Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-01-19
WHOLE NOS $40.


act organising, it the "Asylum Of
the Blind" but in most subsequent
acts it is incidentally denominated
the "Institution for the Education
Of the Blind.' The latter, or a
shorter tide3with the same signifi-
;sance would be. preferable. easy
lum" is evidently not q proper
designation.
INSTITUTION OF THE DEAF AND DUMB.
In the month of December, 1870,
the school of the Institution of the
Deaf and Dumb opened in the new
building at Council Bluffs, with 81
pupils in attendance. The whole
number in the school during the
two years, was ll9--an. increase of
7 over the previous term. s-.@
The State, contributes to the gen.
eral support and current expenses
of this institution the same amount
pro rata and annually rs to that Of
the blind. This appropriation drew
from the State Treasury during the
two years $4,000. The expenses
for the same time were $42,914.13.
The report Of the trustees and su-
perintendent represents a condi.
ton Of the building not favorable to
a high degree of comfort or econo-
my. l recommend to your atten-
tion the remarks of the trustees
thereon. This badly finished struc-
turc affords an unfavorable commen-
tary upon the contract system in
erecting public buildings-a COM
mentary which is borne out by the
history Of many similar underta-
kings IN our own and other States.
Appropriations are asked by the
board Of $4,000 for clubhouse, gas
house, furniture, &C., and of IS, 900
to be refunded, being amount ex-
pended for furniture, out Of funds
Of the school; and also the sum of
100000 for finishing the other
wing of the building, and for gra-
ding the grounds. The board also
deem the appropriation for current
expenses to small, and ask that the
same be enlarged to $4,000 per
annum. 81: -.
The expense attending the con-
struction Of this building amounts
to $l44,856.O7. To this sum must
be added the amount due the con-
tractor, viz: $l4,94O.O4 less dednc-
tions for unfinished and imperfect
work. To meet whatever may be
found thus due the contractor there
is an unexpended appropriation of
$l5,143.93.
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
The grounds for the Hospital for
the Insane, at Mt. Pleasant, have
been enlarged by the purchase Of
some 4s acres of land adjoining
The improvements provided for by
the last General Assembly have
been satisfactorily made. The land
and improvements cost $4O,275.62.
The current expenses for the term
amounted to e217,679.32. The
number admitted to the Hospital
during the term was $50, and the
average present, ALAS. At the
close Of the term there were $40 un-
der treatment; and this number has
increased to 5ls. When it is re-
membered that the building is in
tended to accommodate less than
800 patients, the over-crowded con-
dition Of the house becomes at once
apparent. This state of affairs will
continue until the building at Inde-
pendence is ready for occupancy
l commend to your attention the
able report of the superintendent,
and would respectfully ask for it
careful examination. His sugges-
tion Of a separate institution for the
epileptic and the hopclessly insane,
l deem especially worthy of your
consideration. he Board of Trus-
tees ask the sum of s27 900 for va
rious improvements and for con-
tingencies.
The building at Independence
progressed rapidly until the appro-
priation was exhausted. Three
sections of the north wing, the en-
gine house and the rear center
building are now covered and in
closed and the foundation and base
ment walls of the remaining section
are up. The foundation of the
chimney is laid, and the air-ducts
arc nearly finished. The outlay
since the previous report has
amounted to s2sl,55l.44. From
personal inspection, l am satisfied
that the work on this building has
been well done.
To prepare the Hospital for the
reception Of patients, it will be
necessary not only to complete the
parts already commenced but to con-
struct the main center building. To
do this, it is estimated, will require
100000. In view of the urgent
demand for the early completion Of
this building sufficiently for the
reception of patients, / would
recommend the immediate passage
of joint resolution, authorizing the
Commissioners to employ such
labor 40 may be proitably used dur
ing the present winter months
This actien would continue the work
until an appropriation could be
made and become available.
/ have recently received the
resignation Of Hon. Geo. w. Bemis,
one of the Commissioners appointed
by act of the last General Assembly,
1t being 50 near the time of your
session, I have made no appoint.
ment of successor. ''4s So "a.
sasA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. So
The State Agricultural College,
during the past two years, has made
good, progress toward perfscting its
facilities for educational work. In
that time the farm has been greatly
improved by fencing and bringing
into cultivation several hundred
acres more land; by additional build
ings, wells, and implements; and by
increasing the herd Of blooded
Stock thus greatly enhancing it's
value as an experimental and model
farm. Ansorchard and an. expert
mental garden have been establish
al. "a worE chnn erncfo1 ord f,rr