The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-29


ness. GrF ny t..- -s.... s.,-. ... /.
In 49,, the taxable property Of Iowa was e
1sss h :. :. 4s's go 81.
1885 :" 1OS, s95 $3.50
1856 1884,, 4lS
The population in the same time has run
up from about 200, 900 in 1851, to about 600,
900. When the Republican Administration
took the reins of government they found
your penitentiary would hardly keep a
horse thief over night in safety, unless he be-
came sick in its damp, unhealthy cells be-
| fore he bad time to escape. They were OBJ
liged to go to work and build fit penitentia-
ry for the punishment of criminals, increas-
ing in number as the State increased in pop
ulation. They found that most wretched,
most pitiable class of human beings-the in
sane-destitute of means of relief, as they
were Of hope; the more harmless roaming at
large, the maniacs confined in loathsome ap-
artments in county jails, or wherever securi-
ty could be found. These facts were ascer-
tanned and reported to the Legislature, and
they went to work TO build an Insane Asy-
lum, adapted to the wants of the State, and
have built it for less money than any other of
equal completeness and size in the Union
And the the application for admissions al
ready made, indicate a demand for its whole
accommodations as soon As opened. They
found the University unprovided for in proper
manner and at the same time found the pop
ulation was moving so rapidly westward, that
the State Capitol must 60 with it, and get near
er the centre of the State. They went to
work and provided new Capitol for the
State, and fitted up the old Capitol hand
somely for the State University, and have
added to it since. They found the peop.e
demanding new Constitution, and home
currency of their own. They went to work
and framed new Constitution which the
people accepted, and under which they now
have home currency as safe as any in the
United States. They found increasing de-
mands in behalf of the Blind, and of the
Deaf and Dumb; and they went to work to
meet them, like men willing to assume every
responsibility imposed by humanity and
christian civilization. Cop bless them for it!
While these uneasy politicians" are wor-
rying themselves about the burdens of State
taxation, which they neither feel themselves
nor believe that you would feel unless they
told you of it over and over again this year,
as they did last year. We point you to these
works and improvements upon the Iowa
Farm, and tell you in all sincerity, that you
cannot at the same tiuie have your money at
interest and put it in new barn, you can
not improve your farm without its costing
you something, you cannot break more prai-
rie, and cultivate more fields and employ
more laborers, without increased expense.
Now notice, futher, that with the smaller
population under Democratic rule, from 1S49
to 1862, you had of organized counties only
from 80 to 40
Now you have 90
Then you had Judicial Districts from to
Now you have {" IL
Then you had members Of Lcgis're 81 TO 30
Now You have 1913
Then you paid for Agricul Societies, s 200
Now you cheerfully pay 5000
Then you paidQ S52)for DE- Dumb, 1850
Now you pay MsGr 1000
Then you paid for Blind 1850
Now you pay 1922
Even these politicians dare not attack such
expenditures at these. You know that as
State increases in population and wealth its
expenditures must increase. 1t is the case
with every State in the Union. And one
thing is worthy of note in this connection.
The Average ordinary erpeditures during
the first sir gears of the State under democrtic
soay, aoith hardly any improvements going
on, cost the people at the rate Of 48 cents per
head! while the last five year, under Repub-
lican administrations, cost only 10 cents per
head. with all these important Improvements.
During their years of power the demo-
Gratis levied a total tax of 16 1-2 mills, which
divided by 8, the number of years, makes
their average annual levy 1-16 mills Dur
ing the five years of Republican control the
total levy is 7 Ia mills, which, divided by 8
the number. of years, gives the average an
nual rate 1-2 mills. This is upwards of %
per cent. less rate than that of the democrat
ic administrations. And vet with this d.
the works before mentioned, and reduced the
taxes in 1858 about 100000, and in 1859
about $40, 900 more, as recently certified by
the State Auditor.
For the purpose of giving you the means
accompanying Iowa with other Western States
in respect to taxes and expenditures, we
have compiled the following table giving the
rate of levy wherever the Auditors Reports
from those States give it. In some cases
they omit the rate, giving only the amount,
and in others do not give the total assess
ment:
rear otate KATE " cent. Amt. levied Ten Exp
1858 Ohio 3 11-2O mills &297Sl22
1881 Illinois SIS mills 2,75O,346
ls5s California mills 743,72s
$3.50 Mchgn aver. mills
1877 1897 It. not given not given ss4l.sls
1859 Iowa IN mills 4296,0OO
From the foregoing table, embracing both
Democratic and Republican States, you will
find relative proof of the economy and pru-
dence of our Administration, as contrasted
with other new States, two of them having
less population than Iowa.
Now let us ask few questions about the |
democratic party, and its present position.
To what single item of retrenchmen. or
reform, are they pledged? Not one. Their
platform does not contain one single proposed
act of economical reform.
What is there in the history Of its candi-