Banking.—On Oct. 31, 1919, there were 354 National banks in operation, having $25,115,000 in capital, $20,413,200 in out standing circulation, and $19,532,000 in United States bonds. There were also 371 State banks, with $16,634,000 capital, and $6,140,000 surplus; 23 trust and loan companies, with $4,046,000 capital and $908,000 surplus. In the year ending Sept. 30, 1919, the exchanges at the United States clearing house at Des Moines aggregated $528,019,000, an in crease over the previous year of $38,325, 000.
Education.—The school population of the State is about 680,000, with an aver age daily attendance of about 400,000. There WCre about 30,000 teachers with an average monthly salary for male teach ers of about $90.00 and for female teach ers of $80.00. Among the colleges are the State University of Iowa, at Iowa City, Cornell College, at Mount Vernon, Drake University, at Des Moines, Iowa College, at Grinnell, Luther College, at Decorah, and the Iowa Wesleyan Univer sity, at Mount Pleasant.
.Chu.rehes.—The strongest denomina tions in the State are the Roman Catho lic, Methodist Episcopal, Disciples of Christ, Regular Baptist, Presbyterian, North Lutheran, Congregational, United Brethren and Friends.
Railroads.—The total railway mileage for the State in 1919 was 9,935. This includes single track line only. There has been very little construction in re cent years.
Finances.—The total receipts for the biennal period 1916-18 amounted to $20, 806,476, and the disbursements to $19, 398,657. There was a balance on hand
at the end of the year of $2,125,644. There was no bonded debt, but a net debt of about $1,300,000.
State Government.—The governor is elected for a term of two years, and re ceives a salary of $5,000 per annum. Legislative sessions are held biennially and are unlimited in length. The Legis lature has 50 members in the Senate, and 108 in the House. There are 11 repre sentatives in Congress. The government in 1920 was Republican.
History.—Iowa was first visited by Marquette and Joliet, the French ex plorers, in 1673, and the first settlement was made by Julien Dubuque and a party of 10 to work the lead mines near the present city of Dubuque. The territory including Iowa was ceded to Spain in 1763, and receded to France in 1801, and became the property of the United States by the "Louisiana Purchase" in 1803. It became a separate territory in 1838, and was admitted to the Union as a State in 1846. In 1857 occurred the Spirit Lake massacre, an Indian raid, in which about 40 settlers were killed and their homes destroyed. The State capital was formerly at Iowa City, but in 185'7 was removed to Des Moines.
Charities and Corrections.—The prin cipal charitable and correctional insti tutions are as follows: five state hos pitals, a Soldiers' Home, a training school for boys and girls, an institution for feeble minded children and a tuberculosig sanatorium.