treatises and reports, selected expressly for the use of the school, and will be enlarged as rapidly as the funds granted for that purpose by the regents will admit. It already includes the reports of nearly all the northern states, with a large collection of English and federal reports. The library is open every day in the term, from 8 A. M. to 5 P. M., and students of the department have free access to it for purposes of study or reference. Especial attention is directed by the instructors to familiarizing the class with the contents of the library, and teaching them to look up anthorities, make up briefs-in short, training them to find for themselves the law upon any subject desired. The plan of the medical department requires the attendance of the students through two annual sessions, but should the American Medical Association recommend an extension of the time to three sessions, and a specified amount of preparatory study in order to admission, the faculty of the institution will cheerfully aid in carrying out that object. Students of both sexes are admitted on equal terms, and afforded in all respects the same facilities for acquiring a thorough medical education. The following remarks set forth some of the incitements to study and facilities for the acquisition of medical knowledge furnished by this school. The students are examined every day on the lectures of the previous day, and the standing recorded for future reference. Advanced students are required to make examinations at the clinics, and to prescribe for the patients. All kinds of surgical operations on the cadaver are performed by the students in the presence of the class, and under the direction of the professor of surgery. Private instruction in all the departments of medicine is furnished to all who may wish to avail themselves of such opportunities. The department has facilities for clinical instruction unsurpassed in the western states. The university hospital, located within two blocks of the university, not only affords ample accommodations to all who may apply for treatment, but has a large and convenient amphitheatre where from four to five hundred cases of disease have been exhibited to the students during the year. A special advantage of the hospital is the opportunity afforded to members of the class for observing the treatment of cases in company with the attending physician when making his daily rounds. The most thorough study of practical anatomy will be required of every student. Facilities for obtaining material are such that an abundant supply will always be provided. The professor and demonstrator of anatomy will always be ready to aid the student in his anatomical studies. The anatomical museum will be open to students at all hours when lectures are not in progress. The qualifications of each graduating class are guarantied by the fact that a committee selected from the membership of the state medical society takes part in the examination at the close of each annual session. The chemical laboratory is open six hours daily, for the study of practical chemistry. Courses in chemical analysis, urine analysis, and pure toxicology have been specially arranged for medical students. To students who remain at the university after the close of the annual session, an opportunity will be given during the ensuing three months for the study of analytical chemistry. The state library is also a credit the capitol building and contains duplicates. Mrs. Ada North, the lady of extensive culture, well position. to the state. It is located in 12,004 volumes exclusive of present librarian of state, is a qualified for the responsible The state historical society was provided for by act of the legislature in 1857. Its first appropriation was $250. Since then the institution has received an annual appropriation of $500. The society is under the management of a board of curators, consisting of eighteen persons. Nine of these are appointed by the governor, and nine are elected by members of the society. These curators receive no compensation. The law provides that the society shall hold its annual meeting in Iowa City on the last Wednesday in June of each year. It is also provided by law that there shall be delivered to the society annually twenty copies of the reports of the supreme court, and the same number of all other documents published by the state, for the purpose of effecting exchanges with similar societies in other states. The society has published a series of exceedingly valuable collections, including history, biography, etc. To these collections the merits of our work is largely due. The objects of the society are praiseworthy, and ought to receive even more support than they do. There are two hospitals for the insane, one at Mount Pleasant, and one at Independence. These institutions are a credit to the great state of Iowa, and well worthy the high esteem in which they are held by the people. The college for the blind at Vinton is also a well conducted, commodious and efficient institution, well provided with skillful, Christian educators. The institution for the deaf and dumb, located at Council Bluffs, is in that department what the institutions named are in their respective prov inces. It is in a flourishing, efficient condition. The soldiers' orphans' home, at Davenport, has done a valuable work in the state, and the institution is beloved by the whole people. It is a glorious monument to the Christianity of the state. The reform school at Eldora has fine buildings, and is in prosperous operation. CHAPTER XLVI. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Sketch of the Public School System of Iowa - Statistics -Growth in Prosperity. The public school system of Iowa is justly a theme for congratulation to every loyal citizen. The schools have grown from the log school house to the modern brick and stone building, with all the modern appliances, and the growth has been indeed wonderful. No state in the union has better educational prospects than Iowa. The people have already expended over ten millions of dollars for the erection of public school buildings. The following statistical table, prepared by the superintendent of public instruction, is worthy preserving in history: Years. purposes. M. F. 1863 6237 281,733 199, 750 111, 1854m 2d $22 00 $15.68 $570, 115 25.12 31.64 33.60 23.76 1,006,623 572,593 158,739 1,737, 955 35.88 24.64 1,161,653 692,034 186,910 2,039, 597 35.32 36.96 35.60 36.00 36.00 25.72 1,330,823 917, 605407, 646 2,656, 074 2,796, 332 3, 187, 939 In reference to the above table, the superintendent remarks as follows: "The most remarkable advance exhibited is that in relation to the school expenditures; the annual amounts paid teachers, ris ing from $570,115 to $2,248,677, an increase of two hundred and ninety-four per cent. The expenditures for new school houses and sites, and for libraries and apparatus have increased from $160,253 to $1,184,082, and that for rent and repairs of school houses, for fuel, for compensation of district secretaries and treasurers, and for other incidentals, from $31,169 to $796,696. The aggregate annual expenditures rising from $761,537, in 1863, to $4,229,455, in 1873, or four hundred and fifty-five per cent. "The significance of these facts is unmistakable. Such munificent expenditures can only be accounted for by the liberality and public spirit of our people, all of whom manifest their love of popular education and their faith in the public schools by the annual dedication to their support of more than one per cent. of their entire taxable property; this too, uninterruptedly through a series of years commencing in the midst of a war which taxed our energies and resources to the extreme, and continuing through years of general depression in business; years of moderate yield of produce, of discouragingly low prices, and even amid the scanty surroundings and privations of pioneer life. Few human enterprises have a grander significance, or give evidence of a more noble purpose than the generous contributions from the scanty resources of the pioneer for the purposes of public education. The cost of supporting the public schools of the state is a subject of such general discussiou at the present time, that it was thought best to publish some facts giving the cost to each person; to each scholar; to each dollar of taxable property, etc., for the past year. "These facts are based upon the aggregate expenditures for schools, including the interest on the permanent school funds, amounts received from fines, etc., so that the actual cost to our people is somewhat less than the figures given. From these statements it appears that the total expense of supporting the public schools, exclusive of school house building, is two dollars and fifty-five cents to each man, woman and child in the state; eight dollars and eighty-two cents to each pupil enrolled in the schools; also twelve dollars and eighty-three cents to each head of a family; about eleven dollars to each adult male, and fight and forty-one one-hundredths mills on the dollar of the taxable property of the state. If the cost of building school houses be |