The pen of the historian is not needed to demonstrate the truth of the proposition that railroads have done more for the settlement, development, and we may add civilization of the west than all other agencies combined. A comparison of facts within the reach of every intelligent man, justifies this conclusion. For many years, indeed, until within a comparatively short period of time, the settlements of our own State were almost entirely confined to those districts bordering on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The section of country in which we live, was one of those localities, farthest from, and the last to expect benefits from those lines of communicacion. For many years after the first setlement in this vicinity, the country was doomed to all the languishments and vicisitudes incident to an inland point, without means of egress to the outside world.

The writer hereof passed through this region during the winter of ’57, and ’58—making the journey from the Mississippi to the Missouri hy stage. At that time, settlements were only met with at long intervals, being almost uniformly confined to the immediate vicinity of the timber along the streams. Day after day the eye was met hy the broad expanse of unsettled prairie. Occasionally some one more reckless than his fellows had pitched his tent in the open prairie, where the mud hut, with sod or thatch roof, gave little promise of health or domestic comfort. Hogs and cattle roamed without restraint, and huge cribs of corn gave ample evidence of a rich, productive soil.

At that day the mission of railroads was but imperfectly understood, and the lumbering stage coach was, year after year, daily dragged through the mud or snow across the State, and the passage from river to river was more dreaded, and at some seasons of the year, attended with greater suffering and danger than one now is likely to encounter journeying to Seward's paradise—the Elysium fields of Alaska. The agricultural products of the country were valueless, or nearly so; the necessaries of life hard to be obtained; the luxuries unknown in the humble experience of the half nomadic settler. The hand of nature had formed a country beautiful beyond compare, and its richness in organic functions exceeded if possible its glowing beauties. Hidden within the earth's bosom, was hypothetical wealth beyond computation in value, only awaiting development to take material shape.

At length, like a special providence; the Chicago and Northwestern railway came to their relief. No section of country along the line of this road, has received benefits more opportune as to time, or greater in degree from this corporation than has the county of Story. With the opening of this thoroughfare came restored intercourse with the outside world, so long suspended,—the daily mail—the visitation of friends, and, not least needed or valued of all, the influx of hardy immigrants, seeking western homes. While we so freely and so justly condemn the rapacious greed of these soulless corporations, their frequent and persistent robbery of the people, let us not forget the benefits they confer, nor grudge them their merited meed of credit. The Chicago and Northwestern railroad passes east and west through the county very near its center. On its line in Story county are the villages of Colo, Nevada, AMES and Ontario. It was finished to Ames in October 1864, but reguar freight and passenger trains did not commence running until the following June.

While towns already established along the line of the road were inspired with new life by its completion, the village of Ames was one of its creations. Prior to the location of this road the tract of country where Ames now is was only known by its description in the government survey, and only noted as a strip of excellent land near the college farm. The town was laid out in the fall of 1864 by the “Railroad King” of Iowa, Hon. John I. Blair, of Blairstown, New Jersey, President of the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Rail Road Co. The first house erected in the town was built by Noah Webster in October of that year. Mr. W. is still a citizen here occupying the house spoken of.

The town takes its name from Hon. Oakes Ames of Massachusetts, a man of world-wide notoriety and an active pioneer in western railroad enterprise. He has always manifested a lively interest in the improvement and welfare of his western namesake, which has taken practical and material shape upon more than one occasion. On the opening of the road to this point in 1865, H. F. Kingsbury came as local agent, discharging at the same time the rather onerous duties of Express Agent. Mr. Kingsbury soon engaged in mercantile pursuits, and was the first postmaster appointed at this place, the duties of which position he continued to discharge in an acceptable manner until the spring of 1869, when, by a turn of the political wheel, he was superceded by the present incumbent.

