predicted that in the hands of a skilled mechanic, the machine might work quite well. He observed, "The crops around Ossian are looking fine. The Military road is the dustiest we have ever traveled. It supports two good hotels in Ossian; we found a good comfortable place at Brooks^T with as toothsome a dinner as ever satisfied an appetite whetted to a keen edge by unwanted outdoor exercise. The surveyors of the McGregor Western Railroad have completed their preliminary line to this place—as far as they will run for the present."

G. E. Brooks, committee chairman of assessments, published the following tax valuations for the year 1864: bulls—$10 to    60;    oxen—30 to 60; cows—7 to 14; stallions—200 to 400; working horses--70 to    90;    mules—30    to 90; asses—100    to 200; bucks—5 to 15; sheep--1.50 to 2; swine over 6 months—$1 per cwt.; carriages —100 to 250; lumber wagons—15 to 70; cutters— 5 to 40; and sleighs--5 to 30.

In the presidential election of 1864 the township voted Lincoln, 45; McClennan, 75. The state contests showed an even split between the two parties with the Republicans receiving 71 votes and the Democrats 70.

A stage now runs daily between Ossian and New Oregon, a    booming community    in Howard county, and M. O. Walker's four horse coaches carry    mail from Dubuque    through Ossian on a regular schedule.

The Decorah Republic raised its subscription rates to $2 a year. The editor explained that a year ago he could purchase 15 lbs. of butter for $1.50, but today it costs $4.50.

THE MOUSE COLORED COLT

Throughout our research, some of the most entertaining stories found were recollections of pioneer M. J. Carter. The following story is from his storehouse of tales.

"...along in the 1860s, this writer went to Decorah to pay his father's taxes, riding his favorite mouse-colored sort of colt. That horse had the fault of beaming frightened at any and everything, and running away at every opportunity.The taxes were a small sum, but they could only be paid in gold. Gold could be obtained at the treasurer's office, but only at a premium. We lacked some three dollars to purchase about one dollar in gold. Hence the tax remained unpaid.

On the return trip, the mouse-colored colt, frightened by a flock of geese, took off. This rider soon found himself near the Rosa school, and nearly home, but with no tax receipt...One positive thing did result from this journey: the mouse-colored pony never ran away again.

I recall one of six verses enprising (sic) a rhyme of this time.

Sing a song of green backs,
A pocket full of trash;
Over head and heels in debt And headed for a crash.
With lots of tax collectors As busy as a bee,
Aren't we in a pretty fix With gold two fifty three."

Mr. Carter, a staunch Democrat, goes on to comment, "Such a circumstance could z:t happen today with our monetary system and coinage based on gold--a sound hard zurrency established by a Democratic administration."

Ossian residents paying income tax in I865 included: C. E. Brooks—$74.50; H.Bllard—$15.10; James Cameron—$11.15; Nicholas Limbeck--$13; H. P. Nicholson—$I7.50; and M. J. Woolsey—$7.70.

The federal government assessed a head tax on slaughtered livestock during the hostilities. The amount was: cattle, 40 ¢ per head; hogs, 10¢; and sheep, 5¢.

Federal license fees were levied against the following Ossian business houses: Meyer, restaurant & liquor; Muffley & Prince, retail; Patterson & Company, retail;O. L. Patch, restaurant & liquor; C. A. Sawyer & Son, produce; Ole Taylor, saloon;