in all localities, amounting to $70,000,000. The question of the constitutionality of the law, the court said, must be regarded as settled by the decision of the Tax Commissioners against the Board of Assessors of Grand Rapids.

The total primary school money paid the counties in the year was $1,531,636.35. Of the 83 counties, 50 received more in school money than they paid in State taxes.

Militia. The organized militia force is 2,905, and the number of men available for military duty, but unorganized, 260,000.

Education. The building for the Northern Normal School, at Marquette, was finished in the summer. It stands on a bluff facing Lake Superior. A dormitory has been provided, where 100 students can be lodged and 150 accommodated in the dining hall, at an expense for room and board of about $3.75 a week. About 1,500 books have been bought for beginning the library, and a gift of $5,000, in five yearly installments, has been received for the art department. The year began with an enrollment of 45, which increased to 90, 3 of whom were graduated. A summer session of six weeks is held.

AARON T. BLISS, GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN.

The enrollment for the year at the Agricultural College was 627, a gain of 99 over the year next preceding. For the first time in the history of the institution, the students in the mechanical course outnumber those in the agricultural course -232 mechanicals to 217 agriculturals. There were 111 students in the women's course and 71 in the special short courses.

A new dormitory for the woman students was dedicated Oct. 25. A dairy building is to be dedicated in February, 1901. Prizes have been offered by friends of the college for competitions in stock judging, military drill, and notes on ornamental trees and shrubs. A valuable collection of fungi secured in the vicinity of the school by a former professor, G. H. Hicks, has been bought for the college. An offer was received in November, and taken under advisement, from Ashland College, at Grant, to put that college, with its land and equipment, under the control of the State Board of Agriculture, to be used as a branch experiment station for the benefit of that portion of the State. Ashland College was founded about twenty years ago as a Scandinavian sectarian school, but was reorganized in the spring of 1900.

At the thirteenth commencement of the College of Mines, Aug. 30, the degree of engineer of mines was conferred upon 22 young men, and that of bachelor of science upon 16.

A new course has been instituted at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, called the commercial, designed to fit the student to handle the larger commercial and municipal questions that are coming up for settlement.

Charities and Corrections. The report of the Asylum for the Insane, at Kalamazoo, shows the number in June, 1899, to have been 1,308, and the expenses $214,856.

The School for the Blind had 113 pupils in September. An association of the alumni has been formed, which will endeavor to secure from the State an industrial school for the blind; it has also a bureau for securing employment for the blind.

There are 282 inmates at the Home for the Feeble-minded and Epileptic, and 684 applications are on file.

The School for the Deaf and Dumb, at Flint, had an attendance of 431 the past year.

There were 615 boys at the Industrial School in October; the buildings are designed to accommodate 500. About an equal number of boys are out on parole.

The prison at Marquette, at the close of the fiscal year, had 205 convicts; the average cost of maintenance is 35.06 cents a day.

The Board of Corrections and Charities, in its biennial report, suggests an amendment to the Constitution, permitting the enactment of a law for indeterminate sentences.

A very large number of pardons, paroles, and commutations of sentence were granted by Gov. Pingree, especially in the closing weeks of his administration. A list of those in December, 1900, gives about 44 pardons, 49 paroles, and 22 commutations. Nineteen who received them were serving life sentences.

Railroads. The report of the Railroad Commissioner shows that 81 companies reported in the year, 52 being regularly operated lines, and the others leased or proprietary lines or lines not in operation. The total main line mileage in the State is 7,928.80, an increase of 122.90 miles over the previous year. The total mileage, including sidings and spurs, is 10,497.07 miles.

In 1899 793 persons were killed or injured by railroad accidents, an increase of 197 over those in the previous year. Of the killed, 2 were passengers, 54 employees, and 138 were reported as "others." More than half of the increase of killed and injured were trespassers upon railroad property or trains.

The total tax levied on railroads this year, based on the earnings of 1899, was $1,240,845.27, an increase of $153,228.38 or 16.69 per cent. over the last year's levy, the increase being due to the increase of earnings. The tax of but one company shows a decrease from last year. The earnings in the State, to Dec. 1, were $35,889,644.63, an increase of $3,109,967.55 over the same period of the previous year.

