Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-09-11

After having resided nearly thirty
years in Ottumwa, we concluded the
othcr day that 1t was about time fol
us to make our first trip to Iowa City
SO we took the Iowa Central to Grin.
nell and from Grinnell Ella the Chicago
and Rock Island Railroad to Iowa
City. We found the place larger and
handsomer than we had expected 10
find it.
The principal place ofinterest at the
ancient capitol of Iowa is its State
University. This Institution is now in
a highly prosperous condition, thanks
to the persistent and unflagging efforts
OF its friends, combined with the aid
Of an uncommon|y efficient Faculty.
Five hundred and forty-nine students
were in attendance during the past
term, and we were informed that the
number beginning with the next term,
which commences Sept. 18th, will
probably exceed seven hundred. The
University is beautifully located on a
commanding eminence, and we doubt
ifany institution in the west has q cam
pus that will compare with it for
beauty.
The University comprises four sep
arate departments
l. The academical, affording the
largest facilities for liberal culture in
both letters and science.
2. Tho normal, designed exclusive
ly for the education of teachers.
3. The department of law, origi-
nally the Iowa law school, established
at Des Moines in 1855, but transferred
to Iowa City and incorporated with
the University in 1868.
4. The department of medicine, or
ganized in the latter part of the year
Is69.70, but not set in operation till
the beginning of 1870-71.
The government of the University is
vested in the President and the four
Faculties.
The government Of each department
Is vested in the President and the Fac
ulty Of that department.
We met President Thacher and
Professors Currier and Parker, who
manifested most commendable zeal
in the interests of the University. 1t is
the determination of the Faculty to
make the University second to no one
in the country, and it 10 doubtful if it
is now surpassed by any one in the
western states, excepting perhaps the
State University at Ann Aarbor,
Michigan. Being mainly supported
by the State, tuition Is nominally
placed at five dollars per term Iowa
City 10 beautiful and healthy city
containing something like eight thou
sand people In which good board and
lodgings for scholars can be procured
at from three to FIVE dollars per week.
Good churches and excellent society
are prominent advantages which Iowa
City offers to those seeking an educa
ton at the University.
The Iowa City Republican is one of
the oldest and best weeklies in the
State. 1t is edited by Postmaster
Brainard and j. H. G. Wilson. They
tried daily for while and had o
good deal of fun in running it, but
didn't make much money, go they cen
sibly stopped it.
John z. Irish edits the Press, daily
and weekly. His daily is sprightl,
evening paper in which its editor dis
plays talent for making the worse
appear the better side, that puts him
1T the head of, his contemporaries in
Iowa.
Zeke Clark is Iowa City's richest
man and IS President of the lst Ma
tional Bank. Peter A. DEFY Is Presi.
dent Of the Second National Bank, be-
sides being one Of the Capitol Com
,nissioners. Governor Kirkwood is
President Of a Savings Bank and Is out
Of politics and living like philoso-
pher.
The traveller will here find some
thing that will astonish him to-wit
IN A No. hotel. 1t is called the ST.
James and is presided over by Col.
NJ. D. Wood.
We visited the johnson County
Fair and found its president to be our
old military comrade Col. e. W. Luz
cas-, son of Iowa's first territorial gov
lrnor. The showing of stock was ex-
cellent an !! the agricultural boss troi
exciting and close, although none of the
nags got under three minutes. 1t is
ruled up there that Glow trot 10 not
immoral. j. NJ. Fl.
FIRE AT OsKALoosA.--Las night the