1939: Iowa

Area and Population.

The 'Hawkeye State' was admitted to statehood on Dec. 28, 1846. Its area of 56,147 sq. mi. ranks it 24th in size. In railway mileage it is exceeded only by Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.

Iowa's population of 2,552,000 (Federal estimate, July 1, 1937) gives it 9th place among the states. A quarter of the total are of foreign or mixed parentage; 9 per cent are foreign-born, chiefly Germans, Canadians, Italians, and Mexicans. Negroes number 19,000. The proportion of non-English-speaking persons is less than half the national average, or 43 per 1,000 as against 110 per 1,000. Two-fifths of the population live in cities. The largest are Des Moines (the capital), 142,599; Sioux City, 79,183; Davenport, 60,751; Cedar Rapids, 56,097; Council Bluffs, 42,048; and Dubuque, 41,679.

Agriculture.

Nearly nine-tenths of the state is cultivated land — the largest proportion in any state. Its farm land is three times the national average, and is two-thirds crop land. Half the farm area is devoted to Indian corn, and the corn crop is worth almost three times as much as all other crops combined. More than a quarter of the farm land is planted in oats. Hay is the third leading crop.

Since nearly a quarter of the state is pasture land, livestock production is a major activity. The breeding of high grade horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs is extensively carried on. Iowa is a leader among the states in horses and hogs.

Industry.

Iowa's chief industrial enterprise is the processing and manufacture of various types of food. Meatpacking leads in importance, its products equalling in value those of all other industries combined. The manufacture of dairy products comes second.

Mineral Products.

Production of the three most important minerals of Iowa, coal, cement, and gypsum, was maintained during 1938 at about the same level as in 1937, when the total mineral wealth of the state was $26,941,350. The mining of coal amounted to an estimated 3,250,000 tons; shipments of cement were 4,759,390 bbl. valued at $7,327,048, and production of gypsum, in which the state ranks third in the Union, totaled 364,920 tons with a value of $495,856.

Education.

The latest figures released by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (1937-38) showed 681,169 persons of school age (5 to 21), of whom 519,150 were enrolled in 11,895 schools, including 347,267 in 10,776 elementary schools, 171,883 in 1,119 secondary schools. In vocational courses 26,166 were enrolled. In private and parochial schools there were 48,119, including 38,637 in elementary grades, 9,482 in secondary. Expenditures for public schools in 1937-38 totalled $41,296,626.

Ten superintendents and one high-school principal received over $5,000; one rural-school teacher, under $400.

Banking.

The State Superintendent of Banking reported on June 30, 1939, as follows: Incorporated banks 538, including savings banks 296, state banks 239, trust companies 3; loans and discounts, $271,518,596 (a decrease in three months of $4,116,874); credits subject to sight draft, $88,134,783 (a decrease of $9,391,321); capital stock, $23,556,500 (an increase of $25,000); surplus fund, $11,263,276 (an increase of $180,200); undivided profits, $10,292,068 (an increase of $222,738); deposits, $401,323,567 (a decrease in three months of $12,530,839, but an increase in twelve months of $25,447,464). Banking and finance conditions improved steadily during 1939.

Economic Progress.

A general pick-up was felt in practically all state activities during 1939. A 10 per cent gain was made over 1938 in the all-important matter of farm cash income — from $546,000,000 to $600,000,000. There was also a reduction in cooperative land holdings. Banking and finance improved by from 5 to 10 per cent; the Production Credit Association reported a 20 per cent increase. Manufacturing showed general improvement, with a corresponding pick-up in industrial employment. Retail sales and the building trades made large gains. Relief and WPA work both eased off during the year.

The 14 special taxes — sales, cigarettes, gasoline, use (on new cars), motor carriers, motor vehicles, insurance, beer, inheritance, liquor profits, income, oleomargarine, equipment cars and chain stores — yielded a record amount in 1939 of $57,994,693. Nine of the fourteen categories showed gains over 1938, the largest producer being the sales tax, with almost $15,000,000.

Legislative and Other Matters.

In legislation, radical economies in state expenses were enacted. A carefully-planned system of farm-to-market secondary roads was got under way.

A Fine Arts Festival at Iowa City in the fall drew 25,000 visitors. There was increased activity of the Progressive Education Association in Des Moines and elsewhere, and continued growth of the public forum movement throughout the state. Provision for such forums in Des Moines was made in the public school budget of that city.

State Officers.

The chief officers are as follows: Governor, Geo. A. Wilson; Lieutenant Governor, B. B. Hickenlooper; Secretary of State, Earl G. Miller: Auditor, C. B. Akers: Treasurer. W. G. C. Bagley: Attorney General, Fred Everett: Secretary of Public Instruction, Jessie M. Parker. The Executive Council consists of the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor and Treasurer.

United States Senators.

Guy M. Gillette, Clyde L. Herring.