The present capitol building is a beautiful specimen of modern architecture. Its dimensions are, in general, 246 x 364 feet, with a dome and spire extending up to a height of 275 feet. In 1870 the General Assembly made an appropriation, and provided for the appointment of a board of commissioners to commence the work of building. They were duly appointed and proceeded to work, laying the corner-stone with appropriate ceremonies, November 23, 1871. The structure is not yet completed. When finished it will have cost about $3,500,000.

      The State University, at Iowa City, was established there in 1858, immediately after the removal of the capital to Des Moines. As had already been planned, it occupied the old capitol building. As early as January, 1849, two branches of the university were established — one at Fairfield and one at Dubuque. At Fairfield, the board of directors organized and erected a building at a cost of $2,500. This was nearly destroyed by a hurricane the following year, but was rebuilt more substantially by the citizens of Fairfield. This branch never received any aid from the State, and January 24, 1853, at the request of the board, the General Assembly terminated its relation to the State. The branch at Dubuque had only a nominal existence.

      By act of Congress, approved July 20, 1840, two entire townships of land were set apart in this State for the support of a university. The Legislature of this State placed the management of this institution in the hands of a board of fifteen trustees, five to be chosen (by the Legislature) every two years, the superintendent of public instruction to be president of the board. This board was also to appoint seven trustees for each of the three normal schools, to be simultaneously established — one each at Andrew, Oskaloosa and Mt. Pleasant. One was never started at the last-named place, and after a feeble existence for short time the other two were discontinued. The university itself was closed during 1859-’60, for want of funds.

      The law department was established in June, 1868, and soon afterward the Iowa Law School at Des Moines, which had been in successful operation for three years, was transferred to Iowa City and merged in the department. The medical department was established in 1869; and in 1874 a chair of military instruction was added.

      Since April 11, 1870, the government of the university has been in the hands of a board of regents. The present faculty comprises forty-two professors, and the attendance 560 students.

      The State Agricultural College is located at Ames, in Story County, being established by the legislative act of March 23, 1858. In 1862 Congress granted to Iowa 240,000 acres of land for the endowment of schools of agriculture and the mechanic arts. The main building was completed in 1868, and the institution opened the following year. Tuition is free to pupils from the State over sixteen years of age. The college farm comprises 860 acres, of which a major portion is in cultivation. Professors, twenty-two; scholars, 319.

      The Deaf and Dumb Institute was established in 1855, at Iowa City, but was afterward removed to Council Bluffs, to a tract of ninety acres of land two miles south of that city. In October, 1870, the main building and one wing were completed and occupied. In February, 1877, fire destroyed the main building and east wing, and during the summer following a tornado partially demolished the west wing. It is at present (1885) manned with fifteen teachers, and attended by 292 pupils.

      The College for the Blind has been at Vinton since 1862. Prof. Samuel Bacon, himself blind, a fine scholar, who had founded the Institution for the Blind, at Jacksonville, Illinois, commenced as early as 1852 a school of instruction at Keokuk. The next year the institution was adopted by the State and moved to Iowa City, with Prof. Bacon as principal. It was moved thence, in 1862, to Vinton. The building was erected and the college manned at vast expenditure of money. It is said that $282,000 were expended upon the building alone, and that it required an outlay of $5,000 a year to heat it, while it had accommodations for 130 inmates. At present, however, they have accommodations for more pupils, with an attendance of 132. There are eleven teachers. The annual legislative appropriation is $8,000, besides $128 per year for each pupil.

      The first Iowa Hospital for the Insane was established by an act of the Legislature approved January 24, 1855. It is located at Mt. Pleasant, where the building was completed in 1861, at a cost of $258,555. Within the first three months 100 patients were admitted, and before the close of October, 1877, an aggregate of 3,684 had been admitted. In April, 1876, a portion of the building was destroyed by fire. At this institution there are now ninety-four superintendents and assistants, in charge of 472 patients.

      Another Hospital for the Insane, at Independence, was opened May 1, 1873, in a building which cost $88,114. The present number of inmates is 580, in the care of 111 superintendents and employes.

      The Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home is located at Davenport. It was originated by Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer, during the late war, who called a convention for the purpose at Muscatine, September 7, 1863, and July 13 following the institution was opened in a brick building at Lawrence, Van Buren County. It was sustained by voluntary contributions until 1866, when the State took charge of it. The Legislature provided at first for three “homes.” The one in Cedar Falls was organized in 1865, and old hotel building being fitted up for it, and by the following January there were ninety-six inmates. In October, 1869, the Home was removed to a large brick building about two miles west of Cedar Falls, and was very prosperous for several years; but in1876 the Legislature devoted this building to the State Normal School, and the buildings and grounds of the Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home at Glenwood, Mills County, to an institution for the support of feeble-minded children, and also provided for the removal of the soldiers’ orphans at the Glenwood and Cedar Falls homes to the institution at Davenport. The latter has now in charge 169 orphans.

      The Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children, referred to above, is at Glenwood, established by the Legislature in March, 1876. The intuition was opened September 1, following, with a few pupils; but now the attendance is 215, is the care of four teachers. This asylum is managed by three trustees, one of whom must be a resident of that county, Mills.

      The first penitentiary was established in 1841, near Fort Madison, its present location. The cost of the original building was $55,934, and its capacity was sufficient for 138 convicts. At present there are at this prison 364 convicts, in charge of forty-three employes.

      The penitentiary at Anamosa was established in 1872-‘3. It now has 239 convicts and thirty-four employes.

      The boys’ reform school was permanently located at Eldora, Hardin County, in 1872. For the three years previous it was kept at the building of the Iowa Manual Labor Institute at Salem, Henry County. Only boys between seven and sixteen years of age are admitted. Credit of time for good conduct is given, so that occasionally one is discharged before he is of age. There are now (1885) 201 pupils here.

      The “girls’ department” is at Mitchellville, similarly managed. Inmates, eight-three.

      The State Historical Society is in part supported by the State, the Governor appointing nine of the eighteen curators. This society was provided for in connection with the University, by legislative act of January 28, 1857, and it has published a series of valuable collections, and a large number of finely engraved portraits of prominent and early settlers.

      The State Agricultural Society is conducted under the auspices of the State, and is one of the greatest promoters of the welfare of the people among all the State organizations. It holds an annual fair at Des Moines, and its proceedings are also published annually, at the expense of the State.

      The Fish-Hatching House has been successfully carrying on its good work since its establishment in 1874, near Anamosa. Three fish commissioners are appointed, one for each of the three districts into which the State is for the purpose divided.

      The State Board of Health, established in 1880, has an advisory supervision, and to a limited extent also a police supervision, over the health of the people, especially with reference to the abatement of those nuisances that are most calculated to promulgate dangerous and contagious diseases. Their publications, which are made at the expense of the State, should be studied by every citizen.

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