REPORT.

To the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Twentieth General Assembly:

The undersigned, constituting the committee appointed by you to visit the Iowa Institute for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, submit the following report:

We arrived at said Institute, which is located about two miles southeast of the city of Council Bluffs, on Wednesday, the 6th inst., and remained until Friday, the 8th. Previous to our visit there we had comparatively little knowledge of the Institute, and we were accordingly impressed, during this visit, much more deeply than ever before with the noble nature of the work being done by it. Without multiplying words, we may say that it is lifting the unfortunate sons and daughters of our commonwealth, bereft, by disease or other providential visitation, of the senses of speech and hearing, from a condition of pitiable helplessness and dependence to one of intelligence, character and independence.

Our examination of the system by which instruction in the sign or mute language is imparted to the unfortunate pupils, through all the stages of progress here made, was most interesting. A system which can take minds so imperfect and undeveloped; so incapable of giving intelligent expression to even the simplest word or thought, and, by its method of instruction, lead them up to the ready use of language in its more intricate forms, and the framing of sentences which constantly involve the employment of memory and the reasoning powers; thus rendering them capable of reaching the higher attainments of knowledge, and cultivating them even to the extent of investigating the arts and sciences, and participating in the consideration of the nobler problems of life, deserves our highest commendation, and

is worthy of the hearty financial support of the State in which it is located.

Our investigation into the general management of the Institute by its Board of Trustees, satisfies us that its interests are cared for in a business-like manner and with proper economy. The supplies of the establishment are contracted for judiciously and at reasonable rates. The employes are secured on favorable terms; the salaries of the teachers being, in some cases, hardly fairly remunerative, we think, for the services rendered.

The books of account are well systematized; cover every branch of expenditure connected with the Institute, and are kept in first rate shape.

The establishment is now under the superintendency of Prof. H. C. Hammond, recently secured to the position, and, in our opinion, thoroughly fitted by education and successful experience for the important responsibilities it imposes. We were favorably impressed

with him in all respects.

and devoted.

The teachers in charge seem enthusiastic

In their last report, the Board of Trustees state that the $16,000 annual appropriation to meet the ordinary expenditures is insufficient, and they ask that it be increased to $21,000. We have given this request careful consideration, and view of the increasing size of the school, and the enlarged course of instruction demanded, and being introduced, thus necessitating the employment of more teachers of good capacity, we are convinced that the appropriation asked for should be granted.

The Institution labors under serious difficulty by want of a proper supply of good water. For years this has caused much anxiety to all interested in it. It is now supplied from a small stream (Mosquito Creek) located half a mile away. The water is brought to the building in pipes and forced to its proper place by a steam pump. This creek is the receptacle of much offal, and for this reason the water is entirely unfit for drinking or cooking purposes, and the supply for these latter uses is deficient and liable to become wholly inadequate.

The maintaining of the pipes and supplying the steam pump, in addition to the salary of a man to attend the pump, involve con stant expense and outlay.

Artesian wells have been successfully sunk near this Institute, which supply almost unlimited amounts of pure soft water.

We

think there is no reasonable doubt that a perpetual flow of such water would be secured here by boring from eight to nine hundred feet. Such a well would shut off all further expense, quiet all anxiety, and remove all trouble as to water in the future.

Believing that the welfare of the Institution, as well as the interests of economy, demand the establishment of such a water supply, if it can be secured, we recommend the appropriation of eight thousand dollars ($8,000), or so much thereof as necessary, to be expended in testing the practicability of securing water by this means, and of utilizing the water if secured.

The Trustees recommend the introduction to the building of electric lights, which they think would be cheaper and more satisfactory than manufacturing and using gas as is now done. While there are some considerations favoring this, we are not prepared to recommend the present adoption of their suggestion, believing other demands of the Institute to be more pressing.

The Trustees ask for $1,500 to purchase fixtures and apparatus for the laundry, located in a substantial brick building recently erected, at a cost of $5,000, adjacent to the Institute. Your committee think that $1,000 may serve this want, and recommend its appropriation.

