Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-09

TO make the census report complete,
even though it cost more than the APP
preparation, and that the members
OF the two committees would recon-
mend that the present general assem-
bly, reimburse the members of the
council for any additional expense In
Cured, not exceeding So, 900. There
upon the members of the council
furnished the IS, 900 upon their own
responsibility 1t is for you to say
whether this sum shall be repaid to
them. confidently assert that the
census report now about to be issued
is more varied and will be found
more helpful and instructive than any
former report, and beg careful
examination Of it's scope by all those
who are interested in such publica-
lions.
Historical Building
In pursuance of an act of the Thir-
tieth general assembly. the executive
council acquired the remaining lot In
the half block upon which the build
Ing is situated, paying the1l or Sc, 900.
The house on the 10. was sold
for $501, making the real cost IS, 499.
The excavation for that part Of the
building now under construction cost
50, 9S1 80. and the contract was
awarded. after competitive bids, to
Henry w. Schleuter of Chicago, for
the construction of SO much Of the
building as I shall describe, for
Sl67,O8 BY the terms of the con-
tract, the basement and first and sec
ond 11ors of the east wing Of the
building, which are to be occupied
by the state library and the library
commission, We're to be entirely f1n-
ished, except the interior door and
window castings of the library, which
the executive council believed should
be of steel and of the same style as
the book stacks. The central part of
the building was to be completed. as
include plumbing, heating and ven
tilating. Tho council found it i'm
possible to economically construct the
east wing of the building alone, and
therefore included the central part to
me extent above described. The con-
tractor agreed to complete the build
ing. in SO far as it was embraced
in the agreement, by the first of jan
uary, 1906. We have, however, ex-
perienced the common fate Of delay,
and it is not probable that he will
finish his work before March first.
In order to make the building habit
able for the state library, 1T will be
necessary to install the plumbing,
heating and ventilating plant, pur-
chase book stacks. and put on door
and window castings either Of steel or
wood. The council has expended of
the appropriation as follows:
For real estate and excavation. S IL, 4SO SO
For architect, superintendent,
For I Henry Wv W schieuter. 1889 sSSs s.
lolai..................... .$l53 l55 80
State Square
In accordance with an act of the
Thirtieth general assembly, the ex-
ecutive council sold State Square for
SIS, 500. The authority SO to do was
accompanied with direction to in
vest the proceeds of the sale in lots
fronting upon Capitol Square. The
council has purchased one lot 'front.'
ing on E1eenth street, between Cap
itol avenue and Walnut street, for
w, ESQ. 1t has endeavored to pur-
chase other property, but has hith-
erto been unable to agree with the
owners upon a price.
INSTITUTIONS OF EDUCATION
University, State College and Normal
Schools Are All Prosperous
In 4-NieM~ Of the fact that til o TIL IT,
tieth general assembly appointed a
joint committee to examine into the
methods of management of state ed
ucational institutions, and knowing
how patiently and carefully the com
AtiAssCS mas iliiyeSliBdIeu the subject, l
shall not at this time present my views
upon the controversy that has en-
gagged the best thought Of the people
of the state.
There is one phase of the matter,
however. to which I can refer with
entire propriety. The university, the
college of agriculture and mechanic
arts, and the normal school were
never so prosperous and efficient as
they are at this time.
The university, notwithstanding the
unhappy incidents of nearly two years
ago, has grown as 1t never grew be-
fore. Its enrolment is now sub
stantlally 400 in excess Of the enroll-
ment of the first of January, 1904.
1t has taken on new life and has ex-
banded it's courses of instruction so
that they measure up to university
standards, and it is now firmly estab-
Hshed in the confidence of the people.
The college at Ames has not only
maintained the high reputation which
for years it has worthily borne, but has
still further strengthened itself in the
esteem of the educational world. BY
common consent it holds the first
place among all the institutions Of its
kind. believe that it's work in agri-
culture among the people Of the state
during the last two years is not only
without parallel in the history of such
schools, but that it has done more
in that time to advance the interests
of our farmers than science ever did
in a like period for Industry.
The normal school has raised still
Higher the criterion Of such institu-
tons. and its work in equipping the
teachers Of the state for their impor-
tant labors is unsurpassed anywhere.
1t Is plain that the generous appro-
priations for these institutions which
began a few years ago are beginning
to bear fruit, and / bespeak for all Of
them continuation Of the liberal
policy under which. they have come
from obscurity into prominence.
There is no state that has a better
constituency Of boys and girls than
Iowa. They are SO born and bred
that with proper training they easily
become leaders in -all the fields of
human activity. We owe to them a
profound and continuing duty. They
are entitled to all the advantages that
the best schools can confer upon
them. While it is not to be expected
that all the boys and girls Of the state
Will take on all their education in our