The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-12-28
THE HOLIDAY RIVER PRESS.

specimens, which we hope to increase.
ANY contributions Of suitable books for the
library or of specimens for the museum will
be thankfully received and marked with the
pane of the generous donor.
The enrolment this term is one hundred
pupils, which number Of course overtaxes
the energies of two teachers and works an
injustice othe pupils by the unavoidable neg
lect caused by merging the three grades
Grammer, intermediate. Primary, into two.
There should be an intermediate Depart
ment organized at once as the extra expenses
OF the third teacher would be more than
compensated for by increased efficiency Of
the instruction.
The Board Of Trustees at present com
prises Edward Dunn, chairman, Herman
Brinkman and r. e. Collins, with j. F.
Murphy, clerk. That they are the men for
the place is shown by the good reputation
Of the school and its financial standing, there
being nearly So, 900 to the credit of school
district No. /.
The question of erecting another school
building has been agitated by the friends of
the school for the past year and we hope
next summer viii see it in the course of
erection, as one more department is impera-
lively needed at present, in addition to the
increase of school children another year.
In the Benton school district the clerks
census shows five hundred and twenty-one
children Of school age. Only one hundred
Of these are ID the Benton school, leaving
four hundred and tWenty-one ID this school
district who do not attend school at all.
These children are in the little settlements
scattered along the Missouri, Teton, Marias,
Shonkin, HighWood, Belt and other smaller
streams and over q territory larger than
some Of the states. As these valleys increase
in population, they will before. many years
be able to concentrate enough pupils in one
year that several school districts may be
organized in each one these fine valleys.
But until that time comes the only thing
that can be done to help these four hundred
and tWenty-one outsiders is to have a first
class school in Benton, with q sufficiency Of
room and teachers so that these parents will
send their children or move into town for
the winter months, as quite a number do
now.
The Sun River District No. Q enrolls ff-
teen children Of school age. There is at
present no school, the pupils being sent
across Sun River to the school in Lewis and
Clarke counties. In the Old Agency Dis
trict No. 3 there are sixty-seyen children.
This school was organized the spring OF
1880 and has since been under the charge OF
Miss Rosa Smith, now Mrs. Hazleth and
Miss Lou Steele who is the present teacher.
That they have been faithful to their trust
and succeeded in organizing an efficient
school out Of children who for the most part
never before knew the restraints Of school
house and books, is shown by the high
praise bestowed on them by the patrons OF
the school.
The Sun River District has $275 70 its
credit on the Treasurer's books, and Old
Agency, 1866. The trustees Of the latter
district are Ell. Dennis, Peter Trudo, and
/. N. Haz]eth. There has been 9 great deal
of interest taken in this school since lis
inception which all hope will not be abated.
The County Superintendent Of schools have
been in the past Messrs c. +. Healy. VIM.
Thompson, Jos. Hill, and John Hunsberger.
For several years past the offices OF County
Treasurer and superintendent have been
consolidated but the Legislature last winter
made them separate offices again. Under
this proyision,,Mr. Hunsberger resigned the
office at the last meeting OF the County
Commissioners and T. E. Cllngan was ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy.
Amount paid out ia District No. this
last year was $5, 1863, including expenses OF
building and furniture; ia No. 2, 1896; IN
No.3, $7O4. Our school tax is not onerous,
being only 4 mills, and no special tax IN the
whole county.
In conclusion, a word to the parents or
the one hundred children who attend the
Benton school. IF we were asked what was
the best advice that could be given, 10 as
few words as possible, to the fathers and
mothers of this community, # would pe,
never trust the education OF any chlld 70
a teacher. Give the matter your own
personal supervision. You may have the
teacher do the work but it is your place
to see that both instructor and pupils are
alive and working. Listlessness and indlf-