In 1865, Mr. Faville reported that "the provision made by the State for the benefit of teachers' institutes has never been so fully appreciated, both by the people and the teachers, as during the last two years.

By act approved March 19, 1874, Normal Institutes were established in each county, to be held annually by the County Superintendent. This was regarded as a very decided step in advance by Mr. Abernethy, and in 1876 the Sixteenth General Assembly established the first permanent State Normal School at Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, appropriating the building and property of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at that place for that purpose. This school is now "in the full tide of successful experiment.'

The public school system of Iowa is admirably organized, and if the various officers who are entrusted with the educational interests of the commonwealth are faithful and competent, should and will constantly improve.

"The public schools are supported by funds arising from several sources. The sixteenth section of every Congressional Township was set apart by the General Government for school purposes, being one-thirty-sixth part of all the lands of the State. The minimum price of these lands was fixed at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Congress also made an additional donation to the State of five hundred thousand acres, and an appropriation of five per cent. on all the sales of public lands to the school fund. The State gives to this fund the proceeds of the sales of all lands which escheat to it; the proceeds of all fines for the violation of the liquor and criminal laws. The money derived from these sources constitutes the permanent school fund of the State, which cannot be diverted to any other purpose. The penalties collected by the courts for fines and forfeitures go to the school fund in the counties where collected. The proceeds of the sale of lands and the five per cent. fund go into the State Treasury, and the State distributes these proceeds to the several counties according to their request, and the counties loan the money to individuals for long terms at eight per cent. interest, on security of land valued at three times the amount of the loan, exclusive of all buildings and improvements thereon. The interest on these loans is paid into the State Treasury, and becomes the available school fund of the State. The counties are responsible to the State for all money so loaned, and the State is likewise responsible to the school fund for all moneys transferred to the counties. The interest on these loans is apportioned. by the State Auditor semi-annually to the several counties of the State, in proportion to the number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years. The counties also levy an annual tax for school purposes, which is apportioned to the several district townships in the same way. A district tax is also levied for the same purpose. The money arising from these several sources constitutes the support of the public schools, and is sufficient to enable every sub-district in the State to afford from six to nine months' school each year."

The taxes levied for the support of schools are self-imposed. Under the admirable school laws of the State, no taxes can be legally assessed or collected for the erection of school houses until they have been ordered by the election of the district at a school meeting legally called. The school houses of Iowa are the pride of the State and an honor to the people. If they have been sometimes built at a prodigal expense, the tax payers have no one to blame but themselves. The teachers' and contingent funds are determined by the Board of Directors under certain legal restrictions. These boards are elected annually, except in the independent districts, in which the board may be entirely changed every three years. The only exception to this mode of levying taxes for support

of schools is the county school tax, which is determined by the County Board of Supervisors. The tax is from one to three mills on the dollar; usually, however, but one. Mr. Abernethy, who was Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1872 to 1877, said in one of his reports:

There is but little opposition to the levy of taxes for the support of schools, and there would be still less if the funds were always properly guarded and judiciously expended. However much our people disagree upon other subjects, they are practically united upon this. The opposition of wealth has long since ceased to exist, and our wealthy men are usually the most liberal in their views and the most active friends of popular education. They are often found upon our school boards, and usually make the best of school officers. It is not uncommon for Boards of Directors, especially in the larger towns and cities, to be composed wholly of men who represent the enterprise, wealth and business of their cities.

At the close of 1877, there were 1,086 township districts, 3,138 independent districts and 7,015 sub-districts. There were 9,948 ungraded and 476 graded schools, with an average annual session of seven months and five days. There were 7,348 male teachers employed, whose average compensation was $34.88 per month, and 12,518 female teachers, with an average compensation of $28.69 per month.

The number of persons between the ages 5 and 21 years, in 1877, was 567,859; number enrolled in public schools, 421,163; total average attendance, 251,372; average cost of tuition per month, $1.62. There are 9,279 frame, 671 brick, 257 stone and 89 log school houses, making a grand total of 10,296, valued at $9,044,973. The public school libraries number 17,329 volumes. Ninety-nine teachers' institutes were held during 1877. Teachers' salaries amounted to $2,953,645. There was expended for school houses, grounds, libraries and apparatus, $1,106,788, and for fuel and other contingencies, $1,136,995, making the grand total of $5,197,428 expended by the generous people of Iowa for the support of their magnificent public schools in a single year. The amount of the permanent school fund, at the close of 1877, was $3,462,000. Annual interest, $276,960.

