USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines, the pioneer of municipal progress and reform of the middle West, together with the history of Polk County, Iowa, the largest, most populous and most prosperous county in the state of Iowa; Volume I > Part 97
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In the "Selected Statistics of Agriculture" for 1870 the following Polk county townships were exploited :
Allen-Improved land, 6,583 acres; value of farms and farm implements, $305,370 ; value of stock, $55,616; values of all productions, $116,225 ; bushels of corn, 99,275.
Beaver-Acres, 18,638; farms and farm implements, $664,350; live stock, $133,362 ; all productions, $168,619 ; corn, bushels, 134,665.
Bloomfield-Acres, 11,446; farms and farm implements, $734,821 ; live stock, $127,981 ; all productions, $202,384; corn, bushels, 154,375.
Camp-Acres, 14,439; farms and farm implements, $543,830; live stock, 144,460 ; all productions, $242,066; corn, bushels, 198,930.
Delaware-Acres, 9,008; farms and farm implements, $460,840; live stock, $93,850 : all productions, $144.725 ; corn, bushels, 137,090. Jefferson-Acres, 5,686; farms and farm implements, $289,776; live stock, $70.319 : al! productions, $105,740 ; corn, bushels, 79,025.
Madison-Acres, 25,7II ; farms and farm implements, $802,924; live stock, $183,503 : all productions, $244,280; corn, bushels, 209,255.
Saylor-Acres, 9,158; farms and farm implements, $384,315; live stock, $85,849 ; all productions, $125,485 ; corn, bushels, 127,765.
Walnut-Acres, 11,354; farms and farm implements, $884,874; live stock, $139,923 ; all productions, $265,740; corn, bushels, 221,125.
In 1870, Polk county had 1,794 farms. These were divided along the fol- lowing general lines: Over three and under ten acres, 24; ten to twenty, 86; twenty to fifty, 585; fifty to one hundred, 651 ; one hundred to five hundred, 432; five hundred to one thousand, 13; one thousand and over, 3.
Polk's "infant industries" in 1870 numbered 178. Her steam engines num- bered 38, with an aggregate horse-power of 851. Her water-wheels numbered 2, with a total horse-power of 140; hands employed in the county, 961, of whom 27 were females and 20 were youths; capital employed, $1, 107,675 ; wages paid, $362,465 ; material used, $362,465; products, $1,961,956.
The county's infant industries were distributed as follows: Agricultural im- plements-3, capital $32,000 ; baking powders-I, capital, $7,500; book-binding- 2, capital, $29,000; boots and shoes-5, capital, $17,200; bread and other baking products-5, capital, $3,300; brooms-2, capital, $450; brick-2, capital $3,100 ; carriages and wagons-12, capital, $30,900 ; chromos and lithographs-I, capital, $7,000 ; flouring mill products-6, capital, $128,000; furniture-7, capital, $44,- 500 ; gas-I, capital, $100,000 ; iron, castings-3, capital, $21,000 ; lumber, sawed- 4, capital, $8,500; machinery (not specified)-3, capital, $11,500; engines and
HISTORICAL BUILDING FROM THE DOME OF THE CAPITOL, DES MOINES
KINGMAN BOULEVARD
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
boilers-2, capital, $5,200; marble and stone work-4, capital, $3,700; meat, packed, pork-I, capital, $250,000 ; printing book-2, capital, $8,500 ; newspaper- 2, capital, $69,000; saddlery and harness-II, capital, $19,050; sash, doors and blinds-2, capital, $46,000; soap and candles-2, capital, $3,500; stone and earthen ware-2, capital, $12,200; tin, copper and sheet-iron ware-7, capital, $7,400 ; tobacco, cigars-4, capital, $8,500; woolen goods-2, capital, $55,000.
In 1870, Polk county began to assume high place among the coal mining counties of Iowa. There were six bituminous coal mines in operation in the county.
