RAILROADS IN IOWA, FROM OFFICIAL SOURCES.

Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company, have completed and are now running from Burlington, in Des Moines county, to Ottumwa, in Wapello county, a distance of seventy-five miles.

The Mississippi & Missouri River Railroad is completed and in running order from Davenport, in Scott county, to Grinnell, in Powesheik county, a distance of one hundred and twenty-five miles; and from Milton Junction, in Muscatine county, to Washington, in Washington county, a distance of fifty-one miles.

The Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad, (formerly Dubuque & Pacific Railroad,) is completed and in running order from Dubuque to Cedar Falls, in Black Hawk county, a distance of one hundred miles, and is under contract and grading nearly completed to Iowa Falls, in Hardin county, a distance of forty-five miles further. The Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad is completed and in running order from Keokuk, in Lee county, to Eddyville, in Wapello county, a distance of ninety-two miles.

The Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad is completed and in running order from Clinton, in Clinton county, to Cedar Rapids, in Linn county, a distance of eighty

tico miles.

The Cedar Rapids & Missouri River Railroad-a continuation of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad-is completed and in running order to a point west of Cedar Rapids ninety-two miles, and will be completed to the Des Moines river, at Boonsboro, one hundred and twenty-three miles from Cedar Rapids, by the first of November, 1864.

The Dubuque, Marion & Western Railroad is completed and in ruuning order from Farley, in Dubuque county, to within eight miles of Marion, Linn county, a distance of fifty-five miles, and is graded and in process of construction from Springville to Cedar Rapids, a distance of fourteen miles, to be completed in a few months. Farley is the point where said Road joins with the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad.

The Keokuk, Mount Pleasant & Muscatine Railroad is completed and in running order from Keokuk, Lee county, to Fort Madison, in Lee county, a distance of twenty-five miles.

The McGregor Western Railroad, at McGregor, on the Mississippi river, runs westwardly forty miles; one branch is intended to go north-west, and cross the State line in Mitchell county; the other branch in a south-westerly direction to the Missouri river, between Sargeant's Bluff and north line of State. It is finished and cars running on it about eight miles, and expected to be completed some 32 miles further this year.

Total length of Railroads in Iowa, completed and in running order, seven hundred and five miles.

CORRECTIONS.

On page 24, last line of A. B Lyman's statement, for "15 and 44," read“ 15.44.” On page 28, second and third lines from top, it should read "30,000,000 acres, or over six-sevenths of the whole amount there are assessed," &c.

On page 31, the figures 3,548 in the table under head of " Oats-acres sown," opposite the year 1863, should not be there, as we could not learn the number of acres in oats that year, but the quantity was doubtless about the same as in 1862.

On page 36, in table of Oats, &c., the number of acres in 1849 should be "47,635," instead of 56,828-and the number of acres in 1859 should be "183,740," instead of 226,140.

On page 49, in table of yield of Irish Potatoes for the year 1862, read “2,362,918 bushels," instead of 2,262,918 bushels.

On page 60, fifteenth line from bottom, for "leave for her share of the consumption," read require for her share of the production.

On page 61, twelfth line from bottom, tor "nature," read value.

APPENDIX.

Since the previous report was made to the Legislature, a Com'mittee from both Houses of the General Assembly, consisting of Hon. B. F. Gue, on the part of the Senate, and Hon. Chas. Paulk, and Hon. John Russell, on the part of the House of Representatives, were appointed to visit the College Farm, and report thereon to the Legislature. As it contains information in regard to its location, soils, timber, &c., not embraced in any report from the Trustees of the College, it is deemed a matter of sufficient interest to republish in this report.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The undersigned, members of the Joint Committee appointed to visit the College Farm, and examine into the condition of affairs connected with the Institution, and estimate the cost of a suitable building, have performed that duty, and respectfully submit the following report:

We visited the Farm on the 27th of January, and found the

LOCATION

As follows: On a direct line twenty-nine miles due north of the City of Des Moines, in Story county; nine miles west of Nevada, the county seat; and on the direct public road leading from Nevada to Boonsboro. The Farm lies two and one-fourth miles west of Skunk river, the centre of the Farm, near where the buildings are erected, being a little more than three miles from the nearest point on Skunk river. The west line of the Farm is two and one-half miles east of the Boone county line. The Cedar Rapids & Missouri Railroad is now being built directly through the Farm, coming into it on the east side, about ninety rods north of the south line, and running diagonally through it, bearing north-west, and leaving it on the north line within about thirty rods of the north-west corner -dividing the Farm so as to leave about 160 acres on the north, and about 488 acres on the south side of the Railroad. The Farm is well supplied with

WATER AND TIMBER.

Squaw Creek, a fine stream, comes into the Farm on the north, meanders through near the east line, the whole length affording an inexhaustible supply of pure water for stock. The banks of the stream are low, and densely covered with heavy timber on both sides. The timber is principally black walnut, oak, elm, white maple, linn, cotton wood, ash, hickory, and numerous other valuable varieties. We were informed by the Trustees, that upon a careful examination, they have found upwards of fifty different varieties of timber, bushes and shrubbery growing on the Farm; and from the examination we were able to make, we are satisfied that their estimate is not too high. There is another fine stream of pure water called "Clear Creek," running through the north-west corner of the Farm, the banks of which are high and broken bluffs, covered with a large and magnificent growth of white oak, black walnut, red oak, white walnut and sugar maple timber. From the best information we could obtain from our own estimates and other reliable sources, we are satisfied that there is on the College Farm not less than one hundred and fifty acres of valuable heavy timber, embracing nearly every variety growing natural in the State. Near the centre of the Farm, and about twenty rods east of the barnyard, are several fine springs, affording a good supply of stock water, which, we were informed by old settlers in the vicinity, never froze over. Near the south-west corner of the Farm is a fine pond of water, which affords a good supply ten months out of the twelve, in the dryest seasons.

