, 1860-06-28

WIN Inc provisions OF the DILL
The frs. meeting of the Board of Education
Was held in May, 1851. Their earliest action
was taken in the direction Of arriving at choice
Of location. After an investigation and exami-
nation Of the bids put in By several points in
The State, the pretty city Of Bloomington, the
centre and County Seat Of Mclean county. was
fixed upon. the ci.y aud county having offered
IN cash and in land subscriptions amounting to
$l41,o0
Bloomington is worthy brief preliminary
reference, beth in its own behalf, and as in thus
being made the prominent seat and fountain
head Of Popular Education in Illinois. 1t ia
NOW q city of about eight thousand inhabitants.
and possesses all the aspects OF thriving and
prosperous community. Long blocks OF stores
and business stfuctures, several neat, and some
Of the1n handsome and substantial, churches,
eight steam driven manufacturing establish
merits, we'll kept hotels, and, scattered through
out the city proper and the town plot, trim look
ing and in many cases e'egant private residences,
-these I'LL, with excellent public schools, be-
sides three Institutions OF learning Of the high
er class, are each aud all an indication 1ha. the
Surroundings and influences adiacent to the
Normal School are eminentiy happy.
And when one stands in the midst Of this
busy little city, it furnishes most striking
proof Of The marvellous growth Of this section
10 common with other points in the Northwest,
the circumstance that there still liyes here
gentleman, mt an agtd man, James Alain, Sen,
who about the FeaT 1923 owned this whole tract,
on which stands the city of Boomlngtoa: Num-
bers Of other citizens were yes hale and hearty,
aud in the possession Of more than comforts
biz independence, were here at the time OF the
rrst land sale in 1880. Such are the maryels Of
the West.
The Normal School having been here located,
site was selected for the proposed edi6cs
little north Of the city On high and command"
sn+ra awn.1 nf fha ntuirio crrrn,trdpd hV the
hundred aud sixty acres Of its grounds aud
model farm, all Immediately adjacent to the in.
tersection Of tue main brAuch OF the Illinois
Central with The Chicago, Al.on St. Louis
Railroad.
4 large share, or $4,000 of The subscriptions
Of the county aud CITY WAS IN swamp lands, at
the time, 1857, promising to realize ready pro-
ceeds as tue exegencies Of the building in its
progress might require. This prospect. how
ever, the financial crisis defeated It that tmc,
and left the Board Of Education in u position
which promised no immediate results in the di'
rection Of permanent structure.
The: went hopefully ct WORK. however, and
after report from special commission,
I Messrs. Rex aud Hosey, who were deputized to
visit kindred Institutions at the East, the plans
! aud drawings Of the Normel University Build
iugs we're e1. cuted By G. +. Randall Of Chlcago,
under tie supervision OF e. Z. norey, Of the
above commission, and then aud now the Priu.
c;pal Of the school. The corner.stone OF the
| eu4fice was laid, with appropriate ceremonies,
| On the 23th day Of September. 1s57-made an
Occasion Of much interest and large attendance.
| The work was, however, interrupted for a
time By the pressure Of money mutters. How
| well aud notably the friends Of the enterprise
have filled this interval, will be q matter to
which will be dcyoted the required space else
where in these reports, in description in detail.
the now completed and pobl: building deserves.
! There Was, however, no delay Or tardiness in
organizing the Normal School, though At first
and until now, the present period of graduating
| Majors block in the heart Of the city Of Bloom.
ington. The Normal School opened in these
| Quarters October 5&h, 1867, witt nineteen stu
lents Of which six were males. The number
however went speedily up to torty three for tbe
| first Term. Since that time the school has been
in regular operation, aud continually laying
more broad sud deep It's foundations for THAI
use!ulaess it is now confidently expected it is
soon to enjoy in quarters Of its own
The aunua! examinations take p!uce on Thurs
dug, the Commencement to occur on the fol
lo~in. day. or these aud attendant events
anon. The opening Of c,1nmence enent week If
the occasion Of the annual mee1ingof
TIE ILLINOIS III 7URdL HISTORY SO
| CIETT.
This society WIS organized in 1853, for tht
purpose of bringing about thorough sc1enti
/ uC SURVEY u luE eotAtEs II luE FAEio1S utpAEk
ments OF Natural History, the general museum
ofthc same TO he established at the Norma
University, where it is designed its influence
shall be brought TO bear on popular education
aud aEuomlsdse Of nature gained By our youth
by its MEANS
in the treasurers Of animate anu 1nanimate ma
ture. The grea:distance bctwsen our northern
and southern limits af3rds large number O
species Of plants, trees, and an'ma!s. Boundet
aad intersected By large risers, our Geolog,
and Zoology are easily Determined.
