The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-15
NEW SERIES-NO. 52S.

dOwment can be extricated from Its en-
barrassments and saved to the grand cause
for which it was designed, is q subject
worthy of your most profound coutempla-
ton, and demanding the exercise Of your
best financial ability. Whether the State
is, or is not, liable for that portion OF the
debts of the University created by legisla-
tive authority, it il matter for your con-
sideration, whether it would not be a
measure of sound and honorable policy
for it to provide for their payment by an
arrangement with the creditors which
shall place the University lands in the
hands of the State, free from encumbrance.
These lands amount to 46,080 acres, Sc
lected in choice localities, and may be
presumed to be far more valuable than
the school lands, about which no choice
can be exercised. Yet at the average
price at which the latter have been sold,
they would be worth 1921, ,Oss, sum suf-
ficient not only to pay the debt which
now hangs like an incubus upon this Eoble
foundation, but constitute an ample fund
for the support of the institution for years
to come.
Ooinciding fully in the opinion that by
the 9th section of the Enabling Act of
Congress, passed February 26th, 1857 the
Governor of this State is authorized to Sc
lect seventy-two additional sections ofland
from the public domain to be set apart for
the use and support of State University,
I have appointed an agent to report to ME
or my successor in Office, after proper sur
vey and examination, description of such
Ia do ho
valuable for the purpose.
By this course, the right of the State to
these lands will be brought up for adjudi-
cation, should there be any doubt or hesi-
tation on the part of the General Land
Department as to admitting claim so evil
dently just. These lands, when selected
and entered, will, by judicious manage
ment, create an ample fund for the sup
port of the University, which confidently
trust is destined to outlive all its difficult
ties, and prove Of incalculable value to
the youth of the State, already waiting to
crowd its halls
know of no method for relief 80 bene-
ficlal to the University, or so hopeful to
the supervision of the State Land Depart
ment, to be disposed of on principles SINH
lar to those which regulate the school land
interests t.-.s
By placing the University upon a sound
financial footing, the Legislature will be
enabled to give practical development to
the institution. All the higher interests
of education, which comprehend the no
blest and most benefcent objects of gov
ernmenment, require that the University
should be exalted to it's proper position at
the head Of the splendid educational sys-
tenn, whose broad foundation rests on our
magnificent school reservations. ..,.s
/ submit to your consideration whether
the time has not arrived for devoting the
fine University building at st. Anthony to
the object for which it was designed. In
the years which have elapsed since the ed
ifice was erected, the children who were
receiving the rudiments of education in
our common schools have passed t. an age
when higher training and ripper culture,
are necessary to fit them for the vocatiOns
OF approaching manhood. Every year is
swelling this class of young men. A COM
paratively small expenditure would place
within their reach the means of college
education, and fit the choicest spirits of our
rising generation for the nose exalted posi-
tions which duty or ambition may assign
them, IN working out the destiny and es-
tabllshlng the greatness of our State.
The Normal school at Winona has proved
an efficient means of elevating the standard
of qualification for the Teachers profess
sion, and thus exercises an important in
f1dence in improving the character of our
common schools You can devote your
energies and make appropriations of money
to no more economical no. .cttier purpose.
than the promotion of popular education,
without which, all your railroads, Your
commercial and material prosperity, ale It
no avail in building up State. The ap-
preparation necessary for the support OF
this institution on liberal scale could not
be more pro6tably expended.
The report o. the Superintendent of
Public Instruction embraces the first ex-
hibit at all approaching to completeness, of
the condition of our common schools. OF
1885 school districts, 1854 send toierably
full reports, showing that of 65,598 per-
sons between five and twenty-one years CT
age. 38,231 attended school within the
year, while the average daily attendance is
22.271. The value of school housesffie
$l6O,591, and the whole amount reported
to have been received for the use of schools |
is $110, ,444.
The Superintendent suggests variety
of notifications of the existing school law,
which, as they concur generally with my
own views, ! recommend to your favorable
consideration.
By an act of the last legislative session
81, 500 was appropriated for the organiza-
ton and support of school at Faribault
for deaf mutes and blind persons. The
commissioners report that the school was
CooNOLUDRD ON HlaHTH PAaK.1