The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-01-20
In the observations ofthe Trustees

In the observations ofthe Trustees
as to improvements on the present
grounds, l heartily concur. There
should be no farther expenditure on
buildings there, except for repairs
and recommend that measures be
adopted towards the selection OF 9
new site for the School, centrally 10
Gated and accessible by railway, and
for the erection ef suitable buildings
at an early day. In connection with
the institution, there should be a
least one section of land, which the
inmates Of the School might cult
vate; shop also should be provided
where mechanical avocations coulc
be followed; and thus the institution
be rendered to q great extent, self
supporting. The State has lease
of the present grounds extending
till 1873, with the privilege of relin
gushing at any time. [ would
suggest that, as SO much money
has been expended on the buildings
ings there, the General Assembly take
into consideration the propriety,, o.
renting the lands, retaining the bull
dings, and placing them under tt G
charge of ladies, for the reception Of
such girls as may be committed to
the Reform School.
TIE total expenditures of the
School, including improvements on
the grounds and building up to the
LIST of November last, amounted to
s26,S65.6S. To meet this, $4,000
was drawn from the State treasury,
and So, 1880 from rents of farm, etc.
The indebtedness of the School, in.
GLIDING amount necessary to sustain
it until the General Assembly shall
have made an appropriation, is S..
7S9. l recommend that this appro.
priation be made at an early day, as
the institution is seriously embarrass-
cd for want of funds.
[ regret to say that this institu.
ton thus far has not met the expec.
tations of it's friends. Perhaps the
most prominent source Of this disap.
pointment lies in its isolated location
At an inconvenient distance from
railroad and telegraph stations, its
expenses have been unduly large, and
with insecure places of confinement
escapes have been frequent. Imper
feet as its success may have been
however, let us not be discouraged
but let us continue our efforts to i'm
prove and perfect system based up
on principles of benevolence and char.
ity.
The reports of the Trustees and
officers Of the various institutions re-
ferred to by me, will be laid before
you, and will, l have no doubt, re
ceive the attentive consideration Of
the General Assembly.
| would ask of the General Assem-.
bly, thorough and minute examina
ton Of the institutions under tho care
of the State, that their condition may
be thoroughly known and their wants
ascertained, and snch aid extended
as in the light Of the knowledge thus
obtained may be suggested by an en-.
lightened liberality, which, while de-
sirous of outstanding the resources Of
the State, is yet actuated by such a
breadth of view as will maintain and
elevate the character Of these insti
tutionB.
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The last General Assembly made
a special appropriation to this socie
ty ofsix thousand dollars, in addition
to the fixed amount of one Thousand
dollars; and the Society has received
from other sources, including former
balance, s325.29, making its total in
come s7,323.2O. Its expenditures
were %, oae.te.
The Society still continues its la
bors in ascertaining and perpetuatine
the early history of Iowa, a work o.
increasing urgency as our pioneers
gradually pass away.
THE CAPITOL.
The report of the Census Board
acting as Board Of Commissioners
under the provisions of chapter 81, O.
the Acts of the last General Assem-
bly,, will be submitted to your honor
able body at an early day, accompa
MED with the plans to which premi
ums were awarded. In my opinion
these plans should be examined by {
competent architect, with authority
to consolidate them with such Other
meritorious plans as have been OF
may hereafter be submitted, in suct
a manner that, while q Symmetrical
plan is elaborated, the maximum O
convenience and accommodation may
be attained. A suitable building
for the meetings of the legislature
for the accommodation of its execu
tive, administrative, and judicial de
partments, and for the preservation
of its archives, is one of the most in
dispensable requirements of a govern
ment. The building in which you arc
assembled, l submit, possesses none
OF these characteristics of suitable
capitol. l need not remind you O
the crowded condition of the halls ir
which you meet, Of the almost tota
absence of committee rooms, of the
crampel apartments for the variou!
State offices, nor of the want OF secu
rity against fire. Besides, the edi
fee, in point of architectural appear
ance, is utterly unworthy OF our Wig
orous and aspiring commonwealth
1t is believed that no State in the
Union, either East or West. has 6
capitol building soincommodious and
so cheap in appearance as has Iowa
and, indeed, many of the territories
and some counties even in our OWE
State, have better buildings in which
to transact their Official business.
therefore recommend that steps be
taken for the C, mmenccment of the
erection ola new State House: ar
edifice, which, in magnitude of pro
portions, symmetry of design, and
convenience of arrangement, shall be
worthy ofour State. An appropria
ton Of $4,000 is probably all that
could be economically expedited in
1870. The amount necessary for the
second year would be subject fol
your reconsideration and determination
EXTRAORDINARY COMING ENCIEs.
In view of the liability ofthe pub.