These, altogether, employed 174 men, 106 underground, 68 above ground. No boys are reported as employed either above-ground or under-ground. The six mining establishments represented aggregated capital of $45,000, wages ag- gregating $86,000, materials aggregating $22,100, products in tons 45,600, in dollars-$150,000. Under the head of mining is placed stone-quarrying. There was one quarry in operation, employing 23 men, and representing a capital of $40,000, wages $11,050, materials $2,300, products $22,000.
CHAPTER IV.
POLK COUNTY IN 1880.
Polk county's growth in population increased from 27,857 in 1870 to 42,395 in 1880. Several townships show a loss in population, and several, notably the county seat, showing great gains. Studying figures then by townships, we find, as follows :
Allen-in 1880, 573; a loss of 159.
Beaver-(including Mitchellville, 745)-1,372; a gain of 159.
Bloomfield -- (including Sevastopol, 354)-1,606; a gain of 474.
Camp-1,397; a loss of 161.
Clay-(including Altoona, 400)-1,065; organized in 1878 from part of Beaver.
Crocker-790; organized in '70 from parts of Madison and Saylor.
Delaware-687; a loss of 178.
Des Moines -- (coextensive with wards 1, 2, 3 of city)-14,005; a gain of 6,200.
Douglas-1,038; a gain of 425. 1
Elkhart-961 ; a gain of 217.
Four Mile-522 ; a gain of 9.
Franklin-775; a gain of 12I.
Grant-465. In 1870 part of Lee.
Jefferson-1,092; a gain of 260.
Lee (coextensive with wards 5, 6, 7 of city)-In 1870 parts transferred to Grant and Saylor .- In '80, 8,403 ; a gain of 3,444.
Lincoln-1,218; in 1870, part of Madison.
Madison-(including Polk City, 443) -- In 1880, 1,892; in 1870, 2,626. In 1870 parts were transferred to Crocker and Lincoln.
Saylor-1,181 ; a gain of 174.
Walnut-905 ; in '70, 1,231. In 1878, part transferred to Webster.
Washington-979 ; a gain of 339.
Webster-In '80, 591 .- Organized in 1878 from part of Walnut.
In 1880 Polk county's assessed valuation was: Real estate, $7,719,330 ; per- sonal property, $2,555,310; total valuation, $10,274,640-for the first time the highest valuation in the state, Scott county being second, Dubuque third. Polk's total taxation was $352,712. This was divided as follows: State, $21,- 24I ; county, $101,927 ; city, town, village and school district, $229,544. In total of taxation, Polk was below Dubuque; but much higher than any other county in the state. Polk county's total indebtedness was $725,595. This represented bonded debt alone, there being no floating debt. This indebtedness was divided as follows : county, $45,000; school district, $102,595; city of Des Moines, $578.000.
In 1880, Polk county had 2,681 farms-2 under 3 acres; 63-3 and under 10 acres ; 104-10 and under 20 acres; 495-20 and under 50 acres ; 856-50 and under 100 acres ; 1,121-100 and under 500 acres ; 34-500 and under 1,000 acres ; 6-1,000 and over,-average size 122 acres. Classified as to tenure, these are analyzed as follows: Cultivated by the owner-1,968,-1 under 3 acres; 52-3
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
and under 10 acres ; 74-10 and under 20 acres; 324-20 and under fifty acres ; 594-50 and under 100 acres ; 892-100 and under 500 acres ; 26-500 and under 1,000 acres ; 5-1,000 and over. Rented for fixed money rental-182, as follows : I under 3 acres ; 4-3 and under 10; 9-10 and under 20; 38-20 and under 50; 63-50 and under 100; 64-100 and under 500; 3-500 and under 1,000. Rented for shares of products-531,-as follows : 7-3 and under 10; 21-10 and under 20; 133-20 and under 50; 199-50 and under 100; 165-100 and under 500; 5-500 and under 1,000; I-over 1,000.
