MINNESOTA. 



525 



of 1880 was estimated at 40,000,000 bushels 

 and upward. The total product of wheat, 

 oats, corn, and barley was estimated at 85,000,- 

 000 bushels. The average of oats was 688,415 ; 

 corn, 455,512 ; barley, 118,856. Culture of the 

 early amber-cane is on the increase, and 7,317 

 acres of land were planted witb it. Trees have 

 been planted on 25,331 acres of land, besides 

 329,806 rods along highways and the bounda- 

 ries of farms. The sales of land for two years 

 made by the United States and State Land- 

 Offices and the railroad companies aggregate 

 3,600,000 acres. The number of acres of 

 land assessed for taxation is 17,815,310, and 

 the value, with structures and improvements, 

 $138,802,999. This is independent of town 

 and city lots, which, with structures and im- 

 provements, were valued at $64,670,638, mak- 

 ing the total valuation of real property $203,- 

 473,637. That of personal property is $54,- 

 581,905, which raises the total of taxable prop- 

 erty to $258,055,543. 



There were 536 miles of railroad constructed 

 in the State in the last two years, making the 

 total completed at the close of 1880, 3,110 

 miles. The gross earnings for the year ending 

 June 30th were $8, 047, 834 in 1879 and $10,774,- 

 826 in 1880. The State revenue from railroad 

 companies in the latter year was $284,824. 



The total number of banks in the State is 

 128, of which 30 are national, 17 State, six 

 savings, and 75 private banks. The capital stock 

 of the State banks is $2,047,900 ; their loans 

 during the year amounted to $4,496,592; de- 

 posits, $3,186,735. The total of deposits in 

 the savings-banks was $991,404, of which only 

 $769,842 was classed as "savings deposits." 



There are 4,244 school districts in the State, 

 in which 3,693 schoolhouses have been built. 

 Of these, 2,963 are frame, 158 brick, 69 stone, 

 and 504 log structures. The total value of 

 sites and buildings is $3,156,210.10. There 

 were during the year 1,874 male teachers em- 

 ployed at an average compensation of $35.29 

 per month, and 3,341 female teachers at $27.52 

 per month. There was a total enrollment of 

 180,248 pupils, and the total cost of the 

 schools for the year was $1,328,428, or $7.37 

 per scholar. 



At the close of the year there were 254 in* 

 mates in the State Prison. The current ex- 

 penses for two years were $96,041.22, and the 

 earnings of the convicts $45,679.40. The labor 

 of the convicts is let on contract. 



There were 880 patients treated at the Asy- 

 lum for the Insane at St. Peter during the year, 

 the average number of inmates being 644. 

 The north wing of the asylum building was 

 destroyed by fire on the night of November 

 15th, the calamity being attended by the loss of 

 some thirty lives. 



The Institution for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind 

 had during the last two years 140 deaf and 

 dumb and 35 blind pupils. The Reform School 

 had 114 inmates at the close of the year. 



The first of the State Conventions prelimi- 



nary to the Presidential canvass was that of 

 the Republicans, held at St. Paul on the 19th 

 of May. The sentiment of the local conven- 

 tions in choosing delegates had been divided 

 between Senator Windom and the Hon. James 

 G. Blaine as the candidate for President. In 

 the State Convention the supporters of Win- 

 dom were in a majority, and the following reso- 

 lutions were adopted : 



^ Resolved, That while we do not detract from the 

 high, qualifications of other distinguished men for the 

 office of President, with friendship for all and enmity 

 toward none, we hold it to be the duty of Minnesota 

 Republicans first to be loyal to their own State ; and 

 as we have an eminent Senator whose qualifications 

 are such as to command wide and favorable attention 

 of the whole country as an available candidate, we 

 who know him best take pleasure in adding our tes- 

 timony to his entire fitness for the high position. His 

 ability, purity of personal character, his unswerving 

 fidelity to Republican principles through twenty years 

 of honorable public service, and his trained and lib- 

 eral statesmanship, have endeared him to the hearts of 

 his constituents. 



Resolved, Therefore, that it is with pride that the 

 Republican party of Minnesota, in convention assem- 

 bled, present the name of William Windom as a can- 

 didate for President who would harmonize all factions 

 and sections of the country, and insure Republican 

 success in the contest of 1880 ; and the delegation to 

 Chicago, selected by this Convention, are hereby in- 

 structed to use all honorable efforts to secure his 

 nomination as the first choice of the Republicans of 

 Minnesota. 



Resolved, That the Republicans of Minnesota hereby 

 express their unqualified approval of the present Ad- 

 ministration of the General Government, and in Presi- 

 dent Hayes recognize an able, wise, and firm repre- 

 sentative of the principles of the Republican party. 



Resolutions declaring against a third term 

 and the candidacy of General Grant, and favor- 

 ing Blaine in case it should appear that Windom 

 could not be nominated, were introduced and 

 referred to the Committee on Resolutions, but 

 not reported. Delegates to the National Con- 

 vention were chosen, and candidates for Presi- 

 dential electors were nominated. 



The Democratic Convention was held at St. 

 Paul on the 20th of May. Delegates to the 

 national nominating body were chosen, and an 

 electoral ticket was put in nomination. The 

 following resolutions were adopted : 



Resolved, That the centralizing doctrines and ten- 

 dencies of the Republican party ; the notorious cor- 

 ruption of its officials while in control of all the de- 

 partments of the Government ; their reversal by fraud 

 and disregard of law of the expressed will of the peo- 

 ple at the last Presidential election ; their disregard of 

 the traditions and usages of the republic, demonstrate 

 that, if the people desire to save the government estab- 

 lished by their fathers, the control of that government 

 must be taken from that party. 



Resolved, That the peace of the nation was placed 

 in the hands of the people's representatives to enable 

 them to guard the people's rights, and that Congress 

 should make no appropriations to be used to further 

 partisan purposes. 



Resolved, That we favor the retention of the two- 

 thirds rule in national conventions. 



Resolved, That our delegation to the next National 

 Democratic Convention be requested to act and vote 

 unitedly on all questions. 



Resolved, That we hereby pledge ourselves to the 

 whole country that the Democracy of Minnesota will 

 never again submit to the reversal by force or fraud 