This is the second annual session Of the Socie
IT, and although comparatively in its iutanc.
much has been a1rerdy achieved and sterlfuI
advantages reaptd to science, and the coopera
tion secured Of numbers Of the lovers ofnatu
raj sciences throughout this state. The mum
bers aud standing Of those present at this time
are guarantee Of m interesting and imporsan
| session.
The society met at Phoenix Hall ats r. y
| Prof. Turner Of Jacksonville, the President i
the chair, j. ". Powell was chosen Secretary
Rev. Mr: Eddy OF Bloomington opened the Sc:
sion with prayer.
The Superintendent Q. D. Willer in This re
port Of the year, presented briefhistory Of th
society, ana what had been accomplished dul
the year. lie ereporied that about one hundre
sud forty names we're now c,mpriscd ia th
list. Thata library Of valuable and some I
then, costly volumes, between two and th1e
hunderediu number had been secured.
He acknowledged in behalf OF the society h
liberali:y of our State railroads during the ) ca
in furnishing passes to himself and assistant:
without which encouragement, the Society ha'
ing no means, the expense Of travelling woul
hare largely restricted and diminished the labc
| accomplished.
He said it was now time to secure greater ae
vantage to the society by establishing scon
missions in the several departments Of natur'
History.
} The Superintendent also said it WIS desirabl
that the Society fit up and ill museum an
department OF natural science at the forthcou
: ing State FAR, nt jacksonville, where, he ha
been informed, the managers Of the Fair has
: | provided liberal accommodations in buildin
, 24150 feet in size.
t Mr. WILDER SAID that be deemed that st th
point it was both proper, md for personal re
sons necessary, that he should resign bis pos
c tion as Superintendent for the Society. as Il
work could be rs well carried on BY Secret
: ry as in other Societies.
3. D. Walsh Of Rock Island. was called {
9 for report on Entomology. lie said be cou
e five hundred species OF the insects at IlIinoi
He could also donate to the Society boz col
tanning classified species Of the.order Of e9lta
: tera OF beetles.
$ Rev. Mr. Eddy Of Bloomington moved 4 70
Of thanks to Nr. Walsh. Carried.
I ~ ~ dVAeH "As cal!e0 Oh JOE 4 IePoIt
: Conchoogy. He said be had collected shells
! various streams in Iowa, Illinois and Michigan
;. at various p7ints. He said he had met vii
j. much good feeling and encouragement amor
). the people. lie deemed il would not be di1
cult to collect full suites Of our shells Of th
> section: They exist iu great abundance, at
: some Of them most beautiful in lorm. He r
, ferted to lack Of systematic research aud
,: textbooks to build up in tha minds Of the Pc
u people their study aud its lore.
The Report on Paleonso!oRy WAS given
u Mr.. AeChesney Of Springfield. ne had e.
e p'oFed lIllnots. aud partially adjoining State
Z Sos'ecslng specimens representative OF The d.
!. ierent geolo2ie systems. Had identified Sc
e7al hundred Of the species representing o'
) system, and hare FAMED about one bundrt
new spec,uens. ue should present TO the 5
T. c'ety, 10 be placed in its museum, duplicates
- thi* department.
(, Mr. James Shaw, Of Ut. Carroll, was called
. report on Geology. In Carroll county. borde
my On tho mineral region, an opportunity VI
!: offered for studying the three groups--hudso
It Niagara, and GaIeca ssoap. Al interest ~, T'
D. awskeued aM IN tic county 6y the visit Of Pts
K, Quite . number in that section have been bul
= collecting fossils. He referred to lhe t1cnne
G. OF that region in fossils in the Niagara Gron
n 70 the hudson river group ve lad large 1I1p
- 6lfes, CT rather three casts and splnes- ~
- tnese specimens large amount csu be eol'et
r Cd. VI these specimens they should ne reat
'e cetF. We hare formed society there aux
q la1y TO this. We hold monthly meetings. u
10 aim to advance the science By every means
D. cur power.
q OF tbs same commission on Geology, G.
~ NHber reported. Hs began his researches
D. mis- State ou Fox River, at 0aweRo- and II
o has becoma the treasure house Of natufntla
sh-% tfGfT