USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1881 > Part 2
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Steam Laundry.
EVERYTHING FIRST-CLASS.
GOODS SENT FOR and DELIVERED FREE.
521 East Walnut Street. Des Moines, Iowa.
-
-
C. B. LAKIN,
Architect
-AND-
BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT.
Plans and Specifications Furnished for all Classes of
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 1
BUILDINGS.
Cor. 7th and Walnut Sts., Des Moines, Iowa.
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY. 33
H MONROE,
CL ---
1
THIER
- DEALER .IN
Gents' Furnishing Goods
Hats, Caps, Gloves, Etc.
701 . Walnut Street, Des Moines, lowa. 1
CENTRAL BLOCK
BOARDING HOUSE,
BOARDING BY THE MEAL, DAY OR WEEK.
ROOMS TO RENT.
12.
J. A. FERGUSON
Cherry St., bet. 5th & 6th, South of Court House, Des Moines, lowa.
34
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY
J. P. BUSHNELL &
BOOK PUBLISHERS
State, County and City Histories,
Resident and Business Directories,
Gazetteers, Trade Circulars, Etc.
PUBLISHERS OF THE;
Des Moines City and Polk County, lowa,
DIRECTORIES ...
1
.
404 Court Avenue,
.
Des Moines, lowa. 1
35 .
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.
SAMUEL NOBLE,
CONTRACTOR & BUILDER
Office and Shop, 319 Ninth St .;
Des Moines,
Iowa.
CAPITAL CITY
ICE COMPANY.
H. E. TEACHOUT, Proprietor,
Ice delivered to all parts of the city Free. Only the Best and Purest Ice put ap.
-
Office, 323 Fifth Street,
Des Moines, Iowa.
,
.. 36
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.
AL. GREFE,
DEALER IN STAPLE AND FANCY
GROCERIES Provisions, Wood and Willow Ware.
SPECIALTIES:
HOLLAND HERRING, RUSSIAN SARDINES; LIMBURGER AND SWEITZER CHEESE. PREPARED MUSTARD, BY THE PINT, QUART OR GALLON.
ANCHOVIES,
MY MOTTO IS:
66 'Square Dealing with All."
312 WALNUT STREET. DES MOINES, IOWA.
DES MOINES ICE COMPANY,
WILLIAM GREFE, Proprietor. 1.
1
ICE
Delivered to all Parts of the City Free.
Only the best and purest Ice put up.
Office 312 Walnut Street,
..
Des Moines.
CARVER & YOUNG
37
BUSHNELL'S' DES MOINES CITY|| DIRECTORY.
CARVER & YOUNG,
OFFICE
MAS L'FACTURERS AND WHOLESALE DEALERS IN
DOORS, GLAZED SASH, BLINDS, STAIR RAILINGS.
: Mouldings. Fancy Newels, Table Legs, Turning, Scroll Sawing. etc. Store Fronts and Shelving put up to order. -
Special attention given to, orders by mail.
113 to 123 South Fifth Street, Bet. C. R. I. & P. and D. M. & F. D. R. R.
Des Moines, Iowa.
38
1 BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.
CHAS. L. KAHLER CO.,
Manufacturers of, and Wholesale and Retail Dealers in
Boots & Shoes,
Leather and Shoe Findings.
: :
1
Exclusive Agency in Des Moines 1
R THE-
Celebrated Reynolds Bros.' .
Ladies'and Misses' Fine Shoes.
ALSO AGENTS FOR THE
BEST HAND AND MACHINE MADE :
.
FINE BOOTS and SHOES.
301 Walnut Street, Exchange Block, Des Moines, lowa.
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY
3D
-
J. W. HILLIS.
T. C. HEDGES.
·N. G. HEDGES.
N. G.
HEDGES & CO.
1.
Pioneer Abstract Office
(Successor's to Iowa Loan and Trust Company.)
