The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-31

49,
proper point, but the capital wss never
4 movedAo this locality. In 1855 Jan. IS, the
/ copllafstiIl remaining ct Iowa City, bill was
passed snd appFoyed BY the Governor, relo-
tatfng the Capitol at les Moines, and aov
Grimes, having been apprised Of the compile
!, ton OF the edifce, Issued proclamation de-
claring the city of Des MOines the capital OF
Iowa. The removal of the offices and archives
speedily commenced, and it was not until
December that the last Of the efiects-the
safe Of the Treasurer Of 6tate, drawn on two
bob -sIeds by tenyOke Of Oxcn--entered the
new Capitol, where probably 1t will ever re-
main.
The corner stone Of the new Capitol build
ing Of the State Of Iowa, at the city Of Des
Moines, was laid with appropriate and i'm
posing ceremonies on Thursday, the sd day
of November, 1871, and to-day the basement
and one story have been erected. The style
OF architecture combines simplicity with du-
rability, and when flushed viii vie in beauty
with any State Capitol of the nation. 1t is
the Doric and Corinthian combined, at least
cut of the finished structure would seem
to indicate combination OF the two orders.
The location Is commanding one, and over
looks the Valley City almost completely. The
work Of erection will go on at the rate OF
story q year, and will consume nearly four
wears in its completion. 1t is estimated 70
cost 81, 10000 and is built Of st. Louis sand
stone, which is susceptible of fine polish,
and the elements only harden and beautify
the. finish. The edifice is to be strictly fire.
proof building, or as nearly so as art can
make twill be, when its massive and beau
tiful form receives the cap-stone, one OF the
finest structures west Of the great river. Its
great archives will contain memories OF the.
great national conflict in which the brave
men OF Iowa bore so noble and so distin-
guished part! Here will be kept the blood
stained banners and battle flags beneath
which were achieved deeds Of valor in our
great struggle for the perpetuity OF free
government Here IN the records OF a great
State will be subscribed the names OF those
who fell fighting for Liberty-whose names
will stand out in bold relief on the roll OF
honor, and be emblazoned in unfading letters
on the scroll Of fame.
NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD.
As an experiment, men Of wealth Of the
Capital City, have projected the Des Moines
Il Minnesota Narrow Gauge and have con-
structed it as far as Ames, on the N. w. r. r.,
thirty-seyen and half miles, which has been
in successful operation three months. 1t has
SO far exceeded the expectations Ct its stock
holders The road bed, ties and iron cost
s., 900 per mile. The iron weighs 30pounds per
yard, or one half as much as the broad gauge
rail. The platform and box cars are on the
whole quite inexpensive, and the coaches
cost but trife more than an omnibus. The
road can safely compete with the broad
gauge when it has been thoroughly ballasted
The narrow gauge will, in the near future.
become the feeder Of the through lines, and
must become very popular in such capacity
The great argument used in favor OF this road
is that the cars are Invested of dead weight
and that in hauling train the energies OF the
locomotive are expended more upon freight,
without the redundant car weight.
STATE AGRI CULTURAL COLLEGE.
Among the notable objects in Central Iowa
are the Aricultural College and the expert
mental farm Of several hundred acres, two
miles from Ames. In visit to this institu-
ming the improved breeds of cattle, Short
Horns, Deyons and Attorneys, and the i'm
proved breeds of swine and sheep and horses,
the latter just introduced.
The farm had produced excellent crops dur
ing the season and everywhere neatness and
thrift were dominant features, showing con-
clusively that the endowment of this school
was not being squandered in foolish and triv-
ial experiments; that the great national grant
bestowed upon Iowa was working out the
designs of the Government giving the sons
and daughters of the farmers solid acquire
mcnts The college edifice is an imposing
pile and its interior arrangements have the
appearance of convenience, in that the class
rooms and other necessary departments are
equipped with every necessary modern i'm
provement The college is lighted by gas,
manufactured upon the premises, which is
both cheaper and more agreeable than any
other method. The college museum con-
tains large collection of mammals, birds,
reptiles and insects, Illustrating thoroughly
the fauna of the State. It contains an herb
arium of $500 specimens which illustrate
thoroughly the flora of Iowa. 1t contains
also grains and textile materials from the
Paris Exposition of 1867. A complete series
Of geological specimens are found upon the
shelves, collected during the State survey,
illustrating the geology of the State. There
is also series of a thousand models of rare
and interesting fossils, obtained at great ex-
pense, to illustrate the researches and dscov-
cries Of biologists in this important field of
study. The college campus in the near
future viii be the peer of older and long
established institutions of the country. There
is a large library, and the work shops and
Presidents and professors residences give
the neighborhood the appearance of an ele-
giant villa. The students are organized into
military ompanies-taught artillery practice
and the manual of arms The college under
its present able management must soon take
high rank and become one Of the strongest
educational forces in the State.