Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-01-23

1875, no action need be taken by
the General Assembly, as every
thing we could desire in the way of
statistics will undoubtedly be
thereby supplied; although it is
hoped that Congress will improve
the plan Of the work so as to be-
speak greater accuracy.
Diversified Mdustry.-The cen
sus of the present year
shows, what has indeed been APP
parent to common observation, that
the rapidity of growth which mark
ed the history Of Iowa from 1865 to
1870 has received a check. Immi
gLation, except to the newer coun
ties of the State, is nearly if not
quite balanced by emigration to the
cheaper but not better lands beyond
the Missouri. From this, l deduce
the fact that some parts Of our State
have reached point beyond which
no great growth may be anticipated
until their industries shall have be-
come more largely diversified; in
other words, that, with agriculture
alone as = basis of productive
wealth, they haye reached the point
of their greatest comparative pros
pcrity. If such be the case, it be-
comes the statesman of to day to
look it in the face, and, if legisla-
tion can do anything to bring about
the needed diversitication, to apply
such legislation. A few years ago,
the desirability Of encouraging the
growth of timber, fruit trees, shade
trees, and hedges induced the Gen
eral Assembly to make liberal ex-
emptions from taxation in favor Of
their cultivation. The effect has
been to dot the prairies of the new
cr counties with groves Of young
timbor, and to stimulate all over the
state the growth of trees and
hedges. That similar results would
follow like liberality towards manu-
featuring industries, there can be no
doubt. The propriety of such an
exemption l most earnestly recon-
mend to the consideration of the
General Assembly, in the hope that
it will be found advisable to enact
measures calculated to stimulate
those industries. The immense
coal fields underlying the soil of
Iowa, render it probable that such
encouragement will not long be
needed, and that a little aid at the
incipiency of manufacturing enter
prises, sufficiently long extended to
convince tEcir projectors of the in
viting field Iowa offers them, is all
that is necessary to establish on a
firm footing the most extensive man
ufactures. The exemption from
taxation of the moneys invested
therein above a certain amount,
would, | am pursuaded, bring into
the State much capital, the unex-
empted part Of which would itself
in no small degree increase the
amount of taxable property, and
for which, without some such dis.
elimination, we may wait for years.
THE SCHOOLS.
The report of the superintendent
of public instruction, presents the
usual valuable statistics of that in
teresting department of the state
government. The number of per-
sons within the school age is 49l,-
344, an increase during the biennial
period of 29,662. The number of
school districts has increased 932,
owing to the organization OF inde-
pendent districts under a law of
1872, there being only six more
township-districts than in 1871. AS
each Independent district has five
officers, and the larger ones eight,
the advance in the number of school
functionaries is probably nearly as
great as that in the enrolment OF
scholars above mentioned, viz: 1882
The creation of over 900 new secre-
taryships with no more records to
keep, of over 900 new treasurships
with no more funds to handle, and
of thousands of new school director
kships with no more duties to per-
form, with the division and almost
dissipation Of responsibility there
by wrought, is of itself torcible
argument in support of the views of
the superintendent in favor of a
simple township organization. In
deed, the system of almost intinites-
sinai districts seems to be hardly
defensible except upon the theory
that the best government is that
which comes nearest supplying ev-
cry man with an Office. The sur
prising mismanagement of school
moneys revealed in the superintend-
ent's report, in some of the counties,
will not be improved by multipli-
cation of fiduciary officers.
The recommendations Of the SUI
perintendent,-that annual reports
be required from both school secre,
taries aud treasurers, and that these
officers be chosen in September; for
more effective county supervision;
and in favor of providing for state
teachers certificates,-are the sug-
gestions Of an officer who has seen
the practical need there exists for
improvement in these respects, and
l cordially indorse the spirit of
those recommendations. l would
also invite your attention to the su-
perintendent's arguments in behalf
of normal schools; and likewise to
his suggestions for better provision
for teachers institutes. To my
mind, if the general assembly should
not deem the occasion opportune
for the establishment of normal
schools, tentative substitute, both
cheap and effective, may be found
in the encouragement Of these in
stitutes, by providing for terms of
several weeks, and giving them
competent instructors. Some have
already been held in different parts
Of the state with very satisfactory
results. Other states have tried the
experiment, with apparent success.
1 entertain no doubt that such gath
erings, with substantial recognitions
from the state, will be of benefit to
all who attend, affording them meas
urably tho advantages Of the normal