Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-12-03
TEACHERS INSTITUTE.

The Sacramento County Teachers Insti-
tute met again yesterday morning at 10
o'clock at the Capital Grammar School build
ing, Tenth and Q streets President Bishop
called the Institute to order. In the absence
of the Secretary the call OF the roll and
reading the minutes of the preceding day
were omitted.
Miss Lizzie NJ. Griffin gave an Instrumental
solo upon the piano entitled .'Defile."
Professor E. P. Rowell delivered an ad-
dress upon our governmental system, its di-
visions, and the constitutional functions Of
| each branch, speaking principally upon the
plan of choosing Presidential Electors, the
manner in which the members Of the Senate
and House of Representatives are chosen,
and the ratio of representation in the latter
Prof. w. J. Hyde addressed the Institute
upon the subject OF percentage.
A brief recess was then taken. after which
Prof. Norton delivered an interesting lecture
on the operation and mechanical work per
formed by the current Of the Mississippi in
forming bayous. the filling of the channel,
the formation of the bar at the mouth of the
river /; changes effected by the jetty work of
Captain Eads; the principal upon which
these are built and their effect; he also gave
q description of New Orleans and adjacent
country. He stated that In making fouuda-
tons for houses in the city piles were driven
closely together, and TO great depth, the
tops saved eff to uniform hight, just below
the surface of the ground, and these covered
over with concrete into a solid base, and that
the piles thus treated became silicated and
indestructible. This method of foundation
Is male necessary by the formation of the
rof LES, h.Sr,f, of all-,1rtal I'M,
ground is not only wanting in solidity, but
also is flied with water to within four feet of
the surface, for which reason their dead are
buried in raised tombs or vaults above the
ground. He also, during his remarks, gave
illustrations as to the manner IN which so
many small horseshoe shaped lakes are found
along the Mississippi and other rivers, show
ing that it is effected by the current wearing
away the banks in bends, and finally cutting
across the neck Of the bend and leaving the
previously longer channel as lake. These
in time, by the filling in of sediment are
oyergrown with tules and canebrakes, and
finally become dry land. The meeting YVES
then adjourned at noon, and called to order
again at ? P. NJ, for the
AFTERNOON SESSION.
at the opening of the session in the af
ternoon Miss Matte K. Powers sang
Professor Norton again spoke upon the
subject of physical geography, in most
pleasing and instructive manner. He Illus
trated the cause of ocean currents and trade
Winds as produced by the heating of the
waters and atmosphere in the equatorial belt
and the counter effect of the ice in the polar
regions. This theory was simplifed by
drawing the representation of a metal box
containing water, with ice at each end and
lamp underneath the center. The water
being heated in the center rose and flowed
each way towards the ends Of the box, and
there coming in contact with the ice, was
made heavier by becoming colder, which
made it fall, and produced backward
to the center again,
and thus an outward motion was given
from the equatorial regions toward the
poles, as observed on the earth's surface.
This is the primary cause OF the oceans cur
rents, as well as the currents of air, but
which are modified by flowing directly north
and south by the rotation of the earth and
the obstructing effects of continents.
Professor Norton then took up the subject
OF history and the most successful methods of
teaching this branch He did not believe in
taxing the minds of the pupils with a great
number of dates, nor of forcing strict
biographical knowledge of leading Generals
aud statesmen, but rather to familiarize
the mind with the predominating causes
which produced or brought about great
events. Under this method he would Illus
tTate that the cause Of the prsdominance Of
the English upon the American continent
was, first, that the race was exclusive and
did not intermarry with other natives as did
the French. The English were producers.
They came here to till the soil while the
French were merely traders and missionaries.
In time of war the English produced their
own munitions of war and food, while the
French had to bring all theirs from France.
Miss McMenomy then gave humorous
reading from Dickens.
Mr. Bishop, President of the Institute,
gave an illustration of the method OF teaching
reading, which was well received by tie au-
dience.
An adjournment was then taken until s
o'clock in the evening, when State Superin-
tandent Campbell delivered a carefully pre-
pared and interesting lecture upon the subject
OF 1.-THE State and Higher Education"
At 0 o'clock this morning to-day's session
OF the Institute will commence at the Capt.
tai Grammar School. Prof. Norton will be
present. Superintendent Campbail viii lect-
ure again this evening at the Sixth street
NJ. E. Church upon Education"