HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
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SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NORMAL UNIVERSITY, established in 1869, and located, after competitive bidding, at Carbondale, which offered lands and bonds at first estimated to be of the value of $229,000, but which later depreciated, through shrinkage, to $75,000. Construction was commenced in May, 1870, and the first or main building was completed and appropriately dedicated in July, 1874. Its cost was $265,000, but it was destroyed by fire, Nov. 26, 1883. In February, 1887, a new structure was completed at a cost of 8150,000. Two normal courses of instruction are given-classical and scientific-each extending over a period of four years. The conditions of admission require that the pupil shall be 16 years of age, and shall possess the qualifications enabling him to pass examination for a second-grade teacher's certificate. Those unable to do so may enter a preparatory department for six months. Pupils who pledge themselves to teach in the public schools, not less than half the time of their attendance at the University, receive free tuition with a small charge for incidentals, while others pay a tuition fee. The number of students in attendance for the year 1897-98 was 720, coming from forty-seven counties, chiefly in the southern half of the State, with representatives from eight other States. The teaching faculty for the same year consisted, besides the President, of sixteen instructors in the various departments, of whom five were ladies and eleven gentlemen.
SOUTHERN PENITENTIARY, THE, located near Chester, on the Mississippi River. Its erection was rendered necessary by the overcrowding of the Northern Penitentiary. (See Northern Penitentiary.) The law providing for its establishment required the Commissioners to select a site convenient of access, adjacent to stone and timber, and having a high elevation, with a never failing supply of water. In 1877, 122 acres were purchased at Chester, and the erection of buildings commenced. The first appropriation was of $200,000, and $300,000 was added in 1879. By March, 1878, 200 convicts were received, and their labor was utilized in the completion of the buildings, which are constructed upon approved modern principles. The prison receives convicts sent from the southern portion of the State, and has accommodation for some 1,200 prisoners. In connection with this penitentiary is an asylum for insane convicts, the erection of which was provi
