Courtesy of University of Iowa Libraries and Archives, Merrill, Samuel, "Documentary. Iowa—Developments—Resources," The Annals of Iowa, Vol. 1869, No. 1, pp. 98-104. 1869
Description
This letter appeared in The Annals of Iowa in 1869. It was written by Iowa Governor Samuel Merrill in response to a request from a New York man asking about what Iowa had to offer people who moved there. Merrill gives a lot of information regarding Iowa’s land, its resources and promising farm future. He also points out the importance of railways across the state.
Full Transcript of "Documentary. Iowa — Developments — Resources" Annals of Iowa Essay
Transcribed Excerpts from "Documentary. Iowa — Developments — Resources" Annals of Iowa Essay
Source-Dependent Questions
- What was Governor Samuel Merrill's purpose in writing this letter? Why do you think an important publication like The Annals of Iowa would decide to publish this private letter from Iowa’s governor?
- What picture do the governor’s words paint about Iowa? How might Merrill’s portrait of Iowa encourage people to move west to the state?
- What importance does the governor give to the railroads in Iowa? Cite evidence from the text.
Citation Information
Merrill, Samuel, "Documentary. Iowa — Developments — Resources," The Annals of Iowa, Vol. 1869, No. 1, pp. 98-104. 1869. Courtesy of University of Iowa Libraries and Archives