The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-13

recon,nrnd that they be paid salary, or
ncr diem. tor The time actually occupied III
lie performance Of their duties
THE UNIVERSITIES.
The Illinois Industrial university was eS
l,oblisbed pursuant to an act Of congress aP'
nroyed July ., 1862 In accepting the ro'
visions of this act, the state assumed 10 pro-
vide for the use Of the university the neces-
sary buildings, and to keeP the same in pre-
seryation and repair. / join the trustees IN
their request for repairs, Improvements ~ n"-
! diiiOns and erection Of a laboratory Inc
! latter Is much needed, and indispeDsaDIe W
the growing wants of the institution. Inc
university is doing much TO advance inc III
dus,rial interests of the state, by making co
ucation, as is the age, practical ana useiuI'
After 10 years of severe labor II stands To-Day
foremost among the industrial schools OF Int
countrv. and its exhibits at the Centennial ex-
position ranked among the educational ex'
hibts of all lands
The two normal universities are important
aids to the system of tree education. They
furnish corps of drilled teachers for our
common schools They have made teaching
a profession, and given to that profession IN
! teiligepce, character, and influence. DID the
state undertake 10 educate all the children
for the learned professions its highest duty
and wlscst policy you'd be to .staollsh
schools for the education of professors in law,
medicine. and divinity. BY It's free schools,
supported by taxation, it does undertake 70
give all the children a good common school
education. In my opinion the state cannot
better advance its educational interests ana
elevate the standard Of It's free schools than
nv the maintenance of its normal universi-
ties; and commend them to the special Ia
vOr of an intelligent Legislature.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The number of children OF school age IN the
state in 1875 was jS,003, and in 1876 1888,
constituting about one-third of our popula-
ton. The number of pupils enrolled in 1879
was GS5 O7G, and in 1876 S7,446, showing
about 70 per cent in attendance upon the pub.
lie schools.
The receipts fJr school purposes in ,.-,,,, M
1873 wcrp......... ..........S 9,GOJ,O2J w
The receipts for school purposes IN
1876 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ','1o''o' -
fatal 49, 54 393 Ga
or this amount the sum of Sl3,9U.9Ol 80
was raised by direct taxation, being tour times
the amount raised for general state purposes
OF the latter sum S11SG2, 1913 90 was raised
by direct school tax. These figures show not
only the cost of our free schools, but the vol
ton of their children.
The expenditures for school pur-
noses in 1873 rC.............S o,UOO,JJJ ~
The expenditures for school pur- 49,,
poses in 1876 crc..,........'. o'2co,o9' %
TOtal. ................ ,''' 9'o'''''i'' ~
averaging II cents per scholar for each day s
attendance.
The importance of an efficient system of
free schools in which ali the children or me
state NAV receive good common school eau
cation, demands the serious consideration oi
the legislator. Fortunately, the organic law
imposes upon the general assembly the con
sIl,u,ional duty TO provide such system.
And for the support of this system recon-.
mend the usual levy of 81, 00O,0G0 per annum.
CANAL.
The canal commissioners make an annual
report-,hc year ending Nov 30:
REGENTS from AL sources in 1873. Si3l0lO 9G
Receipts from all sources in 1S16.... 1857 50
s267,S2S 81
Disbursements for expenses and re-
pairs, ordinary and extraordinary, 81,
Disbursements for expenses ana re-
pairs. ordinary aud extraordinary, o,,,o,.
In ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS '''-i' ''
sl7llS9 -
Net receipts in lS15...................s5 40to 81
Total net receipts ........,''..''..'S' oo'o %
The shortage of crops. general depression
of business and railroad competition, have
materially lessened the receipts. The tolls IN
1915 were reduced about SO "a per cent; with
this reduction the increase of tonnage made
the receipts larger than In 1875. The cX.
penses for extraordinary repairs on cuverts,
acuueducts, entertainments, and removal OF
deposits are unusually large.
The 2Sth and Goth general assemblies ap,
propriaed the net revenues ot the canal anu
lock at Henry for The construction OF lock
and dam across the illinois river near Cop
peras creek The construction OF this work
has been delayed by high water the last two
seasons. The lock 10 finished, and, with a
low stage of water, the dam Will be finished
and available for navigation next September.
Estimated cost of lock and dam is... .sil0,532 90
Amount expended by United states
government. b!'o9 81
Cost 10 the state. ...... ........... S3lo,lt2 ~
Amour: OF work done by the state. s2i2,O2l ~
Amount of work to be done by the state 16,l5O 30
$3lS,l12 80
Amount paid by the state. S2il ,M2 ~
Amount 10 be paid by the state...... lO6,269 80
Ia 10
Amount required to complete the
work. ..,.,....'.'.. 'Hioo'-o' ID
Assets
Cash and United States bonds on hand, +4,Sl6 -
Estimated net rcvenues......... lO,OOO 10
Balance. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 5l,l5j II
SlO6, 2G9 -
The cash, bonds, and net revenues will
nearly suffice to complete the work, but not
the payment. When completed there will be
due the contractors upward of $4,000, the
percentage retained on their contracts. To
complete the work and pay the contractors
in full recommend the appropriation of the
above balance, $5l, 4531S.
When The canal was projected it was a
gigantic enterprise for an ilfant state. lis
construction developed our resources and en-
larged our commerce If not constructed, il
Is doubtful If Tie expenditure would be made
n this time. The percentage of net revenues