From Indian Creek we have a close estimate on the building improvements in Maxwell. And as the town is really less than a year old, the improvements comprehend its entire growth. The figures are 53,000. If to these figures are added the probable cost of the railroad buildings, tile works, and the various minor improvements of the township at large, the total will not fall much, if any, below $75,000. These are figures that show commendable enterprise.
The building improvements in Collins township foot up about $37,000. Though a goodly share of this expenditure has been in the town of Collins, still a larger part than usual seems to have been in the township at large. Evidently the towns and townships on the line of the Milwaukee have had a regular building boom during the year.
The building improvements of the whole county during the year can be safely estimated at $375,000, and fuller returns may raise the figures to $400,000. This is an indication of prosperity in which we can all rejoice.
NEVADA FOUNDRY.
The foundry of A. Hague is not a very pretentious establishment, and we presume there are not twenty men in the town or county who have any just comprehension of the amount and superior quality of work that is being wrought therein. And yet this unpretending iron manufacturing institution, in addition to the usual range of foundry business is turning out in certain special lines, work that is attracting more than state wide attention. One of the special lines of work is cresting. Mr. Hague, by elegance of design and the substantial character of workmanship has produced for himself in this article quite a boom. Some of the places outside of Story County where his cresting ornaments public or private buildings are Webster City, Eldora, Albia, Tipton, Ottumwa, Iowa City, Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Galesburg, Ill. Another special line of work is iron fronts. Samples of his work in this line may be seen in several of our brick blocks, notably the fine columns of the National bank building. Mr. H. frequently receives large orders for this class of work from various cities of the state. We mention one more specialty—cast runners. Of these Mr. H. has made during the past season no less than one hundred and twentyfive sets, one hundred of which have been shipped on specific orders outside the county. We might still further particularize as to the excellent character of the work, special and general done at the Nevada foundry; but we have written enough to show that this iron business which has been carried on for years single handed and with insufficient capital, might, with the right combinations, be developed into a business that would prove highly profitable to its projectors and beneficial to the town. We hope to see the day when Mr. Hague's knowledge and skill as a worker in iron shall be supplemented with such capital and business ability as shall greatly extend the capacity and prosperity of the Nevada foundry.—(March 28, 1883.)