The Trustees say "a coal cellar, and a tunnel leading to it from the engine room, are a great necessity and should be built as soon as possible." They have had the cost of such improvement as they deem desirable computed and find it to be thirteen hundred and fifty dollars ($1,350). We recommend giving them $500, which will secure a cheaper coal receptacle than the one contemplated.

The east wing of the main building has no fire escape, which should be supplied at one. Both wings are destitute of any portico. It is computed that proper fire escapes and porticos will cost seventeen hundred and twenty-five dollars ($1,725). We would recommend appropriating $1,500, or so much of it as is needed, to be expended under the supervision of R. S. Finkbine, Esq., in accordance with such plans and specifications as he may prepare.

The sum of $1,000 is asked for, to properly furnish the printing office with type, presses, etc., and $2,000 to buy tools and machinery for the carpenter shop. Your committee recommend the granting of a $500 appropriation for the printing office and $800 for the carpenter shop, believing that these amounts may be made to serve the pressing needs of these establishments.

The two wings of the main building are without any shutters; the Trustees request an appropriation of $1,900 to supply the same.

The increase in the number of pupils and the enlargement of the course of study, are encroaching on the accommodations furnished. by the building, in which nearly three hundred pupils are housed and taught. The Trustees urge the erection of a good, substantial twostory brick building, sufficiently large and suitably constructed and equipped for a school building, in which all pupils of the Institute. shall be taught, while the present building shall be used as a place of lodging, residence, etc., for the pupils, as also for the Superintendent, his family, and the teachers and others employed about the school. We are informed that the number of inmates would increase largely if there were room to furnish the proper comforts and facilities for additional numbers; but that many are debarred from the benefits which this Institution is designed to confer, solely because of lack of room for their accommodation. Only about half of those needing and entitled to the benefits of this school, are reaping those benefits. This should not be. We believe that additional provision should at once be made, and all brought in so far as they can be reached. To this end we recommend an appropriation for the construction of the school building asked. The amount required has been estimated at $40,000.

The Trustees recommend the appropriation of $1,500 to complete the improvement and ornamentation of the grounds. This we would regard favorably if our means were abundant, but, under present circumstances, we are constrained to dissent from the recommendation, this want not being of so pressing a nature as to demand immediate action.

Several requests and suggestions made by Professor Hammond, the Superintendent, in his supplement to the Trustees' report, demand the careful attention of the Legislature. Provision for a gymnasium, we think, should be made. The reasons assigned by the Professor in support of the introduction of gymnastic training, are clear and convincing.

He urges the erection of a substantial building, constructed on the right principles, to serve as a house for cold storage, in order that large supplies of butter, fruits, eggs, etc., may be laid in when markets are low, and be preserved till the season of scarcity and high prices. It is estimated that it would cost eighteen hundred dollars ($1,800) to provide such a building.

Both the former Superintendent and the present one, emphasize farming as one of the branches of industry to which attention should be given in the instruction of deaf mutes.

Some ninety acres of land are now connected with this property, which is enough land if it could all be properly utilized. But the fact is, that, aside from the grounds immediately about the building, no more than forty acres can be successfully cultivated, the remainder being low ground, subject to overflow, and only suitable for growing grass.

The present buildings occupy the high ground at the upper or southeastern corner of the premises, so that there is really not suitable space for additional buildings, without usurping that reserved about those already erected.

Adjoining this property, on the south, is a tract of sixty acres of land, containing a high point next the Institute building, thence sloping off smoothly toward the bottom. This, we learn, can be secured for about fifty-five hundred dollars. We consider this a fair valuation and think the State should purchase the land without delay, through the agency of the Trustees, for which we favor appropriating the requisite amount.

Referring to the specific instructions given your committee in concurrent resolution No. 10, we take pleasure in saying:

First. That we believe the appropriations to have been wisely and economically expended so far as expended at all.

Second. They have been expended only on the objects specified in the appropriations.

Third. No indebtedness, not covered by the appropriations, has been contracted in any case, so far as we can learn, and we are satisfied that none such exists.

Fourth. There has been no diversion of any money from the specific purpose for which it was drawn.

In explanation of the concluding clause of specification No. 1, it is proper to say that there are small unexpended balances in several of the funds, some of which, we think will not be wanted for the specific purpose designed in the appropriations.