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Table of statistical details of schools in Utah Territory, by counties, from superintendent's report, dated January 19, 1870. Hon. ROBERT L. CAMPBELL, superintendent

public instruction, Salt Lake City.

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Table of statistical details of schools in Utah Territory, by counties, &c.-Continued.

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WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

Organized by act of Congress, approved March 2, 1853.

Area, 69,994 square miles; population, (United States census of 1870,) 23,751. The following letter by the Hon. James Scott, secretary of the Territory, contains all the information received from this remote portion of our country:

"WASHINGTON TERRITORY,

66 Secretary's Office, Olympia, June 18, 1870.

"SIR: Your favor of the 27th ultimo asking for information on the 'condition of education, including total population, total school population, number of schools, teachers, children attending schools, and the amount of money raised for school purposes; also, any general and historical information and observations touching social life, education, and crime in Washington Territory,' is received.

"I regret to say the statistics of our Territory are so meager in relation to the subject named, that I can scarcely more than approximate toward giving you the desired information.

"The population of Washington Territory, as estimated from the vote at the recent election for Delegate to Congress, is about 30,000.

66 SCHOOL SUPERVISION.

"We have no territorial commissioner or bureau as a head of the school system, through which the census of our school population and other statistical information in relation to our schools can be gathered. The only school officers provided for by our laws are county superintendents and district school directors. It is hoped by the friends of education in the Territory that this evil will soon be remedied by the creation of a central bureau having a supervision over all our schools, and to which the county superintendents will be required to report. The number of school population in our Territory, as well as the number of schools, teachers, and children attending school, must be conjectured to some extent.

"POPULATION OF SCHOOL AGE.

"The number of school population in Washington Territory, of course, is not as great compared with the whole population as in the States, but larger than in any of the other Territories, for the reason that it is the senior of them all, and the pioneers have had ample time to prepare homes and bring out their families.

"I think the number of school population can safely put down at one-fourth the whole population, or 7,500.

"SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, AND ATTENDANCE.

"As to the number of schools, teachers, and children in attendance on school, the best information attainable is to be derived from the books of our county school super. intendents. The books of the superintendent of Thurston County show that there were in that county, in 1869, school population between the ages of four and twentyone, 606; schools, average duration, four months, 15; teachers employed, 12; average attendance, 404.

"The proportion between the school population and number of schools, teachers, and average attendance on schools in Thurston County will hold good in the other counties, or nearly so.

"Our schools are maintained

"1st. By proceeds of lease of school lands.

"2d. By a levy of a tax of three mills on all the taxable property in the several counties.

"3d. Fines imposed for the infraction of law.

COLLEGES.

"Congress some time since donated two townships of the public lands for the erec tion of and maintenance of a territorial university. The university lands have been principally sold, and the buildings erected at or near Seattle, on Puget Sound, and the institution under the charge of Professor Hall is in as prosperous condition as could be expected in a new country. It has in attendance 70 or 80 students.

"The Methodist Episcopal Church is making arrangements to erect and endow a university at Olympia, the capital of the Territory, which promises to be a success. "The Catholics have in operation schools at Walla-Walla, Vancouver, and Steilacoom, which I learn are in a flourishing condition.

INDIAN EDUCATION.

"The foregoing relates to schools for whites. We have in Washington Territory an Indian population numbering about 15,000. The Federal Government sustains schools on the Indian reservations, of which we have ten or fifteen in the Territory. There is a large school of this character at the Puyallup reservation.

"SOCIETY.

"The society in Washington Territory is as good as is usually found in the States. Most of the citizens are from the New England States, bringing with them the intelligence and habits of the New Englanders. Almost all of our villages contain one or more neat church edifices, with most of the other concomitants of a good, healthy state of society.

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"The laws are generally respected, and where violated are vigorously enforced by the proper tribunals, so that I can safely report that we are as free from lawlessnes and crime as most older settled portions of the country.

"Very respectfully, yours,

"Hon. JOHN EATON, Jr.,

"JAMES SCOTT, "Secretary Washington Territory.

"Commissioner of Education, Washington City."

WYOMING TERRITORY.

Organized by act of Congress, approved July 25, 1868.

Area, 97,883 square miles; population, (United States census of 1870,) 9,118. Wyoming being the youngest of the organized Territories, with few children in proportion to the whole population, has made but little progress in establishing public schools. The legislature, by act approved December 10, 1869, provided for the organization of school districts and schools, and that the auditor of the Territory shall be superintendent of public instruction, with a salary of $500 per annum for this duty. It also provides for county superintendents, a county school tax, and district school board. Dr. J. H. Hayford, of Laramie, having recently been appointed auditor and ex-officio superintendent of public instruction, is required by law to report at the next session of the legislature. In answer to letters of inquiry regarding the condition of schools, addressed to many persons in different parts of the Territory, the following replies have been received:

"OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR LARAMIE COUNTY, "Wyoming Territory, Cheyenne, June 4, 1870. "SIR: The population of the county is about 3,500; school population, about 200; number of schools, 1; number of teachers, 1. Amount raised for school purposes during the last year, about $2,800.

