USA > Illinois > Atlas of the State of Illinois, to which are added various general maps, history, statistics and illustrations > Part 18
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The Loess is a fine mechanical sediment that seems to have accumulated in a quiet lake or other body of fresh water. It is composed 'of brown, buff or ashen gray marly sands and elays, and contains numerous land and fresh water shells of the same species with those inhabiting the land and waters of the adjacent region. Its thickness is variable, ranging from five to sixty feet or more, and its greatest development is along the bluffs of the principal rivers, from whence it thins out rapidly toward the summit level of the interior. It is not, however, restricted entirely to the bluffs of the streams, but is also found in the interior of the State, covering wide areas. It is usually distinctly stratified, and at Quiney there is a chocolate-colored band nearly a foot in thickness, just at the bottom of the Loess, which resembles an original surface sou. There are, however, no true drift deposits helow it at that locality, and nothing to show that this ancient soil, if it is such, may not be the Post-tertiary soil already deseribed. At any rate, no other exposure of a soil-like stratum has been seen underlying the Loess anywhere else in the State, and in the vicinity of Springfield, where hundreds of excavations have been made through the Loess in digging wells, cellars and foundations, no trace of an ancient soil, such as underlies the drift, has been seen. Along the river bluffs, where the surface is rolling, this deposit exerts a decided influence on the character of the soul, rendering it porous and easily drained, and adapts it to the growth of fruit trees, vines, etc., which flourish more luxuri- antly and produce moro abundantly than ou the prairie soils. The fossils to be found in the Locss cousist of the teeth and bones of extinct Mammalia, such as the mammoth, mastodon, horse, megalonyx, otter, etc., with the stone implements of primeval man and living species of fresh water and land shells.
The term Alluvium is usually restricted to the deposits formning tho bottom lands of the rivers and smaller streams, They consist of irregularly stratified sand, elay and loam, which are frequently found in alternate layers, and contain more or less organic matter from the decomposed animal and vegetable substances that are imbedded therein, forming the rieli, loamy soils of our bottom lands. These bottom lands on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers rango from one to two miles iu width, and, when sufficiently elevated, constitute the richeat and most productive farming lands in the State.
STATE EDUCATION.
CHURCHES.
The last national census furuishes the only trustworthy statisties relative to the religious organizations of the State aud the strength of the respective branches of the Christian church. Illinois is credited with 4,298 organizations, 3,481 edifices and property valued at $22,664,283. The Methodists largely out- number the other denominations, baving 1,426 organizations, and sittings for 357,000 people. MeLean County has 41 Methodist Churches, Cook 35, aud Fulton, Jefforson and Wayne, 30 euch. Second in numerical strength come the Baptists, with 722 societies, and religious facilities for 181,484 persons. Cook County leads off with 33 churches, Saline 23 and Macoupin 20. Third in strength is the Presbyteriau sect, its eburebes in the State numbering 595, and their sit- tings 184,849. Of these Cook County is credited with 25, and Marion and Sangamon with 16. Next is the Christian seet, with 350 organizations, of which 14 are in Adams County, 13 in Clay and 12 each in Crawford, Cumberland and MeLean. Fifth comes the Catholie Chureb, with 290 edi- fiees, and accommodations for 136,900 people; Cook County having 42 churches, La Salle and Madison 12 caeh, and St. Clair 11. The Lutherans have 230 societies, 20 of which are in Cook; and the Congregationalists 212, of which Cook has 21 and Kane 13. The United Brethren in Christ are eredited with 125 churches, of which Cumberland County has 13 and Macon 11. The Protestant Episcopal Church is not represented hy statisties, but has a large membership iu the northern part of the State. At the present writing, there are in the Diocese of Illinois 96 parishes, 83 clergy, and a membership of 20,000; Chieago has 12 churches, and Peoria and Quincy 2 each. The newest seet, called the Reformed Episcopalians, had their origin in Chicago, through the dis- cipline sought to be imposed upon Rev. Charles Edward Cheney, by the late Bishop Whitehouse. Strong organiza- tions exist at Chicago and Peoria, and the founding of a university near the former city is in active progress. The different ehuren organizations of Cook County number 239, of McLean, 108; of Adams, 97; and of La Salle, 90. Compared with the other States, Illinois is led only by Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York in societies and edifices.
EDUCATIONAL.
FROM THE BIENNIAL REPORT OF HON. NEWTON BATEMAN, SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
The leading features of the school system of Illinois may be comprehensively noted as follows :
I. TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS.
In respect to territorial limits our system embraces, 1. The State.
