Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-08-31
INCREASE OF 5000.
Large Increase in School Population Of
the State Shown by School
Census.
Would Indicate Increase of 80, 900 to IS.
600 in States Population the
Past Year.
Increase by Immigration Shows Large
ly in Northern Counties-New
School Apportionment.

There has been a large increase in
the population of North Dakota in the
past year as shown by the school CEN
susN of the state recently completed in
the different counties. Reckoning
four individuals to each child of school
age, the increase of population in the
whole state as shown by the school
census returns, would be about $4,000
in the past year.. This is believed to
be a fair proportion. The total num-
Der of school children in the state in
1899 as shown by the census of that
year was S4,399, and the school popu-
lation this year is 92,347, an increase
of S,03S. The increases show the
greatest in the counties to which there
has been large immigration from Iowa
and other states. The greatest pro-
pOrtiOnate increase shown is in Pierce
county, where 800 more school children
are reported than a year ago, the in
crease in numbers being $50 or about
1900 in population. Stark county, to
which there has also been a large inn
migration shows an increase of l3333 or
about 1,2OO in population. McHenry
county shows an increase of sos chill
dren, Barnes county of 4O7, Benson
county of 374, Nelson county of 37G,
| Ward j17 and Wells 4O7.
The largest population of school
children in the state is in Cass county,
which has S,O25 school children.
Grand Forks county has 1916, Walsh
county Till, Pembina county 1862
and Richland county 5,45S.
The school appointments made by
the department of public instruction
are much smaller than was the case
prior to the passage of the law by the
last legislature directing apportion-
ments of the general school tax of two
mills in each county by the county
officials. In former years, a tax OF
two mills was levied on all property
in the state for school purposes. These
receipts were placed in a common fund
and apportiOned to each county ac-
cording to the number of school chill.
dren. A fight was made on this law
because it was claimed that counties
with many children and small amounts
of property gained from the wealthie1
counties. The law was repealed and
now each county apportions it's own
tax among it's own children. The APP
portionment by the state department
now comprises only the fines and in
terest and income of the permanent
school fund. The present apportion-
ment will be ii cents per capita
through the state, the total fund to be
apportioned being $12,341. is.
There will be no sale of school lands
by the state board of university and
school lands this year. At the open
ing of the year it was thought best to
sell those of the state lands that would
bring the minimum price, $40 an acre,
and invest the funds. Owing to the
poor crops in the state, purchasers OF
lands are not numerous, those who
would like to add to their holdings by
buying school lands being unable tc
put forth the money. A general sale
will probably be held next year, il
crop conditions are favorable.
The permanent school fund, to the
extent of about $92O,0OO is now all in.
vested in interest bearing securities
There is little ready cash on hand il
the permanent fund, and the boari
will be unable to. purchase bonds OF
school districts until the receipts from
payments OIL land contracts increas,
the cas.a on hand.