The Iron Range and Huron Bay Railroad, which was built some years ago as an outlet for the Marquette iron range to Lake Superior, was sold this year for $110,000, the purchasers' object being only to secure the rails. The cost of the road, including a fine wharf at Huron Bay, was $1,180,000. Before it was completed the situation in the iron region began to change. Although the road was made ready for business, no train ever ran over the line and not a pound of freight was ever transported.

Building and Loan Associations. The report on these associations by the Secretary of State, published in November, shows that 66 were doing business, 1 having been incorporated and 4 having closed up their affairs during the year. No foreign associations are authorized to do business in the State. The following totals are given: Assets, $10,118,876.01; receipts for the year, $6,417,118.53; liabilities, $10,118,876.01; disbursements, $6,280,982.90; number of shares issued in the year, 68,760; number of shares matured, 9,743; number withdrawn and otherwise eliminated, 62,757; number of shares in force at the close of the

year, 265,640. For the first time in several years there is a notable increase in the number of shares issued, and many associations have reduced their loaning rates.

Insurance. At the time of the annual report in June, 2 Michigan insurance companies, 118 companies of other States, and 46 companies of foreign countries were doing business in Michigan. The risks written in Michigan in the year covered amounted to $386,973,175; premiums received, $4,664,195; losses incurred, $2,895,356. Examinations resulted in the collection of $12,600 taxes on unreported insurance, a large portion of this amount being collected from companies that, in reporting their business, had deducted premiums received for reinsurance.

Banks. The report of the commissioner covering the condition of the 191 State banks and 3 trust companies, June 29, shows the resources and liabilities to be $124,820,305. The loans and discounts were $52,522,259; bonds, mortgages, and securities, $44,750,517; savings deposits, $57,873,126.

The annual report, which was made in February, shows the net increase in State bank capital in a year to have been $222,000. Nine State banks were in the hands of receivers, but none had failed in the year.

Products and Industries. In the production of iron ore in the country in 1899, Michigan led with 9,146,157 long tons out of a total of 24,683,173. While the log and lumber industry is greater now in some other States than in Michigan, which for some time was the leader, the highest point of production having been reached in 1888 with a total of 4,292,189,914 feet, still the production of 1899 was an improvement over that of 1898 by about 170,000,000 feet, and the quantity on hand at the close of the year was smaller. The compilation for 1899 gives the following figures: Total lumber output, 2,338,575,135 feet; total shingle output, 1,444,578,000; lumber on hand Dec. 1, 682,818,930 feet; shingles on hand, 185,020.000. The copper product for 1898 was 70,462 long tons, of a total of 234,271 in the United States.

The growth of the beet-sugar industry has been remarkable, the State now standing second. The production for the last fiscal year was more than 34,000,000 pounds. The claims filed for the bounty of one cent a pound amounted to $331,508.73. Since Jan. 1, 1897, 1,005 new factories have been established, which this. year gave employment to 23,000 persons.

Lands. The lands held by the State at the close of the fiscal year June 30, 1900, were classified as follow: Primary school lands, 155,989.82 acres; university, 40; agricultural college, 62,523.29; salt springs, 280; asylum, 1,122.98; swamp, 81,648.56; tax homestead, 235,441.12; total, 537,045.77 acres. The number of acres sold during the year was 47,211.24, and the amount received $144,595.07. In addition to these sales, 2,409.13 acres of homestead lands were patented. There were forfeited to the State for nonpayment of interest a total of 897.05 acres.

The General Government patented to the State 1,120 acres of swamp land, and lists embracing 159.65 acres approved to the State were received, for which patents will follow in due course.

Legislative Sessions. Besides the special session which began Dec. 18, 1899, and ended Jan. 6, 1900, there were two special sessions in this year. In the proclamation calling the session that closed Jan. 6, the Governor said:

"The fortieth Legislature enacted two laws, one of which was an act to provide for the assessment and levy of taxes upon the property of railroad,

express, telegraph, and telephone companies, known as the Atkinson law '; the other is an act amending the general tax laws by creating a board of State tax commissioners with supervisory control of tax officers, empowered to review and correct assessment rolls, and with other powers. It is generally known as the 'Oren law." On April 26 last, the Supreme Court rendered a decision which practically invalidated the 'Atkinson law.' Because of that decision, an amendment to the Constitution is imperatively necessary, before laws can be enacted providing for the equal taxation of all property."

