The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-11-04
The Progress Of Iowa between
1850 aud 1860.

lHgton Tor copy OF Mr.. kennedys Pre-
liminary Report on the 9th census
very valuable document. exhibiting a
rapid increase in population, wealth, and
every national resource, in all parts Of the
country, between the years 1850 and
1860 The times were suspicious. With
out wars. or pestilence, or general food,
or drought, our people had but to call
forth their natural energies, md TO exer-
else the wisdom Of the Anglo. Saxon race
in order to surpass all other people in
substantial national progress and the tri-
umphs which are of peace.
Accordingly. we find that the popula-
ton of the States and Territories increas-
ed from 23,l0l, 1916 in 1850, to 81 ,445,-
os9, in 1860 !; that the number of acres
Of improved lands went up from ll3, 032,-
GA to 163,26l $50; the cash value of
farms from s3,271,575, 426, to $685.
s72, 5O7; of farming implements from
$751; ,5s7, 63s to s247, 027, 1876 that all
the productions ofour vast farming lands
increased enormously; that for $500
miles Of railway in 1850, costing 1896.
coo, l4s, we had 30,794 miles in 1860.
costing 81, ISL $50, S2e; that the value
of American manufactures increased from
o19,1o6,6l6, to sI.90o,ooo 900; that
for e7a banks, with capital Of 1921
469,077 and circulation of Sl55, Ol2,-
88l, in 1850, we had gag in 1860, with
capital Of SAL $50. O95, and circula-
ton Of $2O7, lee, III, their specie in
vault increasing meanwhile from 348,-
7i,138, to S83 ,664 ,5os; the total wealth
OF the people of TIE country, being the
value Of tier real rl personal property,
exclusive of the property owned by the
federal and State governments, rose from
81. 1876, $50, 998 to SIG, 159, 6f6, 06S. -
Such is very brief epitome Of the grand
record Of our country's amazing growth
during but ten years of prosperity and
peace--a record which abundantly shows
that, but for the disturbing element in
our body polite, and which is now deci-
ding in bloody war the issue of its ire
prcssible conflict, we would ere long take
onr place as both the most populous and
the most powerful ofnations. With that
discofdant element removed, as hap
PLY we have reason to hope it will be ere
long. the imagination can hardly picture
the splendid career which would lie be-
fore this people along the coming years,
But We propose now to note some Of
the facts connected with the growth oil
eur ssttate-iih iiiany important respects
more rapid and honorable to our people
than the growth of any other State in the
Union.
INCREASE IN WEALTH.
In 1850, the value Of the rea and per.
sonal property in Iowa was S23.7l4,e
In 1860, it was S247 ,838, e65, having in.
creased In ten years $223 1928, 627, or of
the rate of nearly 943 per cent.--a rate
of increase higher by nearly 100 per cent
than that exhibited by any other State in
the nation, more than 900 per cent high
er than that of Massachusetts or Vermont
and about 400 per cent. higher than thai
of the most prosperous of the Slave States
The absolute increase of our wealth 70,
the ten years alone, was greater than the
entire wealth, in 1860, of either Arkan
sas, California, Delaware, Florida, Kan,
sas, Maine. tinnesota. New Hampshire
Oregon, Rhode lslaud or Vermont Flor
ida, older than Iowa as State by nearly
two years. and with greater area BY
more than four thousand square miles,
augmented her wealth during the decade
but $50, a39, ESQ. Iowa could, to-day,
buy ont Florida, bag, baggage, and ting
gers" and still have nearly SITS, OO0,.
900 worth Of property left. The rate Of
increase in the wealth OF Wisconsin was
55l per cent, and in Illinois, ass.
GROWTH IN PopULArlos.
Such q rapid acquisition Of wealth a.
the above figures show, would indicate
intense energy, or rapid increase, or both,
among our population. Doubtless OUT
| people are as energetic as any other. Ger.
tainly we have grown most rapidly in
population. The number or Inhabitants
10 our State in 1850 was l92, 2i4; IN
1860, 674. 94S, being an increase of 25l.
IA per cent very much higher rat.
than that Of any State. which was . mem
Der Of the Union when the census of 1851
was taken. AS regards rapidity Of growth
IN both wealth and population, lows
stands first among tine States whose in.
habitants were enupe rated like hers il
! 1850 and 1860. California, Minnesota
and Oregon, Territories in June 1850
seem to show greater rate of increase il
| population. In 1850, Iowa was the TWEEN
ty-seventh State In the Union in point a
popuiation-in 1850. the twentieth. Du
rlnp the dcrado eho nva.<noL NJ