Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-09
Irene Foutch on Iowa, It's
Resources and Manu-
featuring, Etc.


This is the second letter l have
written. This time am going to
write on Iowa.
The surface of Iowa is gently un-
dulating prairie. The Des Moines
river is the largest river in Iowa. It
flows through the central part of the
state for distance Of about 300 miles.
Spirit Lake, near the northern
boundary, is fourteen miles in cir
conference. East and West Okobo1i
lakes are beautiful sheets of water.
united by a narrow strait. Clear
lake and Storm lake are In the open
prairie and each covers an area of
several hundred acres. All three
lakes are noted summer resorts. They
are well stocked with fish.
Iowa has cool. temperate climate.
1t is usually as hot as 100 degrees in
July and August and IN the dead OF
winter 40 degrees below zero is some
times reached in the northern part Of
the state.
The rainfall is abundant and its gem
eral average is about 80 inches. The
climate il healthful and there are
few diseases.
The soil of a greater part Of the
state is of a dark, heavy, drift loan.
In the western part 1t is a yellowish
soil and is very rich.
The most important mineral deposit
in Iowa is soft bituminous coal, with
which one-fifth Of the state Is under
lain. Coal is mined at least in thirty
counties In the southern part of the
state. The richest deposits have been
found in Polk. Mahaska, Keokuk,
Marion and the adjoining counties.
The veins are from few inches to
several feet in thickness. Lead and
zinc are found and also clay suitable
for making bricks. Gypsum and lime
stone are also found.
The native timber of Iowa is mainly
along the banks of it's rivers and diff.
ferent streams.
The principal forests are the elm,
maple, hickory, butternut, Hnlar, cot
tonwood. box elder, black tut, and
several different varieties of oak, and
the red cedar, and pine. Several
varieties of cherry and plum are also
abundant.
Coyotes or prairie wolves are found
in the sparsely settled sections. The
raccoon, woodchuck. mink. otter. gray
squirrel, rabbit, jack-rabbit. are the
principal wild animals found. Prairie
chickens, which were once numerous,
can scarcely be found. Quail, ducks,
geese are found in lakes and ponds.
The lakes Of Iowa are we'll stocked
with fish. Pickerel, bass and catfish
are the most common.
Iowa is an agricultural state. Large
crops of corn, oats, barley, rye, flax.
potatoes and hay are raised. Stock
raising 10 the leading occupation OF
Iowa. Much attention is given ito the
raising Of draft horses. Sheep and
cattle are also raised.
The manufactures of Iowa are meat
packing, cheese, butter, condensed
milk, flour, and other grain products.
Other important manufactures are
carriages, wagons. brick, tile, pottery
and starch.
There are about 2,531,953 people
live in Iowa. The principal foreign ma
tons are the Germans. Scandinavians,
English, Irish, and Bohemian.
The government OF Iowa allows
everybody to vote after they are 81
years of age. All but the dumb. and
insane persons.
The names Of the principal schools
are: College for Blind at Vinton;
School for Boys at Eldora; School fof
Girls at Mitchelville; Feeble Minded
Children, Glenwood; School for DeaS
at Council Bluffs: Soldiers Orphane
Home at Davenport; Soldiers Home
at Marshalltown; Hospitals for N
sane at Mount Pleasant.
Yours truly,
Irene Foutch. ago Ii
Charlton. Iowa, r. F. D. No. !.