It was for the purpose of providing for the submission of such an amendment that the Legislature was called. The House passed such a resolution, and several bills increasing railroad taxation, but they were all defeated in the Senate. A bill for municipal ownership also was defeated. The Governor sent another message, asking for a joint resolution authorizing a suit against the Henderson-Ames Company to recover the money lost to it by the State in the transactions of the military board, and such a resolution was passed, as was also a concurrent resolution asking the State Board of Auditors to allow all lawful expenses incurred by Ingham County in the trial of State officers. The Auditor General was authorized to pay relief claims of soldiers of the Spanish war to the amount of $40,000.

A second special session for the same purpose was called to meet Oct. 10. The Governor's message dealt entirely with the issues mentioned in the call, the consideration of a joint resolution permitting submission to the people of a constitutional amendment authorizing taxation of railroads and other corporations on the cash value of their property instead of on earnings, as at present, and the repealing of the special charters of the Michigan Central, Lake Shore, and Grand Trunk Railways. This time the bills recommended were passed, and adjournment was taken Oct. 15.

The only other measure passed was an appropriation of $2,500 for rebuilding the wall of the industrial school. Following is the text of the constitutional amendments:

"SECTION 10. The State may continue to collect all specific taxes accruing to the treasury under existing laws. The Legislature may provide for the collection of specific taxes from corporations. The Legislature may provide for the assessment of the property of corporations at its true cash value by a State board of assessors, and for the levying and collection of taxes thereon. All taxes hereafter levied on the property of such classes of corporations as are paying specific taxes under laws in force on Nov. 6, A. D. 1900, shall be applied as provided for specific taxes in section 1 of this article.

66

SEC. 11. The Legislature shall provide for a uniform rule of taxation, except on property paying specific taxes, and taxes shall be levied on such property as shall be prescribed by law; provided, that the Legislature shall provide a uniform rule of taxation for such property as shall be assessed by a state board of assessors, and the rate of taxation on such property shall be the rate which the State board of assessors shall ascertain and determine is the average rate paid upon other property upon which ad valorem taxes are assessed for State, county, township, school, and municipal purposes.

"That section 13, of Article XIV, of said Constitution be amended so as to read as follows: "SEC. 13. In the year one thousand nine hun

dred and one, and every fifth year thereafter, and at such other times as the Legislature may direct, the Legislature shall provide for an equalization of assessments by a State board on all taxable property except that taxed under laws passed pursuant to section 10 of this article."

The amendments having been adopted at the November election, the Governor called another special session, to begin Dec. 12, in order to carry them into effect by appropriate legislation, giving as a reason for a special session that the existing Legislature, being thoroughly familiar with the subject, could deal with it much more expeditiously than the new Legislature at the regular session.

Invalid Laws.-In October the Supreme Court declared the sugar-bounty law, granting manufacturers one cent a pound from the State treasury, to be unconstitutional.

A section of the tax law was declared unconstitutional. It was designed to act as a statute of limitation and to bar owners of property from disputing in any way the validity of a tax sale under which their property had been sold, unless question was raised within six months after service of notice of purchase. The decision is on the ground that there are provisions in section 143 that are not only beyond the natural limits of the title, but are directly antagonistic to its spirit.

A decision in the court of Kent County in a garnishee case holds that no public official can assign his salary before it is earned.

