total of expenses incurred in attending this institution is small, compared with that of many like institutions. Many students reduce their expenses by boarding themselves and by manual labor.

FACULTY.

The present Faculty is as follows: Rev. E. B. Kephart, A. M., President and Professor of Mental and Moral Science; Rev. Lewis Bookwalter, A. M., Professor of Ancient Languages and Literature; Byron O. White, Ph. B., Professor of Natural Science and History; Anna E. Shuey, M. A., Principal of Ladies' Department; Rev. James W. Robertson, Tutor; Eli Ridenour, Teacher of Penmanship; J. W. Robertson, Teacher of Phonography; E. P. Miller, Teacher of Bookkeeping; J. Baumgardner, Teacher of German; Mrs. S. J. Kephart, Teacher of Drawing and Painting; Mrs. Jane Bowman, Teacher of Instrumental Music; W. S. Varner, Teacher of Vocal Music.

The officers of the Faculty are: Rev. E. B. Kephart, President; Anna E. Shuey, Secretary; Byron O. White, Librarian.

The officers of the Board of Trustees are: Rev. E. B. Kephart, President; Rev. W. I. Beatty, Secretary.

Executive Committee: Rev. E. B. Kephart, President; Rev. L. Bookwalter, Secretary; H. A. Dilling, Samuel Dice, Ransom Davis, T. Halverson; Wm. J. Ham, General Financial Agent and Treasurer; Dennis Gray, Soliciting Agent; J. G. Brown, Steward.

RESUME.

There were, during the year ending June 26, 1878, 182 students, of whom 68 were ladies.

All students are under the careful government of the Faculty.

The college year is divided into three terms of thirteen weeks each. The Summer vacation continues ten weeks.

Public examinations of all classes are held at the close of each term. These examinations are considered important, and students absenting themselves from an examination are required to pass a full examination at the commencement of the succeeding term for class standing. Grading is done by the scale of 0 to 10. Any student having a standard in any study below 6 is not advanced from that study until it has been successfully repeated.

Like every institution of learning, Western College has, at different periods. enjoyed different degrees of prosperity, and varied in its rank as a college. While the men connected with it may justly be considered among the prime causes of these variations, surrounding circumstances, for which no one was responsible, and various complicated causes have conduced to determine the status of the institution.

But it is not so much to its past and present as to its promises for the future that the friends of Western College look with pleasure. True, it has done a noble work. It has furnished a number of teachers, professors and principals for the schools of the Church in the West and Northwest. Through the ministry, it is adding new life and bringing greater success to the general work of the Church. A number of its students are rising to distinction in the various secular professions, and filling public positions of profit and honor.

We are by no means to measure its work solely by the number of graduates it has sent out. Scores of young men and women, whom circumstances permitted to spend but from one to three years within its halls, have gone forth to do themselves honor and bless the world.

But the institution is only in its infancy-its work thus far initiatory. We confidently look for that more stable character, that higher excellence and widening influence which may be expected to attend the firm development and increased strength of maturer years. It has entered our nation's second century with strong promise of less trial and greater success than was experienced in the closing decade of the first. The aim shall be to qualify the institution to act a yet nobler part in the elevation of men.

This sketch has been compiled chiefly from a brief history of the College prepared in 1876 by Prof. Lewis Bookwalter, A. M.

THE COE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE.

The Cedar Rapids Collegiate Institute was incorporated in 1853. On the third Monday in July, 1853, the first officers were elected for a term of three years.

The character of the Institute, set forth in the articlès of incorporation, was declared to be "a college and seminary of learning," located at the city of Cedar Rapids, with stock limited to $100,000, in shares of $25 each. The teachers must be of the class which professes evangelical piety, and the exercises of the school conducted in accordance with religious ideas. In consideration of the donation of $6,000, and a pledge of five scholarships for the first five years, and of ten thereafter, the Iowa City Presbytery had the right to nominate all teachers of the Institute, subject to the action of the Board of Directors of the College. The first Board consisted of George Greene, President; S. C. Bever, Treasurer; David Blakely, Secretary; Williston Jones, John F. Ely, W. W. Smith, S. D. Carpenter, A. Daniels, Isaac Cook, W. Greene, J. L. Shearer and Aaron Van Dorn.

At the July meeting of the Board of that year, a proposition was read from Daniel Coe, of Durham, Greene Co., N. Y., offering a conditional donation of $1,500. Mr. Coe proposed to devote $500 to the purchase of a tract of land near Cedar Rapids and the improvement of the same, as the site of the College buildings, and $1,000 to the purchase of a farm tract contiguous to the same, to the end that students who were unable to pay their way without labor might therein find a suitable opportunity to earn money for board and tuition. Mr. Coe suggested the propriety of admitting females as well as males to the privileges of the College.