From 1865 until the fall of 1867 the growth of Ames was not rapid. During the latter year the building of a north and south railroad to Des Moines, which had for some time been contemplated, took practical shape. At the legislative session of ’67 and ’68, an act was passed, authorizing cities, towns, and connties through which contemplated railroads were to pass, to aid by tax in the construction of such roads. Nearly simultaneous with the passage of this act the Iowa and Minnesota railroad company was organized, and taxes to aid in the construction of that part of the line between Ames and Des Moines—32 miles—were voted by the people of those places, and by some of the intermediate towns. Quite a large amount of material aid was also received by subscription at these points, and those directly interested in the enterprise saw in near prospect the fruition of their long cherished hopes. Early in the fall of 1868 the grading of the road from Ames to Polk City, in Polk connty, was undertaken by a respectable corps of men under the guidance and control of contractors of supposed probity and energy. With the grading of the road, the collection of taxes and subscriptions also progressed, and already our citizens saw, in imagination, direct railroad connection with the capital of our State. But alas! our daily experiences teach us the oft forgotten lesson that

A few short weeks brought to honest men the unwelcome conviction that they had been victimized. Those having charge of the work seemed to ignore the fact that the laborer is worthy of his hire. Few payments were made for labor or supplies, and within three months from the commencement of work on the line, the thing collapsed, with many operators unpaid and disgusted, and the contracting company hopelessly bankrupt. Meantime the prospect of the early completion of this important railroad connection had stimulated immigration, and during the summer and fall of 1868, Ames had made a rapid growth, and the surrounding country had large additions to its settlers. Business of all descriptions was brisk, and as a consequence times good. Real estate both in town and country was in active demand, and but for the unfortunate failure in completing the road our future growth and prosperity would have been assured. Even during the early part of the succeeding year, business continued good, and the more sanguine among us predicted the early resumption of operations on the road—and the representations of the rascally contractors served to strengthen this hope. But the conviction was at length forced upon us, that the enterprise was ended so far as agencies then at work were concerned. With this conclusion the speculative feeling engendered by our now disappointed expectations, gave place to a more healthy condition, and our citizens turned their attention to, and placed their hopes upon, those real advantages by which they were surrounded, and which until now had been to some extent obscured by the glamour of the “Iowa & Minnesota” R. R. project. The I. & M. railroad company is gathered to its fathers; the contractors who deceived and robbed us are scattered by the four winds of heaven; but this enterprise—though disastrous as relates to itself—was of great benefit to this section of country in this respect; it brought us many first-class settlers, in addition to directing the attention of others to the many local advantages we enjoy. The consequence has been a healthy growth to our town, and a rapid improvement in the surrounding country. New farms have been opened in all directions during the last two years. Nor have the hopes of the husbandmen been disappointed. Crops of all descriptions, notwithstanding the extreme drought of the last season, and the constant floods of the year before, have been good; and all classes are convinced that if not blessed with abundance it is not the fault of our soil. Indeed, experience has proven it more easy of cultivation, and fully as productive as the famed Ilinois prairies.

The wheat marketed at Ames, of the crop of 1870, is of excellent quality, while the average yield per acre was fully up to that of other sections of our country.

The present population of Ames is not far from eight hundred people, of whom a large proportion are of New England origin. Intelligence is the rule among our inhabitants, and earnest devotion to the cause of popular education is one of their most prominent characteristics. The population has, to some extent, outgrown our school house accommodations, yet perhaps few places in the west of nearly equal size, can boast of better schools than are found here. The time is near at hand when a fine union school house will be demanded by the pressing wants of our people, and there is no doubt, judging from present indications, but the duty of supplying this need will be cheerfully assumed, and promptly and creditably discharged by our citizens. Within the past year the town has been incorporated, and organized as an independent-school district. Each of these undertakings should result in great benefit to the interests of the town, and especially to the cause of education.

Our winter term of school, just closed, has been under the control of H. Christman, a man who comes highly recommended as an earnest and successful educator. He has been aided by Miss Julia F. Tilden, an experienced teacher from Vermont, who has had charge of the primary department. The progress of scholars during the term has been very satisfactory. Those of our youth of either sex who are sufliciently advanced can pursue the higher branches of education at the Iowa State Agricultural College, located here, as will hereafter be explained in this work.