Wyoming

Wild Life.

Wyoming still abounds in wild life and game animals, the game animals increasing according to the State game and fish commissioner, despite the fact that more non-resident game and fishing licences were sold in 1933-34 for Wyoming than for any other State. The kill for the season 1931-32 according to the State Game Commissioner was : elk, 1002 ; deer, 952 ; moun tain sheep, 8; bear, 8 ; and moose, 6. About 29,400,000 fingerlings and fry were planted in 1931-32 in Wyoming waters by the fish hatcheries of the State.

Climate.

It is difficult to generalize about Wyoming's climate, since the varied and rugged topography makes corresponding local variations. Precipitation for the State averages 13.89 in. annually, but it varies from about 6 in. in the lower Big Horn basin, Sweet water county and lower Wind river valley, the driest portions, to 35 in. in the mountains bordering on Yellowstone park. In the agricultural region of the south-eastern counties the average annual rainfall is 15.20 in. East of the continental divide about 70% of the precipitation occurs between April and September. The cool summer months of the mountain regions lower the average tem perature of the State materially. The annual mean for the valleys is 46° F and for the mountains 36°. The average of 85 stations, well distributed over the State, gives a day average for July of 81° and a night average of Day temperature for January average 32° and night 7°. The portion of the State west of the divide has a lower average and longer winters than that east of the divide. The cold spells are not severe for their chilling effect is modified by the normally low humidity.

Government.

Wyoming is governed still by its first Consti tution, adopted by the people in 1889, and made effective when the State entered the Union, July io, 1890.

The legislature is composed of a senate and a house of repre sentatives. Each county elects one senator for each 9,00o inhabitants or major portion thereof, and one representative for every 3,25o inhabitants or major portion thereof, though each county has a right to one senator and representative, regardless of its population. New apportionments are made after each Federal and State census, the State census occurring in every year that ends with a five. In 1937 there were 27 senators and 62 repre sentatives. The regular sessions of the legislature meet in Chey

enne on the second Tuesday in January every odd-numbered year and may continue 4o days. The governor has the power to veto any bill, but if upon reconsideration it is repassed by a two-thirds majority in each house it becomes a law without the governor's signature. The governor may veto any item in the appropriations bill. Special laws are not to be passed where a general one may be made applicable.

The chief executive officer is the governor. There are only four other elective executive officers, the secretary of State, auditor, treasurer and superintendent of public instruction. These men not only direct their own departments but some, together with ap pointed officers, act on many executive boards, such as the State board of charities and reform, State land commission, State fiscal board, State board of pardons, State farm loan board, State board of supplies, State historical board, etc. An unusually large number of the executive officers are appointed by the governor and are responsible to him. Among them are a State examiner, a State engineer, two inspectors of coal mines, a State geologist, the attorney-general, four water superintendents for the four irriga tion districts of the State, three live stock commissioners and three sheep commissioners, five members of the State highway commission, three members of the board of equalization, State land commissioner, five members of the State board of health, the members of the board of agriculture, the commissioner of law enforcement, and the commissioner of labour and statistics, etc.

The supreme court of Wyoming has three justices who are elected by the voters for a term of eight years. Two terms of supreme court are held annually, one in April and the other in October. A special term can be held when two justices so vote. There are eight district courts. A regular term is held yearly in each, and special terms may be called in any district by the presid ing judge. Each of the eight district judges is elected by his district for a six-year term. The counties are also divided by the county commissioner into judicial districts for which the voters of the district elect a justice of the peace. Incorporated towns and cities have municipal courts and police justices.