The proposition was accepted by the Board, and by July 28, 1853, the requisite stock had been subscribed to enable them to carry out Mr. Coe's plan. In September, 1853, the first term of the institution was begun, with David Blakely as Principal.

Steps were taken to secure a site for permanent buildings; but pending their erection, the Presbyterian Church was used as a school room.

In January, 1855, D. B. Nash was chosen teacher. The school did not prove a financial success, and it was resolved to relinquish all rights, real and personal, to the Iowa City Presbytery.

In 1857, the Board rejected the proposition of the Iowa City Presbytery, relative to a transfer of the property, and concluded to carry on the work as originally proposed. The history of the College for the few years immediately succeeding 1857 is such as follows the organization of almost every institution of this kind. Various propositions for pecuniary aid were made, and an effort put forth to secure the removal of the College to Vinton, Benton County. The plan did not prosper.

In 1870, the Board resolved to re-convey the property of the College to Daniel Coe, in accordance with the terms of his proposition.

In 1866, the "Parsons Seminary" was instituted at a meeting in Cedar Rapids presided over by John Weare. Rev. G. E. W. Leonard was chosen Financial Agent. The Seminary was incorporated with George Greene, John F. Ely, E. L. Mansfield, S. C. Bever, John Weare, W. W. Walker, N. B. Brown, W. S. Cooper, James Knox, E. E. Loach, I. N. Isham, W. W. Maltby, A. C. Churchill, E. A. Wheeler and E. W. Leonard, Trustees. The articles were filed December 3, 1866. The temporary officers chosen were: Rev. James Knox, President; George Greene, Vice President; J. F. Ely, Secretary; S. C. Bever, Treasurer.

At the regular meeting, this list was changed to the following: George Greene, President; James Knox, Vice President; John F. Ely, Secretary, and W. W. Walker, Treasurer.

Correspondence was opened with Mr. Coe, and also with the representatives of Mr. Parsons, of St. Louis, who had made a provision in his will, donating certain amounts of lands to the Synod of Iowa, for educational purposes.

Measures were adopted to invest the Board with the property formerly owned by the Cedar Rapids Collegiate Institute. Mr. Coe re-donated a handsome sum to the educational interests of Cedar Rapids, under the supervision of the Parsons Seminary Company; and the Board resolved to name the first endowed professorship after that benevolent gentleman.

Various means were resorted to for the purpose of securing aid for the seminary. The ladies of the city took an active interest in the work, arranging and carrying out entertainments.

In May, 1867, a contract was made with William Richmond for the erection of a school edifice on the "Boulevard road," a continuation of Iowa avenue, where a tract of eighty acres was owned by the company. The tract was platted in the Fall of '67, and designated "Čoe's Addition to Cedar Rapids."

In April, 1868, Rev. H. H. Kellogg was appointed Financial Agent of the company; and in October of that year, R. P. Kingman succeeded to that

office.

The building was completed in the Fall of 1868, and the property then owned by the Seminary was valued at $40,000, on which there was about $7,000 incumbrance, with collectible paper of about $2,000, to act as partial offset.

The next two years were somewhat unsatisfactory, in a financial sense, and in March, 1870, a meeting of the Board was held to consider the propriety of suspending the institution.

In July of that year, the Parsons Seminary expressed a willingness to transfer its property rights to the "Parsons College," an institution proposed by the representatives of the gentlemen referred to before, and then under the supervision of the Northern Synod of Iowa. This plan was not carried out.

In April, 1875, the name of the seminary was changed to that of the "Coe Collegiate Institute," and the institution passed under the direction of the Cedar Rapids Presbytery.

The list of signers to the Articles of Incorporation is: George Greene, Jas. Knox, S. C. Bever, Isaac Cook, T. McRae, D. W. C. Rowley, W. S. Cooper, John F. Ely, E. L. Mansfield, E. E. Leach, N. B. Brown, George Douglas, T. M. Sinclair, W. W. Walker, John Weare.

The institution is now in a prosperous condition, having won its way to the confidence of the people by the indefatigable efforts of its leading spirits. The

present officers are: George Greene, President; Rev. E. R. Burkhalter, Vice President; D. W. C. Rowley, Secretary; J. C. Brocksmidt, Treasurer. Prof. Robert Conditt is in charge of the college.

LINN COUNTY HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY.

This society embraces the homoeopathic fraternity of Linn County. The society holds semi-annual meetings in Cedar Rapids. No one is admitted to membership without due examination by the censors. The officers are: L. S. Davis, of Center Point, President; P. Moor, of Cedar Rapids, Vice President; G. E. Coggswell, of Cedar Rapids, Secretary; Mrs. C. Hickox, of Cedar Rapids, Treasurer; Drs. Moor, Peck and Hindman, Censors.

IOWA UNION MEDICAL SOCIETY.

