Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-03-27
EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES or FERGUS.
Her Schools, Libraries, Churches and Clubs
Occ upy Positions Of Prominence.

Her Schools, Libraries, Churches and Clubs
0cc upy Positions Of Prominence.
Aside from its great stock interests
and mining industries Fergus county
has also some claim to social and
educational advantages. The pro-
found interest taken by the people OF
Fergus county In their schools and
social institutions has enabled 1t to
compare very favorably with those
parts OF the state which are much
more thickly settled.
Lewistown, the county seat, IL the
largest town In Montana so far re-
moved from railroad and Is head
quarters OF all social and educational
facilities of the county. 1t possesses
magnificent school buildings, which,
combined with the advanced ideas of
it's public school officers and the
efficiency OF its teachers, has given 1t
the status It now holds among the
scholastic institutions Of the state.
There are thirty-tive different school
districts throughout Fergus county,
each district being equipped with n
school having "A capacity according
TO the district. More than half Of
these school houses are modern build
lngs furnished with every appliance
necessary to educational advance
ment. The remainder. though built
on the plan OF the country school
house, are furnished with good iurni-
ture and presided over by able and
experienced teachers.
The county school funds are in eX-
cellent condition, as il shown by the
following statistics. Thefunds appor-
toned among the thirty-iive school
districts OF the county on March 4th,
1901, was S3,594.55, amounting to 81 50
percgpita. The total apportlGnnent
since December, 1900, amounted to
SlS,s66.53, which amount IL derived
from the various state and county
fines and taxes and apportiOned from
the general fund.
The idea of consolidating two thin
ly settled districts and using one
large school house for both has been
adopted in afew instances and found
to work with much success. The
Utica school house, which IL one OF
the finest public school buildings in
the county, is the result OF an expert
msnt OF this kind and proves that the
idea is a good one and productive OF
the best results.
Teachers examinations are held
periodically at Lewistown for the
purpose ofrenewing certificates which
have expired and granting new ones.
The class OF teachers holding posi-
tions in Fergus county is exception
ally good, owing to the fact that SO
many first-class but poorly paid
teachers from the east have come
here to obtain more lucrative posi-
tions.
The dime novel version Of western
society Is an exploded idea, a much
better and more healthiul variety of
social recreation being met with here
than In the east. In the more re-
motely situated districts the school
house is used as meeting house,
hall and n general rendezvous for So
cial entertainments Lf every dcscrip-
ton, which are frequent and con
ducted In an orderly manner.
In Lewistown or any Uf the larger
towns or settlements OF the county
social functions oi every description
are of frequent occurrence, and In
Lewistown many social clubs are In
in existence which are ever ready to
! lend their assistance To any social
project. The LewistOwn II a social
club with large membership and i
furnished with all the comforts and
amusements Of a modern club, among
other advantages supporting a first.
class reading and billiard room.
Great interest In taken In literary
affairs throughout this section of the
state, a number Of libraries being in
existence In the county, aud Lewis.
town Is at present organizing city
library which will possess In Tho
neIghborhoOd ofa thousand volumes.
Church affairs are well attended to
and the erection Of many fine churches
throughout the county shows that n
prac ticnl interest IL taken In church
matters.
True there IL n accrtain lack Of many
social excitements found In the iai
eastern cities, but one cnD obtain
many hcalthiul pleasures here which
cannot be obtained in an effete east.
ern civilization. This Is not n coun,
try for an idle man or dreamer, but
on anyone who possesses strenuous
life and ambition Dame Fortune Ii
sure to smile.