Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-01-14

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bills the General Assembly limited til
amount which could be drawn the frs
year; and would recommend that tn
principle be still further applied b.
permitting only one-third of the specia
appropriations for public improvement
to be drawn within the present calenda
year. This would enable the treasury
better to meet the demands upon it tht
first year, and allow time for the reali
cation ofsuch additional means as the
General Assembly may provide.
THE STATE LIBRARY.-Tho Librarian
submits report which will furnish you
all the data necessary to full knowl-
edge of its condition. She has prepared
in connection with her report an inter-
esting and valuable history of its estab-
lishnlent and growth. Invite attention
to this report, and also to the single
suggestion relating to legislation made
therein, which fully approve.
The STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
For many years the agricultural So
ciety has labored to promote the in
terests of the State. 1t has illustrated
the resources of Iowa, has stimulated a
wholesome emulation among the people,
and has through its fairs and published
proceedings aided to improve the meth
DDS Of farming. In view Of these facts,
it seems to me it was false economy
to deprive 1t of the small encourage
ment afforded it by the meager appro.
priation of former years. In the past
two years it has met with serious mis-
fortune in having unfavorable weather
during its fairs. This has involved it
in debt and seriously embarrassed its
power for usefulness. Would 1t not be
wise to aid it in this extremity by
restoring 1t to the position of former
years2
THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY,"
This society has done much to preserve
and perpetuate that which will be re-
garded with deep interest in future
years. It has had to struggle against
many difficulties, and the report of its
transactions, which Will be submitted
herewith, shows it to be seriously en-
barrassed. 1t deserves every encourage
ment which, with the numerous demands
made upon the State, can be afforded
to it.
THE FISH COMMISSION, which was
provided for by the last General Assem-
bly,, and for the use of which $4,000 was
appropriated, has performed a good
work with little money. 1t was the de-.
sign to appoint men who had made a
study of fish culture, and who believed
thoroughly in the utility of State encour.
agement. What these men have done,
and what they believe can be done in
the future, are we'll told in their report,
to which special attention is invited.
GENEROSITY TO THE NORTHWEST
The commission appointed to dispense
the appropriation made by your prcde-
cessors to purchase seed for farmers made
destitute by the grasshopper invasion in
some of the counties of the Northwest
faithfully performed the duty. Although
supplying all who came within the law,
they returned $13,7se.5S to the State
Treasury. This appropriation, with the
generous private donations made to these
people, both in 1878 and again in 1874,
when there was another partial destruc-
ton of crops, have no doubt influenced
5000 people to remain in the State who
but for this generosity must have left
the country. To this work of charity
General Baker gave time and heart, and
deserves mention. The past season
most of these people have harvested
twenty bushels of wheat to the acre and
are now living In comparative comfort.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.-The proposed
amendment to the constitution adopted
by your predecessors, and which re.
qulres. your sanction before being sub
mitted to the voters of the State, will
come before you. venture to suggest,
az the uniform expression in Wyoming
Territory, where woman suffrage is a
fact Is favorable to its continuance, and
that wherever in Europe and America
women have voted for school or minor
officers tho influence of their suffrage las
been beneficent, and in view of the Pc
culiar appropriateness of submitting
this question in this year 1875 when all
America is celebrating achievements
which were inspired by the doctrine
that taxation and representation are of
right inseparable, that it would seem to
me proper to give the people of Iowa an
opportunity to express their judgment
upon the proposed amendment at the
ballot box.
CEETENNIAL.--I regard it as very i'm
portant to Iowa that immediate and
effective steps be taken by the legisla-
ture tor the proper representation of the
State In the forthcoming International
Exposition at Philadelphia. During the
past two years considerable progress
has been made by voluntary contribu-
lions and voluntary labor In securing a
collection of articles to represent our
material resources and some of our
achievements in art and industry. Those
who have given their time and effort to
this work in the past have now arrived
at point where it becomes necessary
to ship and enter for exhibition the
collections made, and unless the State
gives immediate aid the work must
cease. 1t will readily be seen that in
addition TO the value of these centennial
observanoes in inspiring anew the patri-
otto fervor OF the people, and in their
educating influence, we can in no better
or cheaper manner advertise our State
and It's resources. 1t is impossible to
enter here into details to show what has
been done, but the committee, named by
me at the request of the managers of the
exposition, will present you report
which will afford full information as to
what has been done and what is necess.
airy to insure success.
THE THIRTEENTH CENSUS.
You have before you the voluminous
and valuable report of the Thirteenth
Census of the State, taken and COM
piled under the immediate supervision
of the Secretary of State. The popuIa.
ton of the State is shown to have been
a year ago, 1,350,544, double what 1t
was In 1860, and four times as much IS
IN 1874. a rapiditv of urnvvfh olpoot if