most towns and villages there has been a steady growth, slow but sure. The pressure of the hard times has showed itself by a lack of creation of more buildings for mercantile purposes. Nevada has erected not one; Ames one, the Cook building; Story City one, by Mr. Swan for his bank and in Maxwell Mr Ruth is erecting one, and one by another for a drug store. In Zearing, Mr. Steelsmith has been overhauling and rearranging a store building In the majority of the towns a number of substantial residences have been erected during the year, which will go far towards helping out the general average. As a whole the growth of our towns have not been so satisfactory as we could desire. Yet the general improvement has been fair, showing that our citizens are still advancing in material prosperity and wealth. Many of the residences of the past year's build will reach as high as $2,500 each, and in a couple of instances over $3,000. Business changes throughout the county have not been numerous, and failures the exception, thus indicating that our merchants and business men generally are in a flourishing condition and all trust the coming year may be one of prosperity to all.
The county shows to far better advantage and new residences, barns, and improvements in general conclusively show there has been a large advance in the financial circumstances of the great majority of our farmers. Of the new dwellings quite a number are costly ones, and are made for the use of those building them, and from their saving of the past. Such men have rarely run in debt for such things, having laid the money by for the purpose and used it as contemplated. The amount of cattle and hogs yet in the hands of the farmers is quite large, and those who claim to know say that only a limited number have been marketed, and that they will soon be placed upon the market. Corn is being fed to their stock, and the open winter has been a good thing in assisting them to realize a large percent upon the amount fed. To be sure, in some localities, hogs have died of a scourge. Yet it has been confined to individuals or localities and has figured but lightly in the general sway. The corn crop has not realized as anticipated it would, but it has answered for home feeding as well as for better grade, and, perhaps, it has been of more value than would have been the case had it been shipped. As a whole our farmers are considerably better off than last year, and far ahead of their brethren in the town. This is shown conclusively by their improvements and general appearance of thriftiness, which manifests itself to one that may go through the county. The striking of coal in paying quantities in Collins Township will also assist in making the general average throughout the county, for the year just passed, better, and now coal is found in the two extreme corners of the county, thus indicating this to be in the coal belt and as a consequence far more valuable than has been generally thought.
As a whole, the county may be said to have been prosperous and far ahead of one year ago. Our business men are financially able, and few failures have resulted, and none are anticipated. Our