that perfectly sound and healthy seed of whatever kind, is indispensable to the same qualities in the ripened grain. Now the best processes for an Iowa climate and soil, the most profitable stock for given purposes in this prairie State, the most economical materials and methods in feeding, and the most productive varieties of seed are all to be determined by accurate and careful experiments, whereof the results shall be published and sent broadcast. The Agricultural College has long desired to enter fully upon this great work, but, until now, the right man and adequate means for the enterprise were not forthcoming. Professor Knapp will commence systematic experimentation next spring and will make a public report of the outcome every fall thereafter. But, after defraying all the expenses of these experiments which can be legally paid out of the College interest fund, there will remain a limited outlay for which the State must provide. Two feeding barns of moderate size, one for hogs and the other for cattle, will be indispensable for testing the value of different foods under different methods of preparation. The comparatively small expense of erecting these buildings will fall upon the State, and no appropriation which the Legislature ever made will be surer of profitable returns. SUM TOTAL. The list of improvements mentioned above might seem to indicate that the aggregate of appropriations which the Trustees ask for will be large. To this we may reply that the College desires the State, in meeting its necessities for further buildings, to furnish only such moderate means as will secure strength and durability, rather than esthetic effect, and the sum total of the appropriations sought will consequently be comparatively moderate. A. S. WELCH, President. FINANCIAL REPORTS. APPROPRIATIONS OF THE SEVENTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. REPORT OF COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONSTRUCT COLLEGE SEWER. To the Board of Trustees: Your honorable body at its meeting in November, 1877, ordered: "That the Legislature be memorialized to appropriate the sum of $1,500 for building a new sewer. It being, however, a work that must be completed during the winter vacation, and one imperatively necessary for the health of students and others occupying the building, we would recommend that the College authorities borrow the money necessary to construct said sewer, and reimburse themselves when the appropriation shall be made by the Legislature to pay for said work; and that Professors Budd and Beal be authorized to make all purchases of material and superintend all work necessary to the construction of said sewer." Your committee would respectfully report that the work could not be commenced until after the close of the college in November, and the utmost despatch was required to complete the sewer in advance of severe winter freezing. The contract for furnishing the cement pipes was awarded to the Iowa Carbonated Stone Pipe Company, of Des Moines. The work of excavating and filling was divided into allotments and let to as many parties, in order to hasten the work. The most approved principles of sanitary engineering have been carefully considered during all the stages of construction. Appended will be found an exhibit of receipts and expenditures. As required by law, duplicate receipts have been taken for all moneys expended, which have been duly forwarded to the State Auditor. [Signed] 3 J. L. BUDD, F. E. L. BEAL, } Committee. EXHIBIT A. RECEIPTS. Amount received from State Treasurer on account of appropriation for new sewer......... $1,472.25 REPORT OF COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONSTRUCT HORTICULTURAL LABORATORY. To the Board of Trustees: The act of the Seventeenth General Assembly making an appropriation of the sum of $2,500.00 for the Horticultural Laboratory, not being available by the special provisions of the Act until 1879, induced your Honorable Body at its meeting in May, 1878, to appoint the undersigned as a committee to arrange plans for and erect the same, during the summer of 1878, with funds borrowed for the purpose. Your committee was met on the start with the usual difficulties growing out of a totally inadequate appropriation. The Legislature appropriated only five-twelfths of the amount-based upon careful estimates-asked for by the Board. This reduction compelled the committee to plan a cheap wooden structure for class room, office, seed room, specimen room, store room, etc., with attached propagating pits, grafting room, etc., of restricted size and cheap construction. In carrying out these modest plans, neither creditable to the College nor the State, the appropriation would still have been inadequate had not firms, in Clinton, Iowa, generously furnished the lumber, doors, sash, etc., at prices below dealers rates. Active competition also permitted letting the contracts for labor at hard times prices. Appended will be found an exhibit of receipts and expenditures. As required by law, duplicate receipts have been taken for all moneys expended, which have been duly forwarded to the State Auditor. [Signed] JOHN N. DIXON, Committee. |