In 1857, there were 3,265 independent districts, 2,708 ungraded schools, and 1,572 male and 1,424 female teachers. Teachers' salaries amounted to $198,142, and the total expenditures for schools was only $364,515. Six hundred and twenty-three volumes were the extent of the public school libraries twenty years ago, and there were only 1,686 school houses, valued at $571,064. In twenty years, teachers' salaries have increased from $198,142, in 1857, to $2,953,645 in 1877. Total school expenditures, from $364,515 to $5,197,428.

The significance of such facts as these is unmistakable. Such lavish expenditures can only be accounted for by the liberality and public spirit of the people, all of whom manifest their love of popular education and their faith in the public schools by the annual dedication to their support of more than one per cent. of their entire taxable property; this, too, uninterruptedly through a series of years, commencing in the midst of a war which taxed their energies and resources to the extreme, and continuing through years of general depression in business years of moderate yield of produce, of discouragingly low prices, and even amid the scanty surroundings and privations of pioneer life. Few human enterprises have a grander significance or give evidence of a more noble purpose than the generous contributions from the scanty resources of the pioneer for the purposes of public education.

POLITICAL RECORD.

TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.

Governors-Robert Lucas, 1838-41; John Chambers, 1841-45; James Clarke, 1845.

Secretaries-William B. Conway, 1838, died 1839; James Clarke, 1839; O. H. W. Stull, 1841; Samuel J. Burr, 1843; Jesse Williams, 1845.

Auditors-Jesse Williams, 1840; Wm. L. Gilbert, 1843 Robert M. Secrest, 1845.

Treasurers-Thornton Bayliss, 1839; Morgan Reno, 1840.

Judges-Charles Mason, Chief Justice, 1838; Joseph Williams, 1838; Thomas S. Wilson, 1838.

Presidents of Council-Jesse B. Browne, 1838-9; Stephen Hempstead, 1839-40; M. Bainridge, 1840-1; Jonathan W. Parker, 1841-2; John D. Elbert, 1842-3; Thomas Cox, 1843-4; S. Clinton Hastings, 1845; Stephen Hempstead, 1845–6.

Speakers of the House-William H. Wallace, 1838-9; Edward Johnston, 1839-40; Thomas Cox, 1840-1; Warner Lewis, 1841-2; James M. Morgan, 1842-3; James P. Carleton, 1843-4; James M. Morgan, 1845; George W. McCleary, 1845-6.

First Constitutional Convention, 1844-Shepherd Leffler, President; Geo. S. Hampton, Secretary.

Second Constitutional Convention, 1846-Enos Lowe, President; William Thompson, Secretary.

OFFICERS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

Governors-Ansel Briggs, 1846 to 1850; Stephen Hempstead, 1850 to 1854; James W. Grimes, 1854 to 1858; Ralph P. Lowe, 1858 to 1860; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1860 to 1864; William M. Stone, 1864 to 1868; Samuel Morrill, 1868 to 1872; Cyrus C. Carpenter, 1872 to 1876; Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1876 to 1877; Joshua G. Newbold, Acting, 1877 to 1878; John H. Gear, 1878 to

Lieutenant Governor-Office created by the new Constitution September 3, 1857-Oran Faville, 1858-9; Nicholas J. Rusch, 1860-1; John R. Needham, 1862-3; Enoch W. Eastman, 1864-5; Benjamin F. Gue, 1866-7; John Scott, 1868-9; M. M. Walden, 1870-1; H. C. Bulis, 1872-3; Joseph Dysart, 1874-5; Joshua G. Newbold, 1876-7; Frank T. Campbell, 1878-9.

Secretaries of State-Elisha Cutler, Jr., Dec. 5, 1846, to Dec. 4, 1848; Josiah H. Bonney, Dec. 4, 1848, to Dec. 2, 1850; George W. McCleary, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 1, 1856; Elijah Sells, Dec. 1, 1856, to Jan. 5, 1863; James Wright, Jan. 5, 1863, to Jan. 7, 1867; Ed. Wright, Jan. 7, 1867, to Jan. 6, 1873; Josiah T. Young, Jan. 6, 1873, to

Auditors of State-Joseph T. Fales, Dec. 5, 1846, to Dec. 2, 1850; William Pattee, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 4, 1854; Andrew J. Stevens, Dec. 4, 1854, resigned in 1855; John Pattee, Sept. 22, 1855, to Jan. 3, 1859; Jonathan W. Cattell, 1859 to 1865; John A. Elliot, 1865 to 1871; John Russell, 1871 to 1875; Buren R. Sherman, 1875 to

