present Iowa is eminently an agricultural country. It* broad 

 and fertile prairi'S not only aflurd the finest natural paaturea, but 

 very great facilities fur the Inyiiig out of farms, from the circumstance 

 of timber being always within comparatively easy reach, while there 

 ia abcindance of good open and well-watered land. The progress of 

 agriculture and the character of the products will be sufficiently 

 (hown by the following statement of the principal reaulta of the 

 inquiries made respecting the agricultural stati/stics of the state at the 

 last ceiiau*. The number of farm* under cultivation in the state on 

 the let of June 1850 was 14,805 ; the extent of improved land in 

 fiu-ms wa* 8*24,682 acres, of unimproved 1,911,382 acres. The oasb 

 value of farms was returned at 16,657,567 dollars; of farm imple- 

 ment* and machinery, 1,172,869 dollars. The total produce of the 

 principal orop* in 1850 was a* follows: — Wheat, 1,530,531 bushels 

 (154,693 bushels in 1840) ; rye, 19,916 bushek (3792 in 1840) ; maize, 

 8,656.799 bu»hela (1,406,241 iu 1840); oats, 1,524,345 busheb (216,385 

 in 1840); b..riey, 25,093 bushels (728 in 1840); potatoes, 276,120 

 bushels (234,063 in 1840) ; sweet potatoes, 6243 bushels; buckwheat,' 

 62,516 bushel*(6212 in 1840); peas and beans, 4775 bushels; tobacco, 

 6041Iba.(8076 in 1840); hay. 89,055 ton* (17,953 iu 1840); graxs- 

 ■eeds, 24381b*.; flax, 02,6601bB.; flax-seed, 19.'>9lbs.; maple-sugar, 

 78,4071faa.: molaasea, S1621b«. ; hops, 82421ba. (831bB. in 1S40). The 

 value of orchard producta was 8434 dollars (50 dollars in 1840) ; of 

 market garden products, 8S48 dollars. 



The natural pastures aflbrd great facilities for cattle-farming. Sheep 

 and swine auoceed admirably with little care ; and wool has become a 

 ■tapl* production of the state. The number of horses in Iowa in 

 1850 wa* 38.536 ; of aase* and mules, 754 (in 1840 there were 10,794 

 horae* and mule*) ; milch cows, 45,704 ; working oxen, 21,892 ; other 

 eattle, 69,025 (in 1840 the total neat cattle were 38,049) ; sheep, 

 149,960 (15,354 in 1840); swine, 323.247 (104,899 in 1840). The 

 value of live stock was 3,689,275 dollars ; of animals slaughtered, 

 821,164 dollar*. The producU of animals were:— Wool, 873,8981ba. 

 (23,039 lbs. in 1840); butter, 2,171,188 lb*.; cheese, 209,840 lbs.; 

 bees'-waz and honey, 321,7411bs.; nilk cocoons 2461ba. 



MatK^aeturm, Comtnerct. ic. — The manufactures of Iowa are as 

 vet but of small extent ; but from the abimdance uf coal, and the 

 Immeuse supply of water-power, there can be little doubt that this 

 will aome diay become an important manufaoturing atate. At th* 

 census of 1850 there were returned 9255 free males above the age of 

 15 as employed in trade, commerce, miinubcturee, and mining; and 

 32,779 employed io agriculture. The whole numb r of manufacluring 

 establishments producing to the value of 500 dollars and upwards in 

 1860 wa* 482. Most of these were of the various kinds rfquired in 

 an agricultural country, a* flour- and aaw uiills, agricultural imple- 

 ment works, wheelwright*' *hop*, &c., with such others as were 

 required to supply the demand for article* of ordinary domeatic use. 

 One woollen fao-tory, 8 caat-iron works, and 14 tanneries, all on a 

 small soale, were the only manufaoturing eatabliiihmeut* of a more 

 fsaeral oharacter. 



Iowa ha* no direct foreign commerce, but it haa an extensive and 

 rapiilly-iucreaaing trade with the ports of the Atlantic and the 

 Mezican Uulf, from which it n-ceivea European goods, the mauu- 

 fKluras and product* of the Eastern SUtes, South America, &o., 

 exporting in return it* agricultural and mining products. Its interior 

 tnuia i* also very consldemble. 



JOmntiim; Tumu, *c.— Iowa was divided into 49 counties at the 

 oenaua of 1850 ; but 49 new oountiea have sinoe been formed. The 

 city uf Iowa ia the political capital ; but tlia moat populoua town is 

 Burlington. Tlie tuwus at present next in importance are Dubuque, 

 the capital of the lead-mining diatrict, and Keokuk, the chief shipping 

 marL Of these, with such others as seem to require notice, we 

 append a brief aooount : the population, when not otherwise stated, 

 is that of 1850; but as the returns as given iu the 'Census Report' are 

 acknowledged to be imperfect, and the numbers do not agree with 

 thoM in other autbontia*, we have not alwaya adhered to them, and 

 thvy had better perhaps be received a* approximations merely : all 



the towns are however so ranidly changing that the want of definite- 

 nes* ia of oomparativrly little ooDMquence. 



loiea Oitf, the oapital, ia built on ground riaing In terrace* fhim 

 the left bank of the Iowa River, 1 485 mile* W.S. W. from Washington : 

 population, 1582. The city is laid out on a regular plan, and on a 

 large scale ; the principal avenue* are 160 f«et wide. The state-houae 

 is a handsome Qrecian building, 100 feet long and 60 feet wide, 

 sitrmounted with a dom« resting on 22 Corinthian column*, and built of 

 birls'-«ye marble, a very beautiful variety of native limeatone. The other 

 public building* are — a county-court house of good design, a United 

 States lanil office, several churches, a jail, 4c Iowa city is the centre 

 of commuuication betwet-n the principal ports of the MissiMippi and 

 the Pacific, and is to be the centre towards which the railway* of the 

 state are to converge. The Iowa River in navigable up to the city by 

 steamboats at all seasons; and the immense water power which ft 

 aflbrds immediately above the city has \M to the erection of several 

 extensive mills. Two newspajiera are published here weekly. When 

 this site was selected in 1839 as that of the capital of the state it was 

 an entirely wild uncleareit tract. 



