Education, being a matter of public polity, and not of private conscience, received more attention from the beginning, schools being formed under a school law in 1866. In 1867 there were two public-school teachers in Madison county, and three in Edgerton (Lewis and Clarke) county. The amount raised for their support and for school-houses was $7,709. The number of persons between four and twenty-one years of age in Montana was 1,920, of whom 222 attended school. Since that period the standard of education has advanced within the last ten or twelve years, until it is upon the same plane with the school systems of the older states. Children are admitted from four to twenty-one years of age; and fourteen years' tuition is required to be graduated from the high school, where one exists. Teachers' institutes are required by law, to aid in promoting the best methods of instruction.

19

The school lands not being salable until the territory became a state, the people were compelled to

Daniel S. Tuttle, of Otsego, N. Y., was the first missionary bishop of the episcopal church in Montana, appointed in 1866 to superintend Utah, Idaho, and Montana. He was a scholarly man, young and energetic, and labored efficiently in his field. At first a union church edifice was occupied by the protestant societies alternately, but it was ultimately sold for secular purposes. The methodists erected a church in Virginia City in the autumn of 1867, the corner-stone of which was laid on the 12th of September. As in most new countries, they organized in advance of other denominations, but in Montana they were divided by politics long after the cause which separated them was a lost cause. Helena was, on account of its importance, the next field sought, the catholics being first on the ground, and completing the first building for purely religious services in Montana. Two young women, Sallie Raymond and Margaret Irvine, solicited contributions for the first church-bell in Helena, in the spring of 1867. Although religious exercises were held in the various towns and settlements, it required a few years for society to become sufficiently homogeneous to unite upon religious principles and decide to erect temples for their favorite practices. Accordingly most of the churches have been built since 1872. The methodist church at Missoula was dedicated that year. The presbyterians did not begin seriously to organize until that year, when societies were formed at Deer Lodge, Helena, Gallatin City, Bozeman, and Virginia City, by Sheldon Jackson, J. R. Russell, and W. S. Frackelton. The presbyterian edifice at Deer Lodge was opened for services February 21, 1875, Russell being first pastor of the society. The catholics erected a new church at Helena in 1876. The protestant episcopal society of St Peter of Helena opened their church in October 1879, M. N. Gilbert pastor.

19 The first public school of Helena was opened Dec. 3, 1867, and taught by William I. Marshal and Mrs R. M. Farley. Rept of Superintendent of Schools, in Virginia Post, Dec. 14, 1867.

LITERATURE AND DRAMA.

779

support the schools by taxation. The amounts raised in the several counties varied from $9,207, in Yellowstone county, to $33,766.91, in Choteau county, and aggregated, in 1884, $231,229.42, making an average of $17,786 of school money furnished for every county. The school fund collected in 1888 averaged twenty dollars annually for each child in Montana, of which amount $317,442.37 was from county tax. There were 316 school-houses, valued at $646,679; and the number of children of school age was 27,600; while the teachers were 442. Several of the counties having the largest school funds elected women for superintendents.20

Of the literature of Montana there is little to be said. Newspapers abound, there being, before 1885, one in every county except Jefferson, which was supplied from Helena. The leading journals were of unusual merit and interest, for interior newspapers.21

20 Teachers are the least publicly honored of all the public's servants. Superintendents have all been experienced teachers. Therefore, let me record here, for the honor of some of Montana's most deserving, the names of her county superintendents of 1884: Beaverhead, John Gannon; Choteau, Miss M. E. Johnston; Custer, A. C. Logan; Dawson, J. H. Ray; Deer Lodge, T. W. Catlin; Gallatin, Adda M. Hamilton; Jefferson, E. I. Fletcher; Lewis and Clarke, Helen P. Clarke; Meagher, Alice M. Darcy; Madison, J. C. Mahony; Missoula, J. A. T. Ryman; Silver Bow, T. J. Booher; Yellowstone, B. F. Shuart. Sixth Annual Rept of Supt of Public Instruction, by Cornelius Hedges, who has filled the office of territorial superintendent for many years, alternating with C. Wright and W. Egbert Smith.

