Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-12-07

atcd between Prnirie City and Mon
roe. on the y. V. X. Il. which runs
diagonal'y through them. Here a
town was plated, called Mcnroc
City, and sale OF lots took place.
-Four hundred aid fifteen were sold
cash receipts after expenses were de-
Quoted, S40g15. When tie report
was read to the House, an indignant
member-Judgc McFarland-moved
to refer to n committee to report
how much of Monroe City was. un
der water and how much was burned
up. The result was tha. Monroe
City ceased to be the seat Of govern
'ment, the lots vacated and the mon
ey returned to the purchasers.
Further appropriations were then
made to complete the buildings at
Iowa City, and finally in 1854 the
last appropriation of 81 900 was made,
making the whole cost of the Iowa
City building 1928 900, paid mainly
by Qrpce6ds Of sale OF lots IN. Iowa
City. Still the Question OF removal
was agitatcd. In 1851 bills were in.
froduced TO remove the capitol TO
Pella, and to Fort Des Moines. That
designating the latter place was final,
ly lost on ordering to third read.
ing. A bill was introduced into tho
Senate at the following session for
the removal TO Fort Des Moines, and
was barely defeated on the final vote.
The effort was resumed at the next
session with success; and on the 18th
OF January, 1855, the Governor ap.
proved the bill re locating the seat
of government within two miles of
the Raccoon fork of the Des Moines.
In accordance with this act, the spot
upon which we now stand, was Sc
lected in 1856, this square, with two
smaller ones, being given the State
by citizens and property holders OF
Des Moines. An association of pri-
vate individuals erected the building
across the street, leasing it at 4 nom
inal rent. And on the 10Th OF Octo
Der, 1857, Governor Grimes issued
lis proclamation declaring the city Of
Des MONIES the Capital of Iowa.
Thus Iowa City finally ceased to be
the seat Of government. On the 1lth
OF January 1858, the General As
sembly convened at Des Moines. Six
General Assemblies have held their
sessions in what is now known as the
"Old Capitol" to which the State oh
tanned title by purchase in 1864. Its
inadequacy has long been te't, and IN
1870 the General Assembly deeming
that the time had come for commenc-
ing work on permanent editice Ior
the State government, appointed
Board OF Commissioners and made
an appropriation for a beginning.
This beginning you see, anil because
OF it you are here to-day. have In
troduced these sketches OF history
torthe purpose OF making up brief
record tor those who shall come after
us. more useful, l think, and appro-
pirate than any display Of rhetoric
could be.
Then, after abiding to our prog
ress as a State and a nation, and com
parlng our government with others
OF the world, the Governor closed
with the following fine tribute to our
own beloved State of Iowa:
What OF oar future? +? What shall
measure its capabilities or confine its
possibilities? With our vast extent
of excellent soil. with millions of un-
touched acres awaiting the pioneer
plow, with immense treasures of min
eral wealth stored away for the use
of countless generations to come,
with delightful and invigorat;ng
climate, with an intelligent and liber.
ty loving people. with a beneticent
system of common schools, the nu~.
sery OF freedom and the dread of ty-
rants, the prospect before us bewili
ers us while it enchants. II behooves
us, and those who shall come after
Us, to build worthy of these grand
opportunities, and TO use we'll the
means kind Providence has placed
at our disposal. Let us see to it that
the extent OF our power we securely
fashion the fabric of the common
wealth, that freedom and equality,
justice, intelligence and public virtue
shall ever be its characteristics, that
ours shall not be-
'Aland to hast'ning ills . prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decav.'
But one whose msferlal tr,umphs
while enriching the whole, shall not
impoverlsh any; and that the laws TO
be promulgated frcK the ed;fice
soon TO crown this fair height, while
looking to the suppression of crime,
the removal of party, and the dissi-
patton of their causes, shall ever tend
10 the true object of righteous legis-
ation-the greatest good of all peo-
pie.
APPLES are being sent from Iowa
20 Michigan and as far cast as Massa-
,husetts. The apple crop in the
East being light, and heavy in Iowa,
t pays to ship them East. The ap-
pie crop is so abundant in some parts
If Iowa this year, as to sell for TWEEN.
~, SEQ no,,tS . hnohol ~,.l ~ c,oEt,,