THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is able to report a most satisfactory and prosperous condition of education throughout the State. The number of school houses, their aggregate value, the number of teachers, and the school population have steadily increased. There are now 12,444 school-houses, valued at $11,360,472. The number of schools is 14,829, and the number of teachers 24,675. The permanent school fund is gradually increasing and now amounts to $4,187,893.94; and there are 53,927.88 acres of school lands still unsold. The average monthly wages paid male teachers is $38.42, and females $29.10. The disbursements for 1886 were, school-house fund, $952,540.03; contingent fund, $1,361,749.39; teachers' fund, $4,008,883.54; total, $6,323,172.42. In the same year the whole number of children between the ages of five and twenty-one was 638,156, and there were enrolled in the public schools 480,788, with an average attendance of 284,567. The Superintendent reports that the law of the Twentyfirst General Assembly requiring instruction in the public schools in relation to the effects of stimulants and narcotics upon the human system, has been generally obeyed. There has been unwillingness on the part of some parents to purchase the necessary text books, but with some amendments, which he suggests, including this and other points, the Superintendent believes the law would be well and generally observed. There has been an increasing number of teachers in attendance upon normal institutes.

The last General Assembly, by concurrent resolution, requested the Superintendent of Public Instruction to embody in his next biennial report an exhaustive treatment of the subject of

COMPULSORY EDUCATION,

and the Superintendent devotes some forty pages of this report to that subject, giving its general history, the opinions of eminent educators, and some comparisons of the United States with other countries with reference to school attendance not very flattering to our national pride. I commend the subject of compulsory education to your thoughtful attention and judicious action. The people have a just pride in their public schools and in the report of the last national census, which showed that our State then had the lowest percentage of illiteracy of any State in the Union. But we may well fear, when we look at the small average attendance in our public schools in com

parison with our school population, that we shall not maintain our previous advanced position unless some decisive steps are taken to bring into the schools of the State all, or at least a much larger per centage, of those who ought to partake of their advantages. Compulsory education is not an untried experiment. It is in successful operation in many of the most enlightened and cultivated States and Nations of the world, and it may well be considered whether the time has not fully come when it ought to be adopted in Iowa. In my judgment it has, and I recommend the passage of a suitable law in reference thereto.

SCHOOL BOOKS.

In reference to this subject I would say, keep the State from engaging in commercial enterprises like the publishing of school books, etc. Leave to the people of school districts great freedom to determine such questions, and to govern their own affairs.

STATE UNIVERSITY.

The services of several new professors, who have distinguished themselves in their particular lines of study, have been secured for the University within the last year, which will give the students of this institution better advantages than have ever before been provided for them. It is the determination of the Board of Regents to place the University in the first rank of the educational institutions of the country. The people of the State demand a high standard of educational facilities to meet the wants of the future, and nothing should be left undone that will help to secure them. No teachers should be employed but those of the highest attainments. It will need increased income to provide such, but the funds should be furnished as fast as plans can be matured to properly use them. We cannot afford to have a second class University.

It is a highly-favored community that secures the location of such an institution, and especially so if its inhabitants have sufficient spirit and enterprise to make the most of it. While receiving the favor, a burden is imposed upon them to do everything which they can do for its highest success; for not only is literary education to be secured, but health is to be preserved, character is to be formed, manners are to be learned, moral principles established, a law-abiding spirit inculcated, and for all of these much depends upon location and surroundings, its beauties and opportunities for exercise, and the

character of the local population. We should have at least 1,000 students here. I see but one obstacle in the way. The Prohibitory Law is not enforced with sufficient vigor in Johnson county to make it as effective as it should he to harmonize with the sentiment of those who most desire to patronize the institution. Hence we have only about one-half the number of students at the University that we should have. Hundreds of students now seek other places for this reason. I desire to impress upon the good people of that county, and especially upon the younger generation, who are not wedded to the out-grown evil customs of the past, the necessity of enforcing the law and banishing the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage entirely, from that vicinity.

