Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1878, 1876-09-13

among the citizens generally, spirit of
indifference that am at a loss to un-
derstand.
For two years there has been no Dis
trict meeting held as provided by law,
while at the special meetings called by
the county superintendent, during this
year, sufficient number of citizens
could not be collected to furnish officers
for the meeting.
find it to be the common impression
among the people that the school.house
$50 called) is the property of the Dis
trict. Not so. The building is owned,
and was erected by the Congregational
Church, in the spring Of, 1873-the mon
ey for the purpose being collected by
Mrs. Slaughter and Mrs. Emmons, under
an agreement with Rev. H.. NJ. Gates,
the minister in charge, that the build
ing was likewise to be used for school
purposes until the city was able to pro-
vide building Of its own. Thus was
secured comfortable school-room with
out expense to the District.
abandoned it's Church enterprise and
the building has since been used exclu-
sively for the school. 1t is now quite
time that the people were taking steps
to secure a permanent school-room Of
their own, either by purchase or build
ing new one. ....,.-
There was no regular enumeration OF
the children made last year, yet a rough
estimate shows that there are a sufficient
number for two schools, the acquire
ments Of many of them being such as
to imperativelY call for the establish
ment of graded school. g. 354 q
Nor are there wanting in our own K
town teachers Of experience and ability;
besides applications have been received
from abroad, and it is to be hoped that
this most important of all public inter-
ests will no longer be neglected. :.
I append a recapitulation Of the state
of affairs in School District No. 1, COM
prising the town of Bismarck. 1t is
simply disgraceful: ...# .t2s so
No annual school meeting held in the
District for two years. ....... .5.....,...
No reports on file for the years 1876.
No records as to the expenditure, or
other disposition of the school fund dur
ing that period. ...u, .sa.1r,s.--r
No school fund and no school! s-a~..-re.
Indeed, the District can boast the pos
session of nothing, save some indiffer-
ent furniture, and one solitary remain
ing member of the Board, viz: the Treas
urer, whose term expires Jan. 26, 1877.
The Directors office has been vacant
since 1874. The Clerks term expired
Sept. Sd, 1876. .... #.v
The remedy for these evils is simple,
and lies in the hands Of the electors of
the District, were they possessed of
sufficient energy to apply it.
1t is found in the Public School Law
of Dakota Territory, as follows:
.- SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETINGS.
SEC. 20. The inhabitants qualified to vote at a
school district meeting, lawfully assembled, shall
have power:
To choose director. clerk and Treasurer, who
shall possess the qualifications of voters as prescribed
in the next section of this act at the first and each
annua! meeting thereafter;
To vote tax annually not exceeding one per cent
on the taxable property in the district as the meet
ing shall deeSn sufficient to purchase or lease site,
and to build, hire or purchase school house, and
to keep the same in repair;
To vote district tax annually, not exceeding one
per cent. the taxable property of the district for
pay of teachers wages in the district, and necessary
fuel and other school expenses.
SEC. 27. Whenever the time (frst Saturday in
September) for holding the annual meeting in any
district shall pass without such meeting being held,
the clerk, in his absence, any member of the dis
trict board, within twenty days after the time for
holding said annual meetings shall have passed. may
give notice of special meeting by putting up writ
ten notices thereof in three public places within the
district at least ten days previous to the time OF
meeting. But if said meeting shall not be notified
within thirty days aforesaid, the county superin-
tendent may give notice Of such meeting in the man
provided for forming new districts, and the OIL
GERS chosen at such special meeting shall hold their
respective offices until the next annual meeting and
until their successors are elected and qualified.
n & ~ ,- LINDA W. SLAUGHTER,
4f-.~ Supt Public Instruction, BurleIgh Co.