through a five years' period for renewing the library, an annual allowance of $1,000 for the university publications, and a yearly addition to the endowment fund of $15,000, the aggregate for the biennial term asked for being $101, 100.

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC ARTS.

The appropriations for this institution made by the last general assembly seem to have been expended judiciously and to the marked benefit of the college and its students. One of the deepest wells in the state now furnishes a bountiful supply of water of the best character. The want of this supply was long a need of the institution, the doors of which were closed on account of it only a few years ago. The water is carried to all parts of the buildings, affording ample protection against fire.

There were graduated during the term, 105 in eight courses. This was somewhat less than in the preceding term. The institution has felt the stress of the times severely, but its work is none the less well done. I cannot but speak in high praise of that work, which I believe deserves the encomiums bestowed upon it.

During the term $132,879 was expended in the operation of the college, $30,292.14 on account of the national experiment station and $74,128.72 in repairs and improvements, such as were authorized by the general assembly. The last item is the only one that was at the expense of the state treasury. As many of the students of this school maintain themselves dur ing their sojourn in the college by their own labors and exertions, and as school teaching is the resort of a large number of the students during the vacation, which is in winter, I recommend that a chair of pedagogy be authorized in the school. It would be a great benefit to many of the students in the direction indicated, but it would be of more value to the public because of its better preparing for their work those who go out to teach.

For this chair, for the purchase of a residence for the president, for improvements in the college museum and laboratory and betterment of the buildings and grounds, the board asks that $44,475 be appropriated. The board also asks authority to purchase a tract of eighty acres adjoining the college farm, which appears to be needed, and it will cost the state nothing,

the use for the purpose of a part of the endowment fund being authorized by the congressional act of 1862.

The college has heretofore closed its school year in the month of November, making it inconvenient both for those who graduate to find occupation for a time, and for those who desire to enter upon passing from the high schools of the state. The new code changes the fiscal term of the college so that it is the same as that of the state generally. It is now proposed that section 2650 of the code be altered so that it shall conform to the change.

The endowment of the college amounts to $681,033.52. This fund has been well enough managed to make it the second most productive of all the funds of similar colleges throughout the country, whereas eighteen like institutions were at the outset better provided for in this respect.

NORMAL SCHOOL.

The Normal school is growing in popularity and usefulness. Its enrollment last year was 1,441, a gain of over 25 per cent in two years. These figures demonstrate the magnitude of this educational enterprise of the state. A new building was erected in the year 1895; yet the demands of the school for more room are as urgent as they were before that structure was built.

There is a growing demand for teachers of ability and experience. Iowa is too old as a state to have it said of her that so large a proportion of her teachers is composed of those who are without any previous experience, and a still larger proportion of those who are only a little better than novices. The Normal school is calculated to do much toward remedying this state of affairs. Yet it cannot do all that is needed. The normal institutes are very helpful in the matter of improving the quality of instruction imparted in the schools. But yet more is demanded. This would be best met by additional normal schools, but that appears to be impracticable for some time to come.

That

This school is doing a notable work for the state. work is more and more felt with the succeeding years through the graduates of the institution and also through those who have spent more or less time at the school. In no profession can a previous thorough training be of more advantage than in that of the instructor, and it is a matter of gratification that the fact is

becoming more and more appreciated by our people that this school is providing the kind of training required. Moreover, it is gratifying to know that the value of the school as a preparatory in this respect is being increasingly appreciated by those who desire to become teachers. Thus is the institution more closely in touch with the common schools of the state than any other, and as such is deserving of liberal fostering care from the general assembly, because the more those schools have for instructors persons who have had the benefit of the training the Normal school imparts, the better it will be for the schools and the children who are in the succeeding years to obtain schooling there, and many of them all of it. The board asks for an additional permanent annual allowance of $33,600 for paying teachers' contingent expenses, library and librarians, military instructor, cases, fixtures, and furniture for museum, library and laboratory, and for improvement of grounds; and an additional annual allowance for three years of $25,000 for new buildings.

ORPHANS' HOME.

