The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-03-25
For the Ottumwa Courier.
The State University.

Mr.. EDITOR 1T appears,--as can be seen,
by referring to the Report Of our Superinten-
dent Of Public Instruction,-that there have
been but one hundred and twenty -four stu
dents in attendance, at the above named in.
stitutions, for the year ending Dec. 81, 1857,
ard that one hundred and three. of the said
students reside in Iowa City, (where the Uni
versitv is 'ocated) fourteen in johnson ooun.
ty, and but the enormous amount Of seven ~
in other countless! Aud thus far, these one
hundred and twenty-fonr students have been
under the superintendent Of sir professors
CDeach, doubtless receiving large salary, an
nually! Have the United States granted forty-
six thousand eighty acres Of land to this State,
for the purpose Of supporting University.
which is beneficial TO Iowa City only? Have
the funds, resulting from the sale of portion
of said land, been expended with a view to
the States general good, and for the emolu-
ment Of an educational institution so local?
Are not those Universities, which are located
in more favorable State localities, to have a
share in the public funds? Must those Uni
yersities, which have as large, yea, and larger
number Of students in attendance, he suppor-
ted only by the wealth, and enterprise Of pri-
vate individuals, without being endowed to the
value of one cent, from thepublic Safe? Are
we, Of Southern Iowa. obliged to inconvenience
ourselves. and expend a goodly sum of the
one thing coveted, by going up to that City of
ten thousand inhabitants, to enlighten our
minds under the august surveillance of g Uncle
Sam?" Cannot Congress extend the blessings
Gifts corsu copia. in the way of education, 10
us? Dothey at Washington CITY think that
Southern Iowa ha. more public spirit, and
energetic enterprise and precocious intellect
than iowa Of the North? Do they thirk, that
Iowa South will educate her youth. without
being aided from the Federal purse; that she
entertains the love of Wisdom strong enough
to send her rising generation to the iowa City
University, or to colleges Of other Safes, there
to be started, and guided on the road that leads
to Knowledge and Fame? Southern Iowa
can educate her children, and youth, without
such .endowments from our Federal head;
and without inconveniencing herself by send
aciH educate them, without taking such trou-
Bile nnon herself, notwithstanding, we would
ask in the strict sense Of lnmbleness if 1t would
notbe pure justice, and strictly right, for a part
OF said grant to be devoted to the educational
interest OF some other section of our State,
besides Iowr City, and Johnson county2 And
we ask again, in dep humility if those FIVE
thousand dollars, which our Superintendent Of
Public Instruction recommends to be appro-
priateh for the repairing Of the late capitol
building, so as to be fit for the Occupation Of
the University" could not be appropriated
in manner which would result in the good
benefit of the State in general? We know ii
could, if given to an University or two we
acot of. If the ci,ze.s, of Iowa City, have
that public spirit, and enterprise, which they
ought to have, they will repair that building,
and pay the expense out of their private purses
But, alas! they full well know, tina the Uni
versity is established in their City by law, and
that SUncle SAM must have the repairing Of
even if no others are benehtted thereby but
the'n'eves! Then, may not we, who are in
terested in education. in this PORTION Of the
State, raise orr voices, and ask for an ou!pour-
ing from the public Golfers upon US. that we
may thereby be aided up the rugged declivity
of Science; and that we may the more easily
and speedily quaf delicious cup of spark
liHe hector from the .'Perian Spring.
T. H. GRIFFIN.
Ashland, Iowa, Mar 18th.