Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-08-31
new IOWA RECORD
Fewer lIIiterates Here Than in
Any Other State.
IowANs ARE BEST EDUCATED
Figures Complied From 1915 Census
Show That Percentage of Hitter
acy Growing Less Each Year
Showing is Gratifying.

Des Moines.--Iowa again takes the
front rank among the states. Iowa
people are the best educated in the
United States.
Only per cent OF Iowa people over
10 years of age are found to be illit-
crate.
This is the mark set by the census
OF Iowa taken last year The United
States census reported five years ago
IL per cent of those over 10 years
illiterate. The state census this time
is made on the same basis as the fed
eral census. In 1905 the state enum-
orators made a report showing 1.5 per
cent illiterate, which was regarded as
a very low percentage, but this also
took into account the persons between
5 and 10 years of age, which must
have included very many who had not
yet had chance to enter school,
THE showing in the last state CEN
sus is very gratifying" said Ora Will
liams. editor of the Census, who has
had the preparation of the material
years ago were good, but the latest
figures give Iowa a standing that will
not be reached for years by any 9TH
er state. The illiteracy for the Unit.
ed States, according to the last fed
eral census, was ~ per cent. The
lowest shown by the federal census
for any state other than Iowa was 1.9
per cent"
The count reckons all who are actu-
ally in school as able to write, as
that is the first thing taught. A re-
markably small proportion of the H.
literates in Iowa are of school age.
The total of persons in Iowa reported
i!literate was 1879. The federal
census reported 29,Ss9 in 1910 and the
state census reported 2S,979 in 1905.
According to the census, there are
in Iowa 1,s60,7Ss persons over 10
years of age either in school or re-
ported definitely as able to write,
against 1,947,22S over years of age
able to write ten years before.
Epiieptic Colony Soon Ready.
According to the report of the state
board of control the work on the state
epileptic colony at Woodward is be-
tween rs and 80 per cent complete.
The thirteen buildings forming the
institution are under roof and the
plastering is two-thirds completed.
The finishing work will probably take
two months.
The contractors say they will be
able to turn the institution over to
the board about Nov. /, If weather
conditions do not interfere with the
work.
The Institution win be able to take
care of 200 patients. There are al
ready many applications on file for
admittance to the colony. All build
ings are one story and are especially
designed for epileptic patients. There
are no stairways. Everything has been
eliminated which might in any way
serve to injure a patient when he
falls.
The state board Of control has fixed
no date for opening the institution.
The officials will have big job fur.
turned over to the state by the con-
tractors.
State Loses Valuable Animal.
The state board of control lost a ST..
900 Holstein bull which was being
transported from the state hospital
at Indepence to the state fair for ex-
hibition purposes. The animal became
overheated In the car and was found
dead when the train reached Des
Moines
Senator A. NJ. McColl, member OF
the state board of control. said that
the dead bull was perhaps the prize o.
the state herds. The state board did
not intend to place the animals from
the state institution in competition
with other livestock entered. The
best specimens from all state herds
was shipped to the fair to be exhibit
ed in order to demonstrate what can
be done in Iowa in improving dairy
herds.
State Now Without Guards.
While there is a good prospect that
the railroad strike will not materialize.
Iowa officials have discussed the prob
lem of what Iowa would do II the
trains cease operation.
On Adjutant General Logan would
fall the task of preventing disorders.
Ordinarily he would have three regi-
ments of infantry, some cavalry and
artillery to help him. But the Iowa
organizations are now on the Mexican
border Logan is prevented from re-
cruiting new organizations until the
war department works out the plan OF
distributing the troops over the coun-
try as authorized IN the new military
bill.
Want More Barns.
More cattle exhibition barns for the
state fair grounds.
That win be the plea cattle exhib-
itors at the fair this year will make
to the legislature in the fall.
OF the twenty-five barns in which
the cattle were being shown only
three are properly ventilated to take
care of the stock, the men say
An organization will be formed to
ask the legislature for an appropria-
tion of $4,000 for the construction OF
new barns.
Install Extra Fire Escapes.
The state board of control has
awarded contract for fire escapes to
be placed on institutional buildings
as follows: Soldiers home at Marsh.