Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/665

 SOUTH DAKOTA

543

SOUTH DAKOTA.

Government.— Full rights of suffrage are enjoyed by all male persons over 21 years of age who are, or who propose to become, citizens of the United States, and Avho have resided in the United States for one year, in South Dakota for six months, in the county for thirty days, and m the election precinct for ten days, immediately preceding any election._

Legislative power is vested in a Senate and a House of Representatives ; but to the people is reserved the right that not less than 5 per cent, of the electors may (1) propose measures Avhich the legislature shall enact and submit to a vote of the general body of electors ; (2) demand a referendum in respect of laws enacted by the legislature, before such laws take effect, save in cases of urgency. The Senate consists of not less than 25 and not more than 45 members, and the House of Representatives of not less than 75, nor more than 135 members.

Amendments to the Constitution must be sanctioned by the direct vote oi the people, at the first general election after such amendments have been ap- proved by a majority of the members elected to each House of the legislature. A convention for the revision of the Constitution must be summoned if pro- posed by two-thirds of the members elected to each House, and sanctioned by a majority of those voting at the next general election.

Governor.— Yrsiiik M. Rryne (3,000 dollars)

Secretary of State. — Frank Glasner.

The State sends two Senators and three Representatives to the Federal Congress. For purposes of local government the State is divided into 60 counties, which are subdivided into townships and municipal corporations. The State Capital is Pierre.

Area, Population, Instruction.— Land area, 76,850 square miles, and its population was in 1880, 98,268 ; in 1890, 328,808 ; in 1900, 401,570 ; 1905, 455,185; 1910, 583,888 (317,101 males and 266,787 females). The density of population ia 1910 was 7-6 per sq. mile. It included 100,628 foreign born : 817 negroes, 19,137 Indians, 120 Chinese, and 43 Japanese. In 1900 the population was as follows : —

—

White

Negro

Asiatic

Indian

9,803 10,422

Total

Male. Female

' 205,938 174,776

272 193

465

151 15

216,164 185,406

Total.

380,714

166

20,225

401,570

The population of the chief cities in the State in June, 1910, was ; Sioux Falls, 14,094; Lead, 8,392; Aberdeen, 10,753; Deadwood, 3,653; Mitchell, 6,515; Watertown, 7,010; Yankton, 3,787. In 1906 the death rate in cities was 9-5; in rural districts 8*8 per 1,000 of population. There are about 18,000 Indians and about 500 negroes. South Dakota has mostly been settled from the Northern States of the Union and from Northern Europe. About one-sixth of the population is foreign-born.

The religious bodies with most numerous adherents are, in their order, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Congregational, and Protestant

ir.piscopal. /> ^ oi f

Elementary and secondary education are free to all from 6 to 21 years ol age. Between the ages of 8 and 14 attendance at a public day school is compulsory on all not otherwise taught, for at least 12 weeks m the yea,r, 8 of which must be consecutive. In the elementary public schools in 1911