WORK DEPARTMENT. MISS HATTIE SLAGHT, Sewing-machine. LORANA MATTICE, Bead and Fancy Work. JOHN CISNA, Broom-making. ASHBEL C. FERREBY, Mattress and Basket. C. C. GRIFFIN, M. D., Physician. TRUSTEES' REPORT. TO THE HONORABLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: THE undersigned Trustees respectfully submit the following as their report of the management of the "Iowa College for the Blind," for the biennial term ending the 30th day of September, A. D. 1881. The surplus on hands at the last report has enabled your Trustees, by the exercise of rigid economy, to meet the current expenses of the institution, notwithstanding the reduction made by the "Eighteenth General Assembly" in the appropriations for the running expenses of the College. Without said surplus, great embarrassment, if not the closing of the institution, would have ensued. The school is well organized, with a full corps of competent officers and teachers. The pupils in the several departments have made commendable progress during the period covered by this report. The College buildings and grounds have received careful attention; and, with the exception of the roof on the main building and the fence in front, are now in good condition and repair. The fence in front of the College buildings is in a very dilapidated condition, and we think it should be replaced by a neat and substantial iron fence. A suitable foundation is already in position for such a structure. The official reports of the Principal and Treasurer are herewith submitted, to which your attention is invited, as showing in detail the educational and financial condition of the institution. Upon the advice of a competent boiler inspector, your Trustees replaced the three steam boilers on hands at the last report by two larger boilers of much greater heating capacity, and capable of being run with considerably less fuel. These boilers were in use the past winter and gave complete satisfaction. We respectfully call the attention of your honorable body to the necessity of an increase in the general appropriation for the running expenses of the College. We deem it impossible to carry on and properly maintain the present efficiency and standing of the College upon the low appropriations now fixed by statute; and we respectfully ask that the amount appropriated be not less than forty dollars per quarter for each pupil in the institution; and that in addition thereto, suitable appropriations be made by your honorable body for the purpose of meeting the contingent expenses of the College, and for the purpose of making needed additions to the College library, and providing necessary apparatus for the use of the several departments of the institution. The State has liberally supported the College from its organization to the present, and we solicit your honorable body to carefully consider the needs of the institution and to make such liberal appropriations for its use as will enable your Trustees not only to maintain its present standing but to increase its efficiency and usefulness. Respectfully submitted. JACOB SPRINGER, President. J. F. WHITE. C. O. HARRINGTON. W. H. LEAVITT. REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL. To His Excellency, JOHN H. GEAR, Governor of Iowa: IN compliance with the law of the State, I herewith submit the "Fifteenth Biennial Report" of the Iowa College for the Blind for the biennial term ending September 30, 1881. In the following tables you will find the names, age at admission, sex, residence, place of nativity, cause of blindness, and date of admittance of the pupils in attendance during the period embraced in this report. |