The 2,681 farms in Polk in 1880 represented 326,709 acres. Of this acreage, 285,297 were improved, and 41,412 unimproved. Of the improved, 221,904 acres were tilled-including fallow and grass in rotation, whether pasture or meadow ; 63,393, were permanent meadows, pastures, orchards and vineyards. Of the 41,412 unimproved, 35,010 were woodland and forest, 6,402 covered the remain- der, including "old fields" not growing wood.
The value of Polk county farms, including land, fences, and buildings, was $10,235,751 ; farming implements and machinery, $442,284; live stock on farms, $1,797,725; cost of building and repairing fences, 1879, $57,947; cost of fer- tilizers purchased, 1879, $736; estimated value of all farm productions-sold, consumed, or on hand for 1879, $2,076,978. The cereal production of Polk county in 1879 was as follows : Barley, 259 acres, 5,162 bushels ; buckwheat, acres 71, bushels, 624; Indian corn, acres, 106,932, bushels, 4,860,898; oats, acres, 18- 459, bushels, 709,603; rye, acres, 948, bushels, 19,679; wheat, acres 28,888, bushels, 350,729. The production of flax seed in the county in 1879 was 75,455 bushels; flax straw, 1,246 tons; flax fiber, 12 pounds. The production of sor- ghum molasses in 1879 was 37,730 gallons; maple sugar, 537 pounds, and of maple molasses 390 gallons.
The grass lands of Polk in 1879 represented 35,698 acres of mown hay and a hay crop of 50,393 tons ; also 267 bushels of clover seed and 1,779 bushels of grass seed. In poultry on hand June 1, 1880,-exclusive of spring hatching, there were in the barnyard 119,457, elsewhere 10,304. Eggs produced in '79, 346,485 dozen. The apiarian product in '79 was 8,347 pounds of honey, and 332 pounds of beeswax. The potato crop of '79 aggregated 176,096 bushels, to which should be added 6,800 bushels of sweet potatoes-raised on sixty acres. The value of the orchard product in '79 was $79,067. The value of market garden products in '79 was $31,805. The forest products in '79 were : amount of wood cut, $15,340 ; value of all products sold or consumed, $41,051. The spring clip of wool in '80 was 2,280 fleeces ; weight, 14,193 pounds. Polk county's live stock and its productions in '80 make a showing as follows : horses, II,273 ; mules and asses, 773; working oxen, 2; milch cows, 11,178; other cattle, 20,791 ; sheep, exclusive of spring lambs, 2,280; swine, 87,040. Her dairy products-milk sold, or sent to butter and cheese factories, in '79, 102,833 gallons; butter made on farms, 772,609 pounds; cheese made on farms, 7,928 pounds. The yield of broom-corn in '79 was 600 pounds.
The total production of bituminous coal in Polk county in 1880 was as follows : IO establishments, maximum yearly capacity of production, 302,500 tons ; pro- duct of the ten establishments, 129,062 tons ; total product, census year, 131,362 tons ; value of total product, $262,615 ; total capital, real and personal, invested, $292,225 ; men employed below ground, 427; boys employed below ground, 29; men employed above ground, 94; boys above ground, 2; total number employes, 552; total wages paid, $160,061 ; number of horses, 14; value of horses, $1,215 : number of mules, 44 ; value of mules, $3,525 ; number of engines, 5 ; horse-power of engines, 165; number of boilers, 7; horse-power of boilers, 245. The bitu- minous coal mines of Polk county reported in 1880 were :
The Watson Coal and Mining Company, The Sevastopol Coal' Company, sec- ond seam, Sevastopol, John Weber, The Eureka mine, Des Moines, Eureka Coal and Mining Company, The Eclipse mine, Eclipse Coal and Mining Company ;
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
The South Park mine, Des Moines, operated by the Pioneer Coal Company ; The Union mine, Sevastopol, Caleb Johns; The Pleasant Hill mine, Des Moines, Pleasant Hill Coal Company ; The Polk County mine, Des Moines, Polk County Coal Company ; The Enterprise mine, East Des Moines, C. J. and A. W. Carlson ; Vandalia, Mrs. McKinney.