Having purchased of the Iowa Loan and Trust Company the
ONLY COMPLETE ABSTRACT. BOOKS IN POLK COUNTY,
W'd are prepared to furnish Abstracts of Title on short notice.
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED IN ALL. CASES.
410 Court Avenue Aborn Block, Opposite Post-Quice,
DES MOINES, IOWA.
-
The Pioneer Abstract Books were formerly owned by. Hon. John G. Weeks, and after -. ward by Fuller, Heartwell & Coffin, and cofitain complete Abstracts of all the official Records in any manner affecting the Title to Real Estate in Polk County, Iowa.
PUBLIC LIBRARY DES MOINES. IOWA
1
40
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY. 1
DES MOINES BOOM.
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY,
BY
J. J. DAVIES,
At 509 and 511 Mulberry street. 1.
-
The ROOM has a weekly circulation of 2,000, and is one of the best advertising mediums in the city.
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE :
$1.00 per year.
50 cents for six months.
JOHN O. BOOTON,
Mercantile and Legal Printing.
All kinds of Job Printing done promptly and at lowest rates.
1
LAWYERS'
BRIEFS
AND ABSTRACTS -
A SPECIALTY. /
Over 521 Walnut Street,
DES MOINES, IOWA,
BUSHNELL'E DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY. 41
J. M. KNOX.
EUGENE BRYAN! Notary Public
BRYAN & KNOX
REAL ESTATE BROKERS
will Negotiate Loans,
And obtain purchasers for Houses and Lote, Improved Farms and Western Lands. We. Rent Houses. Collect Rente- Pay Taxes Examine Tales, etc. Deede. Mortgages and other `legal documents neatly and promptly cxechted.
Abstracts Promptly Furnished !!
Over 213 Fo rth Street, Des Moines, Iowa.
F. S. WHITING
CARPENTER
CONTRACTOR and BUILDER.
13 MULBERRY STREET,
Des Moines,
Iowa.
42
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.
J. C. READ. 1
ALEX. HASTIE. E. J. ADAMS.
-
READ, HASTIE & CO.,
ABSTRACTS OF TITLES,
FIRST DOOR NORTH OF POSTOFFICE,
DES MOINES, - IOWA.
We have a complete Abstract of the Records, showing Title and all Liens and other mat- ters of Record effecting Real Estate in Polk County, Iowa. Furnish Abstracts of Title, carefully compared with The records .. \ Notarial work done.
E. J. ADAN:3. -
J. C. READ. ALEX. HASTIE.
E. J. ADAMS & CO.,
Real Estate, Loan & Tax-Paying Agents,
First Door North of Postoilice,
DES MOINES,
IOWA.
-
the real estate business. )
Farma. Prairie Lands and City Property bought and sold on Commission. Loans nego- tisted, Taxes paid for non-residenta, and prompt attention given to all matters pertaining to Notarial work carefully executed.
43
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.
IOWA STAATS
ANZEIGER.
DES MOINES; IOWA.
THE ONLY GERMAN PAPER AT THE STATE CAPITAL! HAS DOUBLE THE CIRCULATION OF ANY GER- MAN PAPER PRINTED IN IOWA.
J. EIBOECK,
Elitor and Proprietor
TERMS, TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
The
State Independent. DES MOINES, IOWA.
An Organ of personal Liberty, and the Official Paper of the STATE
PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION.
Circulates in Every Post- Ofice, in Iowa and Adjoining States !
$2.00 Per Annum.
J. EIBOECK, Managing Editor
Job Printing
OF ALL KINDS IN
- --
ENGLISH and GERMAN.
IBOECK, Proprietor.
209 FOURTH STREET,
DES MOINES, IOWA.
4.4
: 1
BUSHNELL S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY,
ESTABLISHED 1848. -
The Daily and Weekly
IOWA STATE LEADER,
Terms.
Daily, 1 year,
$6.00.
Weekly, 1 year, $1.25.
6. mos.,
3.00.