This society was first organized as the Linn County Medical Society, but was changed as above in 1874. It now embraces the profession in Linn, Benton, Jones, Cedar and Johnson Counties. The officers are: J. Doran, President; George W. Holmes, First Vice President; W. W. Skinner, Second Vice President; George R. Skinner, Secretary; G. L. Carhart, Treasurer. Board of Censors is M. Meredith, H. Ristine and J. S. Love.

The

The society meets semi-annually, in June and December, in Cedar Rapids.

HOG CULTURE.

The raising of hogs in this county is so important an industry as to be worthy of a special chapter. It has already been shown that Linn County is destined to become one of the leading dairy regions of the West, and that, too, at no very distant day. The dairy cannot be worked to its full capacity of profit without the extensive growing of hogs. The latter follow as a natural sequence. It is estimated that five hogs should be raised for every cow milked, but the question of proportion the farmers must decide for themselves. In any event, swine must enter largely into the calculations of those who figure on successful dairying.

It is an established fact that the best breeds of swine are the choicest for marketing. Long-headed, thin-flanked porkers are easy to get, but poor to sell. The old maxim of "the best is the cheapest" is fully illustrated in this department of stock growing. The care of fine strains is necessarily greater than of coarse varieties, but it is labor well bestowed. The yield in pounds is more, the price in the market is higher, and the satisfaction to the producer is infinitely beyond that of the common animal.

The farmers of Linn are quick to perceive the advantages of thorough work. This is shown in the well-tilled acres and substantial buildings of the county. The cows owned here, if not pure bloods, are of a fine average mixture, and superior milkers. Hogs, however, are not as generally cared for, if we may judge from a pretty thorough inspection of the stock, as they should be. attention ought to be paid to shelter and treatment, and the herds headed by males of better texture than now obtains.

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It may be claimed by some that fine bloods do not thrive as well as common kinds; but this argument will be turned against those who advance it by men of practical experience in the matter. Farmers who have experimented with both sorts declare that the product of acclimated thoroughbreds is the class to raise.

Farmers can see for themselves what proper care will do, by visiting the pioneer and largest swine yards in the county, on the farm of Charles Weeks, in Monroe Township. Mr. Weeks has made a specialty of the PolandChina breed. His pens are models of neatness and cleanness, while the science of breeding is carefully studied. His annual sales, which are held in September, place many hundreds of breeding swine in the county, for his trade is solely, or almost so, confined to Linn. We feel compelled to allude to his work, because of the good such a business will effect in the swine culture of this region.

In riding over the county one sees a highly cultivated farm, showing every indication of the wealth of the proprietor. The question is asked, "How did this man make his money?" The answer comes quickly, "In hogs." There is money in the business, but like every other good thing, judicious use of advantages must always be made. Slovenly pens, draughty shelters and wet beds will produce imperfect hogs, for a good hog needs in its way as much care as a good horse. There is no animal more sensitive to extremes of temperature and moisture than a hog. The low price of pork at the present time is only an argument in favor of good blood, since the increase in quality and weight will be in greater proportion than the cost of feeding and care. If the same expense is devoted to herds of fine and coarse blooded swine, the outcome will be found largely in favor of the better grades.

The soil and climate is peculiarly fitted to the growth of such roots and grains as are adapted to the proper fattening of swine. Among other roots may be mentioned the Brazilian artichoke, which is pronounced by the Agricultural Bureau of the United States a very valuable tuber for this purpose. Mr. Weeks has experimented successfully with the artichoke and approves of its use. It is clear that the future wealth of Linn County depends in no slight degree upon its hog product, and the attention of farmers will, sooner or later, be turned to the increase and improvement of swine. With a constant supply of milk from the dairies, returning an income continuously, and with vast herds of hogs, which require but little outgo through the year, and net the owner large sums in bulk when sold, the prospect of success is flattering to the husband

man.

MISCELLANEOUS.

PREHISTORIC RELIC.

A tooth of the Mastodon Giganteum in a remarkable state of preservation was found three miles south of Center Point, July 10, 1875, by Noble Garry, nineteen feet below the surface. It is 3x4 inches on the face, with roots extending 4 inches. The enamel of the tooth is bright and uninjured.

A block of perfectly petrified wood, about 13 feet long, weighing 75 pounds, with ax marks, the grain and heart of the wood, worm holes, etc., showing with great distinctness, was found by Tobias Rowe, in the deep Brainerd cut, on the B., C. R. & N. R. R., 21⁄2 miles south of Center Point. It has been sent by request to many geological societies for their inspection.

These, together with a large number of interesting specimens, are among the collection of J. F. Wilson & Co., at Center Point. An old brass belt buckle found while digging a well near Fairfax, and bearing the coat of arms of South Carolina, together with "1776," is another specimen in this museum.