The term witnessed a larger accession to the Orphans' home than any former one, and like nearly all the other institutions shows a greater attendance at the close of the term than at any previous period. A somewhat curious feature of the admissions is that the number of soldiers' orphans is rather on the increase, while that of county children remains nearly stationary. Indeed the number of the latter received during the term of 1883-1885 was much larger than during that just closed. During the term which ended June 30, 1889, there were received 29 soldiers' orphans, and 75 other children, and there remained at that time 88 of the former and 282 of the latter. Two years later the board reported 172 soldiers' orphans admitted, and 88 others, and there were left of the former 198 and 202 of the latter. The board accounts for the large increase in the number of soldiers' orphans in the fact that many sent had previously been admitted as county children through want of proper investigation of applicants and preparation of papers. Thus, part of the increase was because transfers from one designation to the other were made. The following term the number of soldiers' orphans admitted was 124, during the next 136, and during that just closed 177. Notwithstanding the explanation given, one cannot but be surprised that thirty-three years after

the close of the war the number of the orphans of soldiers should show such nacked increase, averaging 146 the past few years, and only 29 from 1877 to 1889.

The board of trustees calls attention to the fact that children ess than 10 years of age, who are too young to realize what they are doing, are sent to the Industrial school as criminals rather than to the home, apparently because in the former case the state pays for their care and in the latter it is a burden upon the county. If such is the case it should have decided legislative attention. It must be a case of exceptional depravity indeed that will justify sending a child of that tender age to the Industrial school.

The board asks the passage of a law whereby children abandoned by parents, and those found in homes of vice, may be rescued and placed in custody of the officers of the Orphans' home until they reach their majority, a request that should be heeded. More land is asked for in order that the boys may have a more practical knowledge of Iowa's leading industry. The board also asks that seven one-story cottages be raised, to correspond with the others which have all been improved. For the gymnasium the board holds $3,750, the proceeds of the sale of property bequeathed to the institution, to which they ask that enough be added for a building to be used as chapel, kindergarten and gymnasium.

The board of health of the city of Davenport having given notice that the sewage of the institution cannot hereafter take the course which it has done from the first, owing to the fact that the creek into which it passes runs several miles through pastures, an allowance is therefore asked to provide for such change of the sewerage system as may be necessary to connect it with that of the city. The board thinks it advisable that there be a building erected for industrial pursuits, to be used exclu. sively by the boys, as the present one is nearly all occupied by the girls.

These improvements and others believed to be advisable the board estimates will require an appropriation of $50,050.

SOLDIERS' HOME.

The Soldiers' home had a population June 30 of 636, thirtytwo being women. The increase over the preceding year was thirty-seven, eleven of them being women, and during the fiscal term 120, twenty being women. Applications for admission continue to be more than the institution can accommodate. By

way of relieving the pressure, the board has adopted a new rule in reference to admissions of those receiving pensions, the effect of which will be not to admit those having pensions of $16 or more per month.

The hospital which was provided for by the last general assembly has been built and was first occupied at the beginning of the year 1897. The building is a capacious and well arranged edifice and appears to be admirably adapted for the purposes for which it is designed. As in all the better class of hospitals in the country, trained nurses are employed. Here, and indeed throughout the home, no effort is spared to make comfortable the declining years of the veterans of the republic.

Some years ago the general assembly made provision for the erection of a number of cottages. Experience with these buildings would seem to demonstrate at least that no more of them are wanted. Yet there is need that the more aged veterans should have special accommodations. To meet this need the board asks that $25,000 be appropriated for the erection of a building for old people, where the veterans and their wives may be provided for. It is probable that the number of these will be considerably increased for a time, owing to a modification made by the new code in the restrictions as to admission.

The litigation which was begun some time ago in the federal court, and which took the shape of a criminal prosecution against the members of the board, for the purpose of preventing the retention of any part of the pension money by the home, was summarily disposed of by the court, and the accused discharged from custody, thus sustaining the action of the board.

In addition to the amount asked for the old people's building, the board estimates that $16,500 will be needed for furnishing the proposed building, for independent water works, for an ice house and for additional storage building.

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

The trustees of the Industrial Home for the Blind note marked improvement in the management of the institution and in the product manufactured. A demand has sprung up for this product even in other states. The board calls attention to the fact that under the new code all the indigent blind of the state are entitled to admission, there being no limitation as heretofore to those of able body and mind. This being the