Surtinyfon, the capital of Del Moines county, stands on ground 

 riaing gently from the Mississippi, 62 miles S.S.E. from Iowa city, 

 pipulation 40S2 ; it was the original capital of Iowa territory, and is 

 still the most populous town in the state. It contaius some fine 

 buildiugs, churches, &c., and several manufacturing and couiuiercial 

 establi-nmenta. Three weekly newapap»-r8 are published here. 

 Colambui, on the right bank of the Iowa, 2 miles beluw the junction 

 of Cedar River, and 27 mil<-s S. by E. from Iowa city, population 

 1183, is a new and thriving city. Co»ntU Blufft, on the Missouri, 

 216 miles W. by S. from luwa city, is the last civiliaed settlement 

 before entering on the wide unsettled country ou the overland route 

 to Oregon and California, and is consequently an important station 

 for emigrants, who here complete their outfit before crossing the 

 Missouri and entering the ' Indian country.' The distance from 

 Council Bluffs to Oregon city is 1924 miles; to Sacramento city 

 2011 miles. Davenport, the capital of Scott county on the Missis- 

 sippi, opposite Rock Island, and 51 miles S.E. from Iowa city, popu- 

 Ution about 2000. is already one of the busiest commercial towns 

 of the state, and appears likely if the projected system of railways 

 be constructed to become a place of considerable importance. It 

 contains the oounty and other public buildimn^ and supports two 

 weekly newspapers. Dubuqiu, the CHpital of the oounty of ths same 

 name, stands on an elevated terrace which stretches for aome distance 

 aloug the Mississippi, 72 miles N.K from Iowa city, population 8108. 

 The town is built on a regular plan ; the streets, which are wide^ 

 intersect at ri^'ht angles. It is one of the oldest places in this part 

 of America, having been settled by the Canadian Fr. nob in 1686, a* 

 a station for trading with the Indians. The town contains the county 

 buildings, a United States land office, several churches, &c. Dubuque 

 is the chief town of the lead-mining district, and a place of consider- 

 able trade. Its population hail increased in 1852 to 4071, and is still 

 rapidly increasing. Four weekly newspapers are published here, one 

 of them in the Herman language. Port dt* Moitut, the capital of 

 Polk county, on the left bank of the Des Moines River, 110 miles 

 W. from Iowa city, is a flourishing little town, but is chiefly notice- 

 able as a travelling station ou the road to Ouncil Bluflfii, for emigrant* 

 taking the overland route to California, for whose convenience there 

 are extensive stores, hotels, &c It is on tlie line of the projected 

 railway to the Pacifia Fort Maditon, the capital of Lee oounty, on 

 the Mississippi, 71 miles S. by E. from Iowa city ; though only laid 

 out aa a village in 1835, is now a busy, commerciiU, and mauufauturing 

 town. It contains the county buildings, jail, penitentiary, and 

 several churchea. Steamboats arrive aud depart several times daily, 

 and it has a large trade with the interior. Two newxpapers are 

 published here weekly. Knmnilk, the capital of Pottowattomee 

 county, near the Missouri, 224 miles W. by S. from Iowa city, popu- 

 lation in 1852 about 1200, is only noteworthy as having been 

 settled and built by the Mormonites, as a station ou the overland 

 route to their city ou the Oreat Salt Lake. Ktokiik, on the Missis- 

 sippi, 8 miles above the confluence of the Dea Moines, 86 miles S. by 

 E. from Iowa city; population 2478 in 1850, and 3963 in 1852. The 

 town i* well laid out, and has a good landing-place and levee. Being 

 at the foot of the Lower Rapids of the Mi**i*sippi, which are 

 11 mile* long, steamboats at low water have to unload their frfight* 

 here ; but a canal is projected to be carried round the falla Keokuk 

 is the port of the rich valley of the Des Moines; and one of the 

 most flourishing and busy towns in the state. It contains leside* 

 the county builliugs, the state medical college and hospital, aix 

 churches, several auaidemies and schouls, and support* four newe- 

 papers. There are in the town and its immediate vicinity several 

 steam saw-mills, and iron-foundries; large stores, warehouses, and 

 hotels. Inexhaustible quarries of excellent limestone for building 

 are in the neighbourhood. MuteaHnt, formerly JBloomin^lon, the 

 capital of Muscatine county, on the Miaaissippi, 80 miles S.K. by E. 

 from Iowa city, population 2540, is the chief shipping poi-t for the rich 

 district between Iowa city and tl>e Mississippi, and is uteadily gniwing 

 in importance. It contains besides the usual county buildings, 

 severu hand«ome churches, numerous large waiehoiues and storeSi 

 and supports two weekly newspaper!. 



