Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-02-08
The Great state of Iowa.

On the 2Sth Of last month Iowa cell
obratod her Both anniversary. The oc-
casion called forth the following brief
review of the States career from the
Chicago Tribune:
The people of the State Of Iowa yes.
torday celebrated in a quiet way the
thirty-six anniversary Of the admission
of that hourishing commonwealth into
the Union. Nothing moro strange than
the development of Iowa in the course
OF the generation which has passed
since its admission, can well be mag
ined. Less than fifty years ago there
were hardly dozen settlements of
white men between the Missouri State
limo and British America, while to-day
Iowa furnishes homes for population
closely approximating TO two millions.
The growth Of the State is more wonder
full inasmuch rs nm immense majority OF
its people are solely engaged in agricul-
tural pursuits, and it does not hold with.
in its borders city with apopulation OF
over %, 900.
From its earliest settlement Iowa has
been favored land. With an area Of
81, 900 square miles, almost exactly equal
to that Of Illinois, it is the boast Of its
citizens that there is not quarter sec.
ton of untillable land within its borderss
Few inland countries possess such wa
ter frontage, for the two greatest rivers
of North America form its eastern and
western boundaries. 1t escaped alike
the ravages OF the Indians who resisted
tho advance Of civilization in Minnesota
and the north, and the horrors of civil
war which afflicted its southern neigh.
bors.
Short as has been the existence OF Iowa
as State, it is the senior OF nine others.
Thirty years ago il had not mile Of
railroad; now with its six thousand miles
of track and three great trunk lines
crossing IL east and west, it ranks as the
fifth State in the Union in railroad mile
age. In 1880 II produced $50, 900, 900
bushels OF corn and 40, 900, 900 bushels Of
wheat, while its dairy interest, though
hardly yet beyond its infancy, bids fair
In but few years to transcend in value
and Importance all others. The State is
rich in coal, and within the last ten years
manufacturing industries have been cs.
| tablished In hundreds of towns. With
an assessed valuation in round numbers
OF $500, 900, 900, Iowa has bonded in
debtedness of n quarter of million dol
lars, n school fund Of $1,000, 900, taxes
so light as to be hardly felt by any of its
citizens, and a surplus in its treasury
every year.
Better than all, side by side with this
showing of material prosperity, our
noighbors across the Mississippi can point
to a law-abiding people and to educa-
tional institutions which insure to every
child within its borders the privilege Of
a free school system not exoelled by TINT
of any country. In its 1000 school
houses 500, 900 children are trained in
useful knowledge, and 600 newspapers
published within its limits carry to its
people the record of the times in which
they live. Well may the citizens of
Iowa celebrate with Joy and thankful
ness the thirty-sixth birthday of their
magnificent State, and look back with
pride upon the achievements of a genera
ton, even while counting these but as
an earnest of greater things to como. In
such land, with domain larger than
England and Wales combined, and Gu.
liabilities of agricultural development
hardly to be estimated, there is yet room
for millions of honest aud industrious
people.