EDUCATION. The Constitution provides for a free public school system under the supervision of a board of commissioners consisting of the Governor, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the president of the State Uni versity. The system of high schools is under the control of local boards of education. city super intendents, and State high school boards: and there are a State normal school and institutions for higher education. The proportion of illiteracy in 1900 was 5.6 per cent., hieing the highest (with the exception of Missouri) in the North Central division of States. This proportion ranges from 0.9 per cent. for the native white population, to 6.7 per cent. for the foreign while, and to 59.2 per cent. for the colored. The 2641 common schools (245 graded) had in 1900 an enrollment of 77,686. and an average daily at tendance of 43.560. The length of the school term in 1900 was 155.7 days. as against 113 days in 1890. The average monthly salaries of male and female teachers in 1900 were $41.72 and $36.80 respectively.
The total income for school purposes in 1900 was $1,456.496. the revenue being derived prin cipally from local taxes, from the permanent school fund, and from the sale and rental of school lands. The expenditure per pupil. based on average attendance, was $35.03—the highest ex penditure found among the North Central States and a figure exceeded in but few States. Under the enabling act admitting the State of North Dakota to the Union. the 16th and :36th scc• tions of every township were granted for the maintenance of the common schools. The State thus acquired about 2,300,000 acres. In 1900 North Dakota had 27 public high schools with a total attendance of 1130. Normal education is provided by two public schools (at Mayville and Valley City) and one private normal school. The institutions for higher education are the Uni versity of North Dakota, it Grain! Forks: Fargo College ;Claw.). at Fargo: Red Valley University (M. E.). at Wahpeton; and the Agri
cultural College. at Fargo.
CuARITABLE AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS. The State maintains a school for the deaf at Devil's Lake. an asylum for the insane and a school for the feeble-minded, both at Jamestown, and a soldiers' home at 1.1sbon. The State peniten tiary is located at B isMa Hrx•rontv. The whole territory of Dakota was a part of the Louisiana Purchase, and was for a long time unorganized. Lewis and Clark in their expedition of 1804-00 spent the first winter near Mandan. British subjects had posts for the fur trade within the territory, and Lord Selkirk, considering it British territory, built a fort near Pembina in 1810. Previously. about 1780, French Canadians had settled at this place. Fremont in 1839 explored much of the country, and Lieuten ant Warner in 1855 made a report on the region for the Government. The Sioux in 1851 ceded a portion of their lands to the Government and they were opened for settlement. The part east of the _Missouri Liver was first attached to the Territory of Minnesota in 1849. The part west. together with much of Idaho. 'Wyoming, and Slontana. became part of Nebraska 'rem-Rory in 1854. On March 2, 1S61. the Territory of Da kota was organized.
The Indians were hostile and population was sparse until after 1800. With the growth of population came agitation for Statehood, and the Territory was divided into two (see SOUTH DANoTA), and on February 22, 1889, Con gress authorized the calling of conventions to form constitutions. The convention for North Dakota met at Bismarck duly 4. and formed a constitution. It was ratified in October, to gether with a prohibition article which was sub mitted separately. On November 2d President Harrison declared the State admitted. Politi cally the State has been Republienn from its ad mission. with the exception of oar eleetion 118921, when a fusion of the Farmers' Alliance with the Democrats gave them control.