Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-12-11

the SUNNY slopes OF SHARON IMAM now
grow in this realm of Edenic lowell
ness.
Just now let us come a little clos
er to the subject assigned for special
consideration at this time-"What
Iowa has to Advertise"
Having just returned from a stay
of six weeks in southern California
the first subject which suggests it
self to my mind for consideration is
climate
Our friends of the state of the gol-
den west have worked this asset of
theirs until it has become thread
bare, rundown at the heels and out
at the elbow, nevertheless they have
made millions out of it. In speak
ing of climate it reminds us that
Iowa has a climate and one not to
be laughed at either. Let us see.
Situated near the geographical center
of the United States, our climate is
strictly continental. This term being
used in contradiction to marine eli
mates implies that it has winters OF
considerable severity, and summers
of unusual warmth, with large sea-
sonal and daily temperature ranges,
generally CRY and salubrious atmos-
nhora small parcan+ooo ~f oIo,,d;,, oce
and large percentage of sunshine
The altitude of the state ranges from
444 feet above sea level at the con-
fiuence of the Des Moines and Misis-
sippi rivers to 1850 feet at point
near Spirit Lake, and as there are
no mountain ranges nor extensive
forests the physical conditions give
this it may be stated that while there
only such variations of temperature,
rainfall and other meteorological ele-
ments as result from latitude and ell
ovation.
Despite its remoteness from the
sea it's climatic characteristics are re-
markably constant. In fact no SET
ton of the country enjoys greater
degree of uniformity of the condi-
tions favorable to the production of
the staple crops. In attestation of
this it may I've state that while there
have. 2.een seasons of variable produc-
tivenecs, there has never been a to-
tai failure of the principal crops in
this state since the virgin soil was
first broken by the plow-shares Of
the white settlers. There are mil
lions in Iowa's climate for Iowa's
people. Advertise it.
Nature gave to our great state a
richer heritage than mines of dia-
monds or mountains of silver and
gold. Its more valuable resources
consist in water, sand, rock, co-l and
timber and above all in its deep. por-
Gus, wonderful soil Soil, sunlight
and water, the great essentials to
the production of the bread meats
and fruits that feed our race Iowa
has worldwide fame for the depth
and richness, the mellowness and
productive qualities of her soil. Prof,
White. in his report as state eeolog-
,st, some years ago, speaking of To-
was soil, said:
After careful consideration Of the
results Of my examinations, | do not
hesitate to thus publicly announce
my estimate that 95 per cent Of the
surface of Iowa is tillable land The
state being without mountain ranges,
hills or other barren surfaces and
everywhere covered with a s.. of
such fertility and depth, it's asricul-
tural capabilities are almost beyond
computation What are we doing to
advertise Iowa's natural resources?
OF that others have spoken. My adj
vice lis to write them in big letters
to be read the world around and par
ticularly, Iowas rich SOIL"
| want to speak now of our COM
mercial facilities. There is not an
other state in the union so favorably
situated for commercial purposes. We