Then followed a struggle for life. Repudiation was openly and unblushingly talked of by some who held place in the government of the State. Fortunately, Thomas Ford was Governor, and to his steady nerves, during those trying times, as well as to his clear statesmanlike view of matters, are we, more than to any other one cause, indebted for our present high position among our sister States. Through him, measures were inaugurated, looking to the restoration of the public credit and payment of the debt. Still, the universal distress gave birth to a numerous body of that class of small men, who, insatiate in their greed, will clutch at private or public calamities, to advance their own ends. These, not sharing, of course knew . nothing of the endurance and patriotism of the people, howled loudly for repudiation. Upon this, however, in 1848, the true men of the State put an eternal quietus by the adoption of a new Constitution, wherein the question of the State debt and its payment, was settled forever. Upon the adoption of the Constitution of 1848, the credit of the State went up with a bound, and has never since given signs of a downward tendency. The struggle was severe and bitter, but the record is one that every patriotic citizen will read with pride. It stands as a monument, warning us of the dangers that lie hidden there, and compels conviction that it is the height of folly for a State to loan its credit in aid of private enterprises.

The canal was completed in 1845, but has never met the expectations of its projectors. Various propositions have from time to time been before the Legislature, in regard to it, involv ing, some of them, many millions of dollars. The new Constitution of 1870 has no doubt, settled the matter, and we shall hear no more of the canal.

The first railroad completed and put in operation, was between Jacksonville and Meredosia, on the Illinois river, in 1840. There are now within the State in operation twenty-five different lines of road, traversing the State in all directions, the aggregate length of which is over 3,900 miles, and the cost exceeding $153,000,000. In 1850, there were but 1,100 miles

Fancy Boxes.

of railroad in the State. Beside the railway facilities now enjoyed by the people of our State, there are natural navigable highways of more than 1,000 miles, in rivers and lakes, that open to the world the commerce of our citizens, forming avenues through which the wealth of the world flows to the lap of highly favored Illinois.

We have much that we might say, of flourishing towns, of able men who have figured in the history of the State, and of many matters and things of interest, but we forbear, knowing that a history of the State was and is not our purpose. We will give a brief description of some of the State Institutions, and close this part of our work. For facts and figures in this, we are indebted largely to "Reports" of those institutions.

Prominent among the Institutions of the State, stands the "Illinois Industrial University," located at Urbana, in the county of Champaign; but as we shall be called to give a more extended notice of that institution in another part of this work, we will pass it by for the present.

This institution was established in 1857, is situated at Normal, in McLean county. Its purpose 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 Public Instruc

Leather and Saddlers' Hardware,

49 Main Street, Champaign, III.

POPULAR DRY GOODS HOUSE !

C. S. MOREHOUSE,

No. 20 Main

Street,

Champaign,

Keeps at all times a full stock of Seasonable

STAPLE AND FANCY

DRY GOODS!

Including all the popular brands, and sells at
POPULAR PRICES!

Orders promptly attended to, and Satisfaction guaranteed.

Looking Glasses.

(85)

The

tion is, ex-officio, a member of the Board and Secretary. The other fourteen members are appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Senate. One-third of their number, as nearly as may be, go out of office every two years. Every county of the State is entitled to gratuitous instruction for two pupils, and every representative district to one. course of instruction given, is language, science, mathematics, and especially are the pupils taught in the theory and practice of teaching. Every student, receiving gratuitous instruction at this school, is required to sign a written agreement to teach in the State of Illinois.

Beside the professional school, above mentioned, there is a school for general culture, called the Model School. In this tuition fees are charged, and the school is taught mainly by the students of the Normal, which greatly facilitates the progress of their studies, and affords material aid to practical education. The Model School has three grades: The High School, with an extended and thorough course of linguistic and scientific studies; The Grammar School; and The Intermediate and Primary School.

All the departments of this school are open to both sexes. Of the attendance, about sixty per cent. are females.

On the 31st of December, 1869, there were in the Normal Professional Department and Model School, 592 students. Professional Department, 320; Model School, 272.

State Board of Education.

Hon. Samuel W. Moulton, Shelbyville, President; Hon. Newton Bateman, LL. D., Springfield, ex-officio, a member, and Secretary; C. W. Holdon, Esq., Bloomington, Treasurer; John H. Foster, M. D., Chicago; Walter L. Mayo, Esq., Albion; Hon. Jesse H. Moore, Decatur; Thomas R. Leal, Esq., Urbana; Henry Wing, M. D., Collinsville; Benaiah G. Roots, Esq., Tamaroa; Elias C. Dupuy, M. D., Freeport; Jesse W. Fell, Esq., Normal; Hon. William H. Green, Cairo; Calvin Goudy, M. D., Taylorsville; N. E. Worthington, Esq., Peoria; Winfield S. Coy, Esq., Bristol; George C. Clark, Esq., Chicago.

Faculty.

Richard Edwards, LL. D., President, Professor of Mental Science and Didactics; Edwin C. Hewett, A. M., Professor of History; Joseph A. Sewell, M. D., Professor of Natural Science; Thomas Metcalf, A. M., Professor of Mathematics; Albert Stetson, A. M., Professor of Language; Miss Emeline Dryer, Preceptress and Instructress in Grammar and Drawing; John W. Powell, A. M., Professor of Geology and Curator of Museum; John W. Cook, Professor of Reading and Elocution; Henry McCormick, Professor of Geography; William M. Pillsbury, A. M., Principal of High School; Mrs. Martha D. L. Haynie, Assistant in High School; Joseph Carter, Principal in Grammar School; Miss Mary Pennell, Assistant; Miss Lucia Kingsley, Principal of Intermediate and Primary School.

THE ILLINOIS INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE DEAF AND DUMB

Was incorporated February 23, 1839. The Act of Incorporation was prepared by Hon. O. H. Browning, of Adams county. It is located at Jacksonville, Morgan county.

The school was opened in 1846, Mr. Thomas Officer being the principal of the Institution, who proved himself the right man in the right place. He brought to the work a rare talent, peculiar to the enterprise, while his temperament and energy happily fitted him for the responsible place.

In point of efficiency, this institution has no superior in the land. The buildings are large, and well warmed and ventilated, though somewhat crowded with the numbers that flock to its halls. There has been, and is still, a great scarcity of water, but the projected water works of Jacksonville will cure that defect. The Board of Directors have organized, experimentally, a department of articulation, which gives great promise of success.

The institution may be called industrial as well as educational, there being an industrial department. The fore part of

Walking Canes.