HERNDON HALL Home of the late Jefferson S. Polk
TERRACE HILL Former home of B. F. Allen-Present home of Frederick M. Hubbell
CHAPTER V.
POLK COUNTY IN 1890.
Polk county's rapid growth in population from 1880 to 1890 is shown by the following figures : In 1880, 42,395; in 1890, 65,410.
The population of the county in 1890, as compared with that of 1880 with the location of both growth and loss is indicated by the following returns :
Allen, 1890, 498; 1880, 573. Loss, 75.
Beaver, 1890, 1,236; 1880, 1,372. Loss. 136.
(Mitchellville, 1890, 704; 1880, 745. Loss 41.)
Bloomfield (part given to Des Moines since 1880) 1890, 701 ; 1880, 1,606. Ap- parent decrease, 905.
Beaver, 1890, 1,236; 1880, 1,372. Loss, 136.
(Runnells, 1890, 296.)
Clay, 1890, 925; 1880, 1,065. Loss, 140.
(Altoona, 1890, 326; 1880, 400.) Loss, 74.
Crocker, 1890, 850; 1880, 790. Gain, 60.
Delaware (including Easton Place) 1890, 495; 1880, 687. Loss, 192.
Des Moines township comprising city wards 1-4-1890, 29,334; 1880, 14,005. Gain, 15,329.
Douglas, 1890, 733; 1880, 1,038. Loss, 305.
Elkhart, 1890, 795; 1880, 961. Loss, 166.
Four Mile (part of Grant annexed since 1880), 1890, 697 ; 1880, 522. Appa- rent gain, 175.
Franklin, 1890, 749; 1880, 775. Loss, 26.
Jefferson, 1890, 732; 1880, 1,092. Loss, 360.
Lee (comprising wards 5-7 Des Moines city), 1890, 20,759; 1880, 8,403. Apparent gain, 12,356.
Lincoln, 1890, 904; 1880, 1,218. Loss, 314.
Madison, 1890, 1,501 ; 1880, 1,892. Loss 391.
(Polk city, 1890, 446; 1880, 443. Gain 3.)
Saylor,1 1890, 518; 1880, 878. Apparent loss, 360.
Walnut (part given to D. M. city since 1888), 1890, 761 ; 1880, 905. Appa- rent loss, 144.
Washington, 1890, 818; 1880, 979. Loss, 161.
Webster (including Grimes), 1890, 868; 1880, 591. Gain, 277.
Polk's population in 1880 was: 36,162 native born; 6,233 foreign born; 41,714 white, 672 colored. In 1890 it was: 56,032 native-born, 9,378 foreign- born; 64,211 white, 1,194 colored.
Polk's Chinese population in 1880 was 9; in 1890, it had dwindled to 2; its civilized Indians numbered only 3.
Polk county's public common school enrollment in 1890 was: Teachers, 522; male 93; female 429; pupils, 13,914; white 13,837, colored 77. Of the white 6,749 were male, 7,088 female; of the colored, 40 were male, 37 female.
The total dwellings in Polk county in 1890 were 12,965 ; total families 13,581 ; persons to a dwelling, 5.05 ; persons to a family, 4.82.
In 1890 the only municipal debt carried by any municipality outside Des Moines was that of $500 carried by Altoona.
1 Parts annexed to Des Moines.
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CHAPTER VI.
POLK COUNTY IN 1900.
Polk county increased in population 26.3 per cent from 1890 to 1900-or from 65,410 to 82,624. The gains and losses by townships were as follows :
Allen in 1900, 641 ; in 1890, 498. A gain of 143.