Treasurers of State-Morgan Reno, Dec. 18, 1846, to Dec. 2, 1850; Israel Kister, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 4, 1852; Martin L. Morris, Dec. 4, 1852, to Jan. 2, 1859; John W. Jones, 1859 to 1863; William H. Holmes, 1863 to

1867; Samuel E. Rankin, 1867 to 1873; William Christy, 1873 to 1877; George W. Bemis, 1877 to

Superintendents of Public Instruction--Office created in 1847--James Harlan, June 5, 1845 (Supreme Court decided election void); Thomas H. Benton, Jr., May 23, 1844, to June 7, 1854; James D. Eads, 1854-7; Joseph C. Stone, March to June, 1857; Maturin L. Fisher, 1857 to Dec., 1858, when the office was abolished and the duties of the office devolved upon the Secretary of the Board of Education.

Secretaries of Board of Education-Thomas H. Benton, Jr., 1859-1863; Oran Faville, Jan. 1, 1864. Board abolished March 23, 1864.

Superintendents of Public Instruction-Office re-created March 23, 1864Oran Faville, March 28, 1864, resigned March 1, 1867; D. Franklin Wells, March 4, 1867, to Jan., 1870; A. S. Kissell, 1870 to 1872; Alonzo Abernethy, 1872 to 1877; Carl W. Von Coelln, 1877 to

State Binders-Office created February 21, 1855-William M. Coles, May 1, 1855, to May 1, 1859; Frank M. Mills, 1859 to 1867; James S. Carter, 1867 to 1870; J. J. Smart, 1870 to 1874; H. A. Perkins, 1874 to 1875; James J. Smart, 1875 to 1876; H. A. Perkins, 1876 to

Registers of the State Land Office-Anson Hart, May 5, 1855, to May 13, 1857; Theodore S. Parvin, May 13, 1857, to Jan. 3, 1859; Amos B. Miller, Jan. 3, 1859, to October, 1862; Edwin Mitchell, Oct. 31, 1862, to Jan 5, 1863; Josiah A. Harvey, Jan. 5, 1863, to_Jan. 7, 1867; Cyrus C. Carpenter, Jan. 7, 1867, to January, 1871; Aaron Brown, January, 1871, to to January, 1875; David Secor, January, 1875, to

State Printers-Office created Jan. 3, 1840-Garrett D. Palmer and George Paul, 1849; William H. Merritt, 1851 to 1853; William A. Hornish, 1853 (resigned May 16, 1853); Mahoney & Dorr, 1853 to 1855; Peter Moriarty, 1855 to 1857; John Teesdale, 1857 to 1861; Francis W. Palmer, 1861 to 1869; Frank M. Mills, 1869 to 1870; G. W. Edwards, 1870 to 1872; R. P. Clarkson, 1872 to

Adjutants General-Daniel S. Lee, 1851-5; Geo. W. McCleary, 1855–7; Elljah Sells, 1857; Jesse Bowen, 1857-61; Nathaniel Baker, 1861 to 1877; John H. Looby, 1877 to

Attorneys General-David C. Cloud, 1853-56; Samuel A. Rice, 1856-60; Charles C. Nourse, 1861-4; Isaac L. Allen, 1865 (resigned January, 1866); Frederick E. Bissell, 1866 (died June 12, 1867); Henry O'Connor, 1867–72; Marsena E. Cutts, 1872-6; John F. McJunkin, 1877.

Presidents of the Senate-Thomas Baker, 1846-7; Thomas Hughes, 1848; John J. Selman, 1848-9; Enos Lowe, 1850-1; William E. Leffingwell, 1852-3; Maturin L. Fisher, 1854-5; William W. Hamilton, 1856-7. Under the new Constitution, the Lieutenant Governor is President of the Senate.

Speakers of the House-Jesse B. Brown, 1847-8; Smiley H. Bonhan, 1849-50; George Temple, 1851-2; James Grant, 1853-4; Reuben Noble, 1855-6; Samuel McFarland, 1856-7; Stephen B. Sheledy, 1858-9; John Edwards, 1860-1; Rush Clark, 1862-3; Jacob Butler, 1864-5; Ed. Wright, 1866-7; John Russell, 1868-9; Aylett R. Cotton, 1870-1; James Wilson, 1872-3; John H. Gear, 1874-7; John Y. Stone, 1878.

