Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-01-14
STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND
FARM.

1
to the uninvested endowment funds in
his hands, and early legislation to make
them available was urgently recommend
ed. 1t only remains for me in this place
to briefly summarize few of the prin-
cipal wants of this institution, and which
can only be supplied by an appropria-
ton from the State treasury. As stated
by the president and trustees there is an
urgent and immediate necessity for Ger
tain repairs to insure the safety of the
main building and to preserve from
waste the valuable property of the col
lege. The necessity Of these repairs is
enforced by report of Mr.. Finkbine,
in whose judgment and skill as an archi-
tect and builder I have implicit conf.
dence. These improvements he est.
mates will cost $31, 720, which includes
$1,000 tor new heating apparatus in
the main building, which would seem to
be required to enable the term to open
at the appointed day in the early spring.
The need of increased accommo.
dations is urged by the board
and the president, accompanied
by suggestions as to the char
acter OF the buildings which should be
erected. The plan proposed seems econ
omical and practical; and the reasons
given therefor are numerous and sound.
l am tempted to elaborate, but have only
space to touch single suggestion, but
which regard as potential. The state
ment is made that these Improvements,
which will cost $4,000, will enable the
college to receive double the number of
students 1t can now accommodate. Here
are professors, laboratories, farm, and
other appointments sufficient TO afford
instruction to 500 students, instead of
277, the number enrolled In 1875, and
withal an endowment capable of cover
ing every expenditure to which its pro-
ceeds can be applied under the cond1-
ton Of the grant; while throughout the
State are young men and women hun
gerlng for education who stand ready to
avail themselves of the increased accom-
modations sought, and yet the want of
this small outlay, when compared with
the cost of past Improvements, Prevents
the institution from receiving them.
The report of the President in refer.
ence to the labor department merits
attention, and his statement of the OBJ
ject of the college is worthy of careful
perusal. In fact every farmer and hor.
ticulturist in the State would find it
profitable to read this report. and from
the reports of the special departments
could gather many valuable suggestions
not only respecting improved methods of
cultivation, but as to the destruction Of
the enemies of crops.
THE PENTTENTIARIES.
The Penitentiary Of the Stale The
condition of the penitentiary at Fort
Madison, as shown by the warden's re-
port and the reports Of the physician,
chaplain, and clerk, and informally as
testified by official visitors, are very
gratifying. A full and lucid statement
of the operations of this Institution
during the period just ended Will ne
found in the report. Its prob
able requirements for future use
fitness are also carefully set forth. You
will also find printed in connection with
this document report to tho executive
council of the commissioners appointed
under chapter 30, temporary acts of the
18th General Assembly, to lease the
convict labor. 1t may be proper to add
that this labor has never been leased
more advantageously for The State, nor
more in the interest of the health, safety
and moral reformation Of the convicts,
than under present contracts. The one
hundred and fifty men leased to 0. B.
Dodge s. Co., manufacturers of shoe
pacs, is peculiarly fortunate contract.
1t is work upon which men untitled
for the exhausting labor Of other shops
may be employed; and as the manufac-
ture of shoe pacs is an anomalous bus!-
ness in the West, it does not compete
with the free labor of the State; and re-
curing but little machinery, it does not
expose the prison to fires or accidents
incidents to furnaces and steam engines.
The warden and chaplain speak in en-
thusiastic terms of the progress made
in the prison school, even with
the limited facilities which the
buildings now afford; and I trust
there will be no hesitancy, in view of the
good already attained through this
school, in building and properly equip
ping school house for Its accOmmOda-
ton. The warden recommends several
very important improvemt nts, which he
estimates will cost S34.9SO. And he
states they will furnish room in the
peniteniary for 504 convicts, or 1855
more than its present capacity-there
being now cell room for 318, with 200
present occupants. In view Of the fact
that, with the increasing population of
the State and the rapid growth of its
larger cities, the number of convicts
must increase for years to come, these rec
concentrations are worthy of serious con-
sideration. The warden also recommends
that the deputy be paid 81 200 per an
mum instead of $1,000; that the clerk be
paid salary of 81 300, which should be
provided for by permanent law, and that
the guards be paid 500 per month. In
consideration of the arduous duties of
these officers and employees, am of
opinion that their salaries should be
increased, and hope the General AS
sembly may be convinced of the justice
and propriety of this recommendation.
1t is estimated that $500 will be re-
quired for the transportation of prison.
ers, which should be provided.
Tho additional Penitentidry.-Since
the last meeting of the General Assem-
bly, the temporary cell room for which
an appropriation was made has been
completed. The building contains sew
enty-two cells and is built in a work
manlike and Substantial manner, credit
able alike to the business management
of the commissions and the superintend-
emit, and to the mechanics Immediately
In charge OF the work. And it is re-
markable that nearly all the labor upon
this building was performed by convicts,
but few of whom had any experience IN
stone work prior to incarceration in the
pcnitentiary. The commissioners, Sec
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