Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-01-07

tory erected TWO cOuntleS on the west bluc VI
the Mississippi River, Des Moincs and Du
buque. the iowa River being the boundary
line. These counties In 1895 had population
Of 10,531 In 1896, on the 9Th Of July, the
Territory Of Wisconsin was organized, includ
ing all Of Michigan Territory not embraced
| within the limits OF the State Of Michigan
Under this organized change the first legis-
latiye body met In Iowa. This Legislature
had met the year before at q place called
Belmont, which name was nearly all there
was Of the town. The session at Burlington
was opened in a two.story frame house, bull
for temporary State House by Jeremiah
Smith. Jr.. member Of the Council.
During the winter this miniature State.
| House was destroyed by fire. The Legisia.
| ture then met In the Methodist Episcopal
| Church known as Old Zion Church" This
i Wisconsin Legislature subdiyided the two
| couaties Of Des Moipes and Dubuque into
sixteen. II Is said. and truthfully So that the
territory now comprised within the limits Of
! the State OF Iowa has been part Of the pos
sessions successfully OF two kingdoms and
| two republics, and subsequent TO It's pur-
chase by the United States was under the
| Jurisdiction OF no less than five territorial
governments. In 1888, on the ID day OF July,
these sixteen counties became the Territory
OF Iowa. -Four months later the Legislative
! Assembly began it's session at Burlington
! in the "Old Zion Church" which was occu-
I pied the previous winter by the Wis
consin Legislature. Here were held
| the sessions OF the First, Second and Third
| Legislative Assemblies. BY acts OF the Gen.
/ craf Assembly three Commissioners were ap-
! pointed and a sum OF money appropriated
! for seat OF government, which should be
! located within the limits Of johnson County,
| which location was considered most central.
| A site was selected and called Iowa City
and provisions were made for the erection OF
a capitol building.
On Monday, Dec. 6, 1871, the Fourth Legis-
Iative Assembly met ut Iowa City, and here
as at other points, temporary frame house
had been erected for the use Of that august
body, which occupied 1t during the sessions
Of fS41 and 1872 On the 18th Of December,
1912, the new Capitol having been sufficiently
completed, the Legislature convened In that
building. Iowa became State Dec. rs, 1916,
with population of 100000. 1t was subse-
mently discovered that Iowa City was too far
eastward, and consequently, ought not to be
settled upon as the permanent seat OF the
Government. BY an act authorizing
change, Monroe City, in Jasper Coun-
ty, in turn was designated as the
proper point, but the capital was never
moved to this locality In 1855, Jan. is, the
capital still remaining at Iowa City, bill was
passed and approved by the Governor, relo-
eating the Capitol at Dies Mones, and Gov.
Grimes, having been apprised of the compile
ton Of the edifce, issued q proclamation de-
claring the city OF Dcs Moines the capital OF
Iowa. The removal OF the offices and archives
speedily commenced and 1t was not until
December that the last Of the effccts-the
safe Of the Treasurer Of State, drawn on two
bob.sleds by ten yoke Of oxen--entered the
new Capitol, where probably it will ever re-
main.
NEW CAPITOL.
The cornerstone 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 23d 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 will vie in beauty
with any State Capitol Of the nation. III Is
the Doric and Corinthian combined, at least
cut Of the finished structure would seem
10 indicate combination OF the two orders.
The location is q 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
years In Its completion. 1t is estimated TO
cost 81 ,500,0 600 and is built of st. Louis sand
stone, which Is susceptible Of fine polish,
and the elements only harden and beautify
the finish. The edilcc Is to be strictly fire.
proof building, or as nearly SO as art can
make. 1t will 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-fags beneath
which were achieved deeds Of valor In our
great struggle for the perpetuity OF free
government! Here In the records OF 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
l. 4 ~ ..1 H., Ii,,. Int txra
on the scroll Of fame.
NARRow-GAUGE RAILROAD.
AS an experiment. men Of wealth Of the
Capital City, have projected the DesMoines
~ Minnesota Narrow Gauge and have con-
| structed II az far as Ames, on the N. w. II. r.,
| thirty-seven and half miles, which has been
| I'm successful operation three months. 1t has
| so far exceeded the expectations Ct Its stock
| holders. The rOad-bed, ties and iron cost
| $4,000 per mile. The iron weighs 30 pounds 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 trfc more than an omnibus. The
road can safely compete with the broad
| gauge when 1t 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 ears 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 AGRICULTURAL 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 a visit to this institu.
tion the writer had an opportunity Of exam.
ming the improved breeds Of cattle, Short
Horns, Devons 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 Ia foolish and triy-
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
ments. The college edifice Is an imposing
pile and it's interior arrangements have the
appearance OF convenience, in that the class.
| rooms and other necessary departments are
roomy and well ventilated and In al respects
| equipped with every necessary modern I'M
provement. The college Is lighted by gas,
manufactured upon the premises, which Ii
| both cheaper and more agreeable than any
other method. The college museum con.
| tains a large collection Of mammals, birds