Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-02
THE BLUE RIBBON AoRicULTU-
a ), RAJ. STATE,

"a NAL SIAIE.
N. W. Aver & Son of Philadelphia,
one Of the largest advertising agencies
in this country, has this to say about
Iowai
Some years ago during the visit of
an eminent foreign dignitary to this
country, the late James G. Blaine was
asked how the distinguished guest
might best be given vivid, lasting
Impression Of our land. Mr.. Blaine
replied, Take him through the state
OF Iowa In the daytime"
II that great statesman were living
today, he would have no reason to
retract this statement; for from the
time that Mr.. Iowa Farmer wrested
the land from the Redskins, the Hawk
eye state has been typically American.
Agriculture is paramount In American
activities, and tilling the soil is Iowa's
long suit
Agriculture and Iowa are to all in
tents and purposes synonymous. From
where the Mississippi forms the Ma
poleonic profile of Iowa on the east,
to where the muddy Missouri flows by
her back door bluffs on the west, Iowa
is a never ending panorama of rolling
hills covered with corn, wheat, oats,
grazing cattle and still more corn. For
of all the great northwestern states,
which are now more than ever the
place from which the worlds break
fast comes, Iowa Is the Ben Adhem of
the bunch and justly deserves the So
briquet, 1.-THE Blue Ribbon State" so
nptly bestowed upon her by one Of her
large agricultural publications.
Iowa ranks first In the production
of corn and oats and in the value of
the horses, hogs and poultry within
ner borders. She outranks all other
commonwealth IN the amount invest
ed In farm machinery. She stands
second in the production Of hay, the
value Of her beef cattle, farm build
ings. farm property and the area OF her
improved farm land. She leads In an
nua1 revenue per farm.
That the Iowan has the wherewithal
is shown by the fact that Iowa stands
third among the states in bank
deposits. He isn't a bit averse to
spending it for what he wants. Proof
Of this is the fact that one out OF every
ten automobiles sold in the United
States in the past year was purchased
by an Iowan. Iowa goes In strong for
electrical utilities, talking machines,
lewelry; in short, all the modern con-
veniences and luxuries, as well as the
necessities.
Iowa is the most Intelligent COM
5nonwealth in the union, boasting the
sfowest percentage Of illiteracy 9-1O
per cent of any commonwealth.
Iowa is sending an immense amount
of raw materials to neighbOring states
to be made into finished products.
Enterprising, wide-awake manufactur-
ors in other states are marketing
these trade-marked articles in enorm-
Gus quantities, profting by the pres
tige created for them and building
up great industries affording liveli-
hood to thousands of workers. They
are carrying corn flakes, corn strach
and canned corn to Iowa" and Iowa is
paying the price while outsiders reap
the benefit.
Iowa needs one thing to complete
the alliterative combination of three
ops" She has Prosperity and Pro
gress. She needs far more Publicity.
1t is well-nigh inexplicable that 80
wide-awake and up to date a state has
thus far employed this great modern
force to so comparatively small de-
gree.
With Iowa's strategic location in
"The Heart of the Corn Belt" her ad-
mirable transportation facilities by
river and rail, her nearness to the
sources of raw materials, she Is in a
position to develop large manufacture
Ing interests and make what she has
to offer known the nation over, One
achievement, the great Keokuk dam
which cost twenty million dollars, may
be cited as an instance Of what Iowa
has done to attract new manufactures
and stimulate the growth of those
which she has. It was the privilege Of
advertising headquarters to have shar-
ed in this great enterprise in the
preparation of the campaign Of pub
licity which preceded the completion
of the project.
Where Is there a market with posi-
Utilities for good merchandise greater
than prosperous, progressive, intelli-
gent Iowa? Where Is there more
fertile field for the liberal use of con-
sistent, persistent, red-blooded adver-
Using that can't help being resultful
in the richest measure? Conditions
are ideal for development from the
embryonic stages down through the
swaddling clothes period of local adj