The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-10-16
HISTORY OF A STATE.
Reports OF South Dakota Institutions
Made to the Governor.

reports Of the state superintendent OF
public instruction and OF the board OF
charities and corrections.
The forthcoming biennial reports of the
departm ents will not only show the state
to be in a most satisfactory condition.
but in many cases they will be the most
interesting documents ever published by
the state. The report OF the state his
torical society, which Is the first report
from this society. will possess wealth
OF information about the state and its
early history. and is said 10 be the most
valuable compendium OF facts and Incl
dents yet got together.
Adjt. Gen. Conkln, in his report, will
have a complete history Of the state
guard. which. with the accomplishments
of the last two years, will form an inter
esting chapter. 1t Is Gov. Herried's in
tention to place copies OF the reports of
the various officers Of the state in the
hands OF members-elect of the legislature
at least a month or six weeks before the
converting of the legislature. In this
way the members of the legislature will
be able to study the needs of the state
and have them thoroughly digested be-
fore they get into the political vortex at
Pierre.
The report of f. z. Collins, state super
intendent OF public instruction, shows a
great reduction in the Indebtedness of the
school districts of the state. For instance,
the net indebtedness of the schools has
been reduced from 81, POI .o7913 in 1901, to
81, 059, 133.47 in 1902. The present indebt-
edness consists of bonds, 1881, 116.c--.
and warrants, 1926 4T7.40. with cash on
hand of s59s, 46o1s.
The school houses have increased dur
ing this time from 3.s77 to 1854. with a
present value of s3643. 3S3.71. The seat
ing capacity OF these schools Is 129,s
while there were for the past year 1907
male teachers and 4.045 females EN-
ployed. at a total salary for 1892 of ST.
11s.123S0. The total expenditures for
1901 were s2.245. s21.39. and for 1902 ST.
sos, 423 81 The table of receipts shows a
falling OFF in the amount of bonds sold In
the two years of about $4,000, with q
corresponding increase in the amount OF
the apportionment.
The report shows a decided improve
ment and a healthy growth. The teach
ers are being paid larger wages and the
boards are reaching for more capable in
structors all the time, and are willing to
pay still higher salaries. Supt. Collins
says: For the school year ending June
30, 1901, wages for male teachers In the
rural schools averaged 1910. and for fe-
male teachers $31.17. while during the
same period last year men received $36.O7
and women 1921. Never before in the
history Of our state has the wage paid
teachers been equal to that of last year"
The report says that 748 pupils gradu-
ated from the eighth grade country
schols last year. and points out that
there is no free school to take these pupils
over the intervening years between the
eighth grade and the normal schools, and
the colleges. 1t recommends law re-
curing the county districts to pay the
tuition of pupils desiring a high school
course in any accredited school OF the
state. The report is strongly in favor Of
the concentration of the rural schools.
but as this question is beyond the legis-
lature the recommendations are simply
for the boards OF education.
With regard to the requirement Of nor
NAL training for teachers, the report rec
ommends that law be enacted demand
ing that after July 1, 1905. no certincate
shall be granted to any person to teach
In the SCHOOlS WIN uOSS hOl pSS-
sess at least one years normal training
or its equivalent land that after July 1.
1907, no eertiaficate shall be granted to
any person to teach in the schools who
does not possess at least two years.
The most important recommendations
of the board OF charities and corrections
are for salaried board OF three mem
bers, and to add the soldiers home 70 is
cares. The report says that three men
devoting all their time to the state insti-
buttons could accomplish more good than
under the present arrangement. and fur
Their states that too much time Is taken
for a proper performance of the duties by
the members, with a sacrifice OF their
own interests without adequate compen-
sation. Iowa and Minnesota have sal
aried boards. The report recommends
that a. board be formed, Of three men,
who shall devote their whole time to the
business or the state, and receive sal
AIRY OF s., 500 per annum. A secretary Is
recommended at salary of $1,000 per
wear, and an expense fund of $1,000 per
annum.
DR.. L. c. Mead is given much credit by
the board for the economical and success
full management OF the insane asylum at
Yankton. The board makes recommended
tions for a secretary at this institution,
and for the erection OF cottages for the
treatment of acute cases, and for new
sewerage plant, in addition to the usual
items.
The report is strongly In favor OF pro-
viding additional employment for the
prisoners at the penitentiary, and bind
ing twine plant is urged. The board is OF
the opinion that such plant would not
only be a benefit to the prisoners, but
would help to make the institution self
supporting.
The Small Brother.