The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-01-13

Total. 81 ,343, GA II 81, 400, 9O3 SO
Bal. in treasury Nov 80 122'o29 - 264,l5l %
TO the credit of the following funds
State institutions fund. sac, 500 Is <12ns79 So
Interest ,.....,..,..,, 50, 1913 50 1S,O47 6a
Sinking funds 24,323 IS $50 81
Permanent school. ........... s,575 50 44,246 IS
General school ...... 1850 80 2l.489 81
Permanent university ....... 1895 10 1852 s.
General university. .......... 1854 Sc 25,Gjs 63
Internal improvement land. 1,127 40 COLA IS
Internal improvement. 2,l36 IL 3'S49 81
Inebrate asylum. IT Al 70 Al
School text book. ............. 1,522 81 1,2o' W
ReVena 1 fund overdrawn ss,7Ss 81 Sis So
Cash bal in treasury Nov so $122,o29 - 2e4.151 90
These figures, as compared with those OF Two
years ago afford gratifying exhibit Of our inan-
close of the year Of $2Sa, l51.9s, as AGAINST
Balance, however, SIS, 644.3s belongs to trust
funds liable to immediate Investment in bonds.
The floating debt Of $122.Oo1.9 "a represented two
has been iquidated, and although the revenue fund
has been temporarily overdrawn to the amount Of
Sc, 246 SO, there available funds at the disposal
purposes. The recognized State debt two years ago
Sst Of hi, al" has ssS t to Is5
amount Of the surplus interest and sinking funds
will substantially meet the remaining recognized
funds may be dispensed with That officer, moreover
estimates that the available funds for support OF
rebuild the destroyed wing Of the St.
Peter hospital and also pay for adti-
tional accommodations at the Rochester
There has been an increase Of $2s,2se,-
the pa apd the 81 feces
railroads and other sources have grown to such an
extent that after the present need be lev
Jed for support of State institutions, while the
present tax Of and eighteenth mills for general
State purposes may be reduced to one mill. This con-
tinucd reduction OF taxation is the more satisfac-
tory When it is remembered that, without recourse
to funded debt, extraordinary expenditures for
public buildings and relief of frontier destiution
have been made to the amount of 81 during
the past fourteen years. earnestly urge such jul
dicious and wellconsidered expenditures will in
sure continuance of these favorable results.
The acGn Of the State beard Of tna
continues to give general satisfaction. The total
taxable property of the State is now fixed at $685.
O55. 543. Of the two loans OF 1877 and 1878
made for seed grain, to the amount of 1926, 900,
the sum of $94 ,695 has been repaid. I ask your
attention to the several statements and recon-
mendatiops embraced in the report Of the state
ditor which evlnce continuance Of the same as
siduous care which has distinguished the manage.
ment of his department..
EDUCATION
The condition Of the several educational interests
Of the State is clearly set forth by the comprehen
sve report of the superintendent Of public instruc-
tl o!, coyerng the two years ending August 81,
1880. The valuable historical resume contained
IN the last annual report is completed by the add-
lion of brief sketch of the earliest public efforts
in behalf of education and of those Of the five years
interregnum during which the system was without
d separate head. The few particulars thus rescued
from oblivion, however neager. form part of the
educational history of the State They indicate the
wisdom of its founders i'll looking to popular inte-
gence as one of the first conditions of a durable
commonwealth and serve measure of growth
foc the proud results of after years.
educational
institutions under State supervision, the supern-
tendent has added reports from various denomina-
vate schools throughout the State. While there is
provision OF law requiring or contemplating reports
from such Institutions, the information thus ,oun-
terssts in : condensed and convenient form,
eoa it is to BE s egsd will that the
orally followed in future that the superintead-
ut may he enabled to embody in each report com,
interests within the State. The total enrolment in
our common schools, it will be SEEM was 171,945
in 1879, end $50, IS in $780, showing an increase
The average attendance throughout tho State
during the former year was IS per cent. of the
schools was Clio months in 1879, and / 40 in
1880. The number Of school districts in $50 was
Md; school houses, 1903, and teachers 5,215
$3.156,2lO for 1880. Exclusive of salaries paid
superintendents and principals of high schools in
the leading cities, the average monthly wages Of
teachers in 1880 was $500 for males, and
$27.52 for females The total cost of schools for
1880 was ST. ,32s. 12s 80, being an average of
x7.37 for each enrolled scholar comparison of
these results with corresponding figures of former
years exhibits gratifying progress in all the branches
of common school education. land its facilities):
n ga 81 se 9aSrts' and the them
better instruction and higher aims
which are largely due to the zeal. sagacty and
watchful care Of the superintendent. Perhaps
of "a
teachers institutes, which have been held in thirty
different counties during the past two years. for an
operation OF normal school principals and teachers
in this work is found to be mutually advantageous,
and the beneficial results Of these assemblages of
lectures, have been marked that cordially en-
dorse the recommendation that one teacher be
maintained by the State in each of the normal
these Institutes
I am impelled to dissent from the well-known
eiews of the superintendent regarding the Merrill
textbook law, so-called. An unfair attempt is
made to represent the trivial mishaps, delays and
OMISSIONS incident to its practical operation seri
Gus defects inherent in its character. Without
going into extended remarks upon the sub
ject. 1t il but simple justice to say that in spite
OF some crude and complicated provisions of the
law, and the reluctant support it has received the
net result is substantial achievement of the great
ends contemplated in its enactment, viz. cheap
ness and uniformity Of school books. The
whole number of these school books furnished
by the contractor since the law went into operation
is 31,747, and their total cost placed in the
hands of the people has been ST. 20, ISL. The same
quantity of the books of corresponding numbers
which were in general use when this law was en-
acted at prices then prevailing would have cost the
people $414,757 showing saving Of $24O, 500,
or these same text books at the present list prices
prevailing in other States would have cost the peo-
pie of Minnesota except for the contract under this
law the sum Of a2sO.536, showing net saving OF
%1O6,5S5, besides the expenses and annoyances in
hicted by frequent and arbitrary changes Of books
and by removals of scholars from district to an-
other Az against practical results Of this char
acter it is respectfully submitted that the petty in
conveniences, losses or Earrings experienced under
the law are unworthy of serious consideration.
And now that the law is to stand at least for an
other term If five wears with machinerv and on.