Beaver, (including Mitchellville, 768), in 1900, 1,352; in 1890, 1,236. A gain of 116.
Bloomfield, in 1900, 907; in 1890, 701 ; a gain of 206.
Camp, in 1900, 1,570; in 1890, 1,536; a gain of 34.
Clay, (including Altoona, 328) in 1900, 1,014; in 1890, 925 ; a gain of 89.
Crocker, in 1900, 1,010; in 1890, 850; a gain of 160.
Delaware, in 1900, 791 ; in 1890, 495 ; a gain of 296.
Des Moines, (comprising wards, I, 2, 3, and 4 of city) in 1900, 38,398; in 1890, 29,334 ; a gain of 9,064.
Douglas, (including part of Bondurant)-in 1900, 775 ; in 1890, 733; a gain of 42.
Elkhart, in 1900, 938; in 1890, 795; a gain of 143.
Four Mile, in 1900, 1,534 ; in 1890, 697 ; a gain of 837.
Franklin, (including part of Bondurant), in 1900, 957; in 1890, 749; a gain of 208.
Jefferson, in 1900, 964 ; in 1890, 732 ; a gain of 232.
Lee (comprising wards 5, 6, and 7 of Des Moines) in 1900, 23,741; in 1890, 20,759 ; a gain of 2,982.
Lincoln (including part of Sheldahl), in 1900, 827 ; in 1890, 904 ; a loss of 77. Madison (including Polk City), in 1900, 1,554; in 1890, 1,501 ; a gain of 53. Saylor, in 1900, 1,303 ; in 1890, 518 ; a gain of 785.
Walnut (including Valley Junction), in 1900, 2,500; in 1890, 761 ; a gain of 1,739.
Washington, in 1900, 829; in 1890, 818; a gain of II.
Webster (including Grimes), in 1900, 1,019; in 1890, 868; a gain of 151.
Studying the population further, the aggregates of population distributed as to nativity, literacy, etc., bring out the following interesting statistics.
As to nativity-Males, 41,853; females, 40.771 ; native born, 72,897; foreign born, 9,727. The cosmopoliton quality of Polk county's population is in evi- dence in the following statistics of alien population, according to country of birth-Asia, 54; Australia, 12; Austria, 88; Belgium, 8; Bohemia, 32; Canada (English), 576; Canada (French), 51; China, 3; Denmark, 272 ; England, 1,204; Finland. 9; France, 43; Germany, 1,724; Holland, 92; Hungary, 7; Ireland, I,229; Italy, 223; Luxemburg, 2; Norway, 471; Poland (Russia), 295; Poland (other), 27; Roumania. 47; Russia, 390; Scotland, 312; Sweden, 2,192; Switz- erland, 120; Turkey, 16; Wales, 188; West Indies, 16; other countries, 16; born at sea, 8.
School population in 1900 between 5 and 20 years; native white, males, II,999; females, 12,172; foreign white, males 367; females, 455; negro males, 271 ; females, 313.
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J. F. KRATZER RESIDENCE
E. T. MEREDITH RESIDENCE
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
Illiteracy .- The illiterate population in Polk ten years of age and over in 1900: Native white, 1,476; native parents, 453; foreign parents, 89; foreign white, 710; negro, 224.
School Population in 1900 .- Between 5 and 20 years : native white, males, II,- 999 ; females, 12,172; foreign white, males, 367; females, 455; negro males, 271 ; females, 313.
Of Militia and Voting Age in 1900 .- Native white, 15,803; foreign white, 2,- 757; negro, 602; other colored, 4.
Men of Voting Age in 1900 .- Native white, 19,420; foreign white, 4,805; negro, 746; other colored, 4.
Illiteracy .- Illiterate population 10 years of age and over in 1900: native white, 1,476; native parents, 453; foreign parents; 89; foreign white, 710; ne- gro, 224.