2. The County.
.3. The Township.
4. The District,
Of these, the first three are fixed and unchangeable; the District is ot variable extent, and subject to great and frequent changes.
The term " Township," as used in our school laws, and in all discussions concerning them, " identical with the Congres- sional township established by government surveys, and is always to be understood as meaning & tract of land, square in form, of uuiform extent, containing thirty-six square miles or " seetions," and twenty-three thousand and forty acres.
The school "district," under our system, is aterm of variable meaning, as to territorial extent, conveying in itself no definite idea of the amount of land embraced. It is in area just what the Township Trustees see fitto make it, and may be formed from parts of two or more contiguous townships, or even counties, and the boundaries may he changed semi-annually.
II. THE OFFICERS.
1. For the State, a State Superintendent of Publio Instruc- tion, having the general supervision of the whole system, with the necessary executive powers; elceted by the people at a gen- eral election ; holding his offico for the term of four years, and reporting biennially to the Governor.
2. For tho County, a County Superintendent of Schools, having the general supervision of all common schools and school business in the county ; invested with solo power to ex-
amine and license teachers ; elceted by the people at a general election ; holding his office for four years, and reporting annu- ally to the State Superintendent.
3. For the Township, a board of three Trustees, having in charge tho school interests and business of the township, espe- cially the establishing and changing of school districts and dis- triet houndaries, and the apportionment of school funds; elected by the popular vote, one each year; holding their office for three yoars, aud reporting annually, through their Clerk and Treasurer, to the County Superintendent of Schools.
4. For the District, a hoard of three Directors, who employ and pay all teachers; provide and furnish all school houses and grounds; levy such taxes as may be necessary to support the schools and defray incidental expenses ; attend generally to all the common school interests and business of their respective distriets; hold their offico for three years, and report annually, through their Clerk, to the township board of Trustees.
III. THIE SCHOOLS.
1. Are absolutely free ; no rate hill or tuition fee is imposed, or ever has been, or legally can he.
2. They must be sustained iu all the districts for at least six months in each year; this is a condition precedent te par- tieipation in the public funds.
3. They may be kept open longer than six months annu- ally, if the publie funds are sufficient for the purpose, or if the people vote a tax for such extension.
4. They are for the purpose of teaching tho elementary hranehes of an English education, viz. : orthography, reading, penmanship, arithmetic, grammar, geography and history of the United States, none of which branches can legally be excluded from any district school in the State. But other and higher branches may be introduced when, in the judgment of the Directors, the best interests of the schools and the wisher of the community warrant the teaching of such higher branches and this liberality is largely used, and with the best results.
IV. THIE TEACHERS.
1. Must he of good moral character, and qualified to teach all of tho seven branches enumerated in tho last paragraph.
2. They must obtain a certificate of qualifications, as above, from the School Superintendent of the county in which they are to teach. The possession of such certificate is absolutely essen- tial; without it no publie or other school fund can legally be paid to any common school teacher in the State, nor can any teacher be legally employed by any board of Directors, unless he possess such ecrtaficate.
3. There are three grades of teachers' certificates. A State certificate, of perpetual validity, granted, on public examina- tion, by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, to teachers of eminent ability and successful experience ; a first- grade certificate issued by the County Superintendent, valid in the county for two years ; and a second-grado certificate, also issued by the County Superintendent, and valid in the county for one year.
4. Teachers must keep schedules of all pupils, noting names, ages, residenec, attendance, ete., according to a form prescribed in the statute ; and the keeping of such schedules is also an essential condition of receiving any portion of the pub- lic funds.
5. They are entitled to interest at the rate of ten per centum per annum upon all balances due and unpaid at the time pre- scribed by law for payment.
V .- THE PUPILS.
1. Must be between the ages of 6 and 21 years, and bona fidle residents of the district where they attend school.
2. But children may attend school in a different distriet from that in which they reside, upon the consent, in writing, of both boards of Directors-and on no other conditions.
3. Persons over 21 may he admitted, at the diseretion of the Directors and upon payment of such tuition fee as they may prescribe; provided, that no legal school-going child is thereby exeluded or incommoded. But no scholar over 21 or under 6 can, in any case, be entered in the schedule upon which the public funds are apportioned, or be allowed in any way to af- feet or change such apportionment; nor can a child of lawful school nge be in any case excluded, or expelled when admitted, except for persistent misconduct in school.
4. Returned soldiers who, during the late war, entered the army while in their minority, are permitted to attend, free, any
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publie school in the distriets where they severally reside, for a length of time equal to the portion of their minority spent in the military service of the United States.
