BEDDING AND FURNITURE. (See chapter 146, section 1, Twenty-sixth General Assembly.) (See chapter 146, section 1, Twenty-sixth General Assembly.) Balance on hand July 1, 1899...... ... 91.91 91.91 WATER CLOSETS AND SEWERAGE. (See chapter 141, section 1, Twenty-seventh Generai Assembly. .$ (See chapter 141, section 1, Twenty-seventh General Assembly.) Balance on hand July 1, 1899.. Expenditures 1,759.19 1,759.19 FURNITURE AND BEDDING. (See chapter 141, section 1, Twenty-seventh General Assembly.) SPECIAL TEACHER OF LINNIE HAGUEWOOD FUND. Balance on hand July 1, 1899 ....... 640.00 640.00 WATER CLOSETS AND SEWER. (See chapter 150, section 12, Twenty-eighth General Assembly.) Appropriation of Twenty-eighth General Assembly.... Balance on hand June 30, 1901........ CONTINGENT AND REPAIRS. (See chapter 150, section 12, Twenty-eighth General Assembly.) I beg to call your attention to two matters which are of vital importance to this institution. The first is "pupilage;" the second is "ordinary expenses." Forty-eight years ago the pupilage was fixed at $35.00 per quarter for each pupil in attendance. Noting the principal changes only, we find the pupilage changed to $40.00 per quarter on March 22, 1866. It was placed at $36.00 March 21, 1878; $32.00, March 26, 1880; $40.00, March 23, 1882; $35.00, April 7, 1898. With a full school it is possible to save some money on $35.00 or even $30.00 per quarter for each pupil in attendance, but it must be done at a sacrifice of some good. If we live well we must cut on repairs and improvements. To be in line with modern progress we must have the facilities, improvements, appurtenances, demanded by modern conditions. I earnestly hope that the next legislature will reinstate the $40.00 per quarter for each resident pupil. If the present organization of the school is to be maintained (and nothing else should receive a moment's thought), then we must have an increase in the ordinary expense fund, or else confine ourselves to seven months of school each year. A sevenmonths term of school is not long enough for blind children. Nine months should be the minimum. Twelve thousand five hundred dollars per annum for ordinary expenses (which is only another name for salary fund) will allow us to hold nine months school, but with no room for expansion. I would recommend that the ordinary expense fund be raised to $14,000.00 per annum. We begin the coming term, September 1, 1901, with money enough to pay salaries and wages up to April 1, 1902. Unless aid is afforded by the Twenty ninth General Assembly, the college must close for another five months vacation. Next in importance to the above two matters, are the following: Contingent and repairs; furniture; special repairs. A contingent and repair fund of $2,500.00 should be appropriated for the coming two years. This fund is used to cover house-cleaning, white-washing, repairing, painting and everything serving to keep the building in statu quo. The Twenty-seventh General Assembly appropriated $500.00 for bedding and furniture. Nearly the whole of that amount was expended in buying rocking chairs for students' rooms. The institution will need within the next two years many articles of furniture. I would advise an appropriation of $1,000.00 for this purpose and for bedding. The state architect, Mr. Liebbe, went carefully over our verandas and porches a few months ago. These structures have now reached a point when they must be practically built anew. Mr. Liebbe advised me to apply for at least $3,500.00 for special repairs on college building. Lastly, I would invite your attention to the following: We should have a pipe organ. There are pupils in the college who might become masters of this instrument. In the old world numbers of blind musicians are organists in the Catholic and Episcopal churches. The demand for such musicians is growing in our own state. I hope the college will be allowed $3,000.00 for this purpose. We need a store-room and we need it badly. Our goods are now scattered through six rooms. If this state of things is not sufficient reason for a building, Judge Kinne's article in the Bulletin will supply others. Architect Liebbe tells me that a large, commodious store building of one story and basement, can be built for $3,500.00. A cottage for the superintendent would be desirable in many ways. An executive officer of an institution is likely to be at least a middle-aged man with a family coming into manhood and womanhood, too old to be boarders in an institution and yet too young to leave the family circle. There are social duties which. every family should meet, and which cannot be satisfactorily met in a public institution. I would beg you to consider the advisability of building for the superintendent of the college, a cottage on the two vacant lots of the state just across the street from the institution grounds, and of giving him a salary that will enable him to board himself and family. For a suitable cottage and furnishings I would suggest $4,000.00. To sum them up in order of importance I would recommend the following: For the kindly sympathy, and for the firm guidance with which your honorable body have favored me so many times, I desire to express my thankful appreciation. Respectfully submitted, T. F. MCCUNE, Superintendent. No. 4 SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, COUNCIL BLUFFS. To the Honorable Board of Control: In conformity to your order I beg to submit the following biennial report embracing matters pertinent to the school, recommendations as to necessary improvements, statistical tables, course of study and financial statements. The past two years have witnessed no retrograde movement of this educational institution of our state. Our pupils have advanced satisfactorily, have been happy and contended, our officers and teachers have labored faithfully, have been zealous and loyal, and peace and good will has reigned supreme at all times within its walls. HEALTH. It is a source of gratification indeed to report the uniform continued good health of all pupils in our charge. No deaths have occurred, no dangerous illness made its appearance, and our hospital has been empty for weeks at a time. We have been free from contagion and epidemics save and except a visitation of measles, which, however, passed over without any serious results whatever. REPAIR FUND. It would be impossible to retain our buildings in a habitable and presentable shape unless an annual appropriation be made to cover such betterments and repairs as are absolutely necessary. Some of our buildings are old and the natural wear and decay must be replaced. All of the thirteen buildings situated on different parts of the grounds need attention and will need attention every year, both interior and exterior. With a population of near 300 children, not educated as to values, it is not a difficult task to account for the damage to and destruction of property, while the exteriors of the several buildings necessarily undergo changes incident to atmosphere and weather. Whereas the Honorable Board of control sit in judgment as to the necessities for outlay from this fund, the sum of $3,000 would not be extravagant, especially so when it is borne in mind that repairs to machinery, school furniture and industrial school apparatus are covered by this appropriation. COAL HOUSE. Situated some distance from railroad yards and switches, it becomes necessary to provide a supply of coal in greater quantities than for immediate use. To guard against contingencies arising from accidents, strikes, snow blockades, etc., is unquestionably the prompting of good policy. We have no store room facilities for coal except a limited space in front of the boilers and a temporary shed built out of old flooring as an inadequate makeshift. An addition to the boiler house and rear of same is recommended, affording permanent storage room for a reasonable supply of coal, the cost of which will as per estimate be $2,000. WATER CLOSETS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS. Owing to a want of funds at the time these buildings were erected the above necessary additions to same were not completed. The industrial school buildings, situated a distance from any other buildings on the grounds, are occupied daily by nearly 100 pupils, and the necessity for the improvement is consequently an urgent and accepted fact. The addition should be built of brick and carried to the second floor, including in the space a wash room for either story. As per estimates of the state architects the outlay for this much needed improvement to our industrial school building will not exceed $500. LIBRARY AND READING ROOM. Reading in an educational point of view is a paramount factor in every school for the deaf. It is through the eye our pupils gain information, and every facility should be accorded them to have access to useful books and instructive reading matter. The increasing publication of juvenile books, the replacing of worn out volumes, the necessary addition to the library of new books, all warrant the request of an appropriation of $400, to be expended in extending and increasing the facilities of library and reading rooms. This is the more urgent, as no recognition of this so very important auxiliary to our school was made since. the general assembly of 1898. LAUNDRY AND LAUNDRY MACHINERY. A well equipped laundry in an institution like ours is an absolute necessity. Our washing machines are old and have been |