Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-01-12

out of money in the treasury not re
quired for other purposes.
Our laws regulating the assessment
and collection of taxes, though possibly
defective in some respects, have in thu
main been eminently successful. Care
full examination has satisfied me tina
any attempt to improve the present rev
enue system by additional Legislation
would be an experiment of doubtful ex
pediency.
POPULATION.
The population of Iowa, according t.
the Census of 1853, was as follows:
Total number of whites, 7OO842
Total number of blacks. 1920
Total population, 7o2,lsa
According to the census of 1865, tn.
population of Iowa is as follows:
Total number of whites, 75l,l25
Total number Of blacks. s607
Total population. 754,7s2
No repor, for 1865 from the populous
county of Winneshiek has been fur.
nished, and the return for 1863 being
taken for this county, a heavy increase
is thereby omitted in the above calcula.
ton. The Census of 1865 also having
been taken in the early portion of the
year, the spring and fall immigration is
necessarily left out. In all probability
there are now over 10000 people, resi-
dents of Iowa, not included for these
reasons in the above statement, which
would give an actual population of
about 1866. 1t will be observed that
our increase has been much greater du-
ring the last two years than the former
periods. If the increase continues in
the same ratio during the residue of this
decade, we may justly anticipate the
next National census will give us a pop.
ulation of nearly one million.
1t is observable that the ratio of our
increase keeps pace with the advance of
railroad enterprises, furnishing as they
do, increased facilities for travelling, and
additional means for improving and de-
veloping the resources of the State.
The large amount of unoccupied and
fertile lands within our borders, our
vast agricultural resources, and our
healthy climate, furnish so great in
ing population of the older States, that
we may reasonably expect this rapid in
crease of population to continue for
years to come.
SCHOOLS.
BY reference to the clear and comprc-
report of the Superintendent of
Public Instruction, it will be observed
that the schools of the State are in q
healthy and furnishing condition. The
system is working well, and is so far
perfected as to require but little addi-
tional legislation.
The average attendance of pupils dur
ing the year 1864 was 117,37S, and the
lumber of youth of school age, 294, 9l2.-
Out of 324 1888 enumerated school chill
dren in 1855 there was an average attcn-
dance of 1883 pupils.
Nothing committed to your care is
more far-reaching in its Importance than
the education of our youth. TO carry
out this exalted duty successfully, we
need not only the munificent school
fund at our disposal, but we need espec-
tally an increasing corps of thoroughly
trained and competent teachers. This
Is manifestly a great educational de-
Irand.
To supply this pressing want, Nor
NAL Department has been added to the
State University; but it is questionable
this provision is or can well be
adequate to the purpose. l would
therefore most earnestly invite your at
w liAC anu IlcCtSSllN
Of establishing special school for the
with as little delay as possible. The
value of special preparation for all pro-
fessional advocations cannot be easily
and should certainly
not be disregarded in the infinitely inn
portant work of educating the young. /
therefore cordially approve and recon-
mend to your favorable consideration
the suggestions of the Superintendent
of Public Instruction, bearing on the
subject of a Normal School.
STATE UNIVERSITY.
The State University, located at lows
City, is meeting with most gratifying
success. The present year opens with
q largely increased attendance in all the
departments. Established by the Con
stitution, munificently endowed by
grants of land, centrally situated in tn.
midst of u cultivated and enterprisine
community, with the growing conf
a faculty of laboring and competent
professors it bids fair in time to equal
in usefulness and renown the famed
seats Of learning in the older States.
An appropriation was made at your
last session for the erection of an addi-
tional and much-needed building
Owing to the unexpected and rapid adj
vance in the price of material and labor
a farther appropriation of about S1l ,0Ot
will be necessary to complete the struct-
ure as designed, which | earnestly rec
ommend be granted. The wants of this
important institution should always be
promptly provided for.
A University is properly an institu-
ton in which. all departments of learn
ing are taught. A branch for instruc-
ton in the science of medicine is now
established ut keokuk. In order to OBJ
viatc the necessity our young men are
now under of going out of the State to
pursue a regular course of studies in ju.
and to promote sound lie.
gal learning, l recommend the organi.
zatiOn of Law Department, with pow.
err to confer diplomas upon graduates
which shall entitle their possessors to
practice in all the Courts of the State.
While in some. respects it would be
desirable to have the Law School, when
located at the same place
with the collegiate department of the
yet the fact that the United
States and State Supreme Courts, at
tracing at regular periods the most
eminent legal talent OF the State, sit al
Des Moines, and that the State Law
Library, valuable auxiliary to q Law
School, is also located there, present
strong reasons for the loca.
ton of this School at the Capital. Law
students will naturally seek Court cen
tiers, where, while studying the princi-
pies of law, they can also observe its
practical workings in the conduct OF
causes.
PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND.
The Auditor in his able report has
called your attention to the present con.
dition of the permanent School Fund.
This subject should receive your early
and serious attention. The plan orig.
inally adopted of distributing this fund
among the counties, vesting the school
fund commissioners with authority tt
loan it out to individuals, always OF
doubtful expcdiency, has caused iluviii
embarrassment, and resulted in mate
rial diminution of the fund. Through
the incompetency and mismanagemenl
of county officers large amount re-
mains unaccounted for, and although
strenuous efforts have been made by the
Auditor of State to obtain a satisfactory
adjustment of the accounts, great dis.
vSef.N