Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 13.djvu/222

 208 IOWA half of the State is overlaid by the different members of the Carboniferous formation, with here and there frag ments of Cretaceous beds, which have survived the enor mous erosion to which the surface has everywhere been subjected. Mineral*. It is estimated that about 7000 square miles are underlaid by the Coal-measures. Within this area coal bels of workable thickness and quality have been found at Fort Dodge, Moingona, Des Moines, and Oskaloosa, where they are being extensively worked. The coal is bituminous, no anthracite having been found in the State. The north-eastern part of Iowa is included within the great lead region of the Upper Mississippi ; and, although the palmy days of the mines of that region are over, the product is yet very important. The ore, which is galena, is found in pockety deposits in the limestones of the Silurian formation. These deposits vary immensely in size, and in general extend to no great depth, and therefore cannot be relied upon for permanence. Climate. The climate resembles in its essential features that of the rest of the prairie States, excepting that to wards the west the aridity of the atmosphere and the decreased rainfall characteristic of the great plains begin to be perceptible. The annual rainfall ranges from 24 to 44 inches, with an average of about 36 inches, the south eastern portion receiving the greatest amount, and the western part the least. The mean annual temperature ranges from 42 to 52 Fahr., the summer mean from 66 to 79 and the winter mean from 14 to 27 showing a difference between the summer and winter temperatures of 52. The highest single observed temperatures have been 95 to 105, and the lowest 18 to 33 below zero, an extreme range of about 125. The south-eastern por tion has the mildest and most equable temperature, as well as the greatest rainfall. Northward and westward the temperature becomes lower and extremes greater. Soil. The soil is extremely fertile, whether drift, bluff, or alluvial. The drift, whose name explains its origin, covers the greater part of the State. It is a dark loam, 1 to 2 feet in depth, and of almost inexhaustible fertility. The bluff soil or loess occupies the country bordering upon the valley of the Missouri. It is supposed to be a subaerial deposit, brought by the prevalent westerly winds from the plains of Nebraska and Dakota, and deposited here near the borders of the humid region. It has a great depth, reaching 200 feet in some instances, and is everywhere extremely rich. The alluvial soil, found in the valleys and bottom-lands, is the deposit of the streams, and varies in composition with the country which the streams have traversed above. Much of it on the Missouri and its .branches is composed of loess, while that on the Mississippi is mainly altered drift deposits. Agriculture. The agricultural interest is by far the largest and most important of the State. In the produc tion of Indian corn it ranks second, and of wheat fifth, among the States of the Union. The following table, taken from the report of the department of agriculture, shows the amount of the agricultural products for 1879: Number of acres under each Crop. Product. Value. Average yield per acre. Indian Corn Wheat 4,873,400 3,214,400 Bushels. 185,189,200 32,786 880 44,445,408 30,163 930 Bushels. 38-0 10 2 Rye... 23,400 365,040 197,122 15 6 Oats 1,034,900 37,256,400 8 568 972 36 Barley. 195,000 4,290 000 1 930 500 22 Buckwheat Potatoes 8,000 105,700 144,000 9,090,200 99,360 2,908,864 18 86 Hay. 2 314 286 Tons. 3 564 000 16 180 560 Tons. T54 The numbers of different classes of live stock were horses, 778,400; mules, 44,700; milch cows, 724,500; other cattle, 1,370,400 ; sheep, 454,400; hogs, 2,778,400. In number of horses Iowa ranks as the fifth, of milch . cows and other cattle third, and of hogs second, among the States. The average value of cleared farming land in the State in 1879 was $27 30 per acre; of timber land, $39 36. The increased value of the latter is due to the scarcity of forests. The average monthly wages paid to agricultural labourers during the same year was $23 - 26; average daily wages, on transient employment, $2 - 01. Manufactures. The manufacturing industries have not yet reached a high degree of development. Those branches connected with agriculture have naturally made most ad vance. The following statistics, from the results of the tenth census (1880), show the condition of these industries. Industries, 1880. Number of Estab lishments. Capital. Greatest number of Hands em ployed at any one time dur ing the Year. Average day s wages for a Skilled Mechanic. Average day s wages for an Ordinary Labourer. Total amount paid in wages during the Year. Materials. Products. Agricultural implements 58 $1,085,530 1075 2-06 1-26 $235,335 $559,861 $1,148,872 Boots and shoes 543 477,077 1025 176 1-23 253,681 445,443 1,179,811 Bricks and tiles 276 474,614 2760 2-08 1-17 370,929 227,637 935,507 Carpentering and buildin^. .. 374 531,660 2664 2-06 1-34 536,924 1,197,845 2,175,346 Cheese and butter 237 742,633 897 1-50 95 127,430 1,087,645 1,555,188 Flouring and grist mill products.. Lumber, sawn and planed 701 332 7,950,560 5,035,440 3025 5886 2-09 1-88 1-14 1 23 845,714 1,399,779 16,567,552 3,808,696 21,062,744 6,401,940 Printiii&quot; 1 and publishing. 151 1,150,786 1384 2 00 1-17 509,529 525,536 1,431,589 Communication. For means of communication and transportation Iowa is dependent almost entirely upon its railroads and its two bounding rivers. It has no canals, if we except the short one around the Des Moines rapids. In 1880 there were forty-five railroads, working 4779 miles of track, with a total capital stock of $00,000,000, and a funded debt of $44,400,000. The total amount invested in railroads exceeded $100,000,000. The total gross earnings of the companies from passengers, freight, and mails was $5,218,000, of which $1,415,000 or 27 per cent, were net earnings. This is but 2~ per cent, on the capital stock. Banks. According to the report for 1880 of the con troller of the currency, there were in operation in Iowa 75 national banks, having a capital of $5,837,000, and an outstanding circulation of $4,G97,314; GO State banks and trust companies, with a capital of $2,521,985, holding $6,100,307 of deposits; 245 private bankers, represent ing a capital of $2,583,754, with deposits amounting to $7,017,806; and 4 savings banks, with a capital of $48,107, having deposits amounting to $208,018. Administration. As in the other States, the govern mental power is divided among three departments, known as the executive, legislative, and judicial. The officers of the executive department are the governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, and register of the State land office. All these officers are elected by the