= 6 mos., .75:
1.
3
1.50.
-
The Daily Leader
Is an scolum folio, afternoon and evening paper. It contains all the telegraphic news and state news, gathered from special corre-po ident+ and the press of lowa ; local news and general miscellany. It- alto and ambition is to give truthful report, faithful and fearle-s comment upon af topies cmibrared in thy sphere of modern journalism.
The Weekly Leader 1
--
Is Positively the Largest Weekly Paper published west of Chicago, being a mammoth sheet. 35x48 inches. The market reports are the fullest and most accurate obtainable, including grain, produce, live stock, provisions, etc. It is located in the metrop- olis and Capital of the best agricultural Stare in the I'nion, with unexcellent railroad facili- ties. It is a paper adapted to the lowan, the western farmer. and merchant, as well as to the enquiring reader in Eastern States.
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State Leader Co., Pubs., Printing Block, 120 Fourth St., DES MOINES, IOWA,
MOINER CITY DIRECTORY'.
THE CASH GROCERY HOUSE
GUS SMITH
No. 305 Walnut and 308 and 310 Third Street,
Des Moines,
Iowa,
Wholesale and Retail Grocer
ESTABLISHED IN 1862
The Oldest Grocer in Des Moines
SPECIALTIES:
CURTIS BROTHERS! CANNED GOODS, Not Excelled by Any. THE ONE DA COMMUNITY CANNED GOODS, IMPORTED PICKLES AND SAUCES. BEST BRANDS WINTER WHEAT FLOUR, Etc. CHOICE CREAMERY and DAIRY BUTTER. ALSO GENT FOR THE CODLEY CREAMER.
am better than ever prepared to meet the wants of the public. My stock in avery department is large, and you will and no larger or more varied assortment of Staple and Fancy Groceries in any establishment in the Northwest; and as I sell for cash I can make you forices that will astonish you.
Understand, you are payinga small pront on your own purchases, and do not have tomake up for bad debta consequent to a . credit business. I shall in the future, as I have in the pasti endeavor to maintain my reputation for keeping good goods, and Dealing Squarely with all, both grest and small.
46 1
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY,
SUBSCRIPTION DEPARTMENT.
D. Appleton & Co., New York
-PUBLISHERS OF-
-
First-Class Works,
-INCLUDING-
The American Cyclopedia
Annuals and Index
-AND-
JEFFERSON DAVIS' HISTORY
-OF THE-
Rise and Fall !
Confederate Government İ
M.L. LEONARD,
Superintendent for lowa and Nebraska,
315 Fifth Street,
-
Des Moines, Iowa.
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY |DIRECTORY.
Saturday
Sunday Trains
Between Lake Michigan and the Missouri River.
SUNDAYS DURING : 1881! IAS FOL- | SATURDAYS, DURING 1881, AS FOL-
LOWWS :
LOWS : =
Leave Chicago
1 Leave Council Bluffs.
Mar. 13. 6-27 20 ..
Rock Island. .C., & Q ..
C., B.A& Q. 5-26
C. & N. W. 19
Rock! Island 2-23 Apr
Apr. 3-24 17
C. I &Q ...
C., B. & Q. .16
C. &IN. W. .9-30
May
15. 8-29 .. C. BI & Q ..
C., B: & Q.
7-28
C. & N. W .21
Rock Island. 4-25 June.
C., B. & Q 18
C. & N. W. 11
Rock Island . 16 July.
C., B. & Q .. 9-30
C. & N. W .2,23
Rock Island.
6-27 Aug.
C., B. & Q. 20
C. & N. W. 13
Rock Island . 17 Sept. Sept 18. 11. .C. B. & Q .. O,. B! & Q. .. 10
C., & N. W. 3-24
Rock Island
8-29 Oct.
70., B. & Q.,. 1-22
C. & N. W. 15
Rock Island 19 Nov.
Nov. [20.
13.
