The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-01-21

RetNt*. INC OOuTS now COuSiStS vi OUiy
three members, and the amount OF business
before it is such that either great delay
must ensue in disposing oft, or it must be
transacted in such haste ~ to preclude
proper examination and delberation. The
addition of another Judge will largely in
crease its working cspacity, and will afford
more time for careful and intelligent ac-
ton.
The absolute recsssity for . good Law
Library. to q court of last resort, must be
apparent to all. 1t is "a unreasonable to ex
pee, learned and correct decision from q
court deprived Of good library. as it is to
expect good and well finished. work from
. mecha mic without tools. The Reports OF
other States contain the well. considered
opinions OF their most learned Judges the
the elementary works contain the principals
upon which our whole legal system is bas.
cd, and to require our judges to decide ca
ses involving questions affecting the most
vital rights and interests Of our people,
without the opportunity to consult these
fountains Of law. IL unreasonable in itself,
and tends to render doubtful and uncertain
the principles controlling and protecting
these rights aud interests.
rsk srATl. UNIVERSITY.
This institution is now in very -four.
ishing condition. The number of students
in attendance, at the present time. is over
three hundred and Atty, aud they come
from al parts Of the State. The Faculty
are devoted to the interests of the insti&u-
ton, and it is rapidly becoming, what it
was intended to be, an honor to the State
and powerful aid in promoting her high
est interests.
renew my former recommendation, that
provision be made bv law, for Military
Professorship in the University. Such pro.
fessorship will no. only popularize the in.
stitution. bat will impart to our young men
kind Of knowledge, the want Of which ha 5
cost US many men and much treasure, since
the commencement of the rebellion and
the necessity for which, in the future, the
history Of other nations teaches, may como
to US at any time.
The Board of Education, at their last ses-
sion, directed the trustees of the University
to establish Military Professors',ip as sooI
as the General Assembly should make the
necessary approbations. have placed two
hundred stand Of arms. with accoutermcnts.
in the hands of the Faculty. and earn
estly commend the matter to your favorable
consideration.
The present number Of students IN at.
tendance upon the University is greater
than the capacity of the university BULL.
ings to accommodate and, with the pros.
pective increase in numbers, these build
ings will soon be entirely inadequate to the
wants Of the institution, aud the candidates
for admission must be turned away for lack
Of room to receive them. :"
The former hal! of the House of Repre-
sentatives, now used as . Chapel, is in suf-
ficient for the present numbers, and many
are thus excluded from Chapel services. A
larger hall is imperativsly needed for Chap
ell, Commencement and all other exercises
requiring the assembling of the who'll num-
Der Of students.
There is no suitable room for the Chem
ical laboratory. This to our agricultural
State. is perhaps. the most important de-
partnent Of our University. Chemistry is
becoming daily more liberal contributor
to agricultural knowledge and success and
the advancement of chemical science in our
State, through the State University, should
be especially encouraged.
Our University will not be complete until
it shall have an Astronomical Observatory
connected with It. This has already be-
come prominent feature of the University
Of Michigan, and the demands of our more
Western location will soon require it Of u.s.
A building may be erected to answer all
these purposes at much less cost than to
provide for them separately.
Our State now stands with the foremost
of her sister States in her in teligent and he:
roic devotion 10 the political institutions Of
our country. She needs but to use her ad-
vantages to take an equally high posit ion in
science and literature. The people are
ready to avail themselves Of the facilities
furnished, and only ask that the State shall
supply them. respectfully urge upon
you such action ss shall tend, ulti-
mately, to place the State University of 10.
W. among the foremost Of similar Institutions
IN the land.
STATE HISTORICAL Society
call your attention to the report Of
the Curators of the State Historical Socie-
ty.
Passing events render the work of this
Society vastly more important than ever be-
fore. We are now making history with
wonderful rapi9ity. but are making j. in
frsgmsntary manner. Future ages demand
of us that we collect and preserve these
fragments as material from which full and
reliable r,cord Of the great events Of our day
may be preserved This. with the ordinary
work oi the Society in collecting the early
history of our State. is more than it can
well perform ~ath the means at its dispo-
SAL
No man can be found to devote to it the
necessary time without compensation.
recommend an appropriation Of five hun.
drsd dollars. as compensation for this pur.
pose. in addition to the five hundred dollars
heretofore soprc p'i I'D for other purpos.
es. -
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The Reports Of the Trustees of the Blind
Asylum and Of the Asylum for the Insane,
are herewith submitted. recommend the
Of special committee to visit
each of these institutions for the purpose of
examining into their condition aud wants.
and that all may be done that the condition
OF our finances will allow, to make these in.
sututions effestiys for accomplishing the |
noble objects for which they were founded. |
I call your special attention to the final |
tending the erection Of the blind Asylum.-I
The ASYLUM for the Deaf and Dumb Is
still at Iowa City, in building rented for
that purpose. The annual rent paid is $37s.
Whether It is advisable at This time, 10
erect a new building. the interest on the
cost OF which will far exceed the rent now
paid. or'whether it Is best to continue to
occupy the rented buildings for . longer
time, are questions properly committed to
yodr judgment and discretion, The report
Of the Trustees, showing the expenditures