The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-08-31

yet Superintendent Harris manages
to make it a luxury and an expensive
one to the taxpayers. With only three
horses. a half dozen hogs and four
cows to look after there are several
farm laborers" at the institute whose
duty 1t is to care for the stock CD
and attend the crops" Quarters
could be secured for all the stock on
the farm" at the best hotel in the
state for less money than Is expended
for their keeping at the institute. AS
a patron of ~husbandry, SO far as profits
to the state are concerned, Mr.. Harris
is anything but a brilliant success.
And there are leaks in the inst'tu'
ton as well as in the farm" IRE
spective of the large pay rolb there are
leaks that in the long run make a
noticeable increase in the cost Of main
tanning the school.
One of these leaks is the department
Of chemistry. Another is in the teach
minerology. Considerable money has
been consumed by the department OF
chemistry, though few familiar with
that branch of study-who would rec
ognize at one the necessity of sight
would think of placing chemistry in
the curriculum of the blind. Review
ing this very problem, Prof. McTag-
CART Of the department of science and
mathematics of the institute, in his
biennial report to the superintendent
Tin 1898, page 329) says:
In the study of chemistry, biology
and minerology the incest discrimina-
lions and most accurate measurements
must be made, involving the use OF
instruments requiring sight. No ade.
quate knowledge of zoology or botany
can be had without the use of the dis
secting knife and microscope. In
chemistry, analytical and cumulative
determinations require the most def
mite and complicated processes which
cannot be carried on by persons who
have lost their sight. This statement
is so nearly self evident that it hardly
needs to be made"
In the face of this, however, a de-
partment of chemistry is maintained,
though only to the extent of purchas.
ing the necessary instruments and ma
terial. None of the expense is re-
moved, though the teaching of this
and kindred sciences has practically
been abandoned. Only recently an
order for $50 worth of material for
this department vas given, though 1t
is apparent, for the foregoing reason,
that it is a clear waste of money.
DANGER OF SICKNESS.
Nothing goes farther in e%videncing
decrepitude and inactivity on the part
of the management than the general
appearance of the institute. The walls
and floors at the close of school this
summer were very filthy, and it is q
remarkable stroke of fortune hat sick,
ness has not wrought sad havoc among
the inmates. According to reports, the
buildings have, h~ygienically speaking
never been kept properly regulated
since the f~usionists have had charge.
In bad condition as they are now.
according to Superintendent Harris,
things were much worse when he was
appointed and took charge n year
ago. Speaking Of the condition of
things at that time Superintendent
Harris said:
ct was a most terrible sight. The
buildings were fairly alive with bed.
bugs. After we came here my wife
and | worked for six months before
we finally got rid of the bed-bugs.
The bugs were in every room, in the
beds and paper on the walls, and ever
the rooms occupied by the superintend-
ent and his family were alive with
them. It was the worst sight | ever
beheld."
This is what one fusion official says
of the management of another fusion
official. Assuming that Superintend-
ent Harris found the building in the
condition stated he has made some i'm
provements, yet there is wide room for
further improvements along the line
of cleanliness, and if additional steps
in that direction are not taken disease
and pestilence may result at any time.
1t is no doubt true that Superintend-
ent Harris has waged a successful
warfare against the apterous trespas-
sers which he found inhabiting the
bedding and furniture of the institute
when he took charge, but there is yet
an ample opportunity afforded him
for distinguishment in other direc-
tions. On the whole, there is room for
many beneficial changes at this irsti-
tute, both in the way of stopping
raids on the treasury and improving
the faculty. Under fusion control
grades in this institution exist only
in theory and not in practice, and the
pupil graduates much in the way a
stone rolls down hill-picking out its
own way without any well defined
route or limitation as to time. Prop
erly managed, the institute a be
maintained at much less expense and
to much greater advantage. So long,
however, as positions in this and other
institutions are given out in liquida-
ton of political debts the theory of
reform, so conspicuously pictured by
the fusion leaders, becomes at once a
ludicrous incongruity. When Superin-
tendent Harris was asked why he did
not grade the school he said:
II would like to, but you know our
term of Office is so indefinite that one
hardly knows what to do. If l felt
secure in my position for any material
length of time 1 would do So"
This is the whole story in a few
words. Under fusionism frequent
changes have demoralized the insti-
tutions, and time which should be de-
voted to the good of the institution