Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-01-20

gap between the district school and the coll
lege. and the pupil is left to bridge 1t as best
he may. At no time is young man or
woman so lily prepared for self-support as
while fitting for college. The state ought
to provide liberal things for all her educa-
tional institutions, but ought also to pro-
vide some means to assist the country pu-
Pill to take advantage thereof.
Normal Schools.
Iowa has but one normal school, the
operative department of which is sustained
by an annual appropriation of $20,oUo, ana
in this most excellent institution the state
is able to educate less than two per cent.
of her more than 5000 teachers. 1t Is gen,
orally conceded that the state should add
several more schools of like grade. Prl-
waite enterprise has sought to supply that
Tb w the n STATE Is too 20
triotic and philanthropic principles, com
peting in a field so large that the state Is
not be : both safe he and wise. at least until
such time as the state shall be able to pro-
vide additional schools, to allow graduates
from normal departments, of officially ap,,
colleges maintained by the contributions of
our people. the same rights and privileges
including the same class of certificates, as
are awarded graduates from this one state
institution? To protect against superficial
work, the institution applying for these
conform their course of study to that pre-
scribed by a state board created for the
purpose, and this board should, by annual
ship is maintained.
The Dairy Interest.
Iowa is an agricultural state, and will re-
main one. Not exclusively agricultural.
but predominantly so. OF this fact we are
assured, and with it we are content. Those
who have read the current report of the
dairy commissioner, must have been i'm
pressed with the remarkable development
and wonderful possibilities Of the dairy IN
what might be accomplished by, the people
of our state, were this great industry ade-
quately developed It should receive the
There is but one material from which
butter and cheese can be made. The very
terms themselves should be sacred from
infringement as copyright. Nothing but
butter and cheese made from the product
of the COW should be allowed in the mar
kets in such garb as to permit of deception
Any wholesome product of lard, talloW or
oil should find an open market but its
color or absence of color, should protect
the purchaser from the possibility of mis-
taking it for what it is not. This most wise
provision of our own law should be urged
upon the attention of the people of every
state and country likely to afford US a mar
ket.
If the eradication of tuberculosis will be
of assistance to the industry, and helpful
in finding market for the product, then
this disease should be exterminated. Let
1t be known everywhere that Iowa butter
is made from pure cream, and is wholly
free from disease germs, and the prairies
of our state present an I'll DORADO unsur-
An Industry that is likely to occupy any
appreciable per cent. OF our farming area,
and afford employment to any considerable
number of our people, is worthy of every
encouragement, including both the pro-
hibition of fraudulent imita ton at home
and abroad and a national protective tar
if. One consideration quite generally lost
sight of by our people is the fact that the
dairyman's farm will be worth at the end
of decade five dollars per acre more than
that of his containing neighbor
Memorial to Iowa Heroes.
Within the past few years monument,
a beautiful granite shaft, has been erected
by order of the general assembly, at con-
SO nobly and at the peril of their lives took
a conspicuous part in the tragedy OF our
civil war 1t was constructed from patri,
otto motives and for patriotic purposes and
was expected, at the time of its erection,
to be dedicated at no distant date. This
ceremony, through some oversight or oth-
erwise, has been neglected. / venture to
suggest that the question is worthy of pub
lie consideration.
Historical and Art Museum.
iowa has history. There is much asso-
citation with her territorial existence, as
well as her subsequent statehood, of which
our people may well be proud. There are
two ways of perpetuating this record. One,
and the least interesting, is to have 1t
printed, bound in volumes and placed on
shelves. This is being done as a private en-
terprise, and the state can wen rely that
the ambition of authors, and the profound
gain therefrom of publishers, Will DO all
ond, the most interesting, and at the same
time the most expensive and most perma-
torical relies, state pabers, interstate and
national correspondence, geological min
eralogical, art and other collections.
This work has already assumed no mean
proportions 1t was commenced originally
as labor of love, and has been lately pros
ecuted with the aid of nominal appropria-
ton from the state; Very , mneh OF Ha in
has been secured, and is now the properly
of the state. For the want of any suitable
Quarters entirely inadequate in the base
ment of the capitol building. Assurances
are not wanting that several private col
terest can be secured without expense,
conditioned only that the state arrange
for their protection, where the public can
be benefited thereby. If it be true that we
are proud of our state and Of its history;
if the names of the pioneers who have
builded cities, defended the honor OF the
flag, or occupied conspicuous positions in
the councils Of the nation are dear to us,
should not the preservation of that which
pertains thereto be matter of public So
The last general assembly appropriated
$4,000 with which to purchase grounds and
erect an historical and art museum An
$4OO, 100000 less taxable property, and With
a state debt five times ours, has approprl-
ated $450,000 for like purpose. 10 pay tIllS
a special levy of one-tenth of a mill for
seven years has been provided.
State Finances.
Iowa Is fortunate above any of her adj
joining sisters and above nearly every
state in the union in her financial condition.
Much alarm has been expressed because OF
a small state debt. This should by all
means be discharged at the earliest pos
sible moment. She has certainly seen more
prosperity than most states, and she owes
1t to herself, under ordinary conditions, to
keep out of debt. And when debt has
been contracted, as at present, because or
extraordinary circumstances, 1t ought to
be paid as soon as possible, even at the ex-
pense of a slightly increased levy. Our
people, in common with those of every
state, and of every country, and of every
time, complain of high taxes, and ii has
become quite popular to attribute the ex-
cessive burden to mismanagement in state
affairs
The aggregate taxes collected for all pur-
poses within the state is, in round num-
bers S19, GOO, 900. OF this only about eight
per cent goes to the state. Ninety-two per
cent is absorbed at home. Assuming that
all railroad taxes are paid by residents of
the state, and it swells our aggregate tax
alton to between eight and nine dollars per
capita of which about So cents reaches the
state treasury. Should the state levy be
increased to three mills it would make a
per capita difference of 2ia cents. To de-