C. B. & Q. . . C., B. & Q. .. 12
C. & N. W. 5-26
6-27 C. & N. W .. Rock Island. | Rock Island. 10-31 Dec. Ded 11. 4-25 C. B &Q. C., B. & Q. .3-24
18
C. & N. W. . C. & N. W. 17
June 5-26 19. C: B. & Q .. 12. .. C. & N. W . . - .Rock Island.
July 17. 10-31 .. C., B! & Q.
3-24
.C. &N. W .. .Rock Island. :C. B. & Q ..
Aug 7-28 21. 14 .C. & N. W .. . Rock Island.
.C. & N. W .. 4-25 9-30 .Rock Island.
Oct.
2-23 .C., B. & Q. . 16 . C & N. W .. Rock Island.
Rock : Island. . 12 Mar
C. N. W .. Rock Island.
10. C. &N. W .. Rock Island.
Rock Island 14 May
1-22 .C. &N. W .. .Rock Island.
1 48
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.
F. M. MILLS
L. B. ABDILL
MILLS & ABDILL,
(SUCCESSORS TO MILLS & CO., AS)
Booksellers and Stationers
222 FOURTH STREET, DES MOINES, 1 "er to all class of consumers of Stationery a stock of goods unsurpassed in quality, it
Extremely Low Prices.
Wall Paper Department .
IS ESPECIALLY COMPLETE WITH'ALL GRADES. IN Decorative Papers, We furnish de-igos a lapted to special Carpets and Upholstery. .
- !
WE MAKE A SPECIALTY OF
Kronch, English and Forman Water Colors, Fine Pictures and Frames, Oil Paintings and Steel Plates,
At less than Eastern prices. From the choicest patterns of gold and velvet mouldings, we make frames on short notice, From our large stock of miscellaneous and school books, or within a few days, furnish any book published.
222 FOURTH STEET, DES
MOINES, IOWA. 1
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY. 49
Tone Bros.
SPICE MILLS.
MANUFACTURERS AND JOBBERS OF
Roasted and Ground Coffees
Spices, Cream, Tartar,
MUSTARD BAKING POWDER
Etc.,
Etc.
207 | Walnut
Street, .Des
Moines, Iowa.
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-
50
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY
DIRECTORY.
CARVER & YOUNG,
Manufacturers of and Dealers in
SASH, DOORS, BLINDS,
DOOR AND WINDOW FRAMES.
1
Stair Building
A SPECIALTY. Fancy Newels,
Stair Railing, i AND FLUTED AND SPIRAL BALUSTER ALWAYS ON HAND.
STORE FRONTS, MOULDINGS,
Scroll Sawing and Turning.
Counters and Shelving put up to order. All kinds of Cabinet Terning.
HARD WOOD FINISH A SPECIALTY.
113 to 123 S. Fifth St., Bet. C., R. I. & P. and D. M. & F. D. Railroads,
Des Moines, Iowa. :
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY. 51.
MATT! PARROTT
State Binder.
215 Walnut Street, - 1
Des Moines, Iowa,
:
ALBERT
HILL
DEALER IN-
New & Second Hand
FURNITURE, MATTRESSES and BEDDING.
719 WALNUT STREET, DES MOINES, IOWA.
FRANK CASADY
-
C. E. McCRAY.'
CASADY & MCCRAY
Painters.
Graining, Paper Hanging and Kalsomining. 313 Walnut Street, Des Moines, lowa."
Paul Hitz
FRESCO AND SIGN PAINTER, Office 313 Walnut Street,
Des Moines,
52
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.
S. L. FULLER & CO.,
GROWFES AND DEALERS IN
RELIABLE SEEDS,
Florists' Supplies.
1
Horticultural Implements
Vegetable, Flower and Field Seeds,
Lawn Fixtures, Berry Boxes,
AND
Everything Pertaining to the Business.
OUR DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE MAILED FREE to any ADDRESS
1
1
SEED STORE, 220 Court Avenue, Des Moines, lowa.
