Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-14


vorable consideration of your honorable
body.
LOSSES BY FIRE.
During the past year. both the State
University and the College of Agricul-
ture and Mechanic Arts lost useful tho
not valuable, buildings. Temporary re-
lief was granted in each instance from
the emergency fund, wisely provided by
the last general assembly. Commodi-
GUS and permanent buildings should be
provided at the earliest date consistent
with the available resources of the
state.
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
Our single state normal school is
over-crowded. The attendance cover
10000. in my judgment is in excess of
what can be cared for with best results
under one management. Two years ago
1 recommended the location of four adj
ditional normal schools to be equipped
and put in operation from time to time
as the finances of the state might justi-
fy. recommended the location of four.
in view of the fact that every effort tc
establish one had failed, and / hoped
four might be located at one time with
out serious difficulty. The attempt was
again made to locate one, but rival in
terests defeated 1t, as usual.
RURAL SCHOOLS.
In this connection, I again call atten-
ton to the inadequate educational adj
vantages in rural districts. The average
country school teacher receives less
than s25 per month, exclusive Of board.
less, we are told, than In any other
northern state. and less than in several
southern states. 1t must be that the
major part of the $S,000,000 annually
spent by the state for public schools is
expended in cities and towns. II is ex-
ceedingly unfortunate that the rural
schools are of such character that the
average farmer boy leaves at IA or Is
years of age. This lamentable condition
will be painfully apparent in ten years,
if 1t is not already. No number of col
leges or universities will meet the de-
mand or cure the evil. The village and
city school is especially planned for
those who begin at 5 years OF age and
continue until graduation without inter-
mission. 1t is poor place for the child
from rural community. / have in pre-
vious communications discussed this
question at some length. 1t has also re-
ceived consideration--wise consicera-
ton, I think-from the superintendent
of public instruction. believe with him
that central township schools with pro-
vision for conveying the pupils to and
fro at public expense will afford greater
relief than any other proposed system.
II to this could be added provision for
ia oyt1y MIR rf n w MT an
dent at an adequate salary, to be chosen
in the same manner as city superlnten-
dents and with analogous duties and
responsibilities, 1t would revolutionize
Our school system for good. The salary
should be fixed by law or the position
would be let to the lowest bidder. as
our rural schools largely are at pres
ent. 1t is feared that some of the teach
ers have little else to commend
them than kinship to the director. Ne
potism Is generally condoned II the COM
pensation is low enough. Neither can
very much be expected Of county SUI
under a system that in
vites considerations OF availability only.
II these changes We're made, Come of you
gentlemen might not be returned, but
you can afford to sacrifice your political
lives II by so doing you shall serve and
save the youth of Iowa They will have
no committee on legislation. Other in
terests will be represented. appeal to
you, gentlemen, directly. Much of the
evil SO manifest is the resultant of a
wave OF sentiment that has in compare
lively recent years created the impress
sion that economy is the synonym Of
CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT COMMITS
SION.
Under this head the governor goes
over the report of the commission here
tofore printed and concurs in their rec
1t recommends expendi-
lures of $250000 in repairing and deco
rating the building.
PURCHASE CENTEN-
NAL EXPOSITION.
The centennial of the purchase and
cession to the United States in 1903 of
the larger portion of our. national do
main west of the Missouri river is to be
commemorated by what promises to be
the most extensive exposition the world
has yet seen. With your honorable
body rests the responsibility of deter
mining the part Iowa shall take In this
event. Wisely. this state contributed lit
tie to the Trans Mississippi Exposition
In 1898, nothing to the Pan-American
in 1901 and nothing to the
South Carolina and West Indian Expo
sition which is now in progress. But
am of the opinion that the people of this
commonwealth will approve such pro-
vision for the Louisiana Purchase Cen
tennial Exposition as will leave no doubt
In the minds of visitors that Iowa con-
stitutes an important part of that price
less acquisition. Something worthy of
the state, or nothing, should be our mot
10. Certainly there ought not to be Gre
ated a commission with such limited
means as to belle our prosperity and
libel our resources.
yICKSBURG NATIONAL PARK
COMMISSION.
The government has recently estab-
ished national park at Vicksburg and
he Twenty eighth general assembly au-
.horized a commission to locate the po-
,ition of the thirty-two Iowa regiments
and other organizations which took part
n that memorable siege, and to recon-
mend such legislation as shall suitably
and permanently mark the positions
.hus ascertained and worthily commem-
,rate the valor and services Of Iowa SOL
Tiers in the campaign and siege of
yicksburg. This commission was duly
appointed and has filed it's report which
3 submitted to your honorable body |
With the recommendation that it be
published In suitable form for distribu-
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