The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-03-24
NORTH DAKOTA SCHOOLS.
Tho Consolidation OF Rural schools has
Been Tried in Several Counties. and
with Very Good Success.

The consolidation Of rural schools
has been preached in this state for
some time, but So far the idea has
been put in practice in but few To-
calities. When the idea was first sug-
gested it was taken up with .enthu-
siasm by many people who had given
the subject little thought, and there
appeared to be probability that the
idea would become Il fad of dam
gerous character, and might do great
damage by being applied in cases
where there was no call for it, and
where the conditions were not suited
to,i it. This danger seems to have been
averted, and the fact is recognized
that while there are many cases
where consolidation may be adopted
with benefit, there are many other
cases where the reverse would be
true.
Trail county was one of the first
in the state where the experiment
WAS tried. and in Logan township
Grand Forks county, IL model build
ing is to be built at central point
in the township where all pupils will
be assembled, instead of attending
two schools as in the past. The
schools in the Cleveland district, Mel.
son county, were consolidated last
year, and some interesting facts are
presented in u report by Superin'
tendent Noble of the consolidated
school.
In the Cleveland school three rigs
are employed to convey the children
to and from school. At first there
was some difficulty in getting all the
rigs there on time, but that has beer
overcome, and now cases of Hardness
are rare. sTwoateachers are employ.
ed, and the entire cost of the teach-
ing force and transportation service
has been $40 per month.
The winter has been an unusually
severe one, but in every case the put
pills have been comfortable on their
trips, the rigs in which they ride be.
ing covered and supplied with foot
warmers One advantage pointed
out is the wholesome restraint of the
pupils OH the way to and from school
During the winter it has been nee.
essary to lose six days, on account Of
bad weather. which is much less than
would have been lost under the old
system of Independent schools.
One improvement which issexpect.
ed to- be made this year is the install
lation of q telephone service connect
ing the school with the homes of all
the patrons. This, it is felt, will be
q great advantage in stormy wealth
er, as in case it should he necessary
during blizzard, to keep the pupils
at the school instead of sending then
home, parents could be notified OF
the fact and anxiety would thus be
relieved. Mr.. Noble believes that the
results of the experiment there ARE
such as to demonstrate the grear
value of the change and the people
appear to be well pleased with it.
international Complications.
There is an international compiled.
ton up along the border near Flax
ton v hich, while it has not thus far
found it's way to the department ot
state, bids fair to do SO. Jens Jcn.
sen, who lives just north of the vii
lage of FlaNton, and a little south OF
the Canadian boundary, has been an
noyed by the deprcdations of "a horse
of foreign residence that persisted in
invading the premises of Jensen and
eating of the fruits of Jensen's toll
in the shape of hay and grain. Jcn
sen objected, and several times gave
chase to the animal which made its
| escape across the line and Jensen
not wishing to interrupt the inter
national relations which existed, de-
sisted from following. At length he
succeeded in capturing the horse
and, being Il law abiding citizen, he
advertised it in due form as by law
provided. The Canadian owner ap
peared on the scene and demanded
his horse. Jensen demanded his pay
for keeping and advertising him
and also for the destruction of sun
dry quantities of fodder. The Cana.
dian went home angry, and Jensen
continued to feed the horse. Sew
eral days passed, and again the Cam
adian came. This time Jensen was
not at home, and the owner of the
trespassing horse entered the stable,
took his steed, and went on his way
Jensen is at a loss to know how to
proceed. lie naturally wants pay for
the damage done him, but does not
know how to get it.
Gopher Tails.
The Kidder county Republican fig.
ures out that according to their re.
solution, the commissioners of that
county can draw $462 for counting
gopher tails, during the month that