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY
W. T. GARTON,
BAKERY
DEALER IN
Fruits, Confectionery, Nuts, Cigars,
`Ornamento! Cakee, for Welldings. Parties, and Picnics, made to lo.der. Festivals etc .; sapplied on short police.
Wediling Partier,
ICE CREAM AND OYSTER PARLORS.
POPULAR
LUNCH ROOM & RESTAURANT
A pleasant resort to get a good Lunch, Oveter Stew, Beef Steak, Coffee, etc., of anything that line you want. :
Home Made Candies, etc.
611 Walnut. Street. Des Moines, lowa.
54
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.
!
AL. GREFE, --
DEALER IN STAPLE AND FANCY
GROCERIES Provisions, Wood and Willow Ware. SPECIALTIES:
HOLLAND HERRING, RUSSIAN SARDINES, ANCHOVIES LIMBURGER AND SWEITZER CHEESE. PREPARED MUSTARD, BY THE PINT, QUART OR GALLON.
MY MOTTO IS:
Square Dealing with All.
312 WALNUT STREET, DES MOINES, IOWA.
DES MOINES ICE COMPANY
WILLIAM GREFE, Proprietor
1
ICE
Delivered to all Parts of the City Fres.
Only the best and purest Ice put up.
Office 312 Walnut Street,
Des Moines.
IOWA.
SITUATION 'AND' EXTENT
Lowa is situated near the geographical center of the United States and embraces an area of 55,045 square miles, or 32,228,800 | acres of dne, rich farming land unsurpassed in fertility. The two great rivers of North America- the Mississippi and Missouri- form the east and west boundaries. The eastern boundary is washed by the Mississippi river, a distance of 365 miles, and the western boundary, from the southwest corner to the mouth of the Big Sioux, by the Missouri Hver a distance of 364 miles, making a total of 729 miles. Its width, north and south, ik about 200 miles, and its average length, east and west, a little over 300. There are ninty-nine counties in the State, and it is the fourteenth in size in the Union.
SURFACE, AND DRAINAGE.
The surface is gently undulating prairie, drained by numerous rivers and smaller streams. | Thousands of small streams traverse every portion, forming a system of drainage that nature could scarcely have improved upon. In the northern counties there are many small but beautiful lakes, containing a bountiful supply of fish of several delicious varieties. The surface is free from the accumulation of stagnant water, while good and pure water from wells is easily obtained everywhere, and in many places living springs abound.
1
CLIMATE.
The climate of Iowa cannot be called in question, as it is most delightful, healthful and invigorating The United States census placed the State in the from frank in this respect. The pure running water with an absence of swamps and stagnant sloughs, rendere the atmosphere salubrious at all seasons. Malarious diseases are unfrequent, and that scourge of some of the older settled States -fever and ague-is seldom known. Pulmonary complaints only exist when brought here by the sufferers.
-
1 SOIT AND PRODUCTIONS. 1
The soil of Iowa has become justly famous for its fertility, and it may well be doubted whether there is an equal area of the earth's surface
56
. BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.
that contains proportionately so little untillable land, or whose soil hay so high a degree of average fertility, About ninety-five per cent of the surface is tillable land. The State being without ranges of mountains and everywhere covered with a soil of such fertility and depth, its agn cultural capabilities are almost beyond computation, so that agricultor must ever remain the principal element in the prosperity of our common- wealth. . One very remarkable property of the soil is that it will with stand very wet as well as dry seasons, so that the crops suffer less than in any other section of the country. No year is there a failure, but usually a great uniformity in the harvests, which gives almost a positive aonml assurance to farming. The soil in this respect, as well as in its depth and richness, is wonderful; nor is its fertility easily exhausted. The crops here last year were marvelously abundant, taxing the railroads to their utmost to carry the produce and the fatted stock to the markets of the world. It is said that this State alone is capable of a cultivation that would yield harvests amply sufficient to feed 40,000,000 of people
Iowa presents attractions for the farmer which cannot be surpassed by any portion of the United States, in her undulating prairies, interspersed with open groves of timber, and watered by streams pure and transparent bills of moderate height and gentle slope. Its broad fields unbroken by obstructions, afford the finest scope for the mower. the reaper, the planter and other agricultural implements which have been invented to save the laborof the husbandman. :
Corn is always a sure erop, fielding from forty-five to.seventy-fire bushels per acre. Oats are also a sure crop and yield largely, When generally does well in all parts of the State. | Flax has been raised with great success. All kinds of root crops do well and yield enormously Hardy fruits are raised successfully. Good water is abundant every where on the prairies, and is found at an average of about twenty fet from the surface. .
