The public institutions for special classes are the asylum for the deaf and dumb at Fulton: the school for the blind at St. Louis; the state lunatic asylum at Fulton; the state penitentiary at Jefferson City; 13 orphan asylums, 8 of them under Roman Cath olic control: an industrial school for girls, and a home for the friendless, at St. Louis.
The libraries of the state in 1870 numbered 5,645, and contained in all 1,065,638 vol umes; 1,742 of these libraries, containing 498,996 volumes, were public; and 3,903, con taining. 566,642 volumes, were private.
The number of newspapers and periodicals in 1870 was 279, of which 21 were dailies. 5 tri-weeklies, 225 weeklies, 3 semi-monthlies, 23 monthlies, and 1 quarterly. In 1S72 the whole number had increased to 289.
The number of church organizations in 1874 was 4,537; of church edifices, 8,369; of church property, $13,002,900; number of church members, 264,673. The chief denominations, iu numerical order, are: Methodists, Baptists, Disciples, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, Cumberland Presbyterians, United Brethren in Christ, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Freewill Baptists, German Reformed, Unitarians, Evangelical association, Jews, Swedenborgians, Friends.
The capital of the state is Jefferson City. The principal city, St. Louis, is the largest in the Mississippi valley. The next largest cities and towns in the state are Kansas City, St. Joseph, Hannibal, St. Charles, Springfield, Sedalia, and Lexington.
The constitution now in force was adopted in 1875. The governor and other state offi cers are elected for a term of 4 years. The state election occurs biennially on the Tues day next following the first Monday in November. The legislature, composed of a semi-,
ate and house of representatives, meets biennially on the first Wednesday after the first day of January., The supreme court consists of 5 judges, elected by the people for a term of 10 years, the oldest in commission being chief-justice. The legislature divides the state into such a number of circuits as it may judge the public convenience requires, and the circuit court is composed of one judge for each of such circuits, elected by the people of said circuit for a term of 12 years. The judges of the county courts are elected by the several counties, as are also the judges of probate. The compensation of the governor, state officers, members of the legislature, and of the judges of the courts, is fixed by the legislature. Special courts are provided for the city of St. Louis.
The electoral votes of Missouri for president and vice-president of the United States have been cast as follows: 1824..3 for Clay and Jackson; 1828, 3 for Jackson and Cal houn; 1832, 4 for Jackson and Van Buren; 1836, 4 for Van Buren and Johnson; 1840, 4 for Van Buren and Johnson; 1844, 7 for Polk and Dallas; 1848, 7 for Cass and Butler; 1852, 9 for Pierce and King; 1856, 9 for Buchanan and Breckenridge; 1860, 9 for Doug las and H. V. Johnson; 1864, 11 for Lincoln and Andrew Johnson; 1868, 11 for Grant and Colfax; 1872, 6 for T. A. Hendricks, 8 for B. Gratz Brown, and 1 for David Davis, for president; and 6 for B. Gratz Brown, 5 for G. W. Julian, 3 for J. M.. Palmer, and 1 for W. S. Groesbeck, for vice-president; 1876, 15 for Tilden and Hendricks; 1880, 15 for Hancock and English.