When Wisconsin Territory was organized in 1836, the entire population of that portion of the Territory now embraced in the State of Iowa was 10,531. The Territory then embraced two counties, Dubuque and Des Moines, erected by the Territory of Michigan in 1834. Since then the counties have increased to ninety-nine, and the population in 1880 was 1,624,463. The following table will show the population at different periods since the erection of Iowa Territory:

Year	Population		Year	Population
1838	22,589		1859	638,775
1840	43,115		1860	674,913
1844	75,152		1863	701,732
1846	97.588		1865	750,699
1847	116,651		1867	902,040
1849	152,988		1869	1,040,819
1850	191,982		1870	1,191,727
1851	204,774		1873	1,251,333
1852	230,713		1875	1,366,000
1854	326,013		1880	1,624,463
1856	519,055

     The most populous county is Dubuque — 42,997. Polk County has 42,395, and Scott, 41,270. Not only in population, but in everything contributing to the growth and greatness of a State, has Iowa made rapid progress. In a little more than thirty-five years its wild but beautiful prairies have advanced from the home of the savage to a highly civilized commonwealth.

     The first railroad across the State was completed to Council Bluffs in January, 1871. The completion of three others soon followed. In 1854 there was not a mile of railroad in Iowa. Within the succeeding twenty years, 3,765 miles were built and put in successful operation.

     The present value of buildings for our State institutions is as follows:

State Capitol	$2,500,000
State University, Agricultural Col. and Farm	400,000
Inst. For the Blind	150,000
Institution for the Deaf and Dumb	225,000
Institutions for the Insane	$1,149,000
Orphans’ Home	62,000
Penitentiaries	408,000
Normal School	50,000
Reform School	90,000

     The State has never levied more than two and one-half mills on the dollar for State tax, and this is at present the constitutional limit.

     Iowa has no State debt. Whatever obligations have been incurred in the past have been promptly met and fully paid. Many of the counties are in debt, but only four of them to an amount exceeding $100,000 each. The bonded debt of the counties amounts in the aggregate to $2,592,222, and the floating debt, $153,456; total, $2,745,678.

     In the language of Judge C. C. Nourse, we feel compelled to say: “The great ultimate fact that America would demonstrate is, the existence of a people capable of attaining and preserving a superior civilization, with a government self-imposed, self-administered and self-perpetuated. In this age of wonderful progress, America can exhibit nothing to the world of mankind more wonderful or more glorious than her new States — young empires, born of her own enterprise and tutored at her own political hearth-stone. Well may she say to the monarchies of the Old World, who look for evidence of her regal grandeur and state, ‘Behold, these are my jewels!’ and may she never blush to add, ‘This one in the center of the diadem is Iowa!’”

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