392 



MONTANA. 



7891; Dawson, 2,443; Deer Lodge, 17,493; Fer- 

 gus, 6,937; Flathead, 9,375; Gallatin, 9,553; 

 Granite, 4,328; Jefferson, 5.330: Lewis and 

 Clarke, 19,171; Madison, 7,695; Meagher, 2,526; 

 Missoula, 13,964; Park, 7,341; Ravalli, 7,822; 

 Silver Bow, 47,635; Sweet Grass, 3,066; Teton, 

 5,080; Valley, 4,355; Yellowstone, 6,212; Crow 

 Indian Reservation, 2,660. 



Butte is the largest city in the State, having 

 this year a population of 30,470, against 10,723 

 in 1890, and 3,363 in 1880. Great Falls is sec- 

 ond with 14,932, and shows the largest percentage 

 of increase; it did not exist in 1880, and in 

 1890 it had only 3,797 inhabitants. Helena, the 

 third in size, shows a decrease from 1890, when 

 it had 13,834; in 1900 the figures were 10,772. 

 Anaconda has risen from 3,975 to 9,450. The 

 other large towns are: Missoula, 4,329; Bozeman, 

 3,435; Billings, 3,221; Livingston, 2,780; Walker- 

 ville, 2,622; Kalispell, 2,527; Red Lodge, 2,152; 

 Miles City, 1,747; Dillon, 1,530; Fort Benton, 

 1,024. 



Finances. The State has no bonded debt. 

 The State institutions have bond issues, secured 

 by the land grants, all bearing 6 per cent., run- 

 ning from ten to thirty years, as follows: Agri- 

 cultural College, $100,000; Normal School, $50,- 

 000; university, $100,000; Deaf and Dumb 

 Asylum, $40,000; Capitol Building, $350,000; 

 School of Mines, $120,000. The State is not re- 

 sponsible for either principal or interest on these 

 bonds. 



The Treasurer's annual report, published in 

 December, shows a balance on hand in the gen- 

 eral fund of $71.28. The general fund finances 

 are as follow: Outstanding general fund war- 

 rants, $243,970.07; estimated interest, $3,500; 

 total, $247,470.07. 



The Treasurer estimates that there is due in 

 taxes and licenses $360,000. Adding to that the 

 cash on hand makes a credit balance of $112,601.21. 

 It is estimated that outstanding warrants not 

 registered may bring the actual cash credit, Jan. 

 1, down to $50,000. This is the first time in the 

 history of the State that the Treasurer has been 

 able to take up all outstanding warrants at the 

 close of the year. 



The report shows a balance to the credit of the 

 24 institution and commission funds of $514,627. 



A comparative statement of receipts from each 

 of the 24 counties shows a net increase of $58,- 

 378.37. With the exception of Dawson, Deer 

 Lodge, Gallatin, Granite, and Silver Bow, an in- 

 crease of revenue is true of every county. 



The receipts from the inheritance tax during the 

 year were $5,058.66. 



The 5-per-cent. wolf bounty tax, levied upon 

 stock interests, netted the State $157,139.93. 

 During the year warrants amounting to $142,- 

 745.50 were paid, leaving an unexpended balance 

 of $14,394.43. 



A statement of the stock inspector and detec- 

 tive fund is given as follows: Balance in fund, 

 $16.460.69; receipts, $21,282.60; warrants paid, 

 si! i. 012.50; balance, $18,700.79. 



Cash and securities of credit of the permanent 

 school fund amount to $340.495.10, bearing inter- 

 est for the most part at 6 per cent. 



The receipts of the Secretary of State in fees, 

 licenses, etc., were $13,532.15. 



Education. The report of the public schools 

 for the year ending Aug. 31 gives the following 

 data: There are 57.210 children of school ago, 

 an increase of 3.578 compared with (lie preced- 

 ing year. The enrollment at the end of the school 

 year in the public schools was 39.430. or 2.213 

 more than that of the preceding year. There were 



1,898 children in private schools compared with 

 1,586 in 1899. 



The public schools were taught by 1,214 

 teachers, all but 202 of whom are women. There 

 were 1,126 teachers in the State in 1899. 



The teachers were paid $570,161.72 during the 

 year. The average salary for men was $69.04, 

 and for women, $50.30 a month. 



The public school libraries have 32,987 volumes. 



The State appropriation for 1899 amounted to 

 $80,246. This sum was apportioned at the rate 

 of $1.50 per capita for each census child. 



The School of Mines was opened for the recep- 

 tion of students Sept. 11. The courses of study 

 extend over four years, and are devoted strictly 

 to those branches of science that are required 

 in the field of mining and mining engineering. 

 Twenty-five students are attending daily recita- 

 tions. Five others are taking selected studies 

 in mineralogy, geology, physics or assaying. A 

 very large number of applications for admission 

 have been refused because of lack of preparation. 

 The faculty is giving special attention to the 

 building up of a cabinet that shall be as nearly 

 as possible a complete representation of the ores 

 and mineral resources of Montana. 



Some very valuable donations of maps, mine 

 models, and mining machinery have been made by 

 some of the great mining companies of Butte. 



The estimate of expenses for the Normal School 

 for two years was $35,355. Money is required 

 for dormitories and other additions. The at- 

 tendance was reported to have fallen off during 

 the spring term. 



The Agricultural College has an attendance 

 of 250. 



The enrollment at the State University, not 

 including that of the School of Music, was -24:} 

 in the fall term, compared with 203 at the same 

 time in 1899. The cost of maintenance was 

 $23,810. New departments created at the uni- 

 versity are history and philosophy, chemistry 

 and physics, biology, modern languages, ancient 

 languages, English and literature, drawing, 

 mathematics, and mechanical engineering. Fifteen 

 degrees were conferred this year, 14 bachelor's 

 and 1 master's. 



Under the law for the establishment of county 

 high schools, 7 or 8 have been opened, but all 

 are in rented quarters. It appears that the law 

 is defective in not prescribing a practicable way 

 of raising money for the schools. Where bonds 

 have been offered for sale, prospective buyers 

 have been advised that they were illegal, and i 

 sales have resulted. 



The Montana Wesleyan University received 

 ditions to its funds amounting to $20,000 betwi 

 Aug. 1 and Dec. 1. The attendance has larireh 

 increased, about 130 being present in September 



Charities and Corrections. The number 

 patients at the State Institution for the Insaj 

 at Warm Springs, according to the report at tl 

 end of the year, was 479; of these, three four" 

 were men. In the year 50 were discharged 

 cured, and 19 dismissed as partly cured to the 

 care of relatives, (54 died, and 12 escaped. From 

 11 inmates who paid in part for their board $1,- 

 427 was received. The expenses for the vear 

 amounted to $115.142. 



The membership of the Soldiers' Home at tin- 

 close of the year was 65 against 51 at the be- 

 ginning. The resources of the home durin.u' the 

 fiscal year were: Balance on hand at begin- 

 ning of year. .$1.414.0(1: State appropriation. <">.- 

 !!)(>; received from pensions. $S.~>4.lM: received 

 from Government. $4,OOS.iT> : from sale of build 

 ings at Fort Maginnis, $1,700; total, $13.172.~><>. 





