The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-01-09

be maze to elevate the standard Ol
these schools, 50 that all the children
0f our State may enjoy equal adv-n-
tages. it should be a subject of iu-
guiry, as to what constitutes the diff
ference between the city and the
country schools, and there should be
such legislation, IS will give the great
est possible advantage to the greatest
lUm5eT Of our youth. In my judg-
meHt, our first necessity is normal
schools, permanently located, created
supported and regulated by the State /:
these, for the present at least, u be
supplemented with normal lnsfTuc-
ton upon the instituted system,
reaching into every county, anu IN
der the control Of State board. Rsa-
/ sOnabie expense, incurred in promo
ting the intelligence of the people
will be found judiciOuS and ecOnOmi-
cal. Common good education is the
basis Of cur prosperity, and it should
/ be made as complete and excellent as
| possible. have no doubt that with
normal schools to educate teachers
and superintendents, we should reap
/ from the money now expended, dOu-
bic the benefit we at present enjoy.
/ Until we have such Institutions, our
schools will always be inferior. I re-
speetfully urge teis subject upon your
attention, and take pleasure in refer
ring to the very able Report of the
/ State School Commissioner, which
wiz soon be laid before you.
I OHIO AND MIAMI UNIVERSITIES.
The Ohio and Miami Universities at
..1 flx-f.lrr4 ar in n
| feeble condition, and unless something
! is speedily done for them by the State,
| their doors must soon be closed.
/ While considering the necessity for
establishing normal schools, it has Oc-
Cured 10 me as possible that one or
both of these institutions might be
made available for that purpose. At
Joint meeting of the Alumni and
| Trustees of the Ohio University, held
last July, a resolution was passed re-
questing the General Assembly to
consider the prOpriety Of adding
Normal Department, 10 be supported
by the State. Possibly the funds Of
these two universities might be uni
ted, so as to afford support FOR one,
while the other could be made a nor
NAL school, supported entirely by the
the State. At ali events, these insti-
tutiOns must have immediate and
substantial assistance or they will die,
and that very soon.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
The Agricultural College will, at no
distant day, be ready for the admis-
sion Of students. Generous provision
has heretofore been made for it, but
the fostering care of the State, whose
child it IS, will be required for some
years 10 come. 1t is expected that
The State will extend the same libeT-
ality 10 this that she does her charita-
bic institutions. The Agricultural
and Mechanical College should be
something more than a model farm,
illustrating tine art of cultivating the
soil, and the methods of improving
breeds ofstOck. IF this shall be the
limit OF its ambition, few young men
will resort to it, and these, it is feared,
without great profit. It's foundations
should be laid broad and deep, and
within its limits should be taught the
principles which underlie all the in
dustrial, liberal and ornamental arts.
Its curriculum should be so extended
that young men may there be edncat-
ed for all the ordinary walks of life.
If it shall be dedicated under the gen.
erOus system, and conducted in the
right way, it will soon attract dona-
tions from public spirited men-wiil
be an honor to Ohio and blessing to
our people. If We fix low standard,
and are content with small results, it
were better that the peoples money
were expended in some other and
more profitable way. 1t is not, OF
course, expected that the College
shall be, when it opens, ali that We
hope for it finally; it IS not Likely
that all its departments Will ut once
be put in successful operation. But
let it be started with the intention ot
making it, ultimately, grand State
University, whose instructions shall.
be thorough and comprehensive.
INSANE AsYLUMS.
There exists a very pressing and
urgent necessity that immediate pro-
vision be made for the confinement
and care of our insane people; within
a little more than four years two of
the State Asylums have been Destroy
ed by fire. The new building at
ALnELo Will llOI bC lCdll lOA LLlC AC-
ception of patients before September or
October Of this year, and the one at
Columbus not before two years from
this time. The central portion of the
Newburgh Asylum must be rebuilt
and the wings covered with new
roof. This work will occupy at least
one year. In the meantime, we have
in the State to-day insane persons
enough to fill all these institutions
when completed, and four hundred in
excess. Many of these unfortunate
men and women are now confined in
jails, infirmaries and warehouses;, or
are receiving inadequate care as it is
possible for friends TO bestOw at their
own homes. Some immediate relief
must be afforded or there will be great
suffering, Tt has been found impos-
sible to secure for temporary occupa-
ton and use any building which was
regarded as suitable and safe. The
only one offered for rent was the Neff
House, at Yellow Springs, wEicL with
an outlay of twenty-five or thirty
thousand dollars, exclusive of the
cost Of furniture, could be made ready
for the accommodation of four hun
dred and twenty-five patients. This
property is offered for rent, upon a
i've years lease, for fifteen thousand |
dollars per anuum. 1t could, UndOubt- /!
edly be obtained at a much less price. /
Bat it ia a frame structure, designed !
for a summer hotel, and it would, |
think, be exceedingly hazardous TO |
I'LL it with demented persons, many |
of whom have already had the expe- |
rience Of two fires, and whose craZed !
minds are filled with a wild glee at /
the thought Of the excitement attend |
ant upon a great cOnflagratiOn. In |
the light of past experience it is un- |
pardOnable if the insane are confined I
any other than buildings as near fire. |
proof as can be made. There are /
brick buildings at Circleville and Al
lance which can be purchased but !
not rented, and which could be made I
safe. It is possible that there are
others in the State. This subject, ]
however, should receive the immedi- /
ate attention of the Legislature.
In rebuilding the Newberg Asylum, /
and in finishing those at Columbus |
and Athens, great care should be TAX
en- to guard against fire. 1t is believ- |
ed that the present designs of the new /
buildings even, does not make them a..
fre-prUOf, or as nearly so as possible. /
And it Is certain that the Dayton I
Asylum needs very considerable .
change TO render it reasonably secure. /
Plans and estimates of cost will be |
furnished by the Trustees of the New
burg and Dayton Asylums, for re-
building and changing these institu-
tions in accordance with the present !
FOR TIE ERECTION OF /
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
You are requested to consider I.
whether the present law, under which I
our public buildings are erected, eau. /
not be so changed as to render tEeir /.
more expeditions and at I
the same time more economical. The :
law as it now stands, was intended TO
guard against speculation and fraud. 4
1t is believed this end could be as well /.
secured were the law modified in some |
important particulars. That prOvi- /
sion which requires, or has been un- |
derstood to require, the contracts for
different kinds of work to be awarded !
IN senarate bidders. whenever the sum