STOCK-RAISING
-
Is an important, lucrative and growing business in Iowa, and with the facilities now presented to our farmers for reaching market, is yielding golden returns. There is always a demand, and generally at remuner tive prices, for all the stock a farmer can raise. The fine herds of cattle, sheep and swine exhibited at our annual State and county fairs attest that Iowa will soon rank foremost among the stock-raising States of the Union. The fertile prairies, covered with the most nutritious grasses and watered with clear and never-failing streams, afford a range of past- frage unsurpassed in excellence or extent. The grass is known as the blue joint, said to be equally as good as the cultivated varieties, grows with great luxuriance in the valley bottoms, and can be had in an unlim ited quantity for merely the expense of cutting and curing. The natural prairie grass is always plentiful and a never-failing crop. Tame gras and clover thrive well. and both are now largely cultivated, thus giving to cattle a later range than is possible on prairie grass. Seldom, if ever, are cattle troubled by any form of disease. This can be attributed in a measure to pure air and an abundant supply of good water.
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.
57
Stock-Raising is fast becoming a most profitable branch of farming. " owa is the first State in hogs, the second in wheat and corn in the Union.
STATISTICS OF GRAIN, LIVE STOCK, ETC., FOR 1880.
VALUE.
Corn
290.683,200
-$57,658,300
Wheat
1/86,096,760
29,601,803
Oats
41.288.800 ,
9,496.424
Ryel
574.000
218,120
Barley
600,000
1,932,000
Flax
1.034.200
1,9 84.200
Potatoos
10,165,000
3,557.750
Butter and
cheese
19.000.000
Hay!
18,000,000
Grada seed!
Coalmines
Horses:
35,161,560;
Hogs
10.500.000 2.581.855
Mul
Sheep.
1,007,839
FRUIT GROWING.
1.It has long since been fully demonstrated that Iowa is one of the best fruit-growing States in the Union. The beauty and flavor of her orchard products have not been excelled in any State, and since our nurserymen ; . have cultivated the varieties adapted to our soil and climate, we find no 1 difficulty in raising apples abundantly . Already the older counties are shipping large quantities every year. | In the new counties, thousands of young orchards are coming on to supply the demand' of the future. Other kinds of fruit have proved equally successful. Pears, cherries,
plums, grapes and all of the small fruits of the garden common to the latitude are easily produced, and most abundantly in those portions of the State where they have received attent on. , Iowa has for years taken the first premium at the National and Industrial Exhibitions for the finest and greatest number of varieties of apples, true to name, which our State Horticultural Society hold the medals to attest.
MINERAL RESOURCES.
"The coal |field of Iowa covers an arca of over twenty thousand square . miles, and mining is successfully carried on in some thirty-five different counties, principally situated in the Des Moines valley, twenty to fifty miles on both sides of the river, Polk county being the center. This is an important branch of industry, and with the largely increasing demand, ' ' W yieldling remunerative returns for the capital invested. The measures thus far worked are from three to eight feet in thickness. The coal 18 bituminous and in qualityfully equal to this class of coal found in other parts of the world. The mining of coal has attracted large amounts of capital, and gives employment to thousands of men and a constantly in- Copper, iron and zinc have been found :
greasing traffic to our railways. in limited quantities! Gypsum of the finest qualits exists in large de- posits! . Limestone, suitable for first-class quick-lime is found in abun- dance in most parts of the State purposes is quarried in most of the countier, while potter's clay, fire clay,
! Stone of good quality for building
2,1 00,100 5,000,000 62.862.420
Cattle.
