Why were blind South Dakota students sent to Iowa?

In 1879 the Territory of Dakota recognized a need to provide educational opportunities for students who were blind. They entered into contracts with the Iowa College for the Blind in Vinton, Iowa.

In 1893, the legislature made a $1,000 appropriation to cover the tuition and in1895 passed legislation to provide for the education of "all such as may be too blind to acquire an education in the common schools of suitable capacity, between the ages of 10 and 30 years."