Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/89

 Resolved: that the action of the adjourned session of the Fourteenth General Assembly, in striking from our code of laws all legal disabilities expressed therein to the rights of women, save that of suffrage, is a move in the right direction and we feel it our duty to express our high appreciation of their action in that respect.

Resolved: that we believe that the ballot in woman’s hands will be used in favor of virtue against vice, in favor of purity against corruption, in favor of peace against dissension and so believing, call upon the friends of all parties to come forward.

Resolved: that we observe with special gratification the rapid improvement in public sentiment concerning this movement and the attitude of the most prominent and influential newspapers of the State towards it, some of which are fearless advocates of the cause and nearly all of which give it respectful consideration.

The result of the election in October was the success of the Republican candidates by majorities ranging from 22,012 to 36,294.

The extension of lines of railroad westward from the Mississippi River, where they made close connection with lines to Chicago, New York and the great seaports, had opened the interior prairie regions of Iowa to available settlement. Stage lines conveyed passengers, mail and express in numerous directions from the termini of the Iowa railroads. Freight lines were established by wagons to transport coal, lumber and goods to the chief towns of the interior and western portions of the State and return farm products to eastern markets.

The earlier settlers were now building frame houses, barns and better school-houses. Pretentious business blocks, substantial churches, and tasteful private dwellings were beginning to take the place in city, village and country of the log structures which everywhere prevailed in earlier years. Factories were relieving the overworked women by making cloth for the family garments. Farmers were buying reapers to displace grain cradles and mowers were taking the place of scythes.

Pine lumber was floated down the Mississippi River in huge rafts supplying lumber for fencing, emancipating