Total Males of 21 years of age and over, 24,875. Native white, literate, 19,- 166; illiterate, 254 ; native negro, literate, 632; illiterate, IIO.
Naturalized .- Literate, 3,319; illiterate, 206. Had taken out first papers, literate, 184; illiterate, 14; aliens, literate, 264; illiterate, 65; unknown, literate, 737 ; illiterate, 24.
The membership in the several religious bodies in the county in 1900 was . reported as follows: Total Protestants, 27,404; Baptists, 2,212; Congregation- alists, 2,196; Disciples of Christ, 6,376; Evangelical Association, 264; United Evangelical church, 145; Friends (Orthodox), 638; Lutheran (General Synod), 500; Lutheran (General Council), 800; Lutheran (Synodical Conference), 17; Lutheran (United Norwegian), 216; Lutheran (Synod of Iowa, etc.), 340; Methodist Episcopal, 5,436; Presbyterian, 2,624; United Presbyterian, 383 ; Prot- estant Episcopal, 1,300; United Brethren in Christ, 682; other Protestant bodies, 3,275; Roman Catholic, 4,247; Jewish Congregations, 183; Lat- ter-Day Saints, 388; all other bodies, 250.
The number of Polk county dwellings, and of families, in 1900 was: Total dwellings, 17,001 ; total families, 18,517.
The farm homes in Polk in 1900 were: 3,083; owned-free, 1,048; encum- bered, 755; unknown, 39; hired, 1,199; unknown, 42.
Other homes were, 15,198. Owned: free, 3,326; encumbered, 2,269; un- known, 68; hired, 8,917; unknown, 618.
In 1900 the number of manufacturing establishments in the county was 547; the capital, $8,050,689; proprietors and firm members, 569; salaried officials, clerks, etc., 742; salaries, $606,010; average number of wage earners, 4,780; wages, $2,058,095.
Number and size of farms in Polk in 1900 .- Number of farms in 1900, 3,171 ; average size in acres, 116.8; under three acres, 23; 3 and under 10 acres, 136; 10 and under 20 acres, 149; 20 and under 50 acres, 559; 50 and under 100 acres, 852; 100 and under 175 acres, 897; 175 and under 260 acres, 359; 260 and under 500 acres, 164; 500 and under 1,000 acres, 28; 1,000 acres and over 4.
These were classified by tenure, as follows: Owners, 1,345; part owners, 420 ; owners and tenants, 52; managers, 36; cash tenants, 751 ; share tenants, 567. Farms of colored farmers, 14.
Per cent of farms operated by owners, 42.4; part owners 13.3; owners and tenants 1.6; managers I.I; cash tenants 23.7; share tenants 17.9.
Number of farms with buildings, 3,023; total number of acres in farms, 370,252 ; number of acres improved, 326,789.
Land and improvement (except buildings), $18,799,700 ; buildings, $3,272,560 ; implements and machinery, $689,040; live stock, $3,135,246; value of products not fed to live stock, $3,556.235 ; expenditures, labor, $186.360; fertilizers, $6,390.
The report on domestic animals was as follows: Number of farms re- porting, 3,096; total value of domestic animals, $3,034,324; number of cattle- calves under one year, 12,242; steers one and under two years, 7,405; steers
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
two and under three years, 4,892; steers three years and over, 1,869; bulls one year and over, 783; heifers, one and under two years, 5,823; dairy cows two years and over, 14.930; other cows two years and over, 3,637.
Number of horses-Colts under one year, 1,465; colts one and under two years, 1,707 ; two years and over, 14.370 ; colts under I year, 174; colts one and under 2 years, 130; two years and over. 708; asses and burros, all ages, 43.
Sheep-Lambs under one year, 1,865; ewes one year and over, 2,481 ; rams and wethers one year and over, 340.
Swine-All ages, 94,986.
Goats-All ages, 2.374.
Receipts in 1899 from sale of live animals, $1,037,51I.
