The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-01-06

| IlOnulHeIO OI One SrdjlUuI6 ana patriot
ism OF great people. Subsidiary and
| supplemental thereto and existing under
the same law, is scheme of furnishing
assistance at their residence to such needy
| veterans as have families or homes of
their own, and to the widows aud de-
| pendent minor children, and dependent
parents of soldiers. This mode of relief
is especially intended for those who can
not we'll enter the home, but who are
| nevertheless as much entitled TO public
| aid as the inmates of that institution
| Under the prudent and rigid rules
| adopted by the board of trustees, none
but those absolutely in need can get re.
lief, and this aid is not given in money,
| but in the absolute neceSSaries of life
and only to a limited extent. From per
sonal observation in many cases, / all
convinced that this method of assistance
is as salutary and as much needed as the
home itself, and is much more mex
| pensive.
Where the Money Comes FROM.
! The money from which this relief
lief is granted is known as the soldiers
relief fund, and is derived from a tax of
one-tenth of mill on all the property of
the state. This fund is fast oyergrowins
the demands made on it. At the begin
ming of the esent fiscal year there was
a balance from the preceding year of S24,
407.64, and there will be derived from the
tax levy Of the current year the sum of
S59, 55S So, thus giving total available
| fund Of SS3, 1866. SO for the current fiscal
| year. During the fiscal year ending July
! 3lst, 1892, there was expended but S39,-
| 80 AZ out of this fund, and there is no.
| likely, in view of the increasing results
| Of the dependent pension law, to be any
| greater demand on it i'll the future. In
view of these facts, it seems to me 1t
would be advisable to transfer $4,000 of
this fund to the SO called soldiers home
J fund. which would afford that fund
ample supply for it's wants during the ifs
cal years, commencing August 1st, 1898,
and August 1st, 1894, thereby obviating
the necessity of any other appropriation
for that fund during those years. In adj
dition to this the annual tax levy for the
soldiers relief fund should be cut down
from one tenth of mill to one half OF
that rate, which I think would be ample
to meet all necessary demands.
Educational Institutions.
In the field of education Minnesota oc-
cUples high and advanced grounds at all
points. Our stat university has WITHIN
the last ten years grown beyond all pre-
cedent IN quality, scope and numbers,
and today ranks as one of the leading
| educational institutions of our country,
to which we can all look with pride and
admiration. In 1882 the total attendance
OF students was 253 In 1892 the number
had reached 1874. And during 1893 the
number will exceed 1,5 U. Deps rtments
OF law and medicine have been estao-
| llshed and are in most successful opera
ton. There were 453 law and medical
| students in attendance in 1892, and I'D
1893 the number will no doubt reach oOO.
The fees charged students in these de-
partments are nearly sufficient to pay the
salaries of all the instructors, and will in
the near future be more than ample for
this purpose Perhaps nothing pertain
ing to the progress and growth of the
university has been more marked aud
original than the establishment OF a
school of practical agriculture, giving
special instruction in ali that pertains to
the theory and practice of agriculture, IN
all its branches. In connection with this
school and as part thereof, is dairy
hall ample and we'll equipped.
In which instruction Is given
in the theory and practice
of cheese and butter making by
an expert instructor. This school has
been well patronized by the sons OF our
farmers. In 1891 the attendance was lO4,
in 1892 it was rs, and in 1898 1t will be
over 40, and would be far more if there
were sufficient accommodations. While
the state has dealt literally with the UNI
versity, yet its growth has Of late been SO
rapid that appropriations have not al
ways kept pace with it's wants. An in
crease in the force of instructors has been
made from time to time, and is still
needed, and such increase. to my knowl-
edge, urgently calls for additional appro-
priations. The library and assembly
room are located in the old main building,
which was so injured by fire in April,
1892, that the assembly room has been un-
fit for use since that time. The quarters
occupied by the library afford very mad
equate room and are wholly unsafe
in case of fire. An assembly room suffi-
Gent for the great audience of students
and safe and com modious place for the
large and valuable library are among the
most urgent wants of the university. The
regents think that, with economy and
advantage, these two-the library and
assembly room-should be combined in
one suitable and substantial building,
and for this they appeal to you for a lib
eral appropriation at your hands.
Our Norm, Schools.
Our normal schools are increasing in useful
| ness and in attendance, and seem to keep on
advanced ground in a that pertains to their
| special lines of education.
Our high schoo have become excellent
feeders for our university. and have, to q
large extent, assumed the sphere and alb
sorbed the work of the old ia ,hioned
academies, and thereby they have brought the
advantages of higher educ alton close to the
) doors of the mass of our people.
Plan for Buying School Eooks.
The contract for the supply of text books
for our common schools. which has been in ex
istence for fifteen years expired last August
| We are now RENTED to the status which
existed previous to 1877. under which tn,
, pupils supplied themselves with such books al
the school board for the time being selected
Under this sy >tem books were dear, chan res