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We found his system for keeping the hand accounts most excellent for its simplicity, and that he could readily prove every entry and lay his finger upon proper vouchers to cover all entries—both as to cash receipts and disbursements, as also land sales.

The medical department (especially that of clinical surgery) under the management of Dr. W. F. Peck and his able associates, who first organized this most invaluable service challenged our warmest admiration. Dr. Peck is one of the bright lights of his profession and wholly devoted to it-his high scientific attainments find ample field for severe practical test in the numberless surgical operations he is constantly called upon to perform, while his success gives ample and unquestioned evidence of his eminent qualifications.

We attended his class of "clinics" and found a small army of afflicted persons awaiting Dr. Peck's attention.

These patients required in many instances delicate surgical operations and came from all quarters of the State to be operated upon and nursed "without money and without price."

We were informed that the afflicted were nearly always present in equal numbers at the clinics, and venture to enumerate the counties represented during our attendance as tending to show the vast area of our State, whose suffering humanity is being drawn to this spot for relief:

One sufferer from Johnson county, one sufferer from Tama county two sufferers from Keokuk county, one sufferer from Cedar county, one sufferer from Scott county, one sufferer from Marshall county, one sufferer from Muscatine county, one sufferer from Black Hawk county, one sufferer from Dubuque county, one sufferer from Pottawattamie county, one sufferer from Clayton county.

We witnessed part of these operations and we feel that it is not too much to say that in the opinion of your committee the great good being accomplished in this department alone is sufficient recompense to the State for the entire appropriation incident to the annual maintenance of the State University. We were also especially pleased to note the good feeling, earnest attention and deep interest manifested by the students in the law department under the instruction of Chancellor Ross, and the same remarks are equally true of the department of civil engineering, guided by Prof. Philbrick, and that of natural science by Prof. Calvin and the materia

medica of the homeopathic department in charge of Dr. Cowperthwaite, and of the department of physical science under charge of Prof. Hinrichs. The collegiate department under the guidance of Prof. Leonard and Drs. Eggert, Currier, Fellows, Parker and Susan F. Smith, is a model of excellence.

Lieut. Thornton, of the U. S. artillery, has charge of the military exercises and we found the armory with its equipment of guns, etc., in first-class condition.

A most excellent band, composed wholly of students, forms one of the admirable features of the University. We concur in the recommendation of our late governor, Hon. John H. Gear, that the State ought to pay Prof. Hinrichs a fair rental for the house erected by him and almost wholly devoted to the interests of his system of weather observations, which occupy high rank in the scientific world. The professor has made no claim, but as a simple act of justice he should be paid a fair rental for the use which the State is making of his property.

Fire escapes are needed on the buildings-none now exist on any of the structures. We have only words of praise to express with reference to the entire general and business management of the University, but were painfully impressed at the utterly inadequate quarters occupied and the miserable means of ventilation. All the lecture halls are crowded to their utmost capacity.

Necessity has placed the dissecting-room immediately under the medical lecture-room, and the effect is far from being safe or beneficial to the students who literally pack the room. The chemical lecture hall, originally designed for a class of fifty students, has been so extended over the laboratory, in the same room, as to hold, in most uncomfortable position, the present class of nearly two hundred students.

The law lecture hall is literally packed and your committee found ingress very difficult.

The hall devoted to engineering will accommodate only twenty stands for drawing-hence in order to provide for the fifty students in attendance, a triplication of the lessons is a necessity.

The chemical laboratory ought to be doubled in its capacity to meet the wants of to-day.

The laboratory of natural science has no suitable room, and

hence from sheer necessity the recitation rooms are made to share with this practicable work to the great discomfort of both.

In view of these facts highly creditable to the good name of the University, it is, in the opinion of your committee, absolutely necessary that the State of Iowa furnish this institution with two additional buildings-plain, inexpensive, yet sufficiently large to meet the imperative wants of a large number of students in attendance. At present one boiler is relied upon to furnish heat; this is not sufficient. Two additional boilers should be added.

We noticed that the stone walk, for which provision was made four years ago, lacks a little of completion as the original appropriation was not quite sufficient. It will require $425 to finish the walk, and we suggest that provisions be made therefor.

The hospital needs a new floor as also a new roof, and other smaller changes.

The chairs, settees and furniture in all the departments are old and very dilapidated, having been in active service for from ten to twenty years.

The hall now used for a chapel and general exercises, could be made to contain also the general library, which in turn could be filled by the law library, the removal of which from its present position would give to the law lecture hall additional room, which it seems to us is imperatively demanded.

The permanent income of the university fund having been reduced by the reduction of the rate of interest upon the State bonds, but very limited support has been extended to either the library or the general apparatus so necessary to the successful prosecution of the studies in the several departments.

In fact this reduction necessitated a general reduction of the salaries of the professors and officers, already in our opinion too low for the talent employed, and it is but right under the circumstances that this loss be made good to them.

The crowded condition of the State University attests its popularity and its success.

In management and scholastic attainment it stands second to no similar institution in the entire West.

It has kept pace with the general growth and development of the State, whose people may safely point with just pride to this crown

ing glory of our free school system. It is the stepping stone on the threshold of the active battle of life for those who in later years are destined to occupy important places in the history of Iowa, and hence its every interest should be sacredly guarded and promoted. Instead of crippling her resources and cramping her students, as now, we feel that aid, commensurate with her economical requirements, should be cheerfully and promptly extended, and as a result of our investigation, based also upon the earnest appeal of the president and faculty, your committee recommends an appropriation of forty thousand dollars for the current year, and a like amount for the coming year, to be expended as follows:

Two new buildings heretofore alluded to...

Changes in libraries and extension of heating apparatus...
Two additional boilers and coal shed...

Finishing sidewalk....

Furniture for all rooms.

Repairs to hospital etc

$ 50,000

4,000

2,275

425

2,100

1,200

20,000

$ 80,000

For restoration of salaries and for incidentals, including rent of house to Prof. Heinricks, and fire-escape...

Total appropriation.

We have treated this subject from an entirely impartial standpoint, and, in the opinion of your committee, the amount above named is the smallest sum adınissible to meet the imperative neces`sities of the State University for the period named.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

J. K. GRAVES,

On part of the Senate.

L. R. BOLTER,

A. J. HOLMES,

On part of the House.

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