Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-03-27

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extracts. The population of Iowa in 1885,
was 92,214, in 1850 it was 637, 1918, an in
crease in 10 years Of AS, 500. The valuation
of real estate and personal property which il
1850 was $23, ia, 63s, had reached the enor
nous figures in 1860 of $247, 1888 1865. An
other gratifying evidence Of the substantial
progress of Iowa, is to be found in the in
crease of the number of acres of improved
lands. This has kept pace with the increase
of population. In 1850 the number of acres
of land under cultivation in the State was
1924 ,6S2, in 1860 there was 3,780,253 acres
the cash valuation Of which was $11s, 74l ,405
against 1865, 567, the value of improved
farms in 1850. The number of bushels o.
wheat produced in 1850 was ,43O, 5Sl, in
1860 the number of bushels reported was
s,433,2 O5. These figures when placed along
side of those of the productions Of wheat in
Ohio, show but slight difference in favor Of
that State. a3 aa
Heretofore many have been led to believe
that the Northwestern States did not compare
very favorably with the Middle States as a
wheat growing section. The last census has
removed this false impression. The culture
Of winter wheat in this State having proved
success, will have the effect of stimulating
farmers to give more attention to this cereal,
and the next census will place Iowa on an
equality with Ohio in the number of bushels
produced.
Another equally gratifying fact has been
brought to light by the United States census,
viz: that there are but six States in the Union
that produces more corn than Iowa.
In 1850 the number of bushels Of corn
produced in this State, was 1855, 100, in 1860
the number of bushels was 41,116,994, an
increase in ten years Of nearly thirty-three
millions of bushels. Ohio in the same time
shows an increase of only ten millions Of
bushels
Another erroneous idea in regard to the
adaptability of Iowa as fruit growing State
has been corrected by the census returns,
which show an Increase in the value of these
productions from SIS, 900 in 1850 to 1871, 900
in 1860, and the fact seems firmly established
that the climate of Iowa is no more destruct-
i've to the growth of fruit than that Of the
Middle States, except on the land in those
States which border on the Lake Shores
We may therefore look for an astonishing in
crease in the value Of fruit during the next
decade.
The cultivation of tobacco already forms
an important branch of agriculture, there
having been $4,000 pounds of this article
raised in Iowa in 1860. Although Sorghum
is comparatively new branch Of agriculture,
yet there was produced in 1860, 1,993,474
gallons Of syrup.
The above figures exhibit the fact that not
the terrible financial revusions
which have hung over our fair State like a
pail, prostrating every business enterprise,
retarding the progress of our railroads and
emigration from our borders,
Iowa has with an irrisistable power, steadily
marched forward to the place she is destined
to occupy, of one Of the brightest stars in
the glorious constellation. which will still
shine as heretofore, despite the fratricidal ef
forts of traitors to pluck it from its place, a
beacon light to the poor and oppressed of
every land and nation.
rW- The Relief Committee of this county,
in connection with.the Ladies' Aid Society,
saw proper few days since to issue an ap-
peal to our citizens for sanitary stores to be
used in relieving the sick and suffering SOL
diers who have gone out from our midst in
defense of the old flag Although but short
time has elapsed since the appeal was issued,
it has been nobly responded to. To the citi-
zens of this, the banner war county of the
State, the mere mention of the fact that their
brothers and sons, now manfully battling for
the supremacy of the laws, were suffering
through want Of wholesome food, is sufficient
to bring tons upon tons of the articles desir-
ed. Notwithstanding the miserable state of
the roads, almost precluding the farmers from
coming to the city, yet there has been gath
cred and stored at Compton's store, and 9th
er places af rendezvous, THREE HUNDRED AND
F1rTY-F1vE barrels and boxes of stores, consist
ing of vegetables Ct all descriptions, cakes, deli
cacies and prepared fruit, weighing SEVEN.
TEEN TONS. There, good people of Iowa, or of
any other State, what think ye of that? Have
we not cause to be proud of our noble county,
the first to send soldier from the State to
aid in suppressing this unholy rebellion, and
the first to send boat load of provisions to
their relief. The citizens of Dane Co., Wis. in
which is situated Madison, the capital of the
State, much larger city than Muscatine,
shipped three tons Of provisions to their SOL
diers few days since. One township in this
county CGoshen) which, by the way contains
within its limits the most patriotic and gener-
Gus hearted people in the land, contributed
the same amount (three tons) as did this, one
Of the most populous and wealthy counties.in
Wisconsin. Wilton also did well, sending in
a little more than one ton. We cannot, with
justice, claim the entire lot, as the town of
Brighton, in Washington county, sent for
ward very liberal donation, for which we
award all due credit.
Now let other counties throughout the State
follow the noble example set them by Musca-
49,
will thus be prevented. @
The goods left here on Wednesday, on the
steamer Sucker State. under charge of Col