21 I have noted the establishment from time to time of political and news journals, with the date of their origin and politics. The following were being published in 1884: Lewis and Clarke county, at Helena, Herald, d. and w., rep., 1866; Independent, d. and w., dem., 1871; Montana Argus, w., German, 1883; Stock and Mining Journal, m., 1884; Christian Advocate, m., 1882; Montana Baptist, q., 1884; Montanian, d., local, 1884; at Sun River, The Sun, w., ind., 1884. Silver Bow county, at Butte, Miner, d. and semi-w., dem., 1879; Inter-Mountain, d. and semi-w., rep., 1881. Yellowstone county, at Billings, Post, w., rep., 1882; Herald, w., dem., 1882; Rustler, d., local, 1884. Gallatin county, at Bozeman, Avant-Courier, w., ind., 1871; Chronicle, w., dem., 1883; at Livingston, Enterprise, w., ind. dem., 1883. Custer county, at Miles City, Yellowstone Journal, d. and w., rep., 1879; Stock-grower's Journal, 1884. Dawson county, at Glendive, Times, w., local, 1881; Independent, w., local, 1884. Missoula county, at Missoula, Missoulian, w., ind., 1873; Times, w., rep., 1883. Madison county, at Virginia City, Madisonian, w., dem., 1873; Montana Churchman, m., 1883. Deer Lodge county, at Deer Lodge, New Northwest, w., ind. rep., 1869. Beaverhead county, at Dillon, Tribune, w., local, 1881. Choteau county, at Fort Benton, River Press, d. and w., rep., 1880; Record, w., dem., 1881. Meagher county, at Maiden, Mineral Argus, w., 1883; at Townsend, Tranchant, w., local, 1883; at White

The dramatic taste of the people was not early developed by the theatre. There has been too much real life among them to leave a craving for mimic life. The towns, also, were too small to support good companies. In 1866 Virginia City had a theatre, which was well patronized by its crowds of flush miners now passed away. Helena had then occasional seasons of the opera and drama. It has now a handsome operahouse. Miles City early supported a theatre, and all the principal towns had halls which served for musical and dramatic entertainments. When it is remembered that twenty-six years ago the first step was taken toward subduing the wilderness to the uses of civilized men, who could withhold the judgment, well done, hardy and energetic sons of America!

Sulphur Springs, Rocky Mountain Husbandman, w., 1875. Then there were the Pick and Plow, Bozeman, 1871; Times, Bozeman; Frontier Index, Butte City; Atlantis, Glendale; Bad Lands Cowboy, Medora; Frontier Index, Thompson Falls.

As one of those who have done much to foster the educational interests of Montana should be mentioned Cornelius Hedges, a resident of Helena, who in 1872 was appointed superintendent of public instruction, and after serving for five years was reappointed in 1883, in which year he was also elected secretary of the Territorial Historical Society. A native of Westfield, Mass, and educated first at the Westfield Academy, then at Yale, and finally at the Harvard law school, he began the practice of his profession at Independence, Ia, where in 1864 he published the Independent Civilian. During that year he came to Montana, and in 1865 to Helena, where he again practised law, and was appointed U. S. attorney and probate judge. To him is due the credit of first suggesting that the National Park be set aside for its present purposes, and in 1870 he was one of a party of ten by whom its site was explored and surveyed. He is also secretary of the Pioneer Association, and has long been connected with the Helena Herald, on whose staff he is recognized as a most able journalist, and as a ripe and accomplished scholar.

CHAPTER VIII.

PROGRESS AND STATEHOOD.

1884-1889.

CONVENTION OF 1884-ELECTION OF DELEGATE AND LEGISLATURE-REPUB LICAN AND DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS-TERRITORIAL OFFICERS-GOV. LESLIE APPOINTED-LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS AND ENACTMENTS-MEMORIALS CONCERNING MINERAL LANDS-THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD-LAWS TO GUARD ELECTIONS-THOMAS H. CARTER, DELEGATE— B. F. WHITE, GOVERNOR-ENABLING ACT PASSED BY CONGRESS-CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION-FEATURES OF THE CONSTITUTION-POLITICAL TROUBLES.