Fraudulent Transactions. - Discovery was made in 1899 that new military goods which had been bought to supply the troops for the Cuban war and had not been used had been sold by officials for $10,500, and then bought back for about $60,000. An investigation by the grand jury brought out the fact that on July 17, 1899, at a meeting of the Michigan Military Board, a resolution was adopted authorizing the sale of all military supplies, and in furtherance of this scheme four or five letters were sent to various parties offering all the tents and quartermaster general's supplies for sale. On July 19, a letter was received from Chicago, purporting to come from the Illinois Supply Company (per Edson C. Cobb, manager), offering $10,500 for the goods without even having seen them. The offer was at once accepted, the goods were sent, and Cobb, without opening the cars or examining the goods, forwarded them to the Henderson-Ames Company, of Kalamazoo. At the same meeting of the board at which the resolution to sell supplies was adopted, another resolution was adopted, and in pursuance of this the board proceeded at once to buy of the HendersonAmes Company, of Kalamazoo, goods almost identical with those which had been sold to the Illinois Supply Company. The gross amount purchased was more than $60,000. Subsequently it was discovered that the Illinois Supply Company was a myth; no such company ever had been in existence; that Edson C. Cobb (manager of the company) was an employee of the Chicago Beach Hotel Company, at Chicago; and that he was closely related to at least one of the principal stockholders in the Henderson-Ames Manufacturing Company. The goods were followed through the hands of the cartage company at Kalamazoo, who acknowledged that within two weeks they began shipping the same supplies back from Kalamazoo to Lansing, where they were traced to the quartermaster general's department.

For connection with these frauds, indictments were found, in December and in January, 1900, against William L. White, Quartermaster General;

Howard A. Smith, Assistant Quartermaster; Arthur F. Marsh, Inspector General and chairman of the Republican State Central Committee; and Eli R. Sutton, Regent of the University of Michigan and member of Gov. Pingree's military staff.

The same grand jury brought indictments against other officials and others, namely: Edgar J. Adams, Speaker of the House of Representatives, two indictments for bribery; William A. French, State Land Commissioner, offering bribes; Charles Pratt, agent for a law-book concern, offering bribes; Representative D. Judson Hammond, of Pontiac, soliciting bribes; Frederick A. Maynard, ex-Attorney-General, misdemeanor in retaining portion of his chief clerk's salary.

The alleged bribery was in connection with an antitrust bill and a bill for purchases, from the State treasury, of the national system of reports of the courts of the several States for each county.

White and Marsh left the State when it was known that indictments would be out against them. Marsh soon returned, but White not until November, 1900, when a reward of $1,000 was offered for his apprehension. Marsh was brought to trial March 20, and after a trial of fourteen days was convicted. His attorneys took steps for an appeal. Sutton's trial was in May and June, and he was acquitted. Smith, having testified in the Marsh and Sutton trials and incriminated himself, pleaded guilty when his case was called in October, and was sentenced to pay a fine of $1,200 on or before Oct. 22, or be committed to the county jail for two years. When White returned he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to ten years in prison, where he was taken, Dec. 4. The next day Gov. Pingree pardoned him and Marsh, whose appeal was pending, making the condition that each should pay a fine of $5,000 in five yearly installments to the treasurer of Ingham County; should he refuse to receive it, the money should then go into the State treasury. The State had been reimbursed by the Henderson-Ames Company, the bondsmen of White, and the accused themselves or their friends, for the amounts embezzled. The Governor gave among his reasons for the pardons that the company had not been prosecuted, and that the sentence of White was excessive, since the State had been paid. There is some question as to the validity of the conditions attached to the pardons.

An incident of the Marsh trial was the withdrawal of his counsel, when Judge Wiest refused a continuance, with the statement that there was no chance in his court for justice, or something to that effect. Judge Wiest decided that they were guilty of contempt, and fined the two lawyers $250 and $200 respectively. Near the close of the year he summoned Gov. Pingree to answer for contempt on account of criticisms made on his course in the trials in an interview with the Governor, published in a Detroit newspaper. He had previously asked the Governor to have his conduct investigated by the Legislature. The Governor refused to appear to answer for contempt, and the case was continued to January.

The Governor asked the resignation of the officers implicated early in the year, and appointed O'Brien J. Atkinson to succeed White, Ford Starring to succeed Smith, and F. W. Green to Marsh's place. He also asked the resignation of the Adjutant General, on the ground that he was guilty of negligence, but the Adjutant General refused to resign.

The State cases against the ex-Attorney-General, the Land Commissioner, the Speaker of the House, and others were put over to the January term of 1901.

