Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-01-27

tut CDltegt unl1GIug was deQtCaded, Iuc 0lcHfH ID
sugurnted and the srst session regularly opene !,
One hundred and thirty youbg men and thirty young
women we're In attendance. 1he session cenrinus ID
with two hundred different pupils through two
terms OF sixteen weeks each. and closed or the win
ter Oct0bH 18th, shortening the regular year ODE
month, for the purpose Of making additions TO the
Two classes were formed-freshmen and pYeparsio-
ry. Two principal courses OF study have been ar
composed mainly OF the sciences which undcre
these professions Besides these, four sdbJrdi
nste courses OF study are proposed; normal
course, q commercial course, course In civ
u engineering. and ladies' course. The
progress Of pupils has been thus far in the
highest degree satisfactory. The faculty is at
present composed 0f president, three profess
sors, and three instructors.
The value Of the landed endowment may be
estimated at 500, COO, and that Of the College
building and furniture, professors dwellings,
the farm with all its Improvements, the stock,
cash on hand, &c, at t250, 900, making in all
100000 The income tor the past year has been
$4,000.
The college will reopen on the 9th Of March
next, and while there are rooms for one hun
dred and sixty pupils only, am advised that
two hundred and seventy live applications for
places have already been made, and, If there
were sufficient accommodation, more than
three hundred pupils would be In attendance
next year. Additional buildings for public
rooms and dormitOries are therefore impera-
lively needed for the full development of this
institution. There Is, moreover, a necessity
for laboratory and workshop, for more pro-
fessors' houses, and for further facilities for
farm improvements. These engagements and
additions, without which the growth Of the
College will be checked, will call for an appro.
priation Of not less than 100000.
The income Of the College arises from lease
Of lands granted by Congress for the support
and maintenance Of a college ofagriculturc and
the mechanic arts, all Of which lands are now
leased. II is ample to provide for the instruc-
Gxak rod he
legally used only for defraying the expenses OF
instruction and for the purchase OF libraries
and illustrative apparatus. BY the express
terms Of tine Congressional grant, no part Of
the principal or income can, upon any PreteDse
whatever be used for buildings or the repairs Of
buildings. Hence the necessity Of further aid
from the State. would recommend that the
Boards Of Trustees, both Of the Agricultural
College and the University, be enlarged By the
addition thereto, Of the Lieutenant Governor
and the Superintendent Of Public Instruction.
SOLDIERS ORPHANS HOME
First Of the sisterhood Of the States to
recognize the justice and necessity OF making
suitable provision for the and education
Of the children ofthe soldiers Of the late war,
our State still contributes largely Of its re-
sources in aid Of this branch Of philanthopic
effort. Three homes provided. at which
twelve hundred and ten Of these wards Of the
State have at various times found shelter, care,
and education: seven hundred and seventy three
being the number In attendance on the first OF
November last. These children have here the
benefit Of a common school, combined with the
advantages Of home.
improvements have been made IN the prop
erty at all the points A new building has been
erected, al cost Of $4,000. at Cedar Falls,
where forty acres Of land have been given TO
the State; another building has been erected at
Glenwood, where sixteen acres Of land were |
decided TO the State, and accommodations have
been provided for one hundred and twenty five |
children and chapel has been built AT Davcn |
port. The total expenditures the past term |
amounted TO SPA, TT .06; and the receipts were,
from the State, $241 ,69S. 81; from donations, |
81, $40 5 from former balances 81 ,3O7 .35 In all,
4245, 555l4. For improvements during the |
next two years, and allowance OF x2l 200 Is
asked.
The Superintendent aud other officers Of
these Homes are, IL IL believed, faithful and eff |
cient In the discharge of their duties, laboring
earnestly for the good Of those intrusted to |
their charge, and duly sensible Of the RESPONSE
seem to be properly cared for and comfortably |
kept.
10 the visits have made to these institutions
during my term Of office, have become i'm
pressed with the belief that the cottage plan Of
providing for these children, such as prevail at |
the Davenport Home is much preferable to
what might call, In cOntradistinction, the
"hotel plan," under which great numbers Of
children are congregated together In single
house. This institution, In order to realize the
highest conception Of its usefulness, should APP
proximatc as closely as possible in character to
that Of the home Of a wcll.ordered family. |
apprehend the correctness Of this position will
be admitted by all. In flrtherance Of this view
/ would suggest the following measures
FYrst-A elimination Of the number of the
inmates OF the Home, by securing suitable
homes In good families for those who In the
opinion Of the officers Of the institution could
thus properly be cared for.
lSecOnd-A more precise definition by statute Of |
the proper children to be received at the Home.
The design Of the law, although not very
clearly expressed, Is yet quite evident. The
Home Is intended for the children Of deceased
soldiers Of the late war. In the Interpretation
Of the law. however, large latitude has OBJ
tanned, some being received whose fathers are |
yet living, although their mothers are dead;
and some, both Of whose parents are yet
alive. This liberal construction Of the law is |
not to be wondered at, In view OF the pleading |
urgency with which the claims Of this class OF
applicants are often pressed. But the State has |
not as yet undertaken to provide for the chill |
drcn Of the surviving soldiers of the late war, |
and indeed these brave men have not desired 1t.
strict Interpretation Of the law and the cur
tailment Of the privileges Of the Institution,
would II Is believed, have the effect to lessen
materially the number In attendance.
Thtrd--A discontinuance of the Home at
Glepwood at an early day, and OF that Mt Cedar
Falls before the converting of the next General
Assembly, and an increase Of the number OF
cottages at Davenport, to provide not only for
those coming from the other Homes, but also
for diminishing the number to be accommo-
dated at each cottage, as at present arranged.
This number could, 1t IL thought, be reduced
with great advantage to the children, and at
little additional expense to the State.
would also recommend, In connection with
the foregoing, that a sufficient amount OF land
be leased ut the Davenport Home, to be cult
waited by the boys, under proper direction, on
which might be produced large part OF the
cereals, fruit, and vegetables consumed in the
institution; and would include the erection OF
shops, at which various sorts Of handicraft
might be taught and carried on for the benefit
while thus relieving the State of much of the
expense Of maintaining the Home, would be of
greater benefit to the children themselves In
training them to habits Of industry and ecOnO-
my, and fitting them for the active duties OF
life.
This subject has caused me much thought,
and have felt 1t my duty to present these
views 70 ryour consideration, In the full belief
that unless some action be taken In the direc-
ton have Indicated, much of the patriotic lib
crafty Of our people will have been wasted,
and possibly made productive more of injury
than Of good to these children of worthy sircs.
pENirENTIARY OF THE STATE.
The extension and improvements at the Pen
itentiary provided for by the last General As
semby have been completed, and the building
has now twice Its former capacity, with cells
for two hundred and sixty-six convicts and
the entire edifce 10 strong and well lighted and