ways has been greatly improved within a few years, and its value much increased by better management. Much interest has been taken in this subject by the people of Story County, since the organization of the State association for the encouragement of highway improvement in 1883. Under the auspices of this association, of which Col. John Scott, of Story County, was president, and C. F. Clarkson, of Des Moines, Judge Seevers, of Oskaloosa, and Judge Whiting, of Monona County, were vice-presidents, a competitive trial of the leading road machines was had at Nevada, June 28, 1884. The mayor and common council of Nevada, as well as all public-spirited citizens, joined to make the occasion a success. It was demonstrated in the trial that machines had already been constructed that were of great value in building grades of earth, and keeping the same in condition for pleasant and profitable use. The mayor and council at once acted on the matter, and purchased machines, the use of which has been of great value and economy. Since the adoption of the improved methods and machines, the streets and highways have been of greatly increased interest and value to the public. The authorities in most of the townships have given their best efforts in the same direction, with results highly gratifying in the present, and giving promise of greater benefits in the future. From a condition that was a reproach twenty-five years ago, the county roads are now such that they would do no discredit to an older civilization.
Among the important acts of the county administration in 1860 was the negotiation of the bonds voted by the county in securing the location of the Agricultural College. Because of certain alleged informalities in the issuance of the bonds, which were for $10,000, the General Assembly was asked to step in and cure the supposed defects. This was done by an act which took effect April 2, 1860. It was therein declared "that the acts of the county judge of Story County, in issuing certain bonds of the county for the use and benefit of the State Agricultural College and Farm, be and the same are hereby declared valid, binding and legal, and said bonds are hereby legalized and declared to be valid and binding on said county, and it is hereby made the duty of the county judge to levy and cause to be collected sufficient taxes to pay the interest on said bonds, and the principal thereof according to the tenor and effect thereof."
While the amount annually paid for the maintenance of the State and county government and these great institutions of charity, education and piety may seem large to some, it is only commensurate with the well known resources of a State whose name is at the top of the roll in all that constitutes real wealth and prosperity, and of a county that is the center and " hub " of such a State. But if so much has been done by the pioneers of less than forty years, beginning with nothing except the naked soil and their stout hearts and willing hands, what may not be anticipated as the probable advance in a steady progress of another forty years ? Three hundred thousand acres of extraordinary fertility, fairly managed, should yield more than $2,000,000 annually for support and accumulation. This sum should be annually increased by better methods and the natural increase of wealth, population, and the development of the present and other industries. Much of that which has heretofore gone to build up the great cities of the country will at last be kept at home. As a single example, it may be said that instead of pouring wealth annually into the coffers of the great centers of insurance, and again borrowing the same money at high rates of interest, the west must soon " have money to sell." These broad acres will