In 1873 there were in the state 8 national banks, with a capital of $4,150,000. Other banks, organized understate laws, had capitals amounting to about the same sum. There were also several savings banks and insurance companies. The pop. of the state in 1870 was 726,915, of whom 36'2,065 were white and 364,210 were colored. In 1874 the number of miles of completed railroad was 445, the chief lines being the Clinton and Port Hudson; the Baton Rouge, Gross Tete and Opelousas; tbe New Orleans, Jtackson and Great Northern; the North Louisiana and Texas; the Texas aud Pacific. Short canals connect the navigable waters around New Orleans.
The state institutions are the penitentiary- at Baton Rouge, the insane asylum at Jackson, the charity hospital at New Orleans, and the institutions for the deaf and dumb and blind at Baton Rouge. The public debt of the state in 1878 amounted to $11,785,293. There was a failure to pay the interest falling due upon this debt Jan. 1, 1879.
The public school fund includes. 1, the sum of $1,130,867, the avails of lands granted by the United States for the support of free schools, on which the state pays an annual interest of 4 per cent; 2, proceeds of such taxation as the legislature may levy for the purpose; 3, any lands or other property bequeathed to the state for schools; 4, all prop erty or funds, other than unimproved lands, bequeathed to the state and not designated for other purposes; 5, avails of lands escheated to the state. The constitution provides for the election of a superintendent of public education for a term of 4 years. Colored children are not allowed to attend the same schools with white children. According to the report of the state superintendent for 1873 there were in the state 272,334 persons of school age; number of school districts, 483; of public schools, 864; teachers, 1206, of whom 685 were males and 611 females; average salary of teachers per month, $42.50; estimated value of school property, $661,062; average daily attendance in 34 parishes, 35,061. In 7 parishes no schools were reported. The number of private schools reported was 296, with 794 teachers and 21,434 pupils. The principal colleges of the state are the Louisiana state university; the New Orleans university (Methodist); St. Mary, Jef ferson (Rointin Catholic); Centenary (Methodist); Straight university (non-sectariau, but under Congregational auspices). The New Orleans and Straight universities are open to all, without distinction of race or sex. The Louisiana state agricultural and mechanical college was established in New Orleans in 1874. It is supported in part by the avails of the land received from congress for that purpose under the act of 1862, The legislature in 1880, in compliance with an express provision of the constitution, passed an act to establish in New Orleans a university for persons of color, to be known as " Southern university." The number of libraries reported in 1870 was 2,332, containing 847,406
volumes. There were at the saine time 7 daily, 1 tri-weekly, 8 semi-weekly, and 75 weekly newspapers, about 20 of them being printed wholly or partly in French. The number of church organizations was 638, owning 599 edifices, valued at $4,048,145.
A new constitution, framed by a convention held for the purpose, was ratified by the people Dec. 8, 1879, by a vote of 86,494 in the affirmative to 27,346 in the negative. The governor is elected by the people for 4 years, and receives a salary of $4,000. The general assembly is composed of a senate and house of representatives; the former to consist of not more than 36 nor less than 24, and the latter of not more than 98 nor less than 70 members, to be elected for 4 years, and to receive $4 per day while engaged in the performance of their duties. The assembly meets biennially, and its sessions are limited to 60 days. The supreme court is composed of one chief-justice and three associate justices, appointed for 12 years by the governor, with the advice and con sent of the senate; their salaries are $5,000 each, and the coun, with some special exceptions, has only an appellate jurisdiction. The state is divided into 4 supreme court districts. The courts of appeal, one for each of five circuits, are each composed of two circuit judges, elected for 8 years by the two houses of the general assembly in joint session; salaries, $4,000. These courts have no other than an appellate jurisdiction. The district courts are each composed of a single judge elected by the people of the dis trict for 4 years, and paid a salary of $3,000. These courts have a very wide jurisdic tion, but their decisions are subject to review by the higher courts. The districts must be not more than 30 nor less than 20 in number, at the discretion of the legislature. Special courts are provided for the city of New Orleans. New Orleans is the seat of government. Lotteries may be authonzed by the legislature until 1895, beyond which time they are absolutely prohibited. The legislature, however, in 1880, exercising the discretion which the constitution allows, passed an act of prohibition. Women over 21 years of age are eligible to any office of control or management under the school laws.