Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/42

 the air. After completing their stay, suddenly, as though a signal had been given, they would, after months of living on the ground, slowly rise with glistening white wings to a great altitude and disappear. The damage done by the pests was not great, as most farm crops were well matured before their advent to the earth. The first observed passed over high in the air and were seen no more; while the eggs deposited by the swarms which came later and remained several weeks, hatched the next summer and from these great damage was done before their wings grew large enough to enable them to fly. While they remained their appetites were unlimited and as they hopped and crawled along, every green plant on their line of march was wholly or partially devoured. They spread out over most of western Iowa but were much more numerous in some localities than in others. Crops were only partially destroyed but the aggregate damage was very great in more than forty counties. Early in June the wings of the earliest hatched had become large enough to enable them to start on their travels and by the last of the month nearly all had disappeared.

The Twelfth General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 13th of January, 1868. Hon. John Russell of Jones County was chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In his message Governor Stone recommended the establishment of a State Reform School for the reception, safe keeping and education of youthful criminals and convicts of tender age, whence they might be removed from the corrupting influence of hardened criminals confined in the penitentiary. He stated that of the convicts now in the penitentiary fifty-nine were under twenty-one years of age and a number of these from twelve to eighteen years of age. He recommended the resumption of the land granted to the Dubuque and Sioux City Company for the reason that the company had failed to comply with all of the essential conditions of the grant. He