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

This institution is doing excellent work, and deserves liberal encouragement and support at the hands of the people's representatives. The needs of the College in the way of repairs and improvements are fully set forth in the report of its President. It will probably not be practicable to grant all these requests, but some of them, the ladies' hall especially, are very urgent and cannot well be deferred. I commend the institution, its work and its wants, to your attentive consideration.

In this connection I call your attention to an act of congress approved March 2, 1887, establishing experiment stations at the various agricultural colleges of the country. For the necessary expenses of these experiments it provided that the sum of $15,000 be granted to each State annually from the United States' treasury, the appropriation to be made each year. By an apparent oversight, or by the close technical ruling of the Treasury Department, no appropriation has yet been made available for carrying out the purposes of the act. The matter is regarded as one of much importance by agricultural institutions, and it might be well for the General Assembly to memorialize congress in relation thereto.

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

All the counties of the State, except ten, have been represented among the students in the Normal School at Cedar Falls during the past two years. The Principal reports that nearly all the graduates of the institution are engaged in teaching, or hold positions directly connected with our school system. Changes have been made

in the course of study, by which the work done by the high school is recognized and supplemented so that the graduates of the latter may be fitted in the shortest practicable time for teaching. The needs of the School are fully set forth in the report of the Trustees and Principal. Some repairs of the buildings, better means of lighting, and other improvements are urgently needed. I think the legislature should deal as liberally with this institution as the means at its command, and a due regard for other obligations, will justify. The training of teachers is one of the most important elements of a successful system of public schools, and cannot safely be slighted or negected.

INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB.

The Trustees and Superintendent report a prosperous condition of this institution. The average attendance has increased, the health of the pupils has been good, and their progress satisfactory. Since the close of the period, a change has been made in the management of the school which separates the office of Principal from that of Superintendent. The Trustees express their satisfaction with the results of this change, so far as developed, and confidently anticipate still further progress and success in all departments. They make, in detail, a representation of the various needs of the institution, in the way of improvements and repairs, towhich your attention is directed. All the State institutions ought to be provided with a sufficient contingent and repair fund, so that the buildings and grounds may be kept in proper order without infringement upon their current support funds. This is especially true of the institution at Council Bluffs, where considerable repairs are sure to be required, owing to the character of the buildings and grounds. Other appropriations asked are, some of them at least, quite urgent, and should be made as far as practicable. I regard it as highly important that the best facilities should be afforded here for industrial as well as for literary education.

COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND.

The period has been one of prosperity to the College for the Blind. The attendance has been larger than ever before, numbering one hundred and eighty-seven at the close, and the School is well organized, with competent officers and teachers. The government of the institution, under the Trustees, is divided between the Principal and the

Secretary of the Board, the former having charge of the School proper and the boarding department, and the latter of the building, grounds, stock, and improvements belonging to the College. The Principal has under his control, as assistants and helpers, thirty persons, and the Secretary four. The special appropriations have been well expended. The requests made by the Trustees for appropriations should be duly considered, and granted so far as is consistent with the needs of other institutions and the condition of the public treasury.

MILEAGE AND PER DIEM.

In reference to the mileage and per diem of Boards having charge of State institutions, the law should be so amended as to pay, say, $5 per day, for time actually and necessarily spent in the discharge of their duties, and also the actual and necessary expenses incurred while so engaged; but in no case should the latter exceed five cents per mile, by the nearest traveled route, from and to their homes. Great care should be exercised in the selection of these officers, in order to secure the services of those who have both the time and the disposition to attend closely to the duties of their respective positions.

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The Curators of the State Historical Society report a satisfactory increase in the library both in bound volumes and pamphlets. The "Historical Record," a quarterly periodical, is published for the purpose of preserving in a permanent form facts connected with the history of the State. With the completion of the new Capitol there is a feeling quite general that the Historical Society of the State should have a permanent home in some of its ample rooms, and that increased effort should be made to inquire into, collect and preserve all information and objects of interest connected with the history of our State from its first settlement. Iowa is behind some of her sister States in these matters, and cannot too soon begin to recover lost ground. I commend the subject to your favorable action.

STATE LIBRARY.

The condition of the State Library is shown by the report of the Librarian. In the past nearly the entire strength of this institution has been given to its law department. The collection in this line is