Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-13

pressions OF one who has only the In.
lerests OF the school children al heart
| especially direct your attention % his
recommendation that the school dis
trlcts IN each county De consolidated
INTO one district, 20 be under the con-
troll Of board OF education, consisting
or from three 10 seven members
agree with him that Il this consolida-
ton can be effected, Il viii DO much 10
simplify strengthen and economize
our present school system.
His recommendation that the unlver-
sl'y OF Utah and the Agricultural col.
lege be supported from fixed levy out
or the state tax instead OF from legls.
lauNe appropriation Is based upon the
IDEA that these institutions would thus
be placed upon a tlrmer and more GER
Jam basis, so that their respective
boards Of control would know exactly
What plans might be made and carried
INTO successful operation lnasmuch
as each session Of the Legislature
would necessarily have 10 fix the levy
FOR these purposes and could fix It at
one MIL or half a mill or any other
rate 1t might deem adequate for the
ensuing biennial term. / am al a loss to
see how the revenues for support OF
these institutions would be rendered
any more secure or certain by the
change than they are at present.
The question OF school for the fee
BILE minded, also recommended by the
superlntendent while Enthusiastically
step In the interest Of humanity and
one VIII oh older and richer states have
deemed necessary TO provide for. never
tng1aHN he
perhap large expenditure, which II
Is YOU duty to keep closed as tightly
az pos IDLE, IT, however. after careful
examination Of our financial eXpectan-
cies for the ensuing two years YOU shall
deem II wisdom to make a beginning in
THIS direction, | suggest that instead Of
attempting TO establish new state
school, the trustees Of the school for
the deaf and dumb and the blind should
be authorized TO include the feeble
minded IN their school, so that the ex-
pense OF training these unfortunates,
Of whom there are estimated to be
about fifty within the state, could be
reduced to the minimum.
The reasons advanced by the super
intendent for providing free text books
to the common schools are sounl and
convincing. The only objection is the
expense. Our state Is young yet and
as has been shown we are expanding
IN education greater proportion OF our
revenues per capita than a majority
OF the states Of the Union Let as
learn 10 creep before we run, especially
If our running runs US into debt The
recommendation Of the superintendent
IN regard TO duplication Of work In the
two institutions Of higher learning in
the state meets my hearty approval, as
am sure 1t will that OF all the tax
payers ! reproduce this paragraph In
fun and direct your special attention
thereto.
by the Enabling Act for the admis-
sion OF Utah into the Union OF States
d school Of mines was 10 be established
in connection with the University Of
Utah. One hundred THOUSAND acres OF
land were appropriated by the general
government towards the support Of
this school, In accordance with the
provisions of the Enabling Act. two
years ago the state Legislature passed
q law establishing the state school of
mines as part OF the state unlver-
slty. Already the university was Civ
ing courses In electrical and mining
acknowledgements which properly
belong TO q school Of mines. Investlga-
ton shows that TO maintain another
department OF electrical and mining en-
cheering as we hope will. and as
should, exist In the state school Of
mines the next two years, about $4,000
would be required for equipments, and
several thousands OF dollars a year for
salaries and operating expenses. One
school has ample capacity and VIII
have for years, to instruct all engineer
ing students In Utah. To parallel en-
cheering work, other than that part
Of II which may be necessary In an
agricultural course, has, In my opinion
a tendency to weaken the efforts OF
both schools, and tendency to result
in a less degree OF value and excellence
than would otherwise be obtained
PUBLIC HEALTH
That department of the state govern
ment which Is charged with the duty
Of guarding the public health cannot be
regarded as Of slight importance, es'
pecaly when this responsibility carries
with II the knowledge that large pro-
portion OF deadly diseases are strictly
preyentahle The conditions furnished
by nature for the health OF our people
are In many respects unexcelled We
have purity and dryness OF atmosphere,
abundance Of sunshine. excellence Of
water, easy facilities for drainage Free
dom from destructive storms and floods,
absence Of malarial and other polson-
Gus influences. In short, all the requi-
sites recognized by sanitary science. In
every well regulated state another es-
sential factor Is contributed-wise en-
actment and intelligent enforcement Of
proper sanitary laws. While the gen
eral health Of our community Is good,
there Is no doubt that many lives are
unnecessarily sacrificed by non-observ-
ance of such precautions as science has
found 20 be efllcacious-and TO this ex-
tent we are not 50 far advanced as We
should be- though the fault Is perhaps
due more 10 laXity ~ enforcement than
to lack of legislation. Whatever will
tend 20 stimulate city authorities In
providing uure water and good drain
age and school authorities In cooper
atlng with local boards OF health In
every way possible. should be encour-
aged. In the matter OF actual lcgis-
lation. little would seem 10 be needed.
] am disposed 10 approve. however, Of
such amendments TO existing law as
VIII provide for annual reports by city
and county boards OF health 20 the state
board, for the remuneration Of county
health officers. and for the constant
employment OF at least one medical In
spector. whose function It shall be 20
assist local boards in the performance
OF their duties and see to the securing
OF accurate vital statistics. The boards
estimate OF the necessary amount 20
supply It's wants for the biennial term
is but $500. and ! most cordially re-
commend the appropriation.
STATE LANDS.
There has occurred no change In the
membership OF the state board Of land
commissioners since the close of your
last previous session. In the near fu-
ture perhaps az the next biennial ses-
sion Of the legislature, q may be ad-
yisable ia change the land law so as
10 reduce the number Of commissioners,
but IN my Judgment the work before
fha hoorl IS sufficient 20 make ID im-