"Two teachers were employed last year during the whole school year. One is now teaching the summer term of eight weeks.

"There are other public schools in the Territory, at Laramie, Rawlings, and at Atlantic City.

"Few children come with the first population to this new West. The mass of the people take but little interest in schools. Anything which can be done to aid us in awakening an interest in this important subject, and to help us to lay the foundation of a wise school system, will be cheerfully received and acted upon.

"Dr. J. H. Hayford, of Laramie, Albany County, has just been appointed auditor of the Territory, and ex-officio superintendent of public instruction. "Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

"J. D. DAVIS,

"Superintendent Public Schools for Laramie County.

"General JOHN EATON, Jr.,

"Commissioner of Education."

"SOUTH PASS, WYOMING, June 6, 1870.

"DEAR SIR: In reply to a communication from your Department under date of 24th May, I have to state that there are but two public schools in this Territory at present.

The first of these was erected at Cheyenne, Laramie County, during the winter of 1867-68. The attendance at that school varied at first from 75 to 100 pupils, of ages ranging from about four to fourteen years. Subsequently the number of pupils attending this school was considerably reduced, in consequence of the opening of a parochial school by the rector of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The total number of children under fifteen years of age who should attend school in Cheyenne, will be at present about 200. Originally a male principal and female assistant teachers were employed at the Cheyenne school. After the opening of the parochial school one teacher was found to be sufficient.

"The second public school in this Territory was established during the summer of 1868, in Laramie City, Albany County. The attendance at this school did not, I believe, at any time exceed 40 pupils of the primary class, as indeed were most of those in Cheyenne.

"The Cheyenne school-house was built at the expense (mostly by subscription) of the citizens of that city alone, but a deficiency of about $1,000 for the payment of the building having accrued in the spring of 1868, the school-house, and indebtedness too, were transferred to the county, since which time it has been a public school, under the laws, first, of Dakota, and at present of Wyoming. The Laramie school was established under the law of Dakota.

"In this (Sweetwater) county no public school-house has yet been built, or district organized. During the summer of 1869 Mrs. Robert Barker opened, in this city, a private, or rather a public school, with a charge of $1 per week for each pupil. The attendance at her school was 20 regular scholars during the summer.

"This year a parochical school was established here by the Episcopal rector, and a private school by Miss but neither of them was well attended, although children seem to be as numerous as ever. So it might almost be said there is no school of any kind in this county; and as yet no steps have been taken toward the establishment of schools or organization of districts.

"The total population of this Territory will not exceed 8,000, of which there should be about 600 attending public schools daily. This county alone should have at least 150 old enough to attend school and too young to work, which latter seems to be regarded by too many parents as the chief end of man and the main object of boys. The educational interests of the Territory are generally neglected, either from indifference on the part of parents, or an avaricious disposition to make the propagation of children return early profits, or their superstitious dread that a little learning is a (more) dangerous thing for their sons and daughters than blasting in a mine, driving an ox team, or taking in washing, and marrying early. I believe that, in the cause of education, the Territory of Wyoming is behind all other States and Territories in the Union, except, perhaps, Alaska.

"Regretting that the above could not be made more satisfactory to myself, and of more importance to your department, I remain,

"Your obedient servant,

"General JOHN EATON, Jr.,

"Commissioner of Education, Washington, D. C."

"J. W. WARDMAN.

A letter from A. B. Donnelly, esq., dated Rawlins Springs, July 8, 1870, gives the following information respecting the schools of Carbon County:

"Population, about 3,000; school population, 400; average attendance at schools, 200; number of schools, 2; number of teachers, 2. There is not one public school within the limits of the county, the two schools referred to being entirely private enterprises. The financial condition of the county has rendered it impossible, thus far, to spend money for school purposes, but it is hoped that when the taxes are collected a small amount may be spared from the fund set apart for district court and other purposes. The revenue is very small, as real estate and improvements are not very valuable, and the only tax levied is upon the property of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. There is very little income from fines, which revert to the school fund in cases of misdemeanors, because of the laws being pretty generally observed."

List of school officers.

Dr. J. H. HAYFORD, ex officio superintendent of public instruction, Laramie.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.

Laramie County, J. D. Davis, superintendent; post office, Cheyenne.

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