Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/627

 MINNESOTA 609 579), and $1,085,967 for county and $1,177,727 for town and city purposes. The rate of the state tax was 2-33 mills. Of the amount raised, $329,790 was for general revenue, $101,474 for state institutions, $50,737 for interest on the state debt, and $25,368 for the sinking fund. In 1873 a state tax of five mills was levied, producing $561,459. All lands belonging to railroads are subject to taxation whenever sold or their sale is agreed upon. The number of acres of public lands surveyed up to Aug. 1, 1873, was 34,659,751, of which 10,990,795 had not yet been disposed of. The land not yet surveyed is in the northern part of the state. The hospital for the insane at St. Peter will accommodate when completed 450 patients. The whole number under treatment in 1874 was 497, of whom 219 were women; number at the close of the year, 381 ; daily average, 341. Of those discharged during the year, 56 were recovered, 32 improved, and 4 unim- proved ; there were 24 deaths. The current expenses amounted to $83,017. The institu- tion for the education of the deaf and dumb and the blind, opened in 1863, is beautifully situated at Faribault, and is free to all deaf and dumb and blind persons in the state be- tween the ages of 10 and 25 years. In 1874 104 deaf and dumb and 22 blind students were in attendance, and there were reported in the state 71 persons of the former and 18 of the latter class who were not in any institution. Seven teachers are employed in the deaf-mute and three in the blind department. The com- plete course of study embraces seven years, and comprises, besides the usual subjects, in- struction in industrial branches. Articulation and lip reading are taught to about 10 per cent. of the deaf mutes. The expenses for 1874 amounted to $30,818. The soldiers' orphans' home, at Winona, at the close of 1873 had 85 pupils, of whom 38 were girls. The total ex- penditures in that year amounted to $17,431. Unlike institutions of this class in other states, except that in Pennsylvania, the home is a pri- vate incorporated association, having an agree- ment with the state for the support upon spe- cified conditions of soldiers' orphans who are destitute. Only those between the ages of 4 and 16 years are admitted, and they are dis- charged at the age of 18 or younger. There is no school connected with the institution, but the inmates receive instruction in the state normal school. The state prison is at Still- water, and will have when completed a capa- city for 300 convicts. United States military and civil convicts are confined here. In 1874 the average number of prisoners was 112, and the number remaining at the close of the year 1 34. The entire earnings of the prison amount- ed to $19,261, including $11,723 for convict labor and $6,499 for boarding United States military convicts. The cost of the prison after deducting the earnings was $17,618, or $158 27 for each convict. The labor of the prisoners is let out by contract. The reform school at St. Paul, opened in 1868, is intended for incor- rigible and criminal boys and girls under the age of 16 years. At the beginning of 1874 there were in the institution 107 boys and 13 girls, all of whom were receiving instruction in the ordinary branches and industrial pur- suits. Provision has been made for the estab- lishment of an asylum for inebriates. The per- manent school fund is derived from the pro- ceeds of the school lands, which comprise every 16th and 36th section, constituting one eigh- teenth of the entire public domain. It is esti- mated that these lands will amount to 2,900,- 000 acres. At the beginning of 1875, 450,357 acres had been sold, from which and the sales of timber a productive fund of $3,030,127 had been realized. The income of this fund amounted to $189,826 in 1874, which was dis- tributed among the counties in proportion to the school population. The total distribution ($192,264) was based on the school population of 1873, 196,065, making the per capita appor- tionment 98 cents. The principal of this fund is protected by the constitution against diminu- tion ; and it is estimated that when the remain- der of the school lands are sold the permanent school fund will exceed $15,000,000. The state superintendent of education is appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate, for two years, and receives an annual salary of $2,500. County superintendents are appoint- ed by the county commissioners. The most important statistics for the year ending Sept. 30, 1874, are given in the following statement: Number of persons between 5 and 21 years old 210,194 15 and 21 57,650 attending school 128,902 " of school districts 3,266 " " " reporting 3,114 Number of winter schools 2,769 Average length in months 8'55 Total attendance 99,842 Average " 71,862 Number of summer schools 2,718 Average length in months ! 8'11 Total attendance 81,781 Average " 55,248 Number of teachers in all schools (male 1,884, fe- male 3,648) 5,582 Average monthly wages of teachers, male $41 46 " female $2891 Number of school houses 2,758 Value $2,238,700 Amount received from school fund, including 2-mill tax, fines, &c $362,708 Amount apportioned from permanent school fund $192,264 " received from taxes voted by districts. . . . $889,890 " expended for school purposes, total $1,155,542 " " for teachers' wages $678,606 " " for school houses $823,601 According to the federal census of 1870, the total number of educational institutions in Min- nesota was 2,479, having 2,886 teachers, of whom 1,907 were females, and 107,264 pupils. The total income of all was $1,011,769, of which $2,000 was from endowment, $903,101 from taxation and public funds, and $106,668 from tuition and other sources. There were 2,424 public schools with 2,758 teachers and 103,408 pupils, 4 colleges with 31 teachers and 524 stu- dents, 3 academies having 10 teachers and 133 pupils, and 23 private schools with 28 teachers