Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-23
MANY IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED.
IOwa's school for the Deaf Asks an
Increased Appropriation.


Increased Appropriation.
Hon. John Beatty of Nevada. Ia, arrived
in the city last night and went to the Iowa
School for the Deaf, Of which he Is chairman
OF the board of trustees. Mr.. Beatty's
presence in the city at this time has some
Significance in view of the fact that the
visiting committee of the state legislature
will arrive in the city today for the purpose
of visiting the school and examining into
It's present condition and urgent needs. Mr..
Beatty will use his best efforts to see that
the committee is duly impressed with the
warts of the institution.
All of the institutions OF the state have
stated sums set aside for their operation and
maintenance and in addition to this sum an
appropriation is made at each session OF the
legislature for the improvements and special
work needed at the institutions for the
period OF two years There is always big
demand from these institutions for share
of the appropriation, and this year there Is
no exception to the rule. Heretofore the
School for the Deaf has Jared rather poorly
in the distribution of the special appropria-
tion. Legislators have learned by expert
ence, especially during the last few years,
that the school has been kept up whether
special appropriations have been made or
not and they have naturally dropped into
the habit of giving the bulk of the appropri-
ations to the institutions that have been
more persistent in their demands for help.
This year the School for the Deaf has
asked for an appropriation OF S4S,OOO for
improvements, and the superintendent and
the board of trustees are united and en-
phatic in the statement that every dollar Of
that sum is absolutely needed for the proper
equipment of the big school for the states
unfortunate children. They assert that the
school has worried along with present mad
eqCate facilities in many departments until
now 1t is imperative that the desired i'm
provements be made.
I'm the first place $4,000 is asked by the
board for the erection of a new boiler and
engine house, the purchase of an additional
engine and dynamo. Several years ago the
engine house was destroyed by fire. 1t was
partially rebuilt but 1t now stands abutting
the wall of the main building. An explosion
of a boiler would wreck the main building
and would occasion great loss Of life. The
matter has gone along, but now the require
ments OF the institution demand an addi-
tional equipment of the engine room. and the
officials of the institution feel that new
boiler house and engine plant are necessity
The appropriation asked for includes 50 900
for the purchase of additional land. The
institute consumes from sixty to seventy gal
Ions Of milk each day, and this supply is
drawn from the dairy herd that is the prop
erty Of the state, and includes ifty-two
thoroughbred Holstein cows All of the
present unused part of the state grounds is
needed for hay land for this herd, and the
necessity for pasture lands has been met
for several years by renting. There are
ninety acres adjoining the institute grounds
that can be purchased for 1000 an acre. and
the officials feel that 1t would be economy on
the part Of the state to make the purchase
Rt this time.
The present reservoir for the water sup
ply is inadequate for the purposes of the
Institution, and a part of the appropriation
is asked for the purpose Of building an ad-
d.tional reservoir. Then the buildings are
crowded, and state aid is wanted to make
necessary changes for the comfort and con-
venence OF the pupils
The members OF the visiting committee are
Senator Garst of Carroll county, Representa-
live Power of Lee. and Representative Reed
bf Story county.