As this chapter is to deal with the formation of the state government of Montana, let us go back to 1884, in January of which year a constitutional convention was held at Helena, an act having been passed by the thirteenth session of the Montana legislature authorizing an election for delegates to be held in November 1883. The election took place,' and the convention met, forming a constitution subject to acceptance or rejection by the qualified electors at the biennial election of 1884. The voting on adoption was light, the total vote being 7,197 less than the total for delegate to congress, which was 26,969. Of

1 The delegates were Robert Smith and Joseph A. Brown, Beaverhead co.; T. E. Collins and W. H. Hunt, Choteau; C. W. Savage, Wm Van Gasken, and S. R. Douglass, Custer; J. F. Malony, Dawson; J. C. Robinson, E. B. Waterbury, and Joaquin Abascal, Deer Lodge; S. W. Langhorne, K. P. Vivion, G. O. Eaton, F. D. Pease, and E. F. Ferris, Gallatin; E. McSorley and N. Merriman, Jefferson; Matt Carroll, J. K. Toole, C. Hedges, and George Steele, Lewis and Clarke; H. S. Howell and J. E. Callaway, Madisou; W. J. McCormick, W. J. Stephens, R. B. Catlin, and R. A. Eldy, Missoula; J. F. McClintock, James Fergus, and W. F. Haas, Meagher; Thomas L. Napton, W. Y. Pemberton, W. A. Clark, Marcus Daly, J. C. Thornton, and Francis Medhurst, Silver Bow; F. M. Proctor and F. M. Greene, Yellowstone; Walter Cooper and A. F. Burleigh, 1st judicial dist; W. W. Dixon and James H. Mills, 2d judicial dist; W. B. Hundley and T. C. Power, 3d judicial dist. W. A. Clark was elected president.

those who gave expression to their wishes, 15,506 were for and 4,266 against the constitution, the majority being significantly large in favor of statehood, if we may judge by positive and not by negative evidence. However, nothing further came of the movement at that time, although it was not abandoned. E. K. Toole, democrat, was elected delegate to congress, and the fourteenth legislature, which has already been named, enacted laws highly creditable to the members and useful to the territory.

In May 1884, the republicans of Montana held a territorial convention to elect delegates to the national republican convention, their choice falling upon Wilbur F. Sanders of Helena, and Lee Mantle of Butte, with M. J. Leaming of Choteau, and Hiram Knowles of Silver Bow, as alternates. The preference of Delegate Mantle, as expressed in territorial convention, was for George F. Edmunds for president, and that of Delegate Sanders was for James G. Blaine.

2

The democrats elected Samuel T. Hauser of Helena and Samuel Ward of Butte delegates to the democratic national convention. W. J. McCormick, one of the alternates, was made a member of the national committee, and S. T. Hauser a member of the notification committee, this being the first occasion on which Montana was represented in a national convention, and the first time also that territorial delegates were placed upon committees by one of them.

Hauser, who was appointed governor in July 1885, resigned late in 1886, and H. P. Leslie of

3

2 The other candidates nominated in convention were, M. A. Meyendorů of Helena, Hiram Knowles of Butte, Caldwell Edwards of Gallatin, George O. Exton of Gallatin, and M. J. Leaming of Fort Benton. The names of other republicans mentioned in connection with this convention were, George Irvin of Silver Bow, Henry N. Blake of Madison, J. V. Bogert of Gallatin, Charles H. Gould of Custer, I. Rotwitt of Meagher, I. D. McCutcheon of Lewis and Clarke, Orville B. O'Bannon, T. H. Carter, and Alex. C. Botkin,

The territorial secretaries from the organization down to 1888 were. Henry P. Torsey, commissioned June 22, 1864; John Coburn, March 3, 1865; Thomas F. Meagher, Aug. 4, 1865; James Tufts, March 28, 1867; Wiley S. Scribner, April 20, 1869; A. H. Sanders, July 19, 1870; Janes E. Callaway,