has as yet not reached its full growth, owing to the absence of adequate facilities for its full development. The necessity for a new building to accommodate both the Department of Natural Science and Physical Science, was very evident to your committee. It is a positive demand, prompted by the increasing number of pupils, the limited room now assigned, the relief it would give to other departments, and the absolute necessity to provide better and more suitable accommodations for nearly all branches of this department. We cannot review each separate, and only in a general way convey to you the impessions made upon your committee upon our official visit.

The Library is under excellent supervision, well kept and well arranged, and the plea made for an appropriation to print the catalogue of the same is supported by such apparent necessity that your committee have no hesitancy in recommending the same.

In answer to the first interrogatory, whether the last appropriations have been wisely and economically expended, your committee desire,

after

a very careful examination, to answer in the affirmative. As far as we could judge from the books and accounts, and the record of the Board, the appropriations have been expended for the object named, and there has been no diversion of the money from the spe cific purpose for which it was drawn from the State treasury, save in one or two minor instances, and in these cases the urgent, positive demands for betterments and improvements in other directions, warranted a disregard, for the time being, of less important changes and

alterations.

In order to present a complete and intelligible review of appropriations made, and their disbursements, we present annexed schedules, marked A, B, C, D, E and F, together with a summary, as well as

references

to certain actions of the Board, to all of which we invite

your careful attention.

There has been no indebtedness contracted in excess of the appro

priations.

Whereas the names and numbers of persons employed,

and at what salary, is printed on pages 14, 15, 16, and 17, of the report of the University, the committee deem a repetition unnecessary. No additions to these salaries are made in the way of board, rooms, lights, fuel or clothing, or anything else at the expense of the State. The means of escape in case of fire are entirely inadequate, and but little attention seems to have been paid to this important matter, to which we notice reference was also made by the visiting committee

of two years ago, and we trust that want of funds shall not hereafter prevent the erection of these important appendages to the buildings. The water supply is ample, and in this direction there seems to be a feeling of protection and safety.

The Land Department is under the excellent control and management of the efficient treasurer of the University, and the committee beg to acknowledge the willingness manifested on his part to give all information sought for. A more complete system of book-keeping should be adopted in the secretary's office, which, when so adopted, under the direction of that faithful officer, would afford a more ready and complete insight into the financial affairs of the Institution.

THE IOWA WEATHER SERVICE.

Your committee also visited the Central Station of the Iowa Weather Service, established by law at Iowa City, and in charge of Dr. Gustavus Hinrichs. Although not a part of the State University proper, this department of service is so intimately connected with the University, on account of the scientific work it is accomplishing, and the fact that its director is at the head of the School of Science in the Collegiate Department and a prominent professor in the Medical Department of the University, that our inspection would have been incomplete without a visit to the Central Station. The excellent condition and systematic arrangement of the rooms occupied by Dr. Hinrichs in the University led us to expect that his weather station would be equally as well arranged, but necessarily limited in size and in equipment of apparatus, owing to the small appropriation made for its support. The commodious brick structure, near the University, while in fact the residence of Dr. Hinrichs, is devoted largely to the Weather Service, fully one half of it being occupied as an observatory and work shop. The convenience of the arrangement of the station, the number of instruments on hand, and the great amount of valuable work that is being done, agreeably surprised us, and led us to the conclusion that the important work the Director is performing should be encouraged as far as possible.

The public is familiar with the reports of the Weather Service. As our State is eminently an agricultural one, a large part of her wealth is derived from her soil, and if by observations and investigations a knowledge of the unknown law governing the condition of weather can be obtained, the benefit accruing will be incalculable.

Your

committee unite in recommending that a reasonable salary be allowed the Director, whose work is increasing every year, and who has grown old in the service that has been of great value to the State, but of no compensation whatever to him. If this cannot be done at this session, it should be attended to by the next General Assembly by all means. We urge that a proper rental for the use of the building now used be made at this time.

Your committee, after a careful and thorough investigation of the needs of the University, join in recommending the appropriations asked for.

In the logic of affairs the University is the topmost step in our educational system. The primary schools feed the higher ones, and these in turn the University. The common schools are made prosperous by a constant, never-failing tax-and the question of adequate support never arises. But the University-her landed endowment, which, had it been held to this day, would have made it one of the richest of the country, was frittered--not to say filched-away, and now she comes biennially to the bar of legislation pleading for money that she may merely live.

Let us see what the University of the noble State of Iowa has got in comparison with the Universities of her nearest sisters-of Minne

sota, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin:

STATE.

Students.

Funds.

Income.

Iowa....
Minnesota.

Michigan..

Illinois

Wisconsin

*$30.000 a year for six years.

As to total income-the Iowa University gets $53,000; that of Michigan $180,000; Wisconsin $106,536; Minnesota $58,000.

The rate per student at the Iowa University is $85; at the University of Michigan $126; Wisconsin $308; Minnesota $260.

In value of buildings and grounds the Iowa University counts $250,000; that of Michigan $681,000; Wisconsin $455,000; Minnesota

$320,000.

The State University of Iowa, with nearly three times as many students as that of Minnesota, has $5,000 less total income; and with

about half as many as Michigan has about one fourth as much income. The Iowa University is behind every other University of the Northwest in everything save in popularity and determination to succeed at all events. In scholars it has representatives from about seventy counties of the State and some seventeen States of the Union. With the meager income rate of $85 per student, it calls together about twice as many students as any other State in the list--save Michigan. The great State of Iowa has given its University for new buildings, in all, about $174,000; and the State of Michigan, only six hundred and eighty-one thousand dollars! The State of Iowa enriches its University library with about $750 a year; the State of Michigan gives $7,500 for the same purpose, yearly, and has just completed a library building at a cost of $100,000. To the professors who devote their lives and energies to university teaching, the State of Michigan gives $2,200 a year. For like services the opulent State of Iowa gives from $950 to $1,800.

We desire, in closing, to recognize the uniform courtesy extended to your committee by the President, all members of the Faculty and members of the Board of Regents, and venture the assurance that all possible facilities were afforded us to thoroughly and fully discharge the duties assigned us.

Respectfully submitted.

HENRY W. ROTHERT,

On the part of the Senate. ALBERT HEAD,

ISAAC W. BALDWIN,

On the part of the House.

APPENDIX.

SCHEDULE A.

NEW BUILDING FOR THE BETTER ACCOMMODATION OF THE UNIVERSITY,

Mechanic as Supt., warrant 3709.

100.00

Steam copper boiler and fixtures-dissecting room, warrant 4112..

54.45

Gas fitting, warrant 4034......

152.93

Amount expended.....

.$80,443.29

SCHEDULE B.

FOR TWO ADDITIONAL BOILERS AND HOUSE FOR FUEL.

Appropriated by Legislature, laws 1882, page 82.
The Board expended under contract for house.
Shelves in upper story...

$ 2,275.00 2,755.00 16.59

$ 2,771.59

The old house for fuel and boiler was a basement, mainly under the level of slope of the hill, 21x32 feet, with a one-story superstructure, used as an armory and military room by the U. S. Military Professor, but was too small, there being about one hundred and fifty students and their arms. The new coal room was made likewise 21x32 feet, and parallel with the one already there.

The enlargement of the foundation to 32x42 feet put a desirable addition to the military room, and the Board then concluded to put a second story on the whole, for the use of the drawing classes in the

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