Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-15

i
Aug. %, 1873 for Greene county..".....$ 40ss.3 SO
March 90 1870 for Cass county. ......... 66S6.67
April IL, 1879, for Page cOunty........... $500
Nay II, 1879, for Calhoun county........ 94.56
May II, 1879, for Taylor county ......... 4142.4l
| May II, 1879, for Carroll county......... 720.37
May II, 1879, for Cass county ............ 10000
| s16.699.46
all of which has been paid into the State treas
ury, for which have taken receipts in dupli-
cate, retaining one and filing one with the
| Auditor of State
PUBLIC LANDS.
| The report of the Register of tho State Land
| Office shows in detail the record OF all lands
patented to railways and persons, as provided
by law. There are many OF the early patent
records which are in bad condition. These
records will be most valuable in the future,
showing, as they do, a complete history of all
| the lands the title to which has been vested in
the State They should be rewritten in uniform
| books, which can be done at small expense
There are many lakes in the State the title to
which is in the United States Government
Would it not be well to ask Congress to re ease
the title to the State, in order to preserve them
| by legislation from drainage, keeping them as
near as possible in their native beauty, to adorn
| the landscape?
| | suggest that the Land Office be made
record Office for the entire State Government,
and that all official bonds, and all articles OF
incorporation and other papers Of which a rec
ord is desirable be deposited in this Office for
record.
STATE LIBRARY.
There has been added to the State Library
during the last biennial period over $500 vol
umes, mostly pertaining to the law, besides
large number of pamphlets Over 200 of the
volumes have been added by purchase, and the
remainder by exchange and donation. Iowa
has now one Of the best law libraries in the ma
ton. 1t is most desirable that the books should
| he lyay,f ,1xy h,1
by retaining them in the library, as they soon
become Worn and damaged if permitted to be
taken out. Besides, many lawyers and others,
who come from distance to consult authori-
ties, frequently find the books they need are in
use outside the library. recommend that the
law be SO amended as to forbid the taking Of
books out of the library by any person what
ever. In view of the constantly increasing
duties of the Librarian it would be advisable
to authorize the Board of Trustees to employ
an assistant when in their judgment it shall be
deemed necessary.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The number of persons between the ages OF
5 and q in the State by the last returns is
placed at 577, $685. the number enroll, d is 431
BIT, and the number attending school is "a, :
7u2, showing that large percentage does not
attend school. Of this percentage small
number should be deducted for attendance in
private schools Recognizing the fact that on
the.education of the youth Of thu commonw ealth
depends not only the welfare and happiness OF
the people, but also the fitting of these youth
to take their part in carrying forward and bet
ter developing our form of government, it
seems to me that the time has come when the
General Assembly should, by proper enact
ment, compel better attendance on the schools,
particularly of the youth of the cities and
towns, where it will be found Oh examination
that the percentage of non-attendance is the
greatest.
While the educational part of our school
system is well maraged, the same cannot be
said to be strictly true of the financial manage
ment in some Of its details. 1t will be found,
on examination of the superintendent report,
that there are ,279 Treasurers of school dis
tricts in the State, who have in their hands the
sum of 81, 672, 304. 49, These Treasurers re-
ceived as compensation during the past year
the sum of s45, 1874, and are delinquent to the
school fund for the year 1879 in the sum Of
s45, CO.. 40; and the startling fact is shown
tina. the deficiencies Of this class
of officers from 1878 to 1879, inclusive, aggre-
gate the enormous sum of $49l ,51S.51. In
view OF these facts, would it not be better to
abolish this Office entirely, and place the funds
in the hands of the respective County Treas
urers, from whom money could be as easily
drawn when needed. as under the present sys-
tenn. The advantages Of having but ninety
nine Treasures to make settlement with, IN
place of 4,219 are too obvious to need any
to School Treasurers, amounting to nearly $50, =
600 annually, would be direct saving to the
taxpayers.
On examination Of the Superintendent re-
port it will also be found that, of the large
amount of money in the hands of school Treas
urers, $1,T0,213.94 belongs to the teach
ers' fund, the same being surplus of over so
per cent Of the amount paid to teachers an
nualy The fact naturally suggests itself that
the amount levied for this purpose annually is
too much by this sum, and that 1t should be
remedied by proper legislation.
An act passed by the last General Assembly
depriving the Presidents of boards of directors
in independent districts of the right to vote,
except in cases of equal division, has called
forth good deal of complaint. To deprive q
member of represen alive body of the right
to vote is an anomaly in legislation, the results
of which in this instance do not appear to COM
mend it to favor ! recommend the repeal Of
the law referred to-
STATE UNIVERSITY.
The receipts of the University from all
sources for general and specific purposes, up
to Jnne Is, 1879, have been 1925, l26. SO, Of
which there has been expended $121 ,5ll So,
leaving balance, in hands Of the Treasurer Of
the University, OF 81, GID. 70.
The University is in fourishipg condition,
and evidences the wisdom Of the Seventeenth
General Assembly in doing away with the pre-
paratory department The collegiate and pro-
fessioral departments have already increased to
degree that about compensates for the loss of
students occasioned by the abolishing of the
preparatory classes.
The permanent endowment of saO, 900 a year,
made by the Seventeenth General Assembly,
has had the effect to place this institution in an
| independent condition, so that plans can be
made for the future, which have already given
it an impetus for doing much more for educa-
ton than could be done under the old system
| The law department is growing in reputation,
and is no more than self supporting, and
trust that the day is not far distant when the
University will, by virtue Of its increased rev.
enues, be entirely self-supporting
In view of the fact that many Of the older
law schools of the country require longer
course of study before granting diploma than
is required in Iowa, would it not be well for the
General Assembly to enact a law requiring stu
dents to attend the University or other law
schools of the State for two years before re-
ceiving diploma emitting them to practice in
the courts of the State?
NORMAL SCHOOL.
The receipts Of this institution from all
sources, including a balance on hand Of $751;
q, have been $14,62617 and the disburse-
ments have been s14, 453 49, leaving balance
in the hands of the treasurer of $17z.24.
| The Normal School is an important factor in
| the school system Of the State, for in this in
stitution large and constantly increasing num-
| Der of you're men and women are being fitted
to take part in teaching in the public schools Of
the State. The better the teacher, the more
value the taxpayers, ON whom the support Of
| the schools devolves, get for their money; and
it would seem sound economy that the State
should foster and provide for the wants Of this
| institution.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
The receipts of the college, for the biennial
period, including the sale of lands, the pro-
| ceeds of which lave been paid into the State
treasury, have been sl3S 5Ss3 81. The disbnrse-
ments have been sl27, 7GS. AZ, and the balance
on hand Of all funds is s., 1858 The Seven
tenth General Assembly appropriated for
laboratory and sewer 1872 %, which has been
drawn and expended.
The United States donated to the State 2O4,-
FOG acres of public domain for the purpose Of