Value of animals slaughtered, $104,969.
Number of domestic animals in barns and inclosures, not on farms, or ranges : Cattle, 1,972 ; horses, 6,816; mules, 169; asses and burros, II ; sheep, 20; swine, 2,147 ; goats, 69.
The acreage and production in 1899 reported in 1900 were as follows :
Barley, 250 acres, 5,890 bushels; buckwheat, 29 acres, 320 bushels ; corn, 126,572 acres, 5.702,440 bushels ; oats, 46,358 acres, 1,944,380 bushels; rye, 392 acres, 6.610 bushels; wheat, 17,491 acres, 289,280 bushels.
The statistics of hay and forage were: Wild prairie grasses, 18,543 acres ; 26,051 tons ; millet and hungarian grasses, 2,558 acres ; 6,032 tons; alfalfa, or lucern. 8 acres, 29 tons ; clover. 3,244 acres ; 4,529 tons; other tame and cul- tivated grasses, 22,188 acres ; 30,815 tons ; grains cut green for hay, 1,084; 1,728 tons; forage crops. 1,911, 5,589 tons; forage crops (corn stalks), 518 tons.
The vegetables to July 1, 1900, were reported as follows: Potatoes, 5,032 acres ; 470,290 bushels ; sweet potatoes, 102 acres; 9.132 bushels; onions, 57 acres ; 9.730 bushels : miscellaneous vegetables, 1,999; value $107,046; square feet of land under glass, 190,300.
Here are a few miscellaneous figures : Flaxseed in 1899, 14 acres, 110 bushels ; tobacco, I acre, 610 pounds : beans, 47 acres, 475 bushels ; peas, 4 acres. 67 bushels.
The orchard products were reported as follows: Value of all orchard prod- ucts, $58.118; apple, 144.488 trees, 77,323 bushels ; apricot, 503 trees ; 76 bushels ; cherry, 45,767 trees. 5.163 bushels ; peach and nectarine, 909 trees, 15 bushels ; pear, 1,613 trees, 62 bushels ; plum, 43,990 trees, 4.202 bushels; grapevines, 106.043 vines, 481,200 pounds.
The value of forest products was placed at $34,590; small fruits, $51,713; nursery products, $38,835.
Dairy products in 1900-Value of all dairy products $380.354 ; value of dairy products consumed on farms, $128.276 ; milk, 5,637,040 gallons produced ; 1,739,- 737 gallons sold ; cream, 1,045 gallons sold; butter, 928,947 pounds made, 465 .- 144 pounds sold; cheese, 927 pounds made, 761 pounds sold.
Poultry and eggs in 1900-Number of fowls 3 months old and over June I. 1900, chickens, 233,566 ; turkeys. 5.479 : geese, 1,762 ; ducks, 6,719. Value of poultry, June 1, 1900, $93,257 ; value of all poultry raised in 1899, $152,664 ; doz- ens of eggs produced in 1899, 1,311,580.
Bees and honey-Swarms of bees June 1, 1900, 1,524; value of bees June I. 1900, $5,040 ; pounds of honey produced in 1899, 25,820 ; pounds of wax, 910.
Wool-Shorn in fall of 1899 and spring of 1900; fleeces shorn, 3,860 ; weight in pounds of fleeces unwashed, 27,020.
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE JUDGE GEORGE G. WRIGHT
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CHAPTER VII.
POLK COUNTY IN 1910.
Polk county's population increased from 82,624 in 1900 to 110,438 in 1910. The increase and decrease in ten years by townships were as follows :
Allen township in 1910, 548,-a loss of 93.
Beaver township, including Mitchellville, 1,363,-a gain of II.
Mitchellville town, 869,-a gain of IOI.
Bloomfield township, 2,441,-a gain of 1,534.
Camp township, including Runnells, 1,465,-a loss of 105.
Runnells town, 428.
Clay township, including Altoona, 1,126,-a gain of 112.