VI .- THE SCHOOL FUNDS.
The principal of the permaneut school fund of the State is made up of tho following items:
1. School Fund proper, heing three per centum of the net proceeds of the sale of tbe publie lands within the State, one- sixth oxeepted, $613,362.96.
2. Surplus Revenue, being a portion of the money received by the State from the United States and added to the school fund, by act of the Ifegislature, 8335,592.32.
3. College Fund, being one-sixth of the three per cent. fuud, 8156,613.32.
4. Seminary Fund, being the proceeds of the sale of the seminary lands, 859.838.72.
The aggregate of the above surus, amounting to $1,165,- 407.32, is loaned to the State, which pays interest"thereon ut the rate of six per centum per annum, the annual interest re- ceived being $69,924.43."
5. County Fund, being surplus of State Fund distributed to counties, under the aet of February 7, 1835, since repealed, $309,899.
6. Township Fuad, being the net proceeds of the sale of the sixteenth, or school seetion, in each township, $4,873,232.
The aggregate of the county and township fund is 85,183,- 131, which is kept loaned at ten per centum per annum, yield- ing an annual revenue of $432,432.
The grand total of the principal of the permanent school fund is therefore $6,348,538.32, and the annual income de- rived therefrom is 8502,356.43.
7. State Tax Funds, being the net amount arising from the levy of two mills on every dollar's valuation of taxable property in the State ; amount for 1874, $1,021,970.
8. District Tax Funds, being the amount raised by special local tax in the respective distriets of tho State; amount for 1874, $5,658,183.
9. Fines and Forfeitures, etc., being the amount collected from fines, forfeitures and penalties, imposed or incurred in courts of record, or before Justices of the Peace, and added by law to the school fund, for annual distribution; amount col- lected in 1874, $9,956.
Adding the interest paid by the State; the interest accruing from the county and townsbip funds ; the amounts derived from State and district taxes; from fines and forfeitures, sales of sehool lands, and miscellaneous sonrees, and we have, as the grand total of distributable revenue for 1874 the sum of 89,292,516.
How Collected .- All loeal district school taxes, as well as the State school tax, are collected by a general law, and by the same officers, and at the same time and manner as the ordinary State revenues are collected.
Channels of Disbursement .- The publie school fund goes from the State Auditor, hy warrant, to the County Superinten- dent of Schools; from the County Superintendent, to the Township Treasurer; and from the Township Treasurer to the Directors of the local districts.
Bases of Appointment .- The Auditor apportions the fund to counties, on the basis of one-third, according to territory, and two-thirds, according to the number of white children under twenty years of age. County Superintendents distribute the fund to townships, on the basis of one-third on territory, and two-thirds on the number of white children under twenty-one years of age. Township Trustees divide the fund among the districts, on the basis of one-half on the number of children under twenty-one years of age, and the other half in proportion to the grand total number of days' attendance certified in the schedules of teachers.
Such is an outline of the school system of Illinois. Though by no means perfect, it is, upon the whole, an excellent system. During the thirteen years of its operation, it has dispensed blessings to the State which ao pen can record. Confrouted, at the beginning, by the most formidable obstaeles, by apathy, indifferenco and prejudice, it has steadily won its way to the respect, confidence aad attachment of the people. In all the financial storms and straits through which the State has passed since the adoption of the system, no hand bas been laid upon its consecrated funds. Tho principal defcets are none of them vital, and with time and prudenee they may all be removed, and the system rendered as nearly faultless as human wisdom can
STATE EDUCATION.
make it. What good man will not labor to this end, and thus send the freo school, with all its gracious benefits, down to fu- ture generations ?
The present Board of Education is as follows:
Hon. SAMUEL. W. MOULTON, Shelbyville, President ; Hon. SAMUEL M. ETTEn, Springfield, er officio a member and Secretary ; CALVIN GOUDY, M. D., Taylorville; Hon. WILLIAM II. GREEN, Cairo; BENAIAH G. ROOTS, Esq., Tamaron ; Thomas R. LRAL, Esq., Urbana; GRO. C. CLARKE, Esq., Chienga : N. E. WORTHINGTON, Esq., Peoria; Exoon A. GAST- MAN, Esq., Decutur : EDWARD L. WELLS, Esq., Oregon ; CHARLES F. NOKTLINO, Esq., Belleville ; JOSEPH CANTER, Esq., Normal ; J. C. KNICKERBOCKER, Esq., Chicago ; II. HARRISON IlILL, Esq., Pontiac; IIon. RienAND S. CANDY, Olacy ; and C. W. HornEn, Esq., Blooming- ton, Treasurer.
STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY.
This institution, which is situated at Normal, McLean County, is for the education of teachers for the Public Schools of the State. It is governed by the " Board of Education of the State of Illinois," consisting of fifteen members. The State Superintendent of Publio Instruction is, ex officio, a mem- ber and the Secretary. The other fourteen members are ap- pointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate, the term of office being six years. One-third of the Board, or as near it as may be, go out of office every two years. Every county in Illinois is entitled to gratuitous instruction for two pupils, and every representative distriet for one. Instruction is given in language, science, mathematies, and especially in the theory and practice of tenehing. Every student receiving gratuitous instruetion is required to sign a written pledge to teaeb in Illinois.
Beside the professional school just referred to, there is a school for general culture ealled the Model School. In this, tuition fees are charged. The classes in the Model School are taught to a great extent by the pupils of the professional de- partment. The Model School bas three grades : The High School, with an extended and thorough course of linguistic and scientifie studies ; the Grammar School . the Intermediate and Primary School.
In a'l departments the students are of both sexes. The faculty at present is
RICHARD EDWARDS, LL. D., President, Professor of Mental Sci- ence and Didactics ; EawIN C. HEWETT, A. MI., Professor of History ; JOSEPH A. SEWALL, M. D., Professor of Natural Science; THOMAS METCALF, A. M., Traialag Teacher ; ALaEnT STETSON, A. M , Professor of Language; Jons W. Cook, Professor of Rendiag and Elocution ; HENNY MCCORMICK, Professor of Geography ; STEPHEN A. FORBES, Professor of Geology and Curator of Museum: Miss HARRIET M. CASE, Preceptress and Professor of Mathematios ; Miss ROSALIE MII .- LEn, Iastructress in Drawing ; LESTER L. BARRINGTON, A. M., Princi- pal of High School; Mrs. MARTHA D. L. HAYNIK, Assistant ia High School; Mrs. JENNIE P. CARTER, Principal of latermediate aud Pri- mary School; WM. S. MILLS, Assistout ia Grammar School.
STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY.
During the year ending June, 1874, 82 counties in the State were represented by 448 State beneficiaries, and there were 16 from other States.
In December, 1874, tho University had 534 pupils, distrib- uted as follows : Normal Department, 315 ; High School, 79 ; Grammar School, 90; Primary School, 46. Other States were represented by eight pupils. Couneeted with the Stato Nor- mal University is a largo and valuable museum of natural his- tory, whose facilities surpass those of any similar institution. The specimens aumber 136,200, and are valued at $95,000. A new enterprise in connection with the Museum is the Asso- ciation of Natural History, which aims to collect and exchange specimens to form a State Museum, aud to obtain suitablo cabi- nets for the schools.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NORMAL UNIVERSITY.
This Institution is located at Carbondale, Jackson County, and was projected as early as 1868 at a teachers' institute held at Salem, Marion County, to consider the educational wants of tbat portion of the State. An aet for its establishment and maintenance was passed in March, 1869, and among the points contesting for its location were Pana, Vandalia, Olney, Carlyle, Centralia, Tamaroa and Du Quoin. The State appropriated $75,000 for the edifice, aad Carbondale pledged a large amount. Work began on the structure ia the spring of 1870, but was suspended in the following year and finally completed in July,
1874. It is 215 feet from north to south, with two wings, cach 109 fect, aad is pronounced in no respect inferior to any edifico of its kind in the United States. Its normal hall will scat five hundred students, and the site includes twenty acres of ground. The number of students in attendance in 1875 was upward of four hundred. The Board of Trustees com- prises Hon. Thomas S. Ridgway, of Shawneetown; James Roberts, M. D., of Carbondale ; Edwin S. Russell, of Mount Carmel; Lewis M. Phillips, of Nashville, and Jacob W. Wil- kin, of Marshall.
Faculty .- ROBERT ALLYN, Principal and Teacher of Mental Soience, Ethics and Pedagogics ; CYRUS THOMAS, Teacher of Natural History and Physiology ; CHARLES W. JEROME, Teacher of Languages and Lit- erature ; ENOCH A. GASTMAN (elect), Tencher of Mathematics ; DANIEL B. PARKINSON, Teacher of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry ; JAMES Il. BnowNIKE, Teacher of Reading, Elocution and Phonics ; Gnax- VILLE F. FOSTER, Teacher of History and Geography ; ALDEx C. HILL- MAN, Principal of the High School and Teacher in the Normal Depart- meat ; MARTHA BUCK, Teacher of Grammar and Etymology : JAMES HI. BROWNLEE, Tencher of Vocal Musio aad Calisthonies ; HELEN M. NASH, Teacher of Drawing and Penmanship ; JULIA F MASON, Prin- cipal of Primary and Model School.
ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY.
The University is located between the contiguous eities of Urbana and Champaign, 128 miles from Chicago, on the Chi- engo, branch of the Illinois Central Railroad. It was first opened for the reception of students on Monday, the 2d day of March, 1868. The Industrial University was founded by an act of the Legislature, approved February 28, 1867, and en- dowed by the Congressional grant of four hundred and eighty thousand acres of land serip, under the law providing for Agri- cultural Culleges. It was further enriebed by the donation of Champaign County, of farms, buildings and bonds, valued at $400,000.
The main University building is of brick, one hundred and twenty-five feet in length, and five stories in height. Its publie rooms are sufficient for tho accommodation of over four hun- dred students, and it has private study and sleeping rooms for one bundred and twenty.
The University domaiu, including ornamental and parade grounds, experimental and model farms, gardens, etc., comprises over one thousand acres of laad. The chief aim of the Uni- versity is " THE LIBERAL AND PRACTICAL EDUCATION OF THE INDUSTRIAL CLASSES in the several pursuits and professions in life."
The Departments of study are: Agriculture ; Natural and Mechanical Philosopby and Astronomy ; Military Tactics and Engineering ; Chemistry ; Natural History ; Pure Mathematies; Civil Engineering ; English, French, German, Latin and Greek Languages and Literature ; History and Social Science ; Com- mercial, Mental and Moral Science; Lecture Courses, &c.
To young men wishing to enter the University the following directions are given :
Ist. If you are over 15 years of age, of good habits, and have a fair knowledge of the the common school branches, Arithmetic, Grammar, Geography and History of the United States, you may enter, and take any course of study you are prepared for. The further advanced in study, the better you will be prepared to secure the full advantages of a residence at the University.
2d. You should enter at the beginning of a term ; hut you may enter at any other time, if prepared to go forward with any of the classes.
3d. If doubtful of your ability to enter the departinents you have selected, write to the Regent, J. M. GREGORY, Champaign, and state what branches you have studied, the progress you have made in each, and your wishes as to course and term of study.
4th. If prepared, come on at onee, bringing with you, if practicable, a letter of recommendation from your last teacher, or County Superintendent of Schools, or any good eitizen.
Faculty .- Ilox. JouN M. GREGORY, Regeat nad Professor of Phi- losophy and History ; STILLMAN W. ROBINSON, Professor of Mechan- ical Engineering ; THOMAS J. BURRILL, Professor of Botany and IIor- ticulture; COL. SAMUEL W. SHATTUCK, Professor of Mathematics; COL. EDWARD SNYDER, Professor of Modern Languages and Military Science ; DON CARLOS TAFT, Professor of Geology and Zoology ; J. BURKITT WEBB, Professor of Civil Engineering; JOSEPH C. PICKARD, Professor of English Language and Literature; Dn. MANLY MILES, Professor of Agriculture; N. CLIFFORD RICKER, Professor in Archi- tecture ; HENRY A. WroEn, Professor of Chemistry ; JAMES D. CRAW- FORD, Professor ia Ancient Languages and Librarian ; Dn. FREDERICK
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W. PRENTICE, Lecturer in Veterinary Science; Miss CHARLOTTE E. PATCHIN, Instructor in Free-ITand Drawing; Miss Lau C. ALLEN, Instructor in Domestio Science ; ALEXANDER C. SWARTZ, Assistant in Architecture and Mathematics; JAMES KENIS, Instructar in Clay Modeling and Architectural Ornamentations; InA O. BAKER, Assistant in Civil Engineering and Physics ; Miss JENNIE C. BRYANT, Instructor in Elocution; ELNA A. ROBINSON, Assistant in Mechanical Engineer- ing and Foreman of Machino Shop; CHADLES S. KINDSBURY, Assist- ant in Mathematics ; MELVILLE A. SCOVELL, ARTHUR E. BARNES and JOHN M. STAYMAN, Assistants in Chemical Laboratory ; FERNANDO A. PARSONS, Instructor in Book-keeping ; EDWIN L. LAWRENCE, Ilend Farmer; CHARLES I. HAYES, Florist ; VANTILE W. CODIXOTON, Fore- man of Carpenter Shop.
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