598 



NORTH DAKOTA 



Legislative Session. The Legislature met 

 Jan 6, 1891, and adjourned in March at the ex- 

 piration of the sixty days allowed by the Con- 

 stitution. The first part of the session was given 

 to the election of a United States Senator in 

 place of Gilbert A. Pierce, whose term of office 

 expired. The choice fell upon Henry C Hans- 

 brough. 



The most important, perhaps, of the measures 

 passed was the Australian election law. The 

 amount of appropriations made, though not- 

 much more than half the sums asked 1'or, ex- 

 ceeded by a considerable amount the revenue in 

 prospect. 



An attempt to restibmit the question of pro- 

 hibition was made in the House by a resolution 

 repealing Article XX of the Constitution. This 

 passed by a vote of 32 to 29, and was sent to the 

 Senate and adopted by a vote of 16 to 15. But 

 all record of this action in the Senate was ex- 

 punged from the journal by a vote of 18 

 to 12. 



Three bills that passed were vetoed by the 

 Governor one granting a school section to 

 Wahpeton School of Science : one providing that 

 a person could leave the State with the intention 

 of remaining, and then return and be entitled to 

 citizenship again in six months; and the third, 

 giving persons the right to erect and maintain 

 warehouses on railroad right of way for an in- 

 definite period for the sum of $1. In his ob- 

 jections to the last-named bill the Governor cited 

 a similar act passed in Minnesota in 1885, and 

 declared invalid by Chief-Justice Gilfillan in the 

 case of the State vs. the Chicago, Milwaukee 

 and St. Paul Company. 



Following are the more important of the bills 

 passed : 



To promote irrigation and providing for a State 

 superintendent of irrigation and forestry. 



Appropriating $25,000 for the State exhibit at the 

 World's Columbian Exposition. 



For the protection of game. 



To prevent and punish crueltv to animals. 



Amending the law in regard to marriageable age, 

 making it eighteen and sixteen, providing that males 

 under twenty-one and females under eighteen shall 

 not receive license without the consent of parents or 

 guardians. 



For cancellation of illegal railroad taxes. 

 For appointment of sheep inspectors. 



Amending the act authorizing counties to issue 

 bonds to procure seed grain for needy farmei's resident 

 therein. 



Amending the school law. 



For the destruction of noxious weeds. 



Appropriating $8,500 for compiling the State laws 

 by a commission of three to be appointed by the Gov- 

 ernor. 



Providing for bounty of not more than $3 nor less 

 than $1 on wolf and coyote scalps. 



Providing bounty for the manufacture of potato 

 starch. 



Providing foi the burning of native (North Dakota) 

 coal in the State institutions. 



Memorializing Congress for the retention of Fort 

 Lincoln 



Ketransferring land granted for normal school to 

 Elk Valley Farming Company. 



Constitutional amendment to increase the State 

 debt limit. 



Designating Fargo Agricultural College as a recip- 

 ient of congressional donations of land. 



Aipending law authorizing counties to issue bonds 

 for seed grain. 



Authorizing payment of portion of Territorial debt 

 assumed by North Dakota. 



Directing the Scandinavian language to be taught 

 in the university. 



Locating the blind asylum in Pernbina County. 



Memoralizing Congress for a law and appropriation 

 for the establishment of a national scientific rain 

 bureau and college at Washington. 



Appropriating $53,000 for the support of the Peni- 

 tentiary. 



Education. At the time of the admission of 

 the State there were 35 graded and 1,866 un- 

 graded, or a total of 1,401 common, graded, and 

 high schools, besides the State University. The 

 first superintendent's report after the admission 

 gave the total number as 1,583. Sixty school- 

 houses were built during the year, and the esti- 

 mated value of school property was $1.147,201.59. 

 There were 2 sod, 40 log, 2 stone, 20 brick, and 

 1.392 frame school-houses, with a total seating 

 capacity of 48,105. The number of children of 

 school age was 37,472 ; the whole number en- 

 rolled 30,821, with an average daily attendance 

 of 17,546. The average number of days taught 

 was 103, the average cost per month for each 

 pupil enrolled $3.31. Fifty districts had no 

 school. The total number of teachers employed 

 was 1,894; the total amount of teachers' salaries, 

 $320,551.72 ; the average wages per month of 

 male teachers, $38.97 ; of female, $34.42. 



Besides these, there were in independent dis- 

 tricts in the cities and towns 4,722 pupils en- 

 rolled, with an average cost of $4.79 a month 

 to each, and a total number of 88 teachers, with 

 average monthly salary to male teachers, $63.33 ; 

 and to female teachers, $49.28. The value of 

 school property in these districts is $368,400, and 

 the amount of indebtedness $217,357.70. A 

 total of thirty-one weeks of institutes were held. 

 The Legislature of 1891 appropriated $300 for 

 a library for the State Superintendent. 



At the close of 1891 the number of schools in 

 operation was estimated at 1,764, with a school 

 population of 45,439. 



The normal schools at Valley City and May- 

 ville, which have been supported by voluntary 

 gifts from citizens, received appropriations from 

 the Legislature after considerable opposition. 



The State University, at Grand Forks, com- 

 pleted its seventh year in June, 1891. It has 6 

 professors, includingthe president, and 4 instruct- 

 ors, including the United States military officer, 

 and at the last annual report had 110 students. 

 At the opening of the new term in January, 1892, 

 a total of 175 students was reported. It has a 

 three years' preparatory course, and a four years' 

 normal course, besides four years' courses each 

 in arts, science, and letters. The Legislature 

 appropriated $60,700 to this institution. 



The Agricultural College, at Fargo, has been 

 supported by the Government appropriations for 

 agricultural experiment stations and colleges, 

 but the Legislature of 1891 appropriated $25,000 

 for its use. 



Several denominational and private colleges 

 and academies have been established and are in 

 operation ; among them are the Congregational 

 College at Fargo, (he Presbyterian College at 

 Jamestown, Holla University, and others. The 

 last-named, which is non-sectarian, opened in 

 January, 1889. with 30 students in the academic 

 department, and 7 were matriculated into the 