Altoona town, 438,-a gain of IIO.
Crocker township, including Ankeny, 2,055,-a gain of 1,045.
Ankeny town, 445.
Delaware township, 1,254,-a gain of 463.
Des Moines township, comprising wards I to 4 of Des Moines city, 54,433,- a gain of 16,035.
Total for Des Moines city, coextensive with Des Moines and Lee townships, 86,368,-a gain of 24,229.
Douglas township, including part of Bondurant, 1,666,-a gain of 891.
Bondurant town (part of), 26,-a gain of IO.
Total for Bondurant town in Douglas and Franklin townships, 287,-a loss of IO.
Elkhart township, including Elkhart town, 923,-a loss of 15.
Elkhart town, 132.
Four Mile township, 954,-a loss of 580.
Franklin township, including part of Bondurant, 894,-a loss of 63.
Bondurant town (part of), 261,-a loss of 20.
Jefferson township, including part of Grimes, 843,-a loss of 121.
Grimes town (part of), 487.
Total for Grimes town in Jefferson and Webster townships, 733,-a gain of 547.
Lee township, comprising wards 5 to 7 of Des Moines city, 31,935,-a gain of 8,194.
Lincoln township, including part of Sheldahl, 752,-a loss of 75. .
Sheldahl town (part of), 70,-a loss of 28.
Madison township, including Polk city and part of Sheldahl, 1,220,-a loss of 334.
Polk city town, 310,-a loss of 128.
Sheldahl town (part of), 23.
Saylor township, 1,100,-a loss of 203.
Valley township, coextensive with Valley Junction city, 2,573,-a gain of 873. Walnut township, 1,069, a loss of 1,43I.
Washington township, 750,-a loss of 79.
Webster township, including part of Grimes, 1,074,-a gain of 55. Grimes town (part of), 246,-a gain of 60.
Per cent of increase, 1900 to 1910, 33.7; 1890 to 1900, 26.3.
745
746
CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
At the date of the issuance of this work, no other returns. from the census of 1910 thon those of population had been received, hence the data of the last census cannot touch the several other fields of inquiry covered in preceding chapters.
Of the twenty-eight counties in Iowa that increased in population from 1900 to 1910, Polk's increase of 27,814 was the largest.
In 1910 Polk county showed greater density in population than any other county in the state, its population being 189.8 to the square mile. The large population of Des Moines, of course, materially affects the ratio.
Looking backward over the years covered by this study of statistics, the marvel of development grows. It hardly seems possible that within a single life-time this evolution from wilderness to metropolis could have occurred.
In 1850, a population of 4,513; in 1910 a population of 110,438. In 1850, 15,958 acres of improved farm land in the county; in 1900-a half-century later-326,789 acres. In 1850, 782 families and 756 dwellings in the county ; a half century later, 18,517 families and 17,001 dwellings. In 1850, 16 public schools and 16 teachers; in 1900, 192 public schools and 713 teachers. In 1850, the cash value of all Polk county farms was $399,476. A half-century later, the land and improvements-except buildings-were valued at $18,799,700; the buildings on the land were valued at $3,272,560. The farm implements and ma- chinery then were valued at $30,016; these in 1900 were valued at $689,040: The live stock then was valued at $81,086; this item fifty years later was placed at $3,135,246. The value of all home-made products-butter, cheese, etc., then was $4,999. The dairy products alone in 1900 were $380,354. Nor has the progress been all material. There was one lone church edifice in the county in 1850, valued at $500. In 1905 the State Census shows there were 103 churches in the county, the church property aggregating in value, $1,634,669.
While there are nineteen counties in the State of Iowa larger in area than Polk-with its 585 square miles, the county of Polk-with its population of 110,438-leads all the other counties in the State. It leads Woodbury by 42,822 ; Scott by 50,438; Dubuque by 52,988, and Pottawattomie by 54,606.
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