The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-05-14

as many others leading out OF the
state, nor any OF the raw material
raised on our farms and converted
into manufactured products within
its limits, nor any of the cattle or
hogs slaughtered therein, some idea
can be formed Of the wonderful pro-
of state that can feed
its own two millions Of inhabitants
and distribute among the rest Of
mankind in single year such vast
quantities of the surplus products OF
soil.
But it is not to her farms alone that
Iowa can point with just pride in her
industrial prosperity. There is to-day
in operation within the state nearly
400 coal mines, employing an average
of 12, 500 men, who produce an ave-
rage output of more than three and a
half millions of tons of coal, of the
value Of $1,000, 900; and in hundreds
OF cities and towns all over the state
are factories great and small, repre-
senting investments of millions upon
millions of dollars and giving con-
slant employment to thousands of
men.
Turning from her industrial advent
ages we have no less reason for graft
tude at the wonderful development
Of the state in its social and educa-
tional progress. On every hand are
found commodious edifices for public
worship abundantly sufficient for the
accommodation Of every sect and form
Of religious belief. In our common
schools half million scholars are en-
rolled, 5000 teachers are employed,
and sc, 00, 900, are annually expended
in their support, while we are able
to point to dozens Of the most -four
ishing institutions of learning sup
ported as sectarian schools and COL
leges, and to q normal school, Agri-
cultural college and state university
literally provided for at public ex-
pense, and from these we can turn to
the most magnificent and costly ar
ray OF charitable institutions ever
constructed or maintained by q state
SO young, and last though not least we
find equal evidences of the wonder
full progress OF our state in the luxur.
ious hotels provided for strangers in
the most thriving OF her cities; OF
which the elegant structure whose
opening to the public we have as
sembled to celebrate is one Of the
most complete.
/ No citizen of Iowa, as he recalls the
history OF his state and glances back
over the limited number of years
that separate US from q period when
the trail Of the savage was the only
highway that marked it's surface;
when the noise OF neither city nor
town. workshop or farm broke the
stiffness of the ages as they glided in
to the never returning past, can con-
template our present position with.
out q feeling of aMazement and graft
tude alike that the place of his abode
while yet SO young, has become SC
great.
More than half the years of it's ex.
my home. have trayersed It's prai.
ries when long Journeys revealed no
signs Of the habitatiOns OF men;
have seen q wilderness Of vacant soil
producing no substance but wild
grass, and this applied to no use but
food for deyouring haMes, converted
into magnificent farms annually H.
den with the rich rewards OF intelli.
gent toll; and l have watched cities
and towns that in less than decade
have sprung full-fledged from the
barren earth into busy, busting mu
inequalities that make happy homes
for thousands Of the children of men
i have sometimes tried but | have
never found words with which to ex
press, even in q faint degree, my Cd
miration for q state that to my mine
is the most desirable place on tn.
face OF the globe in which to live.
II in or out of Iowa there is on,
man who has honestly understood
anything have lever said as imply
!. ing aught but unlimited praise TO
.. the natural advantages of my state
| want now and here to correct hi
. mistake.
have said that during certain per
10 dis of time the prices of the pro
. duets Of our soil have been SO low
that they did not compensate tn
farmer for his labor. reckoning hi
wages at market rates In other line
Of business.
Il Ihave tried to point out what be
lievc to be some OF the causes Of thi
condition, but have never attribut
ed it to q scarcity OF any OF the bles
sings which a generous providence
has bestowed upon man. II ther'
are those who disagree with me as t.
!, the correctness of the statements
have made do not complain OF this
we may honestly differ in that re
spect. II there are those who, con
ceding the facts as / have statet
them, think they can see other reas
ons for their existence than those
have tried 70 point out, I DO not fine
fault with this.
Il know that the question Of proper
, and just legislation for a country 81
vast and with such varied interests a
, our own is one of great and constant
ly increasing difficulty, and whil'
mans nature remaina as it is, AM