New Constitutional Convention, 1859-Francis Springer, President; Thos. J. Saunders, Secretary.

STATE OFFICERS, 1878.

John H. Gear, Governor; Frank T. Campbell, Lieutenant Governor; Josiah T. Young, Secretary of State; Buren R. Sherman, Auditor of State; George W. Bemis, Treasurer of State; David Secor, Register of State Land Office; John H. Looby, Adjutant General; John F. McJunken, Attorney General; Mrs. Ada North, State Librarian; Edward J. Holmes, Clerk Supreme Court; John S. Runnells, Reporter Supreme Court; Carl W. Von Coelln, Superintendent Public Instruction; Richard P. Clarkson, State Printer; Henry A. Perkins, State Binder; Prof. Nathan R. Leonard, Superintendent of Weights and Measures; William H. Fleming, Governor's Private Secretary; Fletcher W. Young, Deputy Secretary of State; John C. Parish, Deputy Auditor of State; Erastus G. Morgan, Deputy Treasurer of State; John M. Davis, Deputy Register Land Office; Ira C. Kling, Deputy Superintendent Public Instruction.

THE JUDICIARY.

SUPREME COURT OF IOWA.

Chief Justices.-Charles Mason, resigned in June, 1847; Joseph Williams, Jan., 1847, to Jan., 1848; S. Clinton Hastings, Jan., 1848, to Jan., 1849; Joseph Williams, Jan., 1849, to Jan. 11, 1855; Geo. G. Wright, Jan. 11, 1855, to Jan., 1860; Ralph P. Lowe, Jan., 1860, to Jan. 1, 1862; Caleb Baldwin, Jan., 1862, to Jan., 1864; Geo. G. Wright, Jan., 1864, to Jan., 1866; Ralph P. Lowe, Jan., 1866, to Jan., 1868; John F. Dillon, Jan., 1868, to Jan., 1870; Chester C. Cole, Jan. 1, 1870, to Jan. 1, 1871; James G. Day, Jan. 1, 1871, to Jan. 1, 1872; Joseph M. Beck, Jan. 1, 1872, to Jan. 1, 1874; W. E. Miller, Jan. 1, 1874, to Jan. 1, 1876; Chester C. Cole, Jan. 1, 1876, to Jan. 1, 1877; James G. Day, Jan. 1, 1877, to Jan. 1, 1878; James H. Rothrock, Jan. 1, 1878.

Associate Judges.-Joseph Williams; Thomas S. Wilson, resigned Oct., 1847; John F. Kinney, June 12, 1847, resigned Feb. 15, 1854; George Greene, Nov. 1, 1847, to Jan. 9, 1855; Jonathan C. Hall, Feb. 15, 1854, to succeed Kinney, resigned, to Jan., 1855; William G. Woodward, Jan. 9, 1855; Norman W. Isbell, Jan. 16, 1855, resigned 1856; Lacen D. Stockton, June 3, 1856, to succeed Isbell, resigned, died June 9, 1860; Caleb Baldwin, Jan. 11, 1860, to 1864; Ralph P. Lowe, Jan. 12, 1860; George G. Wright, June 26, 1860, to succeed Stockton, deceased; elected U. S. Senator, 1870; John F. Dillon, Jan. 1, 1864, to succeed Baldwin, resigned, 1870; Chester C. Cole, March 1, 1864, to 1877; Joseph M. Beck, Jan. 1, 1868; W. E. Miller, October 11, 1864, to succeed Dillon, resigned; James G. Day, Jan. 1, 1871, to succeed Wright.

SUPREME COUrt, 1878.

James H. Rothrock, Cedar County, Chief Justice; Joseph M. Beck, Lee County, Associate Justice; Austin Adams, Dubuque County, Associate Justice; William H. Seevers, Oskaloosa County, Associate Justice; James G. Day, Fremont County, Associate Justice.

CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.

UNITED STATES SENATORS.

(The first General Assembly failed to elect Senators.)

George W. Jones, Dubuque, Dec. 7, 1848-1858; Augustus C. Dodge, Burlington, Dec. 7, 1848-1855; James Harlan, Mt. Pleasant, Jan. 6, 1855-1865; James W. Grimes, Burlington, Jan. 26, 1858-died 1870; Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa City, elected Jan. 13, 1866, to fill vacancy caused by resignation of James