Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1868-12-10

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producer. OF late years attention has
been largely devoted to the cultivation
OF grapes, with the most gratifying
success In 1866, there were 90, i1g
pounds "t grapes raised against 800,
400 in 1864. In 1866, there were /,
} o75, III fruit trees in bearing, and in
1854, 63s,45S. These tgurs tell their
own story, and show the steady adj.
vance i'll productive wealth.
t The State is settled minaly from
Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, with q
large admixture from New England.
About one sixth of the entire popula-
ton came from foreign countries, Ger
many largely prepondcrating. Nor
way, Holland, and Sweden, among
the MINOR rations of the old world,
have also thriving settlements in this
State. A people loving liberty and
order, and respecting and pricing the
political, religious, and educational
privileges of our State, is the natural
result OF the aggregation OF such ma
terial
The first permanent settlement. in
what is now Iowa, was made III the
comfy of Lee, in the southeastern
part OF the State, less than forty years
ago. The Territory was detached
from the Territory of Wisconsin, in
1898, and was admitted into the Union
the twenty ninth State, Dec.2S, ls46.
The population in 1886, was 1881; in
1888, 22,S59; in 1916, 97,5SS; in 1856
5i9,055: in 1867, 9o204U 1t is now
estimated at about 100000; and yet
much more than two-thirds Of the
State is still just as it came from the
hand of nature. From twenty to
twenty five millions of acres of prairie
land have not been touched by the
plow. Homesteads may be secured,
il many Of the counties of North
western Iowa, on government lands,
while the greater portion of unim
proved lands may be bought at from
$3.50 to $40 per acre and nearly every
acre of it is as good land as any which
has yet yielded its wealth to cult;y;,
! ton.
Iowa has sons twelve railroads,
with more than fourteen hundred
miles of lines in operation. Several
other companies have been organized,
some OF which are grading their road
beds, while others ear engaged in pre-
! liminarv work. Within year, at
least, three railroads will traverse the
whole State from East to Wcst-one
being already finished Other roads
/ III the same direction, and several
north and south roads are in progress.
Telegraph lines accompany the rail
ways, and an independent, line follow
ing the Mississippi river, has just been
constructed across the State
In the ninety-seven organized coun-
ties of the State, there were in 1867,
6,229 schools, with gross attendance
OF PSI ,ooSl pupils, costing for tuition
81, 1Gl ,653. The school houses were
valued at *3,450,97S. The State has
made ample provision for the support
of free schools. The proceeds OF all
lands given by the General Govern
ment tor school purposes, and of the
100000 acres given under an act OF
1871, the five per cent granted by the
United States on lands sold within
the State, and the estate OF every de-
ceasd person dying without will or
heirs, constitute a perpetual fund, the
interest of which goes to the support
of common schools. The money paid
for exemption from military duty, as
well as the clear proceeds OF all fines
collected for breach OF the penal laws,
are similarly devoted to the support of
the schools All these resources, with
the addition of tax of from one mill
to two and a halt mills, go to the pay.
mcnt of teachers. The building of
school houses, keeping them in repair,
fuel, apparatus, rent, etc, are provided
for by 4 special tax. The amount ex-
pended for these purposes in 1867 was
about *SSO,0OO. 1t is believed that
our system OF popular education is as
good AS that OF any of the States. In
addition, We hNve a State University
with an incomt OF SO, 900, aside from
the appropriations made by Gen
cral Assembly. There is also State
agricultural College and farm, with an
estimated income OF $4,000. Beside
these, private schools OF high order,
academies, colleges and universities,
under the control of various dsnomi.
nations OF Christians, are numerous
throughout the State. From the
earliest settlement of the territory, the
friends of liberal education have per-
sistently laborcd for the advancement
OF The cause, and have at all times been
able to influence to some extent the
Legislation OF the st te in this behalf;
and now it is believed no State in the
Union has made more extensive pro-
visions for universal education.
have thus endeavored to convey
to you, in the fewcst possible word,
the information you desire. Permit
me TO add, that to this young but
growing State, blessed as it is with a
salubrious climate; with soil OF unsur-
passed richness; with an intelligent
progressive population; with a wise
and efficient system Of popular edu-
cation; with many institutions OF
learning of high grade; with rivers
and railways bringing or about to
bring markets to the very homes, so
to say, of all the citizens; with millions
of acres Of fertile lands which NAV
now be had at very low prices, but
which will rapidly increase in value;
with low taxes, and an unusua ly
sound financial condition; with the
privileges of religion assured to ali a.
like; with pact prosperity hardly
equalled in the country, assuring un-
doubted future greatness and rank a.
mong the eminent States Of the Re-
public, we most cordially invite up
right citizens of all lands and crecds to
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