The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1866-01-11

legal guardians of this projected institu-
ton, hesitate to freely give it your foster
ing care.
As required by the Act of the last ses-
sion, the Board of Trustees, after careful
aud due examination, adopted plan and
specifications for College building. In
addition to this tho Board secured sworn
estimates nv architects and master work
men esthe cost Of the building according
to the plan submitted. The proof so fur
nished satisfied the Beard and myself that
the structure thus designed could be
completed within the limits prescribed by
| the Act. ~
The work was begun in the utmost good
faith; but the estimate of expenses being
based upon prices prevailing at the time
frustrated in consequence ofthe unexpect-
ed and exorbitant advance irTthe prices Of
materials and mechanical labor. The
foundation-is completed and ready for the
walls. and lasee portion of the brick for
the entire bnilding on the ground. The
appropriation. it will he remembered. was
but two fifth s of the limited cost Of the
structure: These facts arg more fully ex-
planned i'm the memorial of the Board,
which in due time will be presented for
vour consideration.
This building must be Completed at all
hazards. and trust the General Assembly
will not hesitate to make an appropriation
adequate tn accomplish the work within
the time limited nv the Grant. When
completed upon the present plan, next to
the Insane kssylum"at Mt. Pleasant. it
will he the finest ediffce in the State; and
will have been erected for a much smaller
sum than the other States have expended
upon their cpfIegrs under the..sune' Grant.
T also recommend an appropriation of
81, 600 for the purpose of reliably testing,
by means Of an experimental orchard, the
variety If fruit best adapted to the soil and
climate Of this State, and fos'the purchase
Of additional heads Of improved stock.
These departments will be of immense
practical value to the State. and can soon
he made self-sustaing; and their utility
depends very much upon their early in
PRODUCTION.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The State Historical Society is one ofthe
established institutions of the State, and
its utility as permanent repository OF
historical documents, relics and memOri-
ais will be Increased from year 10 year.
This institution should be literally provi-
ded for. The interesting report Of the Gu
rators herewith transmitted will furnish
YOU with a satisfactory statement of its
present condition and wants. and I re-
specttully and earnestly commend them to
your attention.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The Charitable. institutions of the State
demand your careful attention, and they
should receive all needfull and apppropri-
ate aid. The reports Of the proper officers
Of the Insane, Blind, and Deaf and Dumb
Asvlums herewith submitted, will furnish
YOU with all necessary information in re-
gard to their financial affairs and general
condition. They appear to have been both
ably and economically managed. And it
should be regarded as a matter OF sincere
qualification, that these institutions, in
spite Of the MANY embarrassments incident
to their foundation and early growth, have
steadily advanced in usefulness, and are
now i'm an exceedingly flourishing condi-
ton. AS our populations increases, we
may naturally expect corresponding
augmentation in the number of our unfOr
tunate fellow-citiZens who will require
treatment and education i'm these different
. instit utinns. and il becomes nnr solemn
duty to render them fully adequate to the
increasing demands Of the State
The law requires the expense ofsupport-
ing patients at the Insane Asylum to be
paid either from private means or by the
counties from which they are sent. Great
Inconvenience results from the hardness
with which many counties return their
dues to the State Treasury. while some
of them have wholly neglected this duty.
The Importance Of promptly paying their
dues should not be overlooked, rs alE def
ciencies must he made mp to the Asylum
from die General State Fund.
The Trustees of the Asylums for the
blind, deaf and dumb. and insane, pre-
sent i'm their reports the proper financial
statements, and ask Sappr opriatiOns fol-
for repairs, Improvements
and contingent expenses deemed necessa-
nv to advance the utilityan meet the in
creasing wants of their respective institu-
tons, which trust will be promptly AMI
favorably considered.
STATE PENrTENTIARY.
The Penitentiary at Fort Madison is one
o. the permanent and indispensable insti-
tutions of the State. 1t is, rs yet, incon-
plete. and for years will need regular APP
preparations for current expenses not only,
but large. OUTLAWS for additions and i'm
prOvements. 1t now has accommodations
for l4S persons. and IA additional cells in a
short time will be ready for occupancy.
A warden's house, a clerks Office, a
vant for the safe keeping of the records of
the institution. and building lO4 by 40
feet for the purpose of a convict kitchen,
dining hall, chapel and hospital are about
completed.
The labor OF the convicts has been leased
at the rate of 4Oi cents a day, per man, the
contract having been made for ten years
from January lst, 1861.
The Warden asks for appropriations to
complete the yard wall, to- construct a
sewer from the southeast corner of the
yard to the river, tn build a reservoir for
water on the hill, for greater protection
against fire, tn put up fixtures for the pur-
pose of warming and lighting the cells,
which is neutrality-suspicious., to enlarge
the yarI by moving the wall to the west
ern limits of the prison grounds, to con-