BU.HELSI
58
BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.
and clay suitable for the manufacture of brick, are found in abundance. Discoveries of valuable deposits of mineral paint have allo lately been made in several. places. Lead has for years been extensively minel.
FUEL.
Although Iowa is a prairie State, nearly all the streams are skirted by splendid groves of timber-the prevailing varieties being oak, walnut, hickory, ash, elm, maple, linn, hackberry and cottonwood. Where culti+ vated in the sparsely timbered counties, it develops a rapid growth, and. in a short time the owner of a prairie farm may raise timber enough to supply his demand's for fuel. By means of our admirable network of railroads the vast coal fields are also easily accessible from every part of the State. There are also large deposits of peat in some of the northem counties, but it has been used only to a limited extent.
MANUFACTURING FACILITIES. 1
The admirable adaptation of Iowa for the production of raw material, her vast coal deposits, good water powers, and her transportation facil ities, both by rail and water, enable her to offer remarkable inducements to the capitalist and manufacturer. Various kinds of manufactories are needed throughout the State, and those who may invest capital in them here can hardly fail to realize ample returns.
RAILROADS. i
The railroad system of Iowa now being developed will afford to our people access to the great markets of the world. In addition to her present competing lines of transportation, eastward and southward, others are projected. The great national highway across the continent lies directly through Iowa. In 1860 there were twenty States of the Union which had more lines than Iowa; now there are only four. This wonder- ful progress in the construction of railroads indicates the confidence which capitalists entertain 'as to the future of Iowa. . The number of ? roads now in the State extending in almost every direction, main lines and branches, is forty-eight, the number of miles being about 5,237. There were built last year more miles of road in this than any other State in the Union save one, and the prospect for 1881 is that she will be first in this regard. lowa is traversed by railroads in almost every direction, and the work of building new lines is steadily progressing. There are but two counties in the State which do not have at least one road running through them. The first road entering the State-the C., R. I. & P .- crossed the Mississippi river in 1855. In 1860 there were 665 miles in the State; in 1870, 2,683; in 1875, 3,850, and (on December 31, 1880, 5,237.
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BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.
59
LANDS, TAXES, ETC.
Of the 35,228,800 acres of land in Iowa, scarcely one-half has | yet been brought into cultivation, and the unimproved lands are equal in ertility to any in the State . The various railroad companies are now offering their lands for sale on easy terms, at prices ranging from $3.00 o $15.00 per acre. There are also large quantities of land in nearly all. the counties, owned by private parties, which may be purchased at low rates. As soon as these lands pass into the hands of actual settlers, and improvement is commenced, their market value rapidly increases. Between the north and south boundaries of lowa the entire country between the Mississippi and Missouri is one of the best for farming pur- poses in the world The prices of land, of course vary according to cir- cumstances." In some parts of the State, lands of excellent quality may be purchased at from $4.00 to $10.00 per acre. In the counties already comparatively well settled, first-class prairie land is sold at from $7.00 to $15,00 per acre. | railroad advantages. It is all within convenient distance of market and Timber land, of course, rates considerably higher than these prices. Improved farms command from $20.00 to $60.00 per acre, depending upon amount of improvement, location and other advan- tages. Iowa is out of debt!
She is building a fine State Capitol at a cost of $3,225,000 which is nearly completed, hut for which she does not go in debt, a two mills assessment meeting all the requirements of the State. This is found to be sufficient, not only for the Capitol, but to carry on all other State institutions' the revenue from this source alone being over $900,000 per annum. Each county controls its own rate of taxation, many of them Having no outstanding indebtedness ..
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