The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-01-17
Normal School,.

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Normal Schools. -,:'-
The permanent provision made by act of
the last legislature tor the support of the
three Normal Schools OF this State, has re-
llevcd these institutions Of the embarrassing q
contingency of annual appropriation for. their
maintenance. The result must prove .bene-
ficlal in promoting greater confidence in their
| stability and efficiency, both by their deter
inmate maintenance and by their removal
from the influence of political entan clements
and local jealousies. It is gratifying to learn
| that these schools are doing successful
work in their legitimate sphere. In ,conse-
! quence OF the reduction Of preparatory work
an ana other causes, chiefly that Of a change in
the period covered by the Normal year as re-
quired by an act Of the: last Legislature, a
] smaller enrolment and attendance are shown
at these schools than during the preceding
year. AT Winona "a higher course of two
years has been entered upon including the
Latin Language, with encouraging, results,
while! oil the schools exhibit laudable pur
pose to advance their work to higher level.
and achieve more thorough results -,
=. = ! Common Schools? .r,f .s2g.,~,
The root OF the educational system of this
State, from which must spring the widely
branching knowledge snited to the varied
needs OF her people, is to be found in our pub
| cNAASOAos
pendent for that rudimentary education which
proposes no special career beyond the qualifi-
cations for business and the duties of citizen
ship. The condition, therefore of this ger
mlnating plant is naturally of wide popular
concern: The character Of its after growth
may be inferred from it much as the bounty
OF the harvest is gauged by the preparations
of the seed time. For thorough presentation
OF the subject in all its details, take pleasure
in referring you to the able report of the Su-
perintendent of Public Instruction, which of.
fords the following summary for the year
1877:
Total enrolment. ent............. 162557
NumDer olstrlcts. ts................... 3,7OO
Number school houses. .............. 3,141
Aggregate value of real property. $685. SIG
Whole number of teachers. ........ 4742
Amount of Permanent School Fund SO 337s569
Your careful attention is requested to the
many important questions discussed by the
to render the boundaries of school districts
identical with those of townships, and his
comments upon the character and operation
of the act of last winter, familiarly known as
the Merrill textbook law. With respect to
the first, there seems to me much force in the
reasons he gives for the correction Of the evils
resulting from such continued subdivision Of
school districts, as ends in their diminutive
helplessness. With reference to the textbook
law, deem It not improper to state that re-
luctantly gave my consent to a measure so
apparently revolutionary in character. After
due consideration, however, my convictions
were that the great extortions which our
people have so long endured regarding their
school supplies, were sufficient reasons for
Justifying radical effort for their correction,
and accordingly approved the bill, al
though doubling the wisdom of some of it's
provisions. From the first the law has en-.
countercd every species Of obstruction. At
1oI
by the approval of an act from which
funds were expected to make it effective, and
it has been confronted with the persistent
sneers of the prejudiced, the reluctant and
lukewarm acquiescence of those honestly
doubling its wisdom, and the bitter opposition
of many whose pecupiary interests are affected
by it. Under these circumstances the law has
made more progress, and has grown more in
public favor than could have been expected
formal contract has been entered into by
the State as required by the law, under which
rights have vested, every condition required
tractor, and there is no reason to doubt that
the law can be practically enforced to the gen.
eral benefit of school book purchasers. It was
not, OF course, to be expected that law en-
bracing so many changes of serious import,
should prove free from minor defects, but it
may be fairly said that these are no greater
than are usual in similar enactmcnts, while
the two great attainmcnts of chcapncss and
uniformity of school books, will unqueston-
ably be realized by q just and thorough exc
cutiOn OF its provisions. It is my earnest de-
sire to see the law so amended and supple
mented as will lead to that desired consilm-
nation.
The sixth annual report of the Insurance
Commissioner contains much valuable in
formation. It affords the following summary
OF the insurance transactions within this State
during the year 1876:
Fire and inland risks taken... .$64 ,375 ,6S1 90
Premlums paid thereon. 972,S74 81
Losses incurred. d................ 367,7O5 26
Number life policies issued..... 1897 90
Amount insured thereby. ...... 3,2OO,964 90
Life premiums paid including
leHeWale. .'..... ............ 402,OOI VI
Death loss incurred. ............ 259, ,159 IS
The Commissioner commends the laws of
this State governing fire and inland insur-
present shape they will bear letting alone. He
discusses with great clearness and force many
of the causes which have wrecked certain life
companies, and in connection Herewith sug-
gests number of practical remedies. I cs-
pecialiy desire to reinforce his recommenda-
tion for the enactment in this State of law
to prevent forfeitures of such life policies as
have been force term of years, for mere
non- payment of premiums As the Commits
sisner justly says, "the public welfare de-
mands such legislation as will protect policy
holders against the injustice Of so harsh a
contract" The report contains other suggcs-
tions of practical value to which your atten-
ton is solicited.
STATE PRISON.
From the report of the officers OF the State
Prison it will be seen that there was o large
increase in the number of admissions to that
institution during the past year, and that the
number IN confinement at its close was 235,
which ia q in eYcosS Of tho canacitv Of tho
prison. The current expenses for the year
were $45,O75.55, and the earnings $23;3226G,
leaving net cost to the State of $2l, l,753.29.
This shows an average cost per convict of
e109 Sc. which is q reduction OF twenty eight
collars :n:, from that Of the preceding year, and
of the warden and other officers. I earnestly
invoke your prompt consideration of the ur-
gent requirements attending the safe and
proper keeping of convicts. The immediate
construction Of additional cells is impcratively
required. The estimated cost Of these to the
number of 250 is 500, and further sum
needed for various improvements, expenses
to $85, ,83549. In addition to the sum SO desired
for extraordinary purposes, the actual expend-
itures for current maintenance amounting to
$43, ,2243. 30 for 1877, and an estimated require
ment of 1000 for the ensuing year are to be
provided for. This necessity for two years
support results from the accidental omission
of the last legislature to provide for the cur
rent expenses of the past year, an emer, ,ency
demanding the prompt use Of private resour-
ces, for the relief of which your early action
is solicited. Few matters afford better field
for wise deliberation than the judicious care
and treatment of those who violate the laws.
The protection and order of communities de-
mand this as perhaps the first necessity: of
legislation. In our own case the fact that our
prison accommodations are already more than