Political. The Republican convention for nominating presidential electors and choosing delegates to the national convention met in Detroit, May 3. The resolutions approved the administration of President McKinley, and instructed the delegates to vote for his renomination. The convention for nominating State officers was held at Grand Rapids, June 27 and 28. After reaffirming allegiance to the principles for which the party stands, the platform denounced trusts and combinations to control prices, expressed sympathy with the Boers, declared in favor of equal and uniform taxation, and said further:

"We favor the prompt repeal of all special railroad charters granting to any railroad in the State special privileges.

66

We condemn the corruption of State officials that has brought shame and disgrace to the State, and we demand the vigorous prosecution of all who are guilty."

For the nomination for Governor there were six candidates-Aaron T. Bliss, Justus S. Stearns, D. M. Ferry, C. S. Osborn, James O'Donnell, and M. D. Campbell. Mr. Bliss was chosen on the nineteenth ballot. The remainder of the ticket was: For Lieutenant Governor, O. W. Robinson; Secretary of State, Fred M. Warner; State Treasurer, Daniel McCoy; Auditor General, Perry F. Powers; Commissioner of State Land Office, E. A. Wildey; Attorney-General, Horace M. Oren; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Delos Fall; Member of State Board of Education, J. H. Thomp

son.

The Democratic convention, May 1, chose delegates to Kansas City, who were instructed for Mr. Bryan. The nomination of C. A. Towne for Vice-President was recommended. The resolutions censured the administration for its colonial policy, saying:

We believe this policy has been dictated to and forced upon the administration of President McKinley by the mercenary combinations known as trusts. The trust is supreme in political as in industrial activities. In both it is an unmixed public evil. The economic advantages of industrial combinations are entirely lost to the people and swell the profits of arrogant and conscienceless magnates, who feed on the vitals of their victims. We request our delegates to the national convention to urge upon that body the selection of the most practical and effective of the many plans for curtailing the powers of the trusts, and to pledge the party to specific legislation upon the lines adopted."

Further, they declared against a large standing army and in favor of just taxation and municipal ownership of public utilities, a national income tax, and direct election of United States Senators. They expressed sympathy for the South African republics, and condemned "the present Republican administration in this State as the most corrupt and scandalous in the history of this commonwealth."

The second convention was held in Detroit, July 25 and 26. The nominations were: For Governor, William C. Maybury; Lieutenant Governor, Jonathan G. Ramsdell; Secretary of State, John W. Ewing; State Treasurer, Charles F. Sundstrom; Commissioner of the State Land Office, George Winans; Auditor General, Hiram B. Hudson; Attorney-General, James O'Hara; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Stephen H. Langdon: Member of the State Board of Education, James McEntee. The platform said in part:

"We denounce the last Legislature generally as the crowning infamy in the history of the Republican party in Michigan. We denounce it specific

ally for its failure to submit to the people the constitutional amendments relative to taxation demanded by the State grange and farmers' clubs; for its failure to increase the specific tax on railroads; for its failure to pass the mining tax measure; for its failure to repeal the special railway charter; for its failure to pass the anticolor oleo law demanded by the State grange and dairymen of the State; for its refusal to submit to the people the constitutional amendment providing for the so-called 'initiative and referendum,' and for which submission every Democrat of both houses voted; for its refusal to pass the measure for the regulation of freight and switching charges."

At its convention, late in August, the Prohibition party made the following nominations: For Governor, Frederick S. Goodrich; Lieutenant Governor, Trowbridge Johns; Secretary of State, Reuben C. Reed; Treasurer, John F. Eesley; Auditor General, William D. Farley; Attorney-General, Walter S. Westerman; Superintendent of Public Instructio David S. Warner; Commissioner of State Land Office, Gideon Vivier; Member of Board of Public Instruction to fill vacancy, Samuel W. Bird.

The platform declared against any act legalizing the traffic in strong drink, and censured the present administration for "its shameless bargain and sale of public interests for private gain."

It censured the past Legislature for the attempt to pass a law allowing the sale or liquor upon a great national holiday. The sincerity of tax reformers was questioned as long as they are silent concerning the liquor traffic. It reindorsed woman suffrage and said there should be no application of public moneys for sectarian purposes, closing with an appeal to voters, especially those who follow Jesus and honor his Church, to unite with the party in killing the liquor traffic.

The People's party nominated D. Thompson for Governor; The Social Democrats, Henry Ramsey; and the Socialist-Labor Party, H. Uhlbricht.

was:

The result of the presidental election McKinley, 316,269; Bryan, 211,685; Woolley, 11,859; Debs, 2,826; Barker, 833; Malloney, 903. Republicans were elected to Congress in all the 12 districts.

For Governor, Bliss received 305,612 votes; Maybury, 226,228; Goodrich, 11,834; Ramsey, 2,709; Uhlbricht, 958; Thompson, 871.

The State Senate in 1901 will stand: Republicans 31, Democrats 1; the House, Republicans 90, Democrats 10.

The proposed amendment to the Constitution, permitting the enactment of laws for assessment and taxation of the property of railroad, telegraph, telephone, and express companies and certain other corporations, upon its cash value, instead of specific taxes upon earnings, was carried.

MINNESOTA, a Western State, admitted to the Union May 11, 1858; area, 83.365 square miles. The population, according to each decennial census since admission, was 172,023 in 1860; 439.706 in 1870; 780,773 in 1880; 1,301,826 in 1890; and 1,751,394 in 1900. Capital, St. Paul.

Government.-The following were the State officers in 1900: Governor, John Lind; Lieutenant Governor, Lyndon A. Smith; Secretary of State, Albert Berg; Auditor, Robert C. Dunn; Treasurer, August T. Koerner; Attorney-General. Wallace B. Douglas-all Republicans except the Governor, who was elected on a fusion ticket of Democrats and Populists; Commissioner of Insurance, J. A. O'Shaughnessy; Adjutant General, George C. Lambert; Chief Grain Inspector, A. C. Clausen, till August, when he resigned and was succeeded by Edward S. Reishus; Chief Justice

of the Supreme Court, Charles M. Start; Associate Justices, L. W. Collins, Calvin L. Brown, John A. Lovely, and Charles L. Lewis; Clerk, Darius F. Reese. All the justices are Republicans.

State officers are chosen in November of even years. The Legislature convenes in January of odd years, and the session is limited to ninety legislative days.

Population. The population of the State, by counties, according to the census of 1900, was as follows: Aitkin, 6,743; Anoka, 11,313; Becker, 14,375; Beltrami, 11,030; Benton, 9,912; Big Stone, 8,731; Blue Earth, 32,263; Brown, 19,787; Carlton, 10,017; Carver, 17,544; Cass, 7,777; Chippewa, 12,499; Chisago, 13,248; Clay, 17,942; Cook, 810; Cottonwood, 12,069; Crow Wing, 14,250; Dakota, 21,733; Dodge, 13,340; Douglas, 17,964; Faribault, 22,055; Fillmore, 28,238; Freeborn, 21,838; Goodhue, 31,137; Grant, 8,935; Hennepin, 228,340; Houston, 15,400; Hubbard, 6,578; Isanti, 11,675; Itasca, 4,573; Jackson, 14,793; Kanabec, 4,614; Kandiyohi, 18,416; Kittson, 7,889; Lac qui Parle, 14,289; Lake, 4,654; Lesueur, 20,234; Lincoln, 8,966; Lyon, 14,591; McLeod, 19,595; Marshall, 15,698; Martin, 16,936; Meeker, 17,753; Mille Lacs, 8,066; Morrison, 22,891; Mower, 22,335; Murray, 11,911; Nicollet, 14,774; Nobles, 14,932; Norman, 15,045; Olmsted, 23,119; Ottertail, 45,375; Pine, 11,546; Pipestone, 9,264; Polk, 35,429; Pope, 12,577; Ramsey, 170,554; Red Lake, 12,195; Redwood, 17,261; Renville, 23,693; Rice, 26,080; Rock, 9,668; Roseau, 6,994; St. Louis, 82,932; Scott, 15,147; Sherburne, 7,281; Sibley, 16,862; Stearns, 44,464; Steele, 16,524; Stevens, 8,721; Swift, 13,503; Todd, 22,214; Traverse, 7,573; Wabasha, 18,924; Wadena, 7,921; Waseca, 14,760; Washington, 27,808; Watonwan, 11,496; Wilkin, 8,080; Winona, 35,686; Wright, 29,157; Yellow Medicine, 14,602; White Earth Indian reservation, 3,486.