After a careful examination, we are enabled to present to the General Assembly the following

DESCRIPTION OF THE FARM.

The Farm contains six hundred and forty-eight acres, lying in a body, being about 400 rods long from east to west, and about 259 rods wide from north to south. After deducting the one hundred and fifty acres of timber above described, there remain 498 acres of prairie land suitable for grass and grain. There is probably not far from 180 acres of low bottom laud, about one hundred of which is covered with timber; the remainder is about equally divided between wet and dry bottom.

The low land in the timber is a rich, deep, black sandy loam, with clay subsoil, but not inclined to hold water on the surface. Next west adjoining the timber is a fine, smooth, level tract of low land, remarkably well adapted for grass, but could, by a judicious system of drainage, be converted into the most productive corn land, not excelled in the west. Beyond this, to the north-west, is a large tract known in this State as second bottom land, being level, dry and very rich, and remarkably productive for almost every crop grown in this latitude. The soil is a mixture of black sand, fine

gravel, and rich black alluvion, and prairie soil proper; comprising perhaps the most desirable soil known to the agriculturalist. A part of this land was sown with wheat last season, and produced, as we are informed, about 20 bushels to the acre, of first quality, as we ascertained by examination. West of this is a large tract of level prairie, the soil being dry, slightly intermixed with fine gravel in places, with clay subsoil, being a fair representative of the prevailing prairie soil in the State. On the north-west corner of the Farm, is a tract of perhaps 40 acres of clay soil, most of which is covered with a heavy growth of oak, walnut and hickory timber. Though called clay soil, this land is a fair specimen of what is known in this State as "barrens" and "timber land." The soil is a mixture of prairie and clay, with heavy clay subsoil, and is considered the best wheat and fruit land in the western States. On the south side of the Farm is about 90 acres of high rolling prairie, intermixed with gravel, and well adapted for almost any grain crop raised in the west, being warm and dry, the ravines which inter sect it carrying off all surplus water in the wettest seasons. The gravel contained in the soil is mostly on the surface, and is turned under by the first plowing-nearly disappearing after cultivation. We found fine sand and gravel banks on the Farm, furnishing an inexhaustible supply for building purposes and for grading roads, walks and yards.

There is also on the Farm good clay for brick making, convenient to where the College will probably be erected.

THE IMPROVEMENTS

Consist of a good, substantial brick farm house, with a basement of stone, making a cellar under the whole building. The house is nearly completed, the mortar being mixed ready for plastering the inside walls and partitions in the Spring; and when finished, will cost about three thousand dollars. The bricks were manufactured on the farm. There is also a good barn on the place, well finished and painted, of good highth, and is 42 feet by 60 in size, capable of providing storage room for the grain, and shelter for the necessary teams and stock connected with the farm. There is a good stone basement under the barn, and a large yard inclosed by a substantial fence.

A great portion of the material and work used in the erection of these buildings, was furnished in payment of voluntary subscriptions, by citizens in the vicinity.

There is about 220 acres of the farm inclosed by a substantial fence, a part of which is built of boards and posts, five boards high, and the remainder of rails, staked and ridered, eight rails high. The fences are built of good material, and are put up in a very substantial manner. Of the land inclosed, about 148 acres are under cultivation, and had crops on, the past season.

There is a fine young orchard of about 400 thrifty trees, near the

house, inclosed by a good fence, which has protected it from damage by cattle; and this little experiment has satisfied the people in the vicinity that the prevalent opinion that fruit cannot be raised upon our open prairies is entirely erroneous. They witnessed fine ap ples growing upon many of these trees which had been planted out but three years before, on the level, open prairie. They see that to be successful requires only ordinary care; such as they would bestow upon a corn crop, and they are profiting by this demonstration placed before their eyes, as we observed that nearly every farmer in the vicinity has begun to plant an orchard. These trees on the farm were donated to the Trustees by Mr. Smith, the well known. Nurseryman of Des Moines.

A well has been dug near the house, affording a good supply of pure water, at a depth of about 30 feet."

About 75 grape-vines have been planted near the orchard, of several different varieties, among which are the Concord, Clinton, Isabella and Catawba. They appeared to flourish well, making a fine growth and producing some fruit.

BUILDING MATERIAL

for the erection of a College can be found in abundance on the farm and in the immediate vicinity. All of the necessary timber for frame-work can be taken from the farm without injury to the place. The necessary wood to burn the brick can be procured from down timber which is fast going to waste, and the best kind of clay and sand for the manufacture of the brick, are found in abundance on the farm. Stone for the basement can be had within three and one-half miles, and lime within six miles of the place. Pine lumber and shingles can be obtained by means of the railroad, which is being now built directly through the farın.

There are several saw-mills in the immediate vicinity of the timber lands, both steam and water-mills, capable of supplying any reasonable demand for lumber.

THE LANDS DONATED IN STORY COUNTY

lie on an average within two miles of the College Farm, and within one and one-half miles of the railroad. They consist of two 80-acre tracts, five of forty acres, and four of 20 acres each, of good prairie land; three 10-acre lots of timber, and one lot of 32 acres of timber; making 440 acres of prairie and 62 acres of timber. There are also 200 acres of land in Boone county, consisting of five lots, varying in size from 20 to 80 acres each, and lying on an average within two and one-half miles of the line of railroad, and within about seven miles of the farm. The lands thus donated to the College amount to 640 acres of prairie, estimated to be worth $4.00 per acre, making $2,560. The timber lands, 62 acres, are estimated to be worth $14.00 per acre, making $868-total, $3,428. There is also one acre of land, donated to the farm, and within one mile of