502 



MINNESOTA. 



1868 was 81,696. Showing a gratifying increase of 

 15,887 over 1867. 



The whole number of teachers in 1868, in both 

 summer and winter schools, was 3,276. Increase 

 over 1867, 691. Amount paid teachers in 1868, $322,- 

 785.16. Increase in the year, $67,798. Value of 

 school-houses in the State in 1868, $1,091,559.42. In- 

 crease for the year, $345,168.42. The cost of school- 

 houses built in 1868, $288,687.37. . 



"Whole amount received from the school fund in 

 1868, $245,943.13. Increase for the year, $78,079.60. 



Whole amount received from taxes voted by districts 

 in 1868, $369,278.35. Increase for the year, $143,606.16. 



Whole amount expended for school purposes in 

 1868, $805,369.05. Increase for the year, $68,836.68. 



The report says : "Minnesota has a larger 

 number of school-houses than any other State 

 in the Union, of the same population and tax- 

 able property. Her total expenditures for 

 school purposes during the last two years ex- 

 ceed $1,500,000, and her school-houses have 

 already cost over $1,000,000." 



Three normal schools, destined to the train- 

 ing of future teachers for the common schools, 

 have also been established at different points 

 in the State, the first two of which were at- 

 tended last year by 164 students ; the third one 

 is entering now upon its course of operation. 



The State University bids fair to become the 

 brighest ornament, as well as an invaluable 

 source of utility to Minnesota. Last year it 

 was attended by 109 students ; but till now it 

 has been preparing, as it were, a thorough 

 organization for a complete and permanent 

 institution. During the last year's session 

 of the Legislature, a bill was introduced in 

 the Senate purporting to reorganize the 

 State University, and transferring to it the 

 eighty - six thousand acres of land previ- 

 ously granted by the State for an agricultural 

 college, together with the obligation of meet- 

 ing the requirements of the grant. This bill 

 passed the Senate on February 12, 1868, and 

 the House of Kepresentatives on the 17th of 

 the same month. On account of the new de- 

 partment thus added to the university, a suit- 

 able tract of land near its site has lately been 

 purchased for an experimental farm. Accord- 

 ing to the report of its regents, the university 

 will be opened at the beginning of the next 

 term, and fully enter into " tbe classical, scien- 

 tific, and agricultural courses." 



Forty-six thousand acres of land were granted 

 by Congress to Minnesota " for a Territorial 

 University," in 1851, and as many "for a State 

 University " in 1857", when the people of that 

 Territory were enabled to form a State gov- 

 ernment. Though the Commissioner of the 

 General Land-Office, and the Secretary of the 

 Interior, would regard the second grant to be 

 not an addition to, but only a confirmation of 

 the first, yet a bill declaring that the two grants 

 are distinct, and the lands of both assigned by 

 the Federal Government to the University of 

 Minnesota, "passed the Senate just before the 

 close of the last session of Congress, and is now 

 before the House, and its passage is confidently 

 expected." 



The debts of the university, amounting in the 

 aggregate to $125,000, were paid with the pro- 

 ceeds of the sale of 14,000 acres of the 1851 

 grant, and 8,277 more acres of its lands were 

 sold last year for $50,462.38, which has been 

 invested as a permanent fund. The land re- 

 maining at present to the university, from the 

 two grants of Congress, and that of the State 

 for the agricultural course, is 164,000 acres, esti- 

 mated at $1,000,000. 



Its receipts in 1868 were $8,319.55, and the 

 disbursements $7,693.50. No appropriation is 

 asked for it; as it is expected "that the income 

 will be sufficient for all ordinary expenses." A 

 library and apparatus, however, which the re- 

 gents represent to be urgently needed, the 

 Governor says, " if it is consistent with other 

 demands on the treasury, should be supplied 

 by the State." 



The State Historical Society, which now oc- 

 cupies the basement of the capitol fitted up for 

 it, is praised by the Governor on account of 

 the progress made by it during 1868. He rec- 

 ommends its wants to the Legislature, and also 

 a further appropriation of $500 for the State 

 Library in order to enable it to increase the 

 number of volumes in its law department, 

 which, he says, " should be well kept up," and 

 is in fact of the greatest importance to the public. 



The State charitable institutions seem to be 

 well taken care of. The Governor recom- 

 mends appropriations necessary to complete 

 the buildings destined for the reception and 

 treatment of the insane the place wherein 

 they are at present temporarily kept at an ex- 

 pense of above $31,000 in 1868, and an esti- 

 mated one of $10,000 more for 1869, being un- 

 healthy, because not large enough, and wanting 

 the accommodations required for their comfort. 



He expresses his gratification in regard to 

 the Institute of the Deaf and Dumb and the 

 Blind, speaking of its conduct and management 

 as well as of the treatment and progress of the 

 inmates in their respective conditions as leav- 

 ing little or nothing to wish for them. He rec- 

 ommends a workshop in the asylum, that its 

 inmates, when they leave it, may take care of 

 themselves. 



The Governor speaks of the Normal Reform 

 School and the thirty-six juvenile criminals who 

 are its inmates in this, the first year of its estab- 

 lishment. By steadily pursuing such a course 

 in its management and discipline as is now 

 in operation, which he pronounces to be per- 

 fect, he confidently hopes that the erring youth 

 will be there both reformed and educated to 

 become useful members of society. The ex- - 

 penses of this institution in 1868 were" $6, 000, 

 and for 1869 are estimated at $8,000. He rec- 

 ommends increased building accommodations, 

 as needed. 



The number of convicts in the State Prison 

 at the end of November, 1868, was 43, three 

 less than in 1867 at tbe same date. The Gov- 

 ernor states that the number of convicts re- 

 ceived in 1868 was 31. The discharged, on ex- 