Finances. For the year ended July 31, 1900, the receipts of the State treasury were $9,015,168.24, and the disbursements $6,845,830.72, leaving a balance of $2,169,337.52. The State debt was $1,279,000, having been reduced $70,000 in the year and $380,000 since Jan. 1, 1897. The permanent school and university funds were, respectively, $6,776,767.27 and $925,300.

The principal classifications of the State treasury receipts for the year were: Revenue fund, $3,640,061.15; permanent school fund, $1,186,198.71; general school fund, $1,258,446.75. Disbursements: Revenue fund, $3,582,976.93; permanent school fund, $1,090,455.57; general school fund, $1,306,352.19; general university fund, $383,054.99. The amount of railroad taxes paid was $1,443,992.13. The principal receipts from taxation of insurance companies were: Domestic fire, $62,819.17; foreign fire, $31,127.64; life, $70,389.85; stock, casualty, fidelity, and title, $11,357.59.

Charities and Corrections.-The number of inmates of the three hospitals for the insane was 3,364. Two additional hospitals are being built, and the estimated number of inmates in all five hospitals at the close of the next biennial period is 4,100.

The population of the State Training School was 383; of the State Soldiers' Home, 289; School for the Deaf, 173; School for the Blind, 59; School for the Feeble-minded, 668; State Public School, 236; State Reformatory, 153; State Prison, 508. The year's expenses of the 13 charitable and penal institutions were $969,337, or $187.20 per capita, and the estimates for the following year were $1,066,336. The State Prison has one of the largest binder-twine manufacturing plants in the United States, whose capacity was increased in 1900 to 8,000,000 pounds per annum.

In

Lands.-The most notable event of the year in relation to the State's lands was the termination of the long-standing litigation over the validity of the swamp-land grant to the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad Company. The amount involved was 606,720 acres. The State had denied the validity of this grant, but was finally beaten by a decision of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of the railroad. November a great sale of timber stumpage was held, at which nearly 90,000,000 feet of pine were disposed of at an average price of $5.57 a thousand feet. The following shows the conditions of various public funds, derived from the sale of State lands, July 31, 1900: Permanent school fund, $12,546,529.30; permanent university fund, $1,286,817.13; internal improvements fund, $2,754,184.57. The first two funds are invested mostly in Massachusetts, Alabama, and other State bonds.

S. R. VAN SANT, GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA.

Products.-There were in the State 582 creameries and 60 cheese factories. The creameries were supplied with milk from 331,512 cows, producing 972,799,299 pounds of milk in the year. The butter manufactured therefrom was 44,007,933 pounds. Of this there was shipped out of the State 36,750,375 pounds. The amount paid to patrons was $6,959,914.55. The operating expenses were $930,739.95. The total number of creamery patrons in the State is 40,189. The amount of milk received by the different cheese factories was 29,998,924 pounds. The amount of green cheese made was 3,076,812 pounds; amount paid to patrons for milk, $217,192.20; total amount of cured cheese sold, 2,970,190 pounds; total number of patrons, 1,226.

Minnesota is the greatest wheat producer of the Union; but in 1900 the crop was considerably under the average yield, being about 65,000,000 bushels. The State, which with one exception produces the most iron of any, turned out 8,000,000 tons of iron ore in 1900.

Educational.-There were in the State 7,303 schoolhouses, of the value of $4,405,095, with 399,207 pupils. The male and female teachers numbered 2,052 and 8,534, respectively. The average monthly pay of the former was $47.84, and of the latter $35.24. The cash on hand and receipts aggregated $7,447,564.70; disbursements, $6,054,588.99; cash on hand at close of year, $1,602,903.23; aggregate indebtedness of school districts, $4,586,204.31. There were 2,539 public school libraries with over 300,000 volumes. The enrollment in the four normal schools was 2,376, and the graduates numbered 379.

In the University of Minnesota there were 3,236 With one excepstudents, including 907 women. tion it has the largest enrollment of any university in the United States. The students of 1900 were thus divided among the different departments: Graduate students, 124 men and 53 women; College of Science, Literature, and Arts, 416 men and 520 women; College of Engineering