Banking.—On Oct. 31, 1919, there were reported 26 National banks in oper ation, having $3,455,000 in capital, $3,363,000 in outstanding circulaticn, and $15,109,000 in United States bonds. There were also 99 State and stock sav ings banks with $7,240,000 in capital, and $2,862,000 in surplus. The ex changes at the United States clearing house at Salt Lake City during the year ending Sept. 30, 1919, amounted to $778, 679,000, an increase over those of the preceding year of $68,314,000.
Education.—The percentage of illit eracy in the State is extremely low. There were enrolled in the public schools, in 1918, 110,193 pupils. The entire school population was 134,887, and there were in the elementary high schools 289 male and 2,115 female teachers. In the junior high schools there were 75 male and 164 female teachers, and in the high schools, 211 male and 215 female teach ers. The disbursements for educational purposes during the year amounted to $5,549,398. There are a State Normal School and a Church Teachers' Summer School, maintained by the Mormons. The institutions for higher education include the University of Utah, State School of Mines. State Agricultural College, Brig ham Young University, Brigham Young College, and the Latter Day Saints Uni versity.
C hurches .—The strongest denomina tions in the State are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; Roman Catholic; Methodist Episcopal; Protes tant Episcopal; Presbyterian, North; and Congregational.
Railways.—The railway mileage in the State in 1919 was approximately 2,447 miles. The roads having the longest mileage are the Denver and Rio Grande, and the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake railroads.
Finances .—The receipts for the fiscal year 1917-1918 were $8,838,332, and the disbursements $8,556,750. There was a balance on Dec. 1, 1918, of $1,505,512. The assessed valuation in 1919 was about $675,000,000. The bonded debt of the
State amounts to about $3,500,000.
Charities and Corrections.—The in stitutions under State control include a prison in Salt Lake City, Industrial School at Ogden, School for Deaf and Blind at Ogden, and the Mental Hospital at Provo.
State Government.—The governor is elected for a term of four years. Legis lative sessions are held biennially and are limited in length to 60 days each. The Legislature has 18 members in the Senate, and 46 in the House. There are two Representatives in Congress.
History.—The region embracing Utah was acquired from Mexico in 1848, and the Territory was organized in 1850, comprising Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and Nevada. The Mormons led by Brig ham Young settled in Salt Lake City valley in 1847, and rapidly occupied the fertile valleys of the Territory, few Gen tiles settling there till the extension of railroads made it more easily accessible. At a later period the Gentile population rapidly increased, and vigorously op posed the supremacy of the Mormons, who controlled all government positions. A bill passed by Congress in 1882 dis franchised all polygamists and annulled the act of the Territorial Legislature ex tending the franchise to women. In 1887 a bill was passed, which confiscated the property of the Mormon Church and the perpetual Emigration Fund, with the ex ception of the church buildings and par sonages, and devoted it to the support of public schools in the Territory. The Mormons renounced polygamy in 1890.
For a considerable time previously efforts had been made to have Utah admitted into the Union; but this was not accept able to Congress till after the abolition of polygamy. A bill was passed in De cember, 1893, making Utah a State. It was not finally consummated, however, till Jan. 4, 1896, when it entered into Statehood as the 45th State of the Union.