Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-01-27

tatvss in Congres ehouId not hesitate in assuming
in order to open an ample waterway between ths
Mississippi and the Lakes The full results no ont
can foresee. II would unite the commerce of the
akee with its two thousand vessels to the commerce
Of the Mississippi and its tributaries. with their more
than two thousand vessels: and the commerce 81
united. measured by ton. or by values, would Dc
country. The highest estimated cost Of this improve
ment. made by Gen. G. K. Warren. government en-
gineer, is about four millions Of dollars.
deem this question so vitality important to
the agricultural interests of our State, that
may az time will permit) submit at more length
my views upon the subject.
MANUFACTURES.
Another mode of avoiding high rates OF
transportation, and thus increasing the wealth
OF the State, is the building up among ourselves
of all kinds Of manufactures. The outlay for
farm machinery and manufactured articles
necessary to our people, brought from abroad,
amounts to millions of dollars annually. This
large importation is in direct violation Of the
most obvious principles of domestic economy.
We are compelled to transport bread to East
ern producers that they may live while working
up our raw material, thus needlessly sending
our products thousands of miles in order to OBJ
tain the manufactured article.
Either cheap fuel or ample water power is to
be found in nearly every part OF the State; and
iron abounds in both Missouri and the region of
Lake Superior. Iowa will not see the great era
Of her prosperity until she becomes selfsup-
porting, not only by raising bounteous sup
ply Of breadstuffs, but by erecting manufactO-
ries upon her streams and coal fields to consume
the immense surplus of her rich soil, and thus
diversity industry, build up towns, add to the
value Of our lands, lessen the cost of exchan-
ges, and bring the producer and consumer
nearer together.
submit for your consideration the propriety
of law exempting from taxation for a term Of
years at least portion of the investment in
certain classes Of manufactures.
AGRICULTURE.
The last General Assembly passed law for
encouraging the growth Of forest and fruit
trees, and hedges. The wisdom Of this action
requires no justification. l recommend that
you follow it up by making provision for OBJ
tanning and distributing pure forest tree seed.
1t could be done through the Office of the Sec
rotary of the State Agricultural Society, or
farmers are located or situated SO as to render
1t difficult for them to obtain trees from nurs-
cries, and are thus deferred frOmmaking i'm
provements in this direction. The provision
proposed would exactly meet the wants of
this class, and be of benefit to ALL
During the year 1868, the alarming prevalence
of the disease known as the Spanish or Texan
fever among the cattle driven to market in
States to the eastward of us, induced the cat
tie commissioners of the State of New York to
issue call for convention to consider the
subject. To this convention, which met at
Springfield, Illinois, December l, 2, 3, 1858,
appointed Prof. Norton s. Town shend, of
the Agricultural College, commissioner on
the part of this State. At this convention, an
outline Of bill to be recommended to the sew
cral States was agreed upon. The report of
the Commissioner will be laid before you.
TAXATION AND REVENUE.
The aggregate valuation of the State in
1859 was 1894 ,532 252; an increase since 1867 of
t3S, O15 O6S or 14.82 per cent. 1t is unnecessary
that should remind you that this sum, with
out doubt, represents less than one half the
actual value of all the property, in the State.
Some remedy for this practice of undervalua-
ton is desirable. would suggest, as a step in
that direction, that the State and county boards
If equalization be empowered to adjust valua-
lions, as well as to equalze them. :,
especially commend to your attention the
and suggestions OF the Auditor
of State in reference to double assessments,
and the present cumbersome mode OF keeping
tax books. The recommendation OF that
officer suggests plan which seems to afford a
remedy for an evil of great magnitude.
Among the prominent topics for considera-
ton, at the present session, will be that of the
proper mode of taxing the property OF rail-
roads. The law now in operation on this is sub.
two fold object Of obtaining simpler basis for
taxation, and of encouraging the then strug-
Cling railroad enterprises l submit to the
Judgment of the General Assembly whether
some modification of the law might not now
be made, with the view Of obtaining from these
roads more nearly equitable proportion OF
the public burdens, and yet 80 adjusted as not
to cripple any of these enterprises l respect
fully invite your attention to the observations
and recommendations of the Treasurer OF State
on this subject.
SWAMP LANDS.
recommend that the most stringent pro-
visions be made by law in regard to the
disposal Of tho swamp lands OF the several
counties. The sales OF these lands should be
widely advertised beforehand, not only in the
practical locality Of the lands, but also in
some of the leading cities of the State, that
full opportunity may be given to all,desiring
10 become purchasers, and that the lands may
yield the largest income obtainable. l fear
that different policy in the past has lost to
the counties multiplied thousands OF dollars,
and th.t the grant, from this cause, has failed,
to great degree, to be of any benefit to either
State or county.
sCHOOL-FUND AND SCHOOL-LANDs.
The permanent school fund, according to the
books of the Auditor of State, amounts to
&2, 932, 626 o. having been increased during the
last two years, by sales and re-sales of school
land, &4ll,2i2.57. The interest appor.
toned during. the same tme,. amounted
to keep good the principal Of this
fund, and in case of loss, to make 1t up from
the State treasury. This requirement is an
act OF justice to the general government, the
donor of the lands from the proceeds of the
sales of which this fund is derived, and to the
youth of the State, for whose education the
Gift was made. Fully to comply with such re-
quirement, without loss to the State, demands
that the fund be placed under the supervision
of officers Of the State, who are directly re-
sponsible to the State, and of whom an account
OF the condition of the fund may be ascer-
tanned whenever demanded. At present there
is large deficiency in the permanent school,
fund, which deficiency will not become any
smaller except at the expense OF the State
treasury, am satisfied that no business man
among the members of the General Assembly
would allow his own affairs to be conducted
In the manner In which this fund has been
managed.
am constrained, therefore, to renew the
suggestion made In special message at the
last session, and also the recommendations of
nv last four predecessors, that this fund be
called into the State treasury. believe 1t
could with profit be invested In registered
bonds of the United States, or those of this
State, or In public improvements. would
commend to your consideration the very judi
cious remarks ON this subject In the reports Of
the financial officers of the State.
During the last fiscal term Of two years,
n, $50 acres of school.lands were patented. Ac-
cording to an estimate carefully made by the
Register of the State Land Office, the average
price obtained for these lands was about